norman Posted June 19, 2017 Share Posted June 19, 2017 Hi Norman, My blue Peak arrived the same, damaged with the motor bogie hanging out when you lifted the loco - all the internal clips had snapped off - because the bolts had been overtightened, one so much I couldn't move it even with a power drill! My retailer and Heljan were very good, it went back to Heljan in Denmark and a brand new one in perfect condition was returned. I'm told they had major problems with the 60s and recent 37s due to the foam inserts. The foam being used compresses too much when 4kg of loco is pushed against it - apparently there have been way too many damaged 37s. This idea was suppose to prevent movement, and two retailers have told me that although there have been issues, they are 80-85% lower than the number of damaged 37s. Cannot qualify if that's true or not, but two independent retailers have told me the same thing, so it looks to be more secure in transit. Packing locos away in their boxes for us, however is a different story! Rich Hi I'm still waiting for my replacement and hope it arrives undamaged. The new method of packaging that Heljan have used is unbelievably poor so I am hoping they take extra care this time. But I'm not sure yet what I will do if the replacement arrives broken. My 60 and two 37s arrived undamaged so the packaging used then worked well for me. Norman Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold MarshLane Posted June 19, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 19, 2017 Hi I'm still waiting for my replacement and hope it arrives undamaged. The new method of packaging that Heljan have used is unbelievably poor so I am hoping they take extra care this time. But I'm not sure yet what I will do if the replacement arrives broken. My 60 and two 37s arrived undamaged so the packaging used then worked well for me. Norman Hi Norman, I think the new packaging, for postage is in all honesty a lot better IF (and its a big IF) the securing bolts are not over or under tightened. Personally I think the current system, with some foam as a backup at the ends would be best. Once the loco has arrived with its owner however, I'd far rather have the old system as I cannot see many people bolting their locos to the board just for storage! But the issue with the new style does seem to be the over tightening of bolts causing them to break away from the MDF board - rather than any problems with the principal itself. We'll have to wait and see what the next release brings I guess. Rich Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
norman Posted June 19, 2017 Share Posted June 19, 2017 Hi Norman, I think the new packaging, for postage is in all honesty a lot better IF (and its a big IF) the securing bolts are not over or under tightened. Personally I think the current system, with some foam as a backup at the ends would be best. Once the loco has arrived with its owner however, I'd far rather have the old system as I cannot see many people bolting their locos to the board just for storage! But the issue with the new style does seem to be the over tightening of bolts causing them to break away from the MDF board - rather than any problems with the principal itself. We'll have to wait and see what the next release brings I guess. Rich Hi Rich I have witnessed first hand how white van drivers treat parcels. They are hard pressed to deliver their assigned parcels and do not have time to treat them with TLC. IMHO There is no way that the packaging used by Heljan for the class 45 would survive if subject to a standard 1 metre drop test. The lack of foam at the ends enables the loco to bounce on its two 5mm mounting screws tearing them through the flimsy MDF base. Norman. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lodekka Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 Hi Rich I have witnessed first hand how white van drivers treat parcels. They are hard pressed to deliver their assigned parcels and do not have time to treat them with TLC. IMHO There is no way that the packaging used by Heljan for the class 45 would survive if subject to a standard 1 metre drop test. The lack of foam at the ends enables the loco to bounce on its two 5mm mounting screws tearing them through the flimsy MDF base. Norman. I agree with all of this (although I was lucky as I collected my loco from the Tower stand at Doncaster and it therefore avoided the rough handling), this aside, my main gripe is when the loco is used at shows or periodically taken around to other places I cannot see many will bolt it back in... The foam was good in the old boxes and maybe just needed a small trim to ease access, but in the new style packaging with nothing at each end of the box, damage is almost inevitable unless you add more foam like it did... For a £500+ loco this should have been better. As was also said earlier, it can't have had any packaging testing carried out or they would have seen it... Commercial (bulk) delivery is generally a better standard than white van man or a postal round and if they based their experience on a palleted shipment then I can see why they might have thought it was ok. As I said I'm my original post, superb loco - really good... Very poor packaging.. In fact a friend has very kindly offered me one of his original CL40 boxes to use instead... Should fit fairly well... Regards Lodekka Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lodekka Posted August 19, 2017 Share Posted August 19, 2017 Now got the CL40 box from a friend... Thanks Ray. CL45 fits perfectly and is quite snug. Will probably trim just a little of the foam at the ends to protect fine details and make removal/replacement that bit easier. Otherwise much much better than original packaging which is now going in the loft. I sense a small market for original Heljan packaging in these sort of cases... Perhaps try to speak with them at Telford Now looking forward to the 05's and the DMU's... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
norman Posted September 29, 2017 Share Posted September 29, 2017 I have finally received my replacement loco. It's taken along time and I have been very patient. So Now I'm playing catchup. In the add on bag there are: 2 x 8 top lamp bracket 4 x 11 corner lamp bracket 2 x 16 'triangular' plain body panel 6 x 20 bodyside step covers (etched) 2 x 27 roof panel (etched) 2 each 70 & 71 sandboxes 2 x 127 bodyside panel (etched) But there's no info on where these should fit any help would be really appreciated. Norman Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Hal Nail Posted September 29, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 29, 2017 The lamp brackets are just spares. Triangular panels alternative type to those already fitted, etched covers for the steps and the two roof water fillers at the top of the steps which were generally played over later. Sandboxes on the bogie and the body panels for the small grills. You need a decent photo to see which options apply. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
norman Posted September 30, 2017 Share Posted September 30, 2017 The lamp brackets are just spares. Triangular panels alternative type to those already fitted, etched covers for the steps and the two roof water fillers at the top of the steps which were generally played over later. Sandboxes on the bogie and the body panels for the small grills. You need a decent photo to see which options apply. Thanks Hal I need one of those spare brackets already - they are fragile and very vulnerable. Just received today a book Power of the Peaks - Oxford Publishing with a few good detail shots which will help. Norman Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel_H Posted October 6, 2017 Share Posted October 6, 2017 (edited) You will move to O you will move to O..... Come over to the dark side you'll love it I was just about to move over; fortunately, all the weathered blue ones have sold out. Phew! Edited October 6, 2017 by Mel_H Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolf27 Posted January 14, 2018 Share Posted January 14, 2018 I bought a green Heljan 45 a couple of weeks ago as it was a bargain but it couldn't stay like that! As bought Untitled by Shane Wilton, on Flickr Just over a week later the transformation is all but complete. by Shane Wilton, on Flickr cheers Shane 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
delticfan Posted January 14, 2018 Share Posted January 14, 2018 Wow! Great result, good example of what can be achieved, very impressed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidB Posted January 14, 2018 Share Posted January 14, 2018 Beautiful - just how I remember them. Seriously classy work Shane (as always). David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
deltic17 Posted January 15, 2018 Share Posted January 15, 2018 I bought a green Heljan 45 a couple of weeks ago as it was a bargain but it couldn't stay like that! As bought Untitled by Shane Wilton, on Flickr Just over a week later the transformation is all but complete. by Shane Wilton, on Flickr cheers Shane 45062 looks really superb - well done - I wish I could turn them round in 'just over a week' - it seems to take me months to do up each Heljan O Guage loco. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RANGERS Posted January 15, 2018 Share Posted January 15, 2018 I bought a green Heljan 45 a couple of weeks ago as it was a bargain but it couldn't stay like that! As bought Untitled by Shane Wilton, on Flickr Just over a week later the transformation is all but complete. by Shane Wilton, on Flickr cheers Shane That does look like all 130 odd tons of Derby's finest, a superb looking job. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolf27 Posted January 15, 2018 Share Posted January 15, 2018 Before I rolled it around in the mud Untitled by Shane Wilton, on Flickr And other post mud bath Untitled by Shane Wilton, on Flickr cheers Shane 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinsley-toton Posted January 15, 2018 Share Posted January 15, 2018 Looks good Wolf27, any pics of the marker light conversion ? I'm waiting for my 45 to arrive. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolf27 Posted January 15, 2018 Share Posted January 15, 2018 I didn’t take any pics of the modifications but it’s really easy. I just removed any raised detail around the existing headcode, applied some filler and smoothed it off and repeat until I was happy with it. The lens surrounds are from Extreme Etchings with a 1,7mm hole drilled in the centre. When I have them, class 20 lenses from the Heljan spares will be fitted. No mods required to the lighting either! Cheers Shane 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Gary H Posted January 28, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 28, 2018 I didn’t take any pics of the modifications but it’s really easy. I just removed any raised detail around the existing headcode, applied some filler and smoothed it off and repeat until I was happy with it. The lens surrounds are from Extreme Etchings with a 1,7mm hole drilled in the centre. When I have them, class 20 lenses from the Heljan spares will be fitted. No mods required to the lighting either! Cheers Shane When you say centre, is that the centre of each of the origonal headcode box's? I'm just wondering how you arrived at the spacing of the marker lights? Whatever method you used, it looks bang on!! Very nice and I m half tempted to do it myself if and when I get one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolf27 Posted January 28, 2018 Share Posted January 28, 2018 Not quite the centre of each headcode, I have the dimensions in the loft, I’ll post them tomorrow. Cheers Shane Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinsley-toton Posted April 4, 2018 Share Posted April 4, 2018 Before I call the supplier and say that they've fitted the wrong nameplates to my BR blue 45014, does anyone remember 45s fitted with black plates, I can't. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian daniels Posted April 4, 2018 Share Posted April 4, 2018 Just googled it and it came up with red ones. Also should not have a border around the name. Who's plates are they? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leopardml2341 Posted April 4, 2018 Share Posted April 4, 2018 (edited) Agree about the border, for this one, but when I 'copped' it (mid '70s) the plates had a blue background. Edit adds date. Edited April 4, 2018 by leopardml2341 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinsley-toton Posted April 4, 2018 Share Posted April 4, 2018 (edited) Just googled it and it came up with red ones. Also should not have a border around the name. Who's plates are they? I don't know Brian, Tower Models supplied and fitted them. I just noticed yours on Flickr, Who's plates are they ? Thanks T-T Edited April 4, 2018 by tinsley-toton Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian daniels Posted April 4, 2018 Share Posted April 4, 2018 These I used are all Severn Mill, not cheap but very nice but you do have to paint them yourself. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
deltic17 Posted April 4, 2018 Share Posted April 4, 2018 I believe 45023 had black nameplates in the late 70’s/early 80’s but can’t recall any others - certainly not 45014 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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