Beclawat Posted January 29, 2021 Share Posted January 29, 2021 If anyone has bought a maroon version of one of these coaches, please could you post a photo? Thanks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brossard Posted February 3, 2021 Share Posted February 3, 2021 I got my coaches yesterday. One had a report but the reason was hard to read. I had a quick look but couldn't see anything obviously wrong. The other had a report saying it had glue smears on the windows. I couldn't see anything obvious but it does have loose/broken steps. I will have to ponder how best to fix that. My other observation is the couplings. (there are screw links in a separate pack) These are dropped down buckeyes which seem to have some functionality. There is a hook but it looks pretty thick. For me the end couplings can stay more or less as they are since they will couple to the loco using the hook. The inside couplings may get replaced with Kadee, I have a pair of 0 gauge but looking at the buckeye, I need to check if a 00 Kadee is nearer the right size. Wondering how others have approached the coupling question. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jay*bobble Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 What a shame these could have been superb. Not what you would expect from Heljan .my be hattons could team up with Dapol .as Dapol models are a joy to own and run and you can get spares with out any fuss. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brossard Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 They are going to be superb Jay. I don't mind putting my personal touches to RTR, it makes them uniquely mine. At least they came out. Dapol/Lionheart have been futzing about with their Mk1 forever it seems. No doubt these too will be superb if we ever get them in our grubby hands. Darstaedt/Ellis Clarke Thompson's are going to be great too and they appear to be getting on with it. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidmouth Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 daft question , can I get away with a brake for a BR(W) themed branch line ........ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brossard Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 1 hour ago, sidmouth said: daft question , can I get away with a brake for a BR(W) themed branch line ........ Rule 1 applies in all cases. As long as you can justify it in your own mind. What's wrong with a Dapol B set? John 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidmouth Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 43 minutes ago, brossard said: Rule 1 applies in all cases. As long as you can justify it in your own mind. What's wrong with a Dapol B set? John I have one of those already along with an Auto Coach . A corridor brake gave an extra alternative set . I'd quite like a Collett or Stanier brake and keep looking out for one Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cctransuk Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 6 hours ago, jay*bobble said: ... Dapol models are a joy to own ... I don't think that Flangeway Models would be quite so enthusiastic!! John Isherwood. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jay*bobble Posted February 6, 2021 Share Posted February 6, 2021 It realy does seem that Heljan and the factory just dont care.bring back uk manufacturing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jay*bobble Posted February 6, 2021 Share Posted February 6, 2021 It's nice to customize your locos n stock my a3 looks 50 times better than the box standard job as do boath my a4s.so we should grab sum cheap coaches.make them as thay should be. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JaymzHatstand Posted February 6, 2021 Share Posted February 6, 2021 2 hours ago, jay*bobble said: It realy does seem that Heljan and the factory just dont care.bring back uk manufacturing. Were Heljan ever manufactured in the UK? Being a Danish firm, I would be surprised. Cheers J Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium thegreenhowards Posted February 10, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 10, 2021 On 29/01/2021 at 22:34, Beclawat said: If anyone has bought a maroon version of one of these coaches, please could you post a photo? Thanks. Nobody seems to have answered you so here is mine which arrived yesterday. This is a grade D and seems pretty good to me. The problems are listed as a paint blemish on the roof which I can barely see and will be hidden under weathering, a loose window (corridor side) and glue on a window (which I can’t find). A couple more corridor side windows have since fallen out. As I have bought it to repaint in teak LNER livery the easy removal of the windows is a blessing! By repainting myself, I’m hoping the paint will match my Kirk Gresleys. The biggest omission for me is the roof rain strips above the doors. These are particularly noticeable in teak livery because they were painted to match the body colour. I will use some plasticard strip as I do on my Kirks. Now I just have to work out how to get into it! There are no instructions with the coach. Andy 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
norman Posted February 10, 2021 Share Posted February 10, 2021 To remove the roof you need to use some gentle force under the ends, slip a thin screw driver in and lever it up. Norman 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beclawat Posted February 11, 2021 Share Posted February 11, 2021 On 10/02/2021 at 00:57, thegreenhowards said: Nobody seems to have answered you so here is mine which arrived yesterday. This is a grade D and seems pretty good to me. The problems are listed as a paint blemish on the roof which I can barely see and will be hidden under weathering, a loose window (corridor side) and glue on a window (which I can’t find). A couple more corridor side windows have since fallen out. As I have bought it to repaint in teak LNER livery the easy removal of the windows is a blessing! By repainting myself, I’m hoping the paint will match my Kirk Gresleys. The biggest omission for me is the roof rain strips above the doors. These are particularly noticeable in teak livery because they were painted to match the body colour. I will use some plasticard strip as I do on my Kirks. Now I just have to work out how to get into it! There are no instructions with the coach. Andy Thanks very much for taking the time to post that Andy. The photos of these coaches on Hatton's site almost look more pink than maroon, so I was interested to see another pic of them. The colour of your example looks more realistic. Cheers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brossard Posted March 21, 2021 Share Posted March 21, 2021 I worked up the energy today to have a look at the couplings. I fail to see how these can work as fitted. My plan is to improve the drop down buckeyes and fit a pair of Kadees between the coaches. First the drop downs: The couplings fitted are easy to remove, using a split pin and washer to secure. The plastic hook doesn't appeal to me: 1) It is plastic 2) It is thick and it may be difficult to get links over it. I replaced the plastic hooks with brass ones from my scrap box: You'll note there are 4 sets. Two for the Gresleys and two for the Mk1s that I just got. When I fit the Kadees I will report. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brossard Posted March 22, 2021 Share Posted March 22, 2021 I've been working on Kadees. Prep included gluing on some 1mm card to bring things flush to the coach floor. I glued in (with CA) some 8BA screws. These go into the floor and provide shear resistance. Kadees installed. Looks like I have some cleanup to do. I removed the trip pin. It is redundant since the couplers are in the buffer beam. I wouldn't use it anyway since I have an aversion to uncoupling magnets. BTW these 0 gauge Kadees are so much more refined than the 00. Nice stiff spring for one thing. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brossard Posted March 28, 2021 Share Posted March 28, 2021 Having had a chance to compare these with the Lionheart/Dapol Mk1's the lack of interior lighting is very noticeable . I'm wondering if anyone is contemplating adding a light bar. If so I'd like to know where to go and what other bits and bobs are needed. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Hilux5972 Posted March 29, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 29, 2021 9 hours ago, brossard said: Having had a chance to compare these with the Lionheart/Dapol Mk1's the lack of interior lighting is very noticeable . I'm wondering if anyone is contemplating adding a light bar. If so I'd like to know where to go and what other bits and bobs are needed. John You could try these https://www.gaugemasterretail.com/magento/Heljan-hn19853500.html 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brossard Posted March 29, 2021 Share Posted March 29, 2021 Thanks for that. They look perfect even though they are a tad dear. Out of stock right now though. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brossard Posted March 29, 2021 Share Posted March 29, 2021 More tinkering today. First, trying to couple a loco to the coach yesterday proved impossible. Problem was there was no space twixt the hook and body. I redid the couplings by adding a plastic tube shim to push them out. You can just make out the white thing behind the hook. Coupling is still a fiddle but doable now. The other discovery I had was that the rigid plastic gangways leave daylight between coaches. I had a pair of flexible folded paper gangways. I used my Dremel cutting wheel to remove the gangway frames and glued those to the new gangways. Note the Kadee coming out of the buffer beam. BTW the picture above, March 22, is incorrect. The Kadee should be out further to clear the gangway. Coaches now have no daylight: I think I'm happy with couplings now. I have given them a test run and everything works acceptably. John 4 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brossard Posted April 2, 2021 Share Posted April 2, 2021 So, looking at my coaches today, I was wondering how to get inside. It is not obvious that the roof is separate or whether the roof and body are one moulding. No instructions in the box (Lionheart provide a nice comprehensive manual for their Mk1's, so Heljan take note). John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brossard Posted April 3, 2021 Share Posted April 3, 2021 I was able to answer my question by Googling it. Found a good article by Mike Wild: https://www.keymodelworld.com/article/hattons-gresley-coaches-debut-o-gauge I got the roof off by inserting a sharp knife between the top of the body and roof. It is clipped in and relatively easy to get off: Iaw with Sod's law I managed to push out a window. Mike W mentions this. Maybe unfair but I find myself continually comparing these to the Lionheart Mk1s. These have no luggage racks, seats are plain while Mk1s have a moquette and the compartment interior walls don't have any painted on detail. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Hal Nail Posted April 5, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 5, 2021 (edited) On 03/04/2021 at 15:42, brossard said: I was able to answer my question by Googling it. Its actually mentioned on here a few posts up but you got there before I noticed! I suspect the mk1s will have a wider reach so they can afford to put a few extras in. A commission such as these are bound to be more expensive to produce, relatively, and they've taken some short cuts to keep them competitive. Edited April 5, 2021 by Hal Nail Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brossard Posted April 5, 2021 Share Posted April 5, 2021 Yes, I think I saw, but it wasn't clear to me. Anyway I thought people might appreciate a picture. I must confess that I am surprised that there isn't more discussion. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Hattons Dave Posted June 10, 2021 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted June 10, 2021 Hi everyone, I'm pleased to let you know that the LNER Teak liveried variants of our Gresley coaches have now arrived into stock. These are all priced at £179 each and are not subject to the grading system (as per our BR liveried models). You can view the full range, HERE Regards, Dave 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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