'Flatop' (August 19) says they are only available from Caulfield and not at the shop, from what he was told to say (who by ?). So it would seem, specially as there is no mention at all on Trainoramas website, that this is the case. Therefore those who don't get them from Caulfield, either miss out or wait for them on ebay?
This seems unusually poorly handled by Trainorama.

He does also mention that the bulk of the shipment will follow a few weeks later, so I presume they will be available on the website then.

Personally I was hoping for more warning and am a little disappointed at a lack of official update, especially since the last mention of the modern-era modified S Class was in the June AMRM, where pre-production models were expected in November! The only livery specifically mentioned then was Freight Australia (whereas I am keen on a WCR one). One week just isn't enough notice for me to arrange the funds required for a purchase at Caulfield. Hopefully they haven't all sold out by late September when I can afford it.

'Flatop' (August 19) says they are only available from Caulfield and not at the shop, from what he was told to say (who by ?). So it would seem, specially as there is no mention at all on Trainoramas website, that this is the case. Therefore those who don't get them from Caulfield, either miss out or wait for them on ebay?
This seems unusually poorly handled by Trainorama.

Four models listed at https://www.bobshobbies.com.au/index.php?route=product/search&tag=TrainOrama

Four models listed at https://www.bobshobbies.com.au/index.php?route=product/search&tag=TrainOrama

Pretty sure those are the VR and V/Line re-runs that arrived a couple of months ago.

What might ave been said is that they will be released at the Caulfield show and only available there for the duration of the show first, but after most likely available from the shop. Just a thought!

'Flatop' (August 19) says they are only available from Caulfield and not at the shop, from what he was told to say (who by ?). So it would seem, specially as there is no mention at all on Trainoramas website, that this is the case. Therefore those who don't get them from Caulfield, either miss out or wait for them on ebay?
This seems unusually poorly handled by Trainorama.

Well if you insist on believing flattop, go for it. But that does not explain my three new S Class, ordered of the web sight and delivered. My two West Coast engines were paid for and could have been mailed out, When they ARRIVE in Australia. However I elected to save postage as I am going to Caulfield, anyway.
Of course most land line calls are free these days, even if not, it would have been easier to ring the shop with the info I supplied, than make your last post.  Would you like me to do that for you as well?
My guess is you are just  complaining because you like to. And I know how you feel. I get that way when I am depressed as well
Cheers
Rod

[in other words  half the production run is being air freighted in for the Exhibition, and the rest will follow later (with the SSR GM's hopefully in a container) The unopened boxes will be out of customs a few days before the Exhibition and sent straight to Caulfield. If any are left over, they will be available from the NEW shop in Sydney. The rest will be available from shop after they arrive. You won't miss out]

TRAINORAMA

S CLASS JUST ARRIVED

S CLASS WEST COAST RAILWAY S300, S302 & S311  selling at $315 each

S317 VR & S306 V LINE  selling at $295 each

Just got that email too, a6et. Good to see some kind of official announcement.

Just got that email too, a6et. Good to see some kind of official announcement.

There are a lot of positive changes coming with TOR and what's happening there.  The new shop is a good start and the aspect that the owner listened to people with the WCR models shows that change.

As I mentioned earlier, when the GM's were first announced way back ???? I counted 38 or 39 variants, numbers/colours/mods etc, which like many others thought was too many for a class of loco's that in many ways were restricted especially in the early days, and up until ANR rebranding, they would have been likely left with many models unsold which is often a killer for producers.

When the S's were first announced there was a lot of modellers questioning why certain numbers were not produced, and others were, when the production arrived it was cut back same as the GM's, again a fair bit of flack went out.  In the end though, its really a question of costs, there is a need to set a number that ends up being a self supporting income for the next runs and future projects, each from what I understand will be models with new numbers.

There was also costs in the retoolings to fit new motors and other (some say minor) changes to the models but each are costs, no doubt some may complain about the extra cost for the WCR models but its likely a bit to do with the painting of the model, and also a basis of testing the market.

Yes, its good to see the an official announcement and hope the Caulfield Exh will be good for those on both sides of the various stands.

Thanks a6et, most helpful for that Trainorama facebook update, I checked it out.
It is the WCR locos I am interested in, and this is the first bit of info about them.

Comtrain.....it was more a comment than a complaint that Trainorama provided no info about them, being poorly handled.

Every person seems to think they can run a business. And they all want everything to suit just them.

Toms have arranged for 300 locos to be air freighted in time for release at Caulfield.
300 times 300 equals 90,000 dollars.
It is likely they will sell all or most of them so that income will contribute towards
1 the extra costs of airfreight,
2 The costs of attending the exhibition
3 The next payment due for the next order of ?????
4 hopefully have some money to pay wages, etc etc.

Any other products they can sell will add to the viability of the business.
The existing stock of VR and V/Line will sell, but not as fast as a limited edition of unannounced products.

This method has been used by several retailers over the years and helps make exhibitions viable.

If a person from Bendigo can not make it for the exhibition, do you have a friend going?, do you know anyone in Melbourne who could get one for you? Have you considered a quick email to your local hobby shop who will most likely be at the exhibition to see if he can collect one for you? He will probably get hold of some stock if there are any left to take home to Bendigo with him anyway.

If all that is not possible just contact the shop and order one from the batch that will arrive by sea.
Unannounced models happen, as do delays to announced models, and despite what some self centred foamers think the sun will rise tomorrow ( in the East) and set in the west.




I know somebody who is planning to release a product to match with the West Coast products. , It is too late now for him to arrange production, but when the sea versions arrive he will be able to complement the release and make some money for himself too.

Just remember to enjoy your hobby.

Thanks a6et, most helpful for that Trainorama facebook update, I checked it out.
It is the WCR locos I am interested in, and this is the first bit of info about them.

Comtrain.....it was more a comment than a complaint that Trainorama provided no info about them, being poorly handled.

I would suggest that the reason that it was not put out earlier is simply the aspect that they wanted the packages in their hands before making the announcement.  One could imagine the yelling had TOR announced them and there was a delay in arrival for them.'

Sometimes, some manufacturers end up in no win situations in these areas.

@ a6et
"I would suggest that the reason that it was not put out earlier is simply the aspect that they wanted the packages in their hands before making the announcement.  One could imagine the yelling had TOR announced them and there was a delay in arrival for them.'

Sometimes, some manufacturers end up in no win situations in these areas"

So true, and it is so easy for a keyboard Nazi to whinge , whine and be completely objectionable from behind his ( or its' ) screen.

Hope everyone has a good time at the exhibition, and hope Tom's sell lots of S class so they can order ( and pay for the next batch of locos or rollingstock) I have some specific GM's on my wanted list and some 930's as well.

Just need to wait for them.


Many years ago under the old regime I was told that the idea of Tom's was to continuously have locos in stock. But that numbers and liveries would change.
EG have GM's in stock with number 1,2,3,4.
When they were selling through to do 5,6,7,8 etc

That is what seems to be happening , but the variations have been reduced a little because as has been said 38 variations is just too much for the market, but if a new variation arrives regularly we will all get what we ( need, want, pray for) eventually.

I understand that 200 to 300 is a minimum paint run so three West Coast numbers by 300 each seems likely. That should keep the market supplied for awhile , so then a run of FA or SSR or whatever would be marketable, Then to the other schemes one at a time.

This process would see quite a variety over time and hopefully not over extend TOM's.
If it went through the other classes it would mean a viable flow of locos and an everchanging availability of liveries.

I could live with that. It really is no different to how other retailers have evolved and they do not get the same flack for unannounced models, late deliveries, etc do they?

The other benefit of "surprise" models is it encourages attendances at exhibitions.

Many years ago I saw a cartoon in AMRM
First pane
Advert for a forthcoming model
comment by foamer
" I want six of them "

Second pane
NEW XYZ model available now
Foamers comment
" I will buy one one day"

Third pane

Shop closed from lack of business.

Sorry I could not find the actual cartoon, but I think you get the point.

Well done to Trainorama for producing extra S class locos and different liveries & numbers. I have seen the first run locos and they were great, so look forward to seeing the second run.  Now that Trainorama has let us know what is going on and that they will be available at shops (not alluded to earlier), I am quite happy to wait until they are in shops.
Again well done Trainorama, I enjoy your Victorian louvre vans.

Thanks a6et, most helpful for that Trainorama facebook update, I checked it out.
It is the WCR locos I am interested in, and this is the first bit of info about them.

Comtrain.....it was more a comment than a complaint that Trainorama provided no info about them, being poorly handled.

Yes mate, I accept that. I just have an empathy with Bob and Trainorama. I know how hard it is for a one man operation to get things going. Of course he has employees at the shop to help with postings, but in the end its Bob that has to get the stuff to China and product out. He does a good job, I think.
Cheers
Rod

Well done to Trainorama for producing extra S class locos and different liveries & numbers. I have seen the first run locos and they were great, so look forward to seeing the second run.  Now that Trainorama has let us know what is going on and that they will be available at shops (not alluded to earlier), I am quite happy to wait until they are in shops.
Again well done Trainorama, I enjoy your Victorian louvre vans.

I thought that Flattop made the situation perfectly clear in his comment of 19 August when he said "They are airfreighting 100 of each number , the rest will follow by sea a few weeks later. This all is up to the factory". Nothing that gave the impression they will only be available at Caulfield.

Thanks for that info comtrain, I (and probably others) had no idea Trainorama was a one man operation. Knowing that, it is a remarkable and wonderful effort and achievement for him to do what he has done. Full congratulations and thanks for all your hard work and models you have produced for everyone to enjoy Trainorama Leader, and for the future as well..

Well, didn't see these coming. I am assuming that the WCR models are just re-liveries of the original molding and haven't been modified? ie S302/311 will still have single marker lights as opposed to the modified marker/tail lights? Might just have to accept the minor inaccuracies!

I thought that Flattop made the situation perfectly clear in his comment of 19 August when he said "They are airfreighting 100 of each number , the rest will follow by sea a few weeks later. This all is up to the factory". Nothing that gave the impression they will only be available at Caulfield.

From what information has been officially released that is the case. Now we all know where this particular matter stands, we can now move on from it.

Well, didn't see these coming. I am assuming that the WCR models are just re-liveries of the original molding and haven't been modified? ie S302/311 will still have single marker lights as opposed to the modified marker/tail lights? Might just have to accept the minor inaccuracies!

The SSR GM's have dual markers each side, but headlights are different on GM. So Trainorama are trying. I would have thought the WCR S300 would have been the one to release, as it did have single markers.
The dual markers would have been much easier to add on S302/311, though, as they were mounted in a raised box which could have been just added to the nose, and built into the paint mask as it was a new scheme. Anyway I am pretty sure they will be printed by someone and added by those clever enough If the holes were added, the lens could be added with the grommet built in from the outside.

I will have to ask if the GM dies were altered to get the dual markers? Because that would be the reason the dual markers were left off the WCR version. They want to make a lot more standard S class in the future, I guess. I hope they jigged up a drill to add the extra holes on the GM nose, which would mean they can do the  same with other dual flush mounted markers, particularly on the S Classes  in the future.
Cheers
Rod

Photo from the Railpage archives. By the looks, S302 originally had single markers when painted in WCR livery. Not sure how long this lasted until the duals were fitted.



There are photos online of S311 in the process of being painted, with dual markers already installed, therefore that couldn't have ever ran with single markers.
I'm sure there will be plenty of modellers who won't be bothered by it, but two out of three ain't bad.

John

Thanks for that, I obviously didn't look hard enough!

Thats magic John,
I googled and ran through about 30 pictures offered and did not see any like that
Well done.
So they would have been better doing S300 and S302
maybe they did not find these two pictures?
Cheers
Rod

Good stuff! My most favourite Victorian colour scheme. WCR Photo p0rn time!!

The font for "WEST COAST RAILWAY" on the models bugged me when I first saw it (for the record, still planning to buy one). Now I can see why - it's narrower than the prototype. Seems like they couldn't find an exact match?

The font for "WEST COAST RAILWAY" on the models bugged me when I first saw it (for the record, still planning to buy one). Now I can see why - it's narrower than the prototype. Seems like they couldn't find an exact match?

It is also larger in size and the bottom is set lower.