RMweb Premium John M Upton Posted March 3, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 3, 2012 Hello I was wondering if Heljan have completely dropped the Class 58 from their lineup? There seems to have been no releases for quite some time and they have also all but dried up on the second hand market. Are there any plans to release any more as the only competition is the awful Hornby thing and even that seems to have all but gone. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bert Cheese Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 Hattons still have 6 available in Mainline Freight grey at £49 each.... The model got quite a panning when released though, the moulds are probably in the same cupboard they have just put the Cl86 in? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold BR Blue Posted March 3, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 3, 2012 Hattons still have 6 available in Mainline Freight grey at £49 each.... The model got quite a panning when released though, the moulds are probably in the same cupboard they have just put the Cl86 in? What was the main problem with them? I recall that the bogies need a little bit of work but were there problems with the body too? I never had the 58 down as one of Heljan's poorer efforts like the 86 but willing to be corrected. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bert Cheese Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 I don't recall any particular major disasters with the 58's, just a few niggling errors with window dimensions, livery errors and lighting faults. The trouble being that people were waiting for them with some anticipation and felt Heljan had perhaps not made the definitive model they were hoping for. Overall the reception I saw was not overly enthusiastic, though perhaps the market for post 1980's heavy freight is limited anyway? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium John M Upton Posted March 3, 2012 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted March 3, 2012 I do recall there were some livery errors so I held off buying one from the initial releases and waited with anticipation for a later release but it never came. May just pick up a Hattons cheapie and get to work with the paint if I feel the need!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold BR Blue Posted March 3, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 3, 2012 Thanks for the info everyone. The lighting problems rings a bell and I now recall some issue with the printing of the cabside numbers but nothing too serious. I must have a look at the windows. I bought one awhile ago cheap from Hattons and will eventually get around to re-numbering it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
deltic79 Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 The original trainload versions were missing the black paint on the cab doors and the grey on the bodyside grills. This made them look a little plain in my eyes. This was also the batch that had the wiring problems when chipped and needed a capacitor snipping out to rectify. Neither were big issues that couldn't be fixed but the thoughts of many, myself included, would be why should the consumer have to fix such basic faults. The second batch was much better in this respect and I picked up one of each in trainload coal (58048) and Railfreight red stripe (58041). The trainload coal version (Coventry Colliery) has the depot plaque on the drivers door rather than the secondman's door. Not a particularly big error, but another one nevertheless. So the second batch pretty much re-ran the first liveries but with most of the errors fixed and I guess between them, must have satisfied the need of most modellers (unless you were modelling Shirebrook in the late 80's . When it comes down to it I guess it always had it's limitations in model form. There were only 6 British liveries to pick from (and that's including EW&S plus EWS which are subtle variations of the same livery in many respects) and a circa 20 year lifespan of the prototype. It doesn't have the cult following of the transition era diesels that Heljan seem to have found successful for them, though these are marketed as limited runs so I presume weren't manufactured in the same quantity as the model 58s. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium richierich Posted October 26, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 26, 2013 I was wondering if there will ever be another run of this model. Its better than the Hornby model. I've not seen a used one for a long time, so people I guess are hanging onto them? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melly Posted October 29, 2013 Share Posted October 29, 2013 I was wondering if there will ever be another run of this model. Its better than the Hornby model. I've not seen a used one for a long time, so people I guess are hanging onto them? I posed that very question to Howes only last week, commenting on the high demand and £££ for second hand models. I was told that another run is going/likely to take place in probably 6-9 months time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grimleygrid Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 Hi Melly, thanks for the info that is great news. Fingers crossed for another Original Railfreight version...... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melly Posted January 18, 2014 Share Posted January 18, 2014 Hi ! I have also spoken to howes today but was told the complete opposite ?! I wanted to know because I currently have a 58 I'm selling and wanted to know if I should keep the profits back in the hope I can get hold of an ews version with it ! Marcus Yes Carefreefc, I was confused as well. Having enquire politely at Warley at the Heljan stand about further batches of replacement wheel-sets and 58's and was told in a very brusque and insulting manner that there would be none and then he walked off. His manners (or lack of) really got my back up . I believe the lack of future wheel sets is something along the lines of Heljan will only produce batches of X size which is farrrr in excessive of what the anticipated demand could be. Reading between the lines I think we may have difficulty obtaining spares support for some of the 'legacy' items in their ranges. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grimleygrid Posted January 18, 2014 Share Posted January 18, 2014 Hi Melly, that is not good to hear and very disappointing. Perhaps it is time for Hornby to release a new super detailed class 58. I would certainly be interested in a few! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
class37418stag Posted January 25, 2014 Share Posted January 25, 2014 hello everyone Heljan class 58 will release this nov/dec 2014 by rare model from olivias trains http://www.oliviastrains.com/trains/model-trains/Heljan/Heljan-class-58/ cost £116.00 per locomotive no deposit but only you can order the locomotive with left your address thank you Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grimleygrid Posted January 25, 2014 Share Posted January 25, 2014 Thanks for the information Andrew that is great news. Two Original Railfreight ones too, excellent job! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melly Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 Well well well. . . . . . seems that Olivia Trains are doing some 58's with Heljan. Details here ; http://www.oliviastrains.com/olivias-latest-additions/ Cut and paste details below. Olivia’s Trains/ Heljan are pleased to announce that we will be releasing 8 New versions of the Class 58.The Following will be produced: 58201 – Mainline Triple Grey – Running Number: 58012. 58211 – Railfreight Coal – Running Number: 58045. 58221 – Railfreight Redstripe – Running Number: 58006. 58231 – Railfreight Redstripe (Orange Cantrail) – Running Number: 58036. 58241 – EWS Maroon & Gold – Running Number: 58030. 58251 – Mainline Blue – Running Number: 58038. 58261 – Plain Triple Grey – Running Number – 58028. 58271 – EW&S Maroon & Gold – Running Number: 58016. Estimated Delivery November – December 2014. Locomotive Prices:£116 – Analogue.£132 – Decoder Fitted.£221 – Olivia’s Sound Fitted.Additional Work Available:£ 7 – Cab Light (Per Cab- DCC Only)£20 – Weathering &/ or Renumber.£ 3 – etched Depot Plaques & Nameplates (Where Applicable) With examples going for anything from £125 - £200 on ebay this is a most welcome development. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
birdseyecircus Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 Great news. One Railfreight red stripe 58036 requested! Paul Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Igor Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 I do hope they are going to make an effort to correct the well-publicised errors/faults with this model before the second run. (It was quite critically reviewed in several publications and I think their was a large article in Traction magazine at the time?) Igor Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveb860 Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 Melly, Andrew beat your post by several days!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Traksy Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Great news! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Removed a/c Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Awesome news, can't wait for these. I may have to get me one, two or three Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lyneux Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 I do hope they are going to make an effort to correct the well-publicised errors/faults with this model before the second run. (It was quite critically reviewed in several publications and I think their was a large article in Traction magazine at the time?) Igor Igor, without stating what the perceived faults are you are just spreading rumours. Searching for "Heljan Class 58 errors" on Google doesn't really help so stating that the errors are "well publicised" just isn't true. I don't think livery problems or electrical issues are really "errors" as both of these are easily correctable unlike errors with the basic shape (think Class 33/0 roof profile, Class 86 cab etc). There are a few issues with the alignment of the wheels and e.g. late detail variations appearing on a model of an early prototype but this kind of thing happens all the time (e.g. Hornby never seem quite able to get all the detail variations 100% correct for the given prototype with some of their 56 releases). On balance, the Heljan model is a pretty good one! Guy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Igor Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 I don't think livery problems or electrical issues are really "errors" as both of these are easily correctable unlike errors with the basic shape (think Class 33/0 roof profile, Class 86 cab etc). There are a few issues with the alignment of the wheels and e.g. late detail variations appearing on a model of an early prototype but this kind of thing happens all the time (e.g. Hornby never seem quite able to get all the detail variations 100% correct for the given prototype with some of their 56 releases). Guy, If the are easily correctable or not doesn't matter. They shouldn't happen at all on a new model! And just because Hornby are so bad doesn't make it OK. There were quiet a few painting 'howlers' and I remember the reviews in Traction Modeller and Railway Express at the time weren't the most flattering. Underwhelmed I think they said. I haven't got them in front of me. Being a bit of a bone fan myself, there's something not right about the cabside window shape and the cab door windows were in the wrong position. I made a list at the time but that's probably filed away with the old back issues! Was this the one where they spelt 'Mainline' wrong? Igor Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigherb Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 Why do you have to single out Hornby, are you forgetting that all the manufactures have made and are still making mistakes. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
deltic79 Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 Whilst I don't recall any shape issues being reported as significant issues and none that irked with me (though I stand to be corrected) there were two main livery issues in with the original releases. Firstly are the overly heavy '58' versus the running number on the Railfreight red stripe models which made it look a little like '58 001'. Secondly are the missing black cab doors/grey bodyside doors on the first batch of Trainload versions. This was corrected for the second batch though the depot plaque for 'Coventry Colliery' was incorrectly printed on the driver's cabside door rather than the secondman's. Interestingly the Olivias artwork (which hopefully is just representative of the actual models and not finalised) seems to show the heavy '58' on the Railfreight models yet again (see http://www.oliviastrains.com/wp-content/files_mf/139056245011058221_side1.jpg and http://www.oliviastrains.com/wp-content/files_mf/139056245011058221_side1.jpg). Whilst the Plain Triple Grey livery (http://www.oliviastrains.com/wp-content/files_mf/139056235611058261_side1.jpg) looks to be correct the Trainload Coal (http://www.oliviastrains.com/wp-content/files_mf/139056426611058211_side1.jpg) and Mainline Grey (http://www.oliviastrains.com/wp-content/files_mf/139083295611058201_side1.jpg) versions are missing the black cab doors and grey bodyside doors again. Still, at least the spelling of 'Mainline' looks to be correct. Perhaps old artwork has simply been tweaked as a representation of liveries for Olivias. Heljan got the second batch pretty much right from a livery perspective so there's no reason they can't do it again. Let's wait and see. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lyneux Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Why do you have to single out Hornby, are you forgetting that all the manufactures have made and are still making mistakes. Not singling them out, just providing an example of where, for a given class, there are a lot of detail variations and how it is hard for a manufacturer to get the right variations for a chosen class member at a point in time. e.g. with the 56 you have variations with: cab window style buffer beam cowling (full/half/none) buffers cab grill bodyside grills cab door handrail lengths headlight marker lights These varied throughout the class and through time as various components got replaced. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.