Upgrade Or Replace?

I've been swithering for many months about the best way of getting a 45XX Small Prairie tank for the Minffordd fleet.

First World problems, and all that, I know...

Although outshone in the popular imagination by the Manors, Duekdogs and Collett Goods, they saw a lot of use at the northern end of the Coast line, working from Pwllheli and Portmadoc sheds, and often entrusted with the Cambrian Coast Express.

Right now pre-orders are being taken for a brand new version of these go-anywhere ex-GWR branch line engines from Rapido.

If it's anything like the Highland Railway 'Jones Goods' I already have it will be a superb runner, and you can buy it pre-fitted with DCC sound.

However, I already have a 45XX.

It's one the Bachmann ones which probably date back the best part of 20 years.

It's so ancient - I use the word advisedly - that it doesn't have a DCC socket, but it's a relatively simple project to hard wire a chip and fit a speaker and stay alive.

This was bought second hand a couple of years ago for around £60 if my memory is correct, and it runs perfectly quietly and smoothly.

It's also been factory weathered in truly filthy condition.

Yes, it lacks subtlety, but if I were to chose to go down the Rapido route as well as paying around £250 for a sound fitted example I'd probably want to send it away to get it weathered professionally.

For around half this outlay I could buy and chip and speaker etc for the Bachmann model and for less than half that outlay we'd have ourselves a Prairie, and we could probably get it running for the next exhibition in September.

So there's quite a lot to weigh up.

How much of an improvement over the Bachmann version will the new Rapido one be?

If it's better is it 50% more £ better?

In my position what would you choose?