61661
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Posts posted by 61661
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14 hours ago, zr2498 said:
Ben
Just thinking about storage of this monster.
Could you please advise the total length?
Dave
It will be a shade under 350mm long - the real thing was 87ft 3in over the buffers.
We haven't designed the packaging yet, but expect the length to be something akin to a medium sized O gauge diesel box (but not as deep).
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22 hours ago, StuartGWR said:
Lovely to see this. But is Heljan doing anything about the valve gear? I bought one of the second batch, with lovely motors. However on its second/third wheel clean in 3 years (good) one of the 4 the return crank/eccentric rod pins flew out, never to be seen again (bad). I have tied the eccentric rod out of the way while trying to work out a solution. Can I trust the 2-8-8-2 to be any better? I had already placed on order, but don't know whether to proceed with it.
Hello,
For the avoidance of doubt, as there seems to be a perception that the LNER Garratt will somehow be a rehash of an older model, our new LNER U1 Garratt is a completely new model of a different loco that has nothing in common with the LMS model. It has been designed from scratch to our specification (as opposed to the specification laid down by the customer, in the case of the LMS Garratt) and it will be produced in a different factory which has a reputation for good quality. There will always be the odd 'rogue' among a batch of mass produced RTR models (no-one is immune from that), but this model will not go into production until we are entirely satisfied with its quality and performance.
Hope this helps.
Ben
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1 hour ago, WILLIAM said:
Any rough idea when they are due with retailers Ben? Just trying to budget around what looks like an expensive year. Thanks.
No firm release date at the moment unfortunately. We hope to have new samples before CNY and that will give us a better idea of the likely timescale. As it’s a new product for the factory concerned we want to make sure they get everything as we want it. On the up side, we know the quality is higher than the previous factory so the disappointment of the closure will (eventually) be something of a blessing in disguise.
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13 hours ago, Northern Electric said:
Did anyone mention those same errors on the 86401 NSE and 86417 Kingsman samples too?
It seems like Heljan chose the wrong body version for all three of these 86/4 special editions. Why!? They do have the correct tooling to depict the locos correctly!
I know they are only samplers, but putting out samples with major errors like that, apart from making them look like they don't really know what they're doing, will also put people off preordering. And surely they don't want that?
I'm in the market for 86401 but I'm not exactly filled with confidence so far, and thats coming from someone who has, and loves, their early edition AL6...
Thanks for the message. All three Class 86/4 rerun samples were produced by a new factory (due to the closure of the previous factory responsible for 86 production). Unfortunately they used some wrong parts for the first set of decorated samples and the samples were immediately rejected. Completely take your point about displaying incorrect samples and we avoid it wherever we can but at the time they were purely for illustrative purposes. New samples should be with us in the New Year that will have the correct combination of details for the locos modelled.
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1 hour ago, PieGuyRob said:
Ok thank you for that. Will you be tooling D9 post crash modification?
We have no plans at the moment. It would need its own bespoke bodyshell and internal lighting set-up (our Peaks don't have separate nose ends and we haven't done a late-build centre headcode end yet) and we didn't feel that the additional cost was justified for one loco in one, maybe two, liveries and relatively small demand.
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2 hours ago, GordonC said:
is the CAD image from before or after reshaping the windscreens?
The CAD image is the current state of play but I’ve asked our designer to look at it again.
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35 minutes ago, PieGuyRob said:
Will 44009 have a four character headcode box at the number one end?
The model of D9 (not 44009) is pre-crash with standard ends.
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On 26/11/2023 at 19:56, w124bob said:
Worth noting too that in as built condition the class were MU fitted and had 4 sand boxes per bogie, the MU stuff was removed fairly quickly but the sand boxes lingered into the mid/late 60's. D1 retained the boxes in 1967 but they were gone by 1969.
The model has been designed so that earlier locos have MW equipment and, as with the Class 45s, the sandboxes for the inner ends of the bogies are in the bag of optional detail parts and can be quickly and easily added if you need them. There are lots of little differences from the 45s that have been incorporated on the new 44 tooling - and quite a few differences even among the 10 locos that we have built into the tooling.
Windscreens have been reshaped in response to feedback about the 45s as has the curve at the top of the cab doors.Hope this helps.
Ben
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4 minutes ago, 97406 said:It looks like it’s inherited the droopy sad-eyed windscreens of its predecessors, so I’ll stick with my basic-but OK Bachmann examples.
That's not the case. Windscreen shape has been adjusted in response to feedback about the Class 45. Likewise there's been a very small adjustment to the curved area at the top of the cab door to make it more obvious.
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16 hours ago, Johan DC said:
I don't have much experience with Heljan, only have a couple of the very fine NER Railcars they made for RoS.
It's a steep price, but if you compared with £200 for a G5, very reasonable.
Is there a EU stockist where I can pre order?
Thanks. We think it will be good value, especially considering that it is effectively 2x 2-8-0s and four sets of wheels and motion. You will be able to order direct from www.Heljan.dk in the EU without having to get involved in any UK-related complications.
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On 17/11/2023 at 17:52, RichardT said:
I model in N, and my long-standing EOI with Hattons for an N LMS BG is obviously ever going to result in anything. Unless Heljan want to go it alone… (hint hint).
We had no involvement in the Hattons LMS Garratt in N. It was as much a surprise to us as everyone else! No plans to get into N scale, we have more than enough on our plate with OO and O at the moment!
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On 17/11/2023 at 17:05, No Decorum said:
The O2s aren’t far off; they’ll give us an idea of what to expect, although the only complaint I have about the earlier O2s is the odd finish. A Gresley O1 would be very welcome, Heljan!
The next batch of O2s is about to go into production. Despite the setback of the factory closure we’ve put a lot of work into improving detail parts and performance with the new factory and the deco will be much better (I have to admit giving the original batch a fairly critical mag review some years ago).
Although it’s true that the real U1 shared parts such as driving wheels and cylinders with the Gresley O2s we are not carrying anything from our O2 over to the Garratt. New design and a factory that has done some excellent stuff for us recently - a very different animal.
Thanks for the O1 suggestion. Let’s see how the new O2s sell first!-
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2 hours ago, BachelorBoy said:
I have vague memories that the Southern did actually consider buying a Garratt.
IIRC Maunsell wanted to build some for the West of England route.
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1 hour ago, Michael Hodgson said:
Will it run on 2nd radius curves?
And more to the point, will it clear the engine release crossover on a typical Great Western branch terminus?
Does it need two sound chips, one for each end?
I can't justify one, but I' ll have to have this - or maybe I should just finish the kit I've got, I never got round to assembling all that valve gear.
Yes. It’s designed for R2 curves. The speakers will be under the boiler as the noise comes out of the chimney.
And it depends on how long your release road is. ;-)-
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2 minutes ago, RichardT said:
Wow. The U1 is such a bonkers choice it deserves to succeed - and will probably do so, especially given the 2025 centenary. I was almost tempted myself as I model LNER (ex NER) - but in N! (But instead I’ve ordered a Rapido Y7 - if I’m going to dabble in 4mm it’s going to have to be a micro, not with a loco bigger than my baseboard…)
But I do have some sympathy with the cri de cœur raised above - all the core everyday locos that aren’t produced in 4mm, let alone 2mm, of which I’d buy multiples! (V3 tank anyone?) I suspect the manufacturers don’t get these requested because the fact is most railway modellers don’t actually know very much about railways - they just want shiny big rtr toys to trundle round the loft. I look forward to seeing a procession of completely unrealistic goods trains hauled by U1s on exhibition tailchasers from 2025 onwards. And good luck to them. The pity is that at one time those gaps would be filled by kits, but no longer. And please don’t say “3D printing” - for steam locos that’s promised a lot but delivered very little, especially as many designers don’t seem to give any thought as to how the body shells they produce might be motorised, or stand up to operation (e.g. incorporating fragile bits like buffers and boiler fittings into a one-piece shell). Anyway, going OT now.
RichardT
Glamour and weirdness sells - see also Pullman Cars, big shiny express Pacifics in colourful liveries, Deltics etc. All are vastly more common on model railways than humble 0-6-0s on coal trains or multiple units that outnumber/ed them. Perhaps less about railway knowledge (although that is undoubtedly a factor) and more about what fires the imagination.
As soon as it's possible, I'm going to talk to our Andy at Rapido and get the U1 and Y7 together for a photo shoot. ;-)
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1 minute ago, 7013 said:
"After the debacles of the Heljan LMS Garratts" What debacle would that be then? I have one that runs beautifully, looks the part and is a thoroughly good model. and it pulls better than any other steam loco I have.
Me too. My Dad's Garratt is a lovely runner.
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14 minutes ago, locoholic said:After the debacles of the Heljan LMS Garratts and the Lynton & Barnstaple 009 locos there is no way that I'm going to order one of these without seeing it run first!
I do wonder whether there is now a deliberate policy of choosing obscure, high-price locos for RTR, as it means batches can be smaller and the expense and difficulty of getting stuff made in China minimised, although doing the U1 in RTR does seem like Olympic standard masochism - not an easy win by any standard.
When was the last time Bachmann announced a main range standard gauge steam loco? Will we ever get a Maunsell U Class, a Fowler 3MT 2-6-2T or any of the other mainstream classes that have never been done in RTR?
Understand your situation. As someone who joined Heljan after those models were designed/released, I'm also determined to avoid similar issues and we have made great strides to do so in recent years. In that regard we are being helped by the fact that we now use different factories as one of our previous suppliers ceased production. The first running sample of the U1 is expected in January, so we'll see how it performs in the real world and it will not go into production until it does everything we ask of it to the required standard. I have a 1-in-25 gradient on my layout so I'm very much looking forward to seeing it tackle that with a big train.
What I can promise is that the LNER U1 will be a VERY different animal to its LMS cousin, which was designed to Hattons' specification and price point. Also worth noting that the problems that arose with the first batch of LMS B-Gs were addressed for the second batch, which did not have any issues.
With regard to loco choices, we listen to what people are asking for and make our own judgements on what is likely to sell enough to justify the investment. Over the last 15 years or so we've done numerous one-offs and obscure prototypes and generally they've been successful. We get numerous requests for prototype and other locos, but I can honestly say that I've never had a single request at a show or online for a Fowler 3MT, Maunsell U or similar 'missing links'. I'll leave it to RMwebbers to discuss why that might be.
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14 hours ago, Hal Nail said:
Looks very good apart from those thick orange lines in the windows which rather stand out (I'd never noticed them on the real thing before seeing the model) and should be white on early locos. Not sure I would fancy trying to remove them without frosting the glazing but finding it hard to see past them in the pics I've seen so far.
Just out of interest does the buckeye drop or detach? How do you couple it to, say, wagons?
It‘s a fully operational drophead buckeye coupler. It can be lowered to reveal the hook, as per the real thing.
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On 04/11/2023 at 09:23, norman said:
I wonder why the EW&S logos are missing. Perhaps it's just that Heljan will not pay for a licence to use them or maybe DB Schenker just said no. It's a pity because otherwise the 73 looks good.
Very simple answer - both 73s painted in this livery carried both the initial EW&S and later EWS branding so to give customers full flexibility we omitted the branding so that they could choose how to finish them. More often than not our O gauge models are delivered without numbers or printed details tying them to specific locos.
There’s no requirement for a licence to use the defunct EWS branding and, in any case, we have a long standing agreement in place with DB. Hope this helps.
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53 minutes ago, 96701 said:
Drooping couplings are my bete noir, with I'm sorry to say, Heljan diesels at the top of the frustrating list.
I think that was certainly the case on some of the older models from 10-15 years ago, but less so now as we‘ve changed the way the NEM pockets are mounted.
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55 minutes ago, Phil Bullock said:
Hi Ben
Is there a standard for couplings? My spares box is full of nonstandard ones if so!
Phil
In theory, yes! The coupler prongs and pocket should conform to NEM norms in terms of dimensions. However, as you suggest, the reality is that there's lots of variation across different manufacturers and coupling types, even where moulds are perhaps getting worn out. We have a couple of different tension lock sizes to cater for differing buffer lengths etc, plus cranked and straight versions to meet the NEM box height norm on different models.
I model Swiss/German HO and there's endless variation there - some couplings fit the boxes perfectly, others are a real squeeze or the prongs are over-sized.
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5 hours ago, BluenGreyAnorak said:
Yeah, that's right. They all look pretty good together. The rake was thrown together with standard couplings to make the vid as I was impatient to see them running but eventually they'll be fitted with fixed and/or magnetic couplings and live in two 3ft long cassettes. The Heljan tension locks are a bit poor anyway, to be honest, being relatively thick when compared to the Bachmann ones.
Thanks for the feedback about the couplings. We will look into this as they should be produced to NEM standards. I've checked the couplings in my sample pack and can confirm they are a bit tighter than I'd like. I very quickly ran a flat needle file over each side of one coupling and it fits much better now and can be removed more easily. However, it may be that the tooling for this part is not quite right so we'll ask the factory to check and adjust as necessary for future production.
Hope this helps.
Ben
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On 10/10/2023 at 14:03, Enterprisingwestern said:
Perhaps the triple packs aren't selling as well as hoped?
Mike.
Quite the opposite in fact. Almost all the triple packs were pre-sold before the stock arrived at our warehouse. The only ones we have left currently are small quantities of the factory weathered maroon and blue/grey packs, which are likely to sell out soon too. Pleasingly for us, pre-orders increased significantly in the last couple of months, despite events elsewhere.
The decision to offer individual vehicles was in response to feedback from customers. Fortunately our factory was prepared to be flexible and supplied the single vehicles as quickly as it could. In the end, they arrived from the factory not long after the packs - much more quickly than we expected.
Edit - just been informed that more than 75% of the singles have also been sold from the warehouse, so we're running low on all versions - packs and singles.
Hope this helps.
Ben
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On 10/10/2023 at 09:26, Great Waterton said:
What's the difference between early and late BR Blue?
Hello,
Just catching up on a few queries here about these new vehicles. Firstly, the early TCVs have Rail Blue roofs and brown-grey running gear, as per the standard for early corporate era repaints around 1966-ish. Later Blue/Grey NVV and NVX vehicles have standard dark grey roofs and black running gear.
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Heljan Class 44 Peak for OO
in Heljan
Posted
Thanks for the message. Unfortunately, as with any model, we can’t do every livery option for every version in the first batch but there’s nothing to stop us doing one or the other in the second batch (assuming Batch 1 sells well enough to justify a rerun!)