Jump to content
 
  • entries
    172
  • comments
    1,473
  • views
    376,538

The ups and downs of buying online.

Silver Sidelines

Entry posted by Silver Sidelines

2,578 views

 Share

I was recently paid for some unexpected work. I would invest part of the proceeds in some additional motive power (more engines). I don’t think there are any model shops in Dumfries and Galloway (probably the largest Council in the UK) so it is very much a case of what is available on the Internet. All very exciting – well until the post arrives!

 

The first item should have been straightforward. I would buy a Bachmann BR ROD - pristine.

14484190946_e3bc1e291c_b.jpg

Bachmann BR ROD – Early Emblem – Pristine

 

The model came from a well respected source, not eBay, but oh dear what was in the box was not what was on the label.

14506147042_f14744c823_b.jpg

Bachmann BR ROD – Weathered

 

I will not embarrass the retailer further. The problem is being sorted. My engine is still in his cabinet and will be released as soon as the weathered version is returned - at his cost.

 

The very same courier that delivered the ROD also brought my second purchase – Hornby’s Bucklebury Grange. I was too late to buy Overton Grange ‘new’ and I had to source a model off eBay, well two infact to get one good one! I had read all about the new Bucklebury Grange here on RMweb. My previous model Overton Grange was made by Sanda Kan, the new model was put together by Refined. The thread on RMweb made it sound as though the models were virtually the same – I would buy Bucklebury Grange whilst it was still available.

 

14518478813_0802cc8f8d_b.jpg

Now you see it – Overton Grange with Vacuum Spindle

14497187782_47149cf9ee_b.jpg

Now you don’t – Bucklebury Grange without Vacuum Spindle

 

Anybody who has played with Mainline / Bachmann Manors, Bachmann Halls and Hornby Granges will understand about the perils of vacuum spindles and just how easy it is to break them. Lifting Bucklebury Grange from its packaging I casually inspected the underside of the footplate to check that the spindle was intact only to find it completely missing. A check with friends here on RMweb would seem to indicate that this is another example of Hornby’s Design Clever – value engineering as it was termed by British Leyland before they imploded. On a test run my model of Bucklebury Grange swung rather a lot from side to side - so it too is being returned for replacement. It is only an initial impression, but the model has a rather delicate feel to it. When the replacement arrives I will be interested to compare the weight of the body shell from Bucklebury Grange, with say Overton Grange, just to see if there is any difference.

14313588829_c9c1048ae0_b.jpg

Bachmann BR (WR) Austerity

 

The last model in this trilogy is a Bachmann WD 8F. This was an impulse buy off eBay – so no research. It had been in my mind for some time to obtain the BR (WR) variant – and here was one for sale. It arrived exactly as advertised, the engine appearing to have had very little use. However I was suspicious about the wheels on the tender which seemed to me to be well used. I would do some research.

14506183352_11127566f4_b.jpg

Bachmann WD 2-8-0 Austerity – BR (WR) variant

 

My model had arrived with a Late Crest. The box is quite clear, Early Emblem. Somewhere along the line my model has acquired a tender with a Late Crest. 90312 was at Cardiff Canton in 1959 but had moved to Southall by 1961. I guess someone out there will know whether it received a Late Crest and if it still had its GWR top feed and tool tunnel. It is a good model and I have no complaints – and this one is not going back to the seller.

14320648048_19b9fb3000_b.jpg

Bachmann WD 2-8-0 Austerity – BR ‘standard’ version (spot the differences)

For comparison there is a view of my old faithful BR ‘standard’ Austerity. This was the first locomotive that I ‘won’ on eBay back in 2007 and it is still going strong. Both Bachmann WD 8Fs have now had lead shot added to the front of the boiler and both perform brilliantly.

 

 

A word of caution. 90566 came apart relatively easily. 90312 was more difficult.

14320703449_6e4e4afca2_b.jpg

To remove the body shell the upwards extension from the valve gear needs to be gently eased down through the cast metal footplate

The upwards extension from the valve gear was an exceedingly tight fit through the footplate and I had to scrape some of the paint and metal edging to the gap in the footplate to get the body shell back over the valve gear. I see now that I have taken some ‘close up’ pictures that I need to put some black paint over where I have scraped the plastic moulding.

I know that buses travel around in threes – hopefully three surprises in the post is enough for one week?

  • Like 2
 Share

9 Comments

Recommended Comments

w124bob

Your issues illustrate quite well why I abandoned the English scene, I have a large fleet of HO Atlas diesels, all perform faultless not only straight from the box but also after sitting around for sometime whilst I actually built my plank. Atlas and others have had production issues with the china factory (sameone?) but thankfully quality control remains good, can't say much for Athearn and the various guises Walthers/Proto 2000 have had as they rarely do models I actually want. I always feel for friends with English tastes as your story is one I've heard before. My 2 local model shops are in despair about the state of Hornby .

Link to comment
  • RMweb Gold
toboldlygo
  • RMweb Gold

The waddle on the Grange, sounds like bowed coupling rods to me. The vacuum spindle being missing could be down to lost tooling having to be remade and those pesky Chinese not reading the drawing properly!

 

The one photo I've found of 90312, it did gain a late crest, but had the top feed cover in place. However I not sure about it ever being allocated to Old Oak Common, all the info I have at hand show it as being allocated to Cardiff Canton 6/10/56, Southall 26/3/60, Didcot 25/3/61, Ebbw Jct. 20/5/61, Llanelly 7/10/61 & Gorton 16/6/62.

Link to comment
Silver Sidelines

Thank you TBG.  Yes Southall, my mistake I have corrected the Post.  That is one of the problems with elderflower wine late at night.  I like your other details, running with a late crest - good - so very suitable for my layout.  Regards  Ray

Link to comment
John Tomlinson

Whilst some ran without top feed cover but retained the fire iron tunnel, I've never found a photo of one the other way round - cue one to appear! So it sounds as if you're OK here Ray.

 

John.

Link to comment
Horsetan

There's quite a bit more value engineering - Refined's impression of the crosshead shape and slidebars are also noticeably coarser than previous SK batches. The driving wheel centre moulding / presentation of the spokes appear thicker, especially the part representing the rim.

 

Running the magnifying glass over SK and R models may reveal other slight downgrades in the latter.

 

Thanks Bob, Andy Young has a very good thread on RMweb interviewing the new Hornby Team.  They just don't get it.  A similar problem to the crowd in Westminster - living on a different planet?

 

The new factory may not quite understand the nuances of the various models yet either.

Link to comment
Silver Sidelines

Thanks Horsetan. I am still having difficulty adjusting to the idea that each new factory has to set about redesigning the product. But then as an engineering undergraduate we had lectures in economics - I think the text book was written by Cairncross - with large chunks about the economies of scale. Something that obviously passed Mrs T's grocer's shops completely by. Quite relevant to this Post when you see all the little vans driving around the countryuside all picking up parcels for different couriers.

 

Regards

 

Ray

Link to comment
Horsetan

Thanks Horsetan. I am still having difficulty adjusting to the idea that each new factory has to set about redesigning the product. But then as an engineering undergraduate we had lectures in economics - I think the text book was written by Cairncross - with large chunks about the economies of scale. Something that obviously passed Mrs T's grocer's shops completely by. Quite relevant to this Post when you see all the little vans driving around the countryuside all picking up parcels for different couriers.

Jacks of all trades, in a way.....

 

....and still master of none.

 

Link to comment

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...