Hamish K and soleman - Bachmann UK is part of Bachmann Europe, and is the distributor for Aristocraft all over that part of the world.
Please note that although the Class 66 was originally designed for British rails, is has been sold all over Europe and Scandinavia, and as such, can be seen most anywhere on the other side of the Atlantic from you. Making such a model was an excellent marketing ploy by Aristocraft/Bachmann, and the result, I can tell you from personal experience, is an exquisitely-detailed and powerful model. It has attracted all kinds of interests from folks who may have Aristocraft/USA Trains [also 1/29th scale], but have no interest whatsoever in British outline.
The difference between the Aristocraft/Bachmann Class 66 and the Gauge 1 resin and brass kit is not only about $1000, but a whopping ten percent size increase too, and the two of them, side-by-side, look faintly ridiculous.
As for Bachmann producing ANY 1/29th models for the UK, this is, IMO, very unlikely, as they already have a goodly selection of ready-to-run brass models of steam locomotives in Gauge 1 - that is, 1/32nd scale.
These models are, again, made to the very highest standards of model engineering, and if I was to be into G1 British rails, I would have at least one of each by now.
The Gauge 1 fraternity here in UK, with a 60+ year old association of more than 2500 members, are a very conservative bunch in any case, and I should know, since I am one of them. The arrival of 1/29th British stuff, in the face of opposition from the die-hard G1 movement, is therefore most unlikely. In fact, Accucraft UK are about to spring forth with a whole scad of Gauge 1/1:32nd scale models in brass and plastic, including the A4 'Mallard', and I really think that Bachmann, doing the same thing in another scale, would be peeing up a rope.
tac
www.ovgrs.org
Please note that although the Class 66 was originally designed for British rails, is has been sold all over Europe and Scandinavia, and as such, can be seen most anywhere on the other side of the Atlantic from you. Making such a model was an excellent marketing ploy by Aristocraft/Bachmann, and the result, I can tell you from personal experience, is an exquisitely-detailed and powerful model. It has attracted all kinds of interests from folks who may have Aristocraft/USA Trains [also 1/29th scale], but have no interest whatsoever in British outline.
The difference between the Aristocraft/Bachmann Class 66 and the Gauge 1 resin and brass kit is not only about $1000, but a whopping ten percent size increase too, and the two of them, side-by-side, look faintly ridiculous.
As for Bachmann producing ANY 1/29th models for the UK, this is, IMO, very unlikely, as they already have a goodly selection of ready-to-run brass models of steam locomotives in Gauge 1 - that is, 1/32nd scale.
These models are, again, made to the very highest standards of model engineering, and if I was to be into G1 British rails, I would have at least one of each by now.
The Gauge 1 fraternity here in UK, with a 60+ year old association of more than 2500 members, are a very conservative bunch in any case, and I should know, since I am one of them. The arrival of 1/29th British stuff, in the face of opposition from the die-hard G1 movement, is therefore most unlikely. In fact, Accucraft UK are about to spring forth with a whole scad of Gauge 1/1:32nd scale models in brass and plastic, including the A4 'Mallard', and I really think that Bachmann, doing the same thing in another scale, would be peeing up a rope.
tac
www.ovgrs.org
