The first of the new Bachmann Scenecraft series of cold-cast resin buildings are now in the shops. These compete head-on with Hornby's Skaledale series and it is difficult to identify any real differences. They, of course, cover different subjects even if the themes are the same; for example, both ranges include a coal mine this year but the buildings are different.
The models we have seen are:
44-003 Cattle Dock
44-006 Corrugated Iron Goods Shed
44-007 Red Brick Engine Shed
44-008 Red Brick Water Tower
Like the Skaledale models, these use metal parts for the finer features. An example of this may be seen with the cattle dock where the fences are metal, set into the resin. The railings even have real rust on them which adds to the realism.
The corrugated iron shed has doors on both sides that actually slide on the overhead
rails and so may be displayed either open or shut. The shed stands on a separately cast
'timber' raised platform but may alternatively be used at ground level and the timber
structure used elsewhere on the layout as a loading platform.
The brick engine shed and water tower are designed so that the latter abuts one end of the former and a recess in one wall of the tower has been included to that the join is neat. There is also a white timber engine shed extension, a sample of which we have not seen, except on the Bachmann demonstration layout (illustrated).
Model Railway Express
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