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Silver Sidelines

Entry posted by Silver Sidelines

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This Post is made in response to the appearance of Heljan’s latest BR Green 47xx. Heljan’s choice of colours for both the engine green and the lining has evoked a certain amount of correspondence within the railway modelling community. I thought it might be useful to bring together some of my pictures. Some have already been posted elsewhere showing the new Heljan model in company with some older models from Bachmann and Hornby. I used the same title back in 2014 for a Post when I repainted the white cab roof of a Hornby ‘Royal’ Britannia:

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/880/entry-13640-shades-of-green-–-Hornby-britannia-r3094/

This time I am using the title as an excuse to post some pictures of my latest acquisition, Heljan BR green 47xx, number 4705.

30151046968_4023b210b1_b.jpg
The Night Owl has landed

The perceived wisdom is that the model is rather bright.

30151049738_fbea65a719_b.jpg
The Royal Duchy?

My first impressions are that the orange lining is rather more ‘luminous’ than the lining on say Hornby or Bachmann models.

I have to say I am beginning to quite like the model. It is seriously weighty, runs super smoothly and will haul everything I would wish. There is a video below showing 4705 heading a chocolate and cream rake of Bachmann Mk1 coaches, close coupled with Hornby R8220 couplers. The Heljan model will haul the train up and down my ‘1 in 60’ gradients with no need for any additional ballast, a feat only shared with Hornby’s Britannias and Bachmann’s Evening Star. Most other steam outline models have required the addition of lead within the boiler space for use on my layout.

http://youtu.be/EOhMFH9qU30

Is the colour of the lining much different from that on other models? Colour can be very subjective and appearance will be dependent on the lighting and the type of camera and settings used to capture images. I am not knowing what the correct colours would be, that opens up a whole different ‘can of worms’. However I thought it might be useful to view the model in the company of some contemporary locomotives that other modellers might be familiar with.

43980500952_c02e2695d0_b.jpg
'Shades of Green' – left to right, Bachmann 43xx (31-831), 4705, Hornby Llanvair Grange (R3452) with Bachmann Blue Peter in the background

I have judged the Heljan 47xx as being extremely delicate, based on the number of instances reported on RMweb where models have been received with significant numbers of bits broken off. I have not as yet attempted to separate the Heljan engine and tender, and for the detailed comparison of the cab lining I have had to position the Bachmann 43xx closer to the camera. That said the cab lining of the Bachmann model seems identical in thickness to the Heljan model - just a bit more orange in colour.

43122967955_dbbe1e02d1_b.jpg
'Shades of Green' – Bachmann 43xx (31-831) versus Heljan 4705 (4784)

Some more comparisons below (my Bachmann Evening Star was one from the first batch and is fitted with Fox Plates):

43130452955_736ccf0169_b.jpg
'Shades of Green' left to right – Bachmann Conyngham Hall (32-001), 4705, Hornby King George I (R3384)

29099289117_00ce23dee2_b.jpg
'Shades of Green' left to right – Bachmann Evening Star (32-850), 4705, Hornby Overton Grange (R2502)

43317622674_19e9d05ac2_b.jpg
'Shades of Green' Tenders: Heljan 4705 (4784) (L), Bachmann Evening Star (32-850) ®, Overton Grange (2502) (top)

43317621454_a169899ea1_b.jpg
'Shades of Green' Tenders: Heljan 4705 (4784) (L), Bachmann Evening Star (32-850) ®

For completeness I have included some details of the lighting and the camera that I used.

The images are all taken on my layout which is illuminated by 22w LED tubes. These tubes are described as 4000k lumen daylight type and were replacements for older 5ft fluorescent tubes.

30367365743_1262841d7f_b.jpg
Retrofit LED Tubes - the offer

I changed from fluorescent tubes to LED tubes in 2016. Some literature would have you believe that you can install LED tubes directly into fluorescent fittings. I am not a lighting expert but it seems ‘wrong’ to me to have the ballasts and starters all in circuit and powered up. I followed the instructions with my tubes and stripped out the redundant equipment as shown below.

30357649324_cac7bc28b2_b.jpg
Retrofit LED Tubes -5ft battens before (bottom) and after (top)

To make the pictures I used a Sony DSC-HX400V camera with basic setting unaltered since its purchase. To get a crisp image I use the camera in manual mode with the aperture set to f8. My images are hosted on Flickr which provides XIF information for each picture. As an example I have included the XIF details below for the image of 4705 that I used at the start of this Post. I should say that I whilst I recognise a lot of the terms and numbers I am not sufficiently expert to explain what they all mean, or to check that the settings are indeed the optimum for the task. I would say there are no secrets as I see the ambient temperature is listed as 28C which would have been about right for the end of our recent heat wave (seems a long time ago now in the grey and damp of a Scottish August).

Appendix - XIF Information
• Aperture ƒ/8.0
• Focal length 26.1 mm
• Exposure time 5
• ISO 80
• Flash (off, did not fire)
• Make - SONY
• Orientation - Horizontal (normal)
• X-Resolution - 350 dpi
• Y-Resolution - 350 dpi
• Software - DSC-HX400V v2.10
• Date and Time (Modified) - 2018:08:13 20:48:20
• YCbCr Positioning - Co-sited
• ISO Speed - 80
• Sensitivity Type - Recommended Exposure Index
• Recommended Exposure Index - 80
• Exif Version - 0230
• Date and Time (Original) - 2018:08:13 20:48:20
• Date and Time (Digitized) - 2018:08:13 20:48:20
• Components Configuration - Y, Cb, Cr, -
• Compressed Bits Per Pixel - 2
• Brightness Value - -0.7171875
• Exposure Bias - 0 EV
• Max Aperture Value - 4.5
• Metering Mode - Multi-segment
• Light Source - Unknown
• Flashpix Version - 0100
• Color Space - sRGB
• File Source - Digital Camera
• Scene Type - Directly photographed
• Custom Rendered - Normal
• Exposure Mode - Manual
• White Balance - Auto
• Digital Zoom Ratio - 1
• Scene Capture Type - Standard
• Contrast - Normal
• Saturation - Normal
• Sharpness - Normal
• Lens Info - 4.3-215mm f/2.8-6.3
• Rating - 0
• Contrast - 0
• Saturation - 0
• Sharpness - 0
• Brightness - 0
• Long Exposure Noise Reduction - On (dark subtracted)
• High ISONoise Reduction - Normal
• HDR - Off; Uncorrected image
• WBShift AB_ GM - 0 0
• Face Info Offset - 94
• Sony Date Time - 2018:08:13 20:48:20
• Sony Image Height - 3888
• Sony Image Width - 5184
• Faces Detected - 0
• Face Info Length - 37
• Meta Version - DC7303320222000
• Creative Style - Standard
• Color Temperature - Auto
• Color Compensation Filter - 0
• Scene Mode - Standard
• Zone Matching - ISO Setting Used
• Dynamic Range Optimizer - Auto
• Image Stabilization - On
• Color Mode - Standard
• Full Image Size - 5184x3888
• Preview Image Size - 1440x1080
• File Format - ARW 2.3.1
• Quality - Fine
• Flash Exposure Comp - 0
• White Balance Fine Tune - 0
• White Balance - Auto
• Sony Model ID - Unknown (0)
• Multi Frame Noise Reduction - Off
• Picture Effect - Off
• Soft Skin Effect - Off
• Vignetting Correction - n/a
• Lateral Chromatic Aberration - n/a
• Distortion Correction - n/a
• Lens Spec - 24-1200mm F2.8-6.3
• Auto Portrait Framed - No
• Macro - Off
• Exposure Mode - Manual
• AFIlluminator - Off
• JPEGQuality - Fine
• Flash Level - Normal
• Release Mode - Normal
• Sequence Number - Single
• Anti- Blur - On (Shooting)
• Focus Mode - AF-S
• High ISONoise Reduction2 - Normal
• Intelligent Auto - Off
• Release Mode2 - Normal
• Shot Number Since Power Up - 2
• Sequence Image Number - 1
• Sequence Length - 1 shot
• Sequence File Number - 1
• Camera Orientation - Horizontal (normal)
• Quality2 - JPEG
• Ambient Temperature - 28 C
• AFArea Mode - Multi
• Sony Exposure Time2 - 4.7
• Exposure Time - 5
• Sony FNumber - 5.0
• Sony Max Aperture Value - 4.4
• Picture Effect2 - Off
• Release Mode3 - Normal
• Stops Above Base ISO - 0
• Brightness Value - -0.717187500000001
• HDRSetting - Off
• Exposure Compensation - 0
• Metering Mode - Multi-segment
• WB_ RGBLevels - 354 256 778
• Min Focal Length - 4.3 mm
• Max Focal Length - 215.0 mm
• Interop Index - R98 - DCF basic file (sRGB)
• Interop Version - 0100
• Print IMVersion - 0300
• Compression - JPEG (old-style)
• Make - SONY
• Orientation - Horizontal (normal)
• Software - DSC-HX400V v2.10
• Modify Date - 2018:08:13 20:48:20
• Thumbnail Offset - 31940
• Thumbnail Length - 11256
• MPFVersion - 0100
• Number Of Images - 2
• MPImage Flags - Representative image, Dependent parent image
• MPImage Format - JPEG
• MPImage Type - Baseline MP Primary Image
• MPImage Length - 5524413
• MPImage Start - 0
• Dependent Image1 Entry Number - 2
• Dependent Image2 Entry Number - 0
• MPImage Flags - Dependent child image
• MPImage Format - JPEG
• MPImage Type - Large Thumbnail (full HD equivalent)
• MPImage Length - 550690
• MPImage Start - 5528064
• Dependent Image1 Entry Number - 0
• Dependent Image2 Entry Number - 0
• Camera ID - 72157640322036306
• Camera Type - Point and Shoot

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9 Comments

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  • RMweb Gold
toboldlygo
  • RMweb Gold

I think 50 Shades of BR Green, would be more apt - as there are so many variations in OO Gauge around ;)

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  • RMweb Gold
Mikkel
  • RMweb Gold

Interesting comparisons, Ray. Seen on its own, I like the deep green shade of the Night Owl - but the lining seems very yellow and maybe that's what makes the green appear rather bright.

 

As a Dane I have followed Heljan through the years and it's almost become a tradition how erratic they are, sometimes producing great stuff and at other times less so.

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Silver Sidelines

Thank you Mikkel

 

I am mpressed that you still have time to correspond during these moving times.

 

Interesting comparisons, Ray. Seen on its own, I like the deep green shade of the Night Owl - but the lining seems very yellow and maybe that's what makes the green appear rather bright.

 

As a Dane I have followed Heljan through the years and it's almost become a tradition how erratic they are, sometimes producing great stuff and at other times less so.

 

I have a number of Heljan Westerns which perform splendidly and I see no reason to swap to Mr Dapol.  That said there is one model, D1002 Western Explorer which has a distinctly odd colour.  It is gloss finish and looks to be painted in Malachite Green.  I shall look it out and see if I can add an image here.

 

Regards

 

Ray

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Silver Sidelines

As promised Shades of Heljan Green

 

30350243058_3ff51de966_b.jpg

Heljan Shades of Green, right to left, Night Owl, Emperor, Explorer and part of Empress

 

It's almost become a tradition how erratic they are.

Regards

 

Ray

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John Tomlinson

Well, it looks as if Emperor and Empress are the same! Interesting that Explorer was given a dark grey roof to go with its gloss green.

 

The 47xx appears to be a satin finish, somewhere between the matt and gloss of the Westerns, and this may account for some of the difference.

 

Like you Ray, I see no reason to swap my Heljan Westerns for the Dapol variety, and live quite happily with the cab roof profile, something frankly I'd never have spotted had it not been pointed out.

 

John.

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Silver Sidelines

Thanks John

 

Emperor was a recent addition that I couldn't let pass whilst Empress was new back in 2009 - they look identical .  Badge engineering?

 

Well, it looks as if Emperor and Empress are the same! Interesting that Explorer was given a dark grey roof to go with its gloss green.

.

 

Explorer was supposedly brand new from Olivia's in 2013.  Looking at the shiny bright green colour he may well have been selling difficult to shift stock?

 

King is my favourite but then that is a totally different shade of green, maroon green!

 

Cheers Ray

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  • RMweb Gold
Mikkel
  • RMweb Gold

As promised Shades of Heljan Green

 

30350243058_3ff51de966_b.jpg

Heljan Shades of Green, right to left, Night Owl, Emperor, Explorer and part of Empress

 

 

Regards

 

Ray

 

Thanks Ray. That's an intriguing line-up - and I don't just mean the Heljan greens. The loco designs actually look good together, I think!

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