sandwich station Posted August 28, 2020 Share Posted August 28, 2020 14 hours ago, Dunsignalling said: But didn't Esso have the first ones? Also, the Airfix kit only came with Esso transfers, though I understand others have become available since Dapol took it over. John Esso and Regent used them. I've asked that question on here before somewhere. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold gwrrob Posted August 29, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 29, 2020 Well I bought my first ever Oxford Rails product and apart from the couplings sticking out way too much, I will fit the three links supplied, it doesn't look too bad to a blind man on a galloping horse. 5 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Dunsignalling Posted August 29, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 29, 2020 25 minutes ago, gwrrob said: Well I bought my first ever Oxford Rails product and apart from the couplings sticking out way too much, I will fit the three links supplied, it doesn't look too bad to a blind man on a galloping horse. To give due credit to Oxford, I think it's a contender for best OO r-t-r tank wagon, and (IMHO) the chassis gives it a good edge over Bachmann's recent anchor mount jobs. It's slightly scary to think that it's other main opposition would be the venerable 20-tonners still made by Hornby, which were decades ahead of the field when first introduced by Airfix/GMR over 40 years ago. Hint to the industry: Yes, I would like this to become a competition! John 2 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pteremy Posted August 29, 2020 Share Posted August 29, 2020 I don't know how accurate it is (in a rivet counting sense) but the underframe is certainly a thing of beauty, really capturing the 'skeletal' look of the real thing. 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Hamlin Posted August 29, 2020 Share Posted August 29, 2020 Loving my Carless example. Just check out the finesse of the tie down straps 4 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Nile Posted August 29, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 29, 2020 Here is another comparison photo, with a similarly attired Bachmann tank. The 3-link couplings are a nice touch, and work. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hodgson Posted August 29, 2020 Share Posted August 29, 2020 4 hours ago, Mark Hamlin said: Loving my Carless example. Just check out the finesse of the tie down straps Nowadays of course, the green lobby says we've all got to get a Petrolless Car. I have one of these tankers on order. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Dunsignalling Posted August 30, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 30, 2020 12 hours ago, Nile said: Here is another comparison photo, with a similarly attired Bachmann tank. The 3-link couplings are a nice touch, and work. Wow, that really shows off the great leap forward Oxford have achieved over the Mainline-derived models that form the majority of Bachmann's tank wagon output. These may or may not be perfect to the last rivet but, IMHO, they do for r-t-r tank wagons what Hornby's rebuilt Merchant Navy did for r-t-r locos. Next, we really do need somebody to come up with an Air Ministry tanker in 4mm to compare with those produced for O Gauge by Dapol. Having already done the R&D for the big ones, Dapol clearly should, but if they won't, on this showing, it's pretty evident there's another outfit that could. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Saunders Posted August 30, 2020 Share Posted August 30, 2020 The Air Ministry tank is a serious omission from the current 4mm scale selection as they were sold on to the oil companies after the war and appeared in their liveries. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold gwrrob Posted August 30, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 30, 2020 56 minutes ago, Dunsignalling said: Wow, that really shows off the great leap forward Oxford have achieved over the Mainline-derived models that form the majority of Bachmann's tank wagon output. I couldn't resist a comparison shot to highlight that point. 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Saunders Posted August 30, 2020 Share Posted August 30, 2020 The problem with the comparison of the other manufacturers models is the comparison of apples and oranges given also that the Oxford model is as far as I can tell the first that was developed as a tank rather than using a pre existing chassis! 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Clive Mortimore Posted August 30, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 30, 2020 2 hours ago, Mark Saunders said: The Air Ministry tank is a serious omission from the current 4mm scale selection as they were sold on to the oil companies after the war and appeared in their liveries. Air ministry tanks, weren't they to existing 1928 RCH designs? Or are my books on tank wagons all wrong? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Dunsignalling Posted August 30, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 30, 2020 (edited) 55 minutes ago, Clive Mortimore said: Air ministry tanks, weren't they to existing 1928 RCH designs? Or are my books on tank wagons all wrong? Essentially, yes. However, as with the RCH "standard" mineral wagons, there would have been options within the specification. Thus, RCH "standard" wagons were constructed to conform to the overall specification, but aren't necessarily identical to one another, or to the ones built for the Air Ministry. It's basically a catch-all term for the ones that were dispersed widely through the oil industry post-WW2. If you say "Air Ministry" more people will know which wagons you are getting at than if you say "RCH 1928 pattern". Also, of course, the RCH spec was issued not too long before the Depression hit, during which it's likely that existing wagons were more than sufficient to meet traffic demand. That wasn't really over until about 1937, so there may have been relatively few constructed before the Air Ministry adopted the design. John Edited August 30, 2020 by Dunsignalling 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pteremy Posted August 30, 2020 Share Posted August 30, 2020 The classic Modellers BackTrack article describes them as based on a 1938 Shell-BP design, which was '..a refinement..' of the 1927 RCH design. A key difference/innovation in the Air Ministry orders was the provision of a catwalk and ladder. Initially two small catwalks either side of the filler cap, subsequently one longer one. But not all of the tank wagons built for the Air Ministry had a catwalk, so there was quite a lot of variation. Post war conversions saw catwalks and ladders added where absent, and some catwalks repositioned. So all in all a lot of variety for some willing manufacturer to make a fortune out of. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wickham Green too Posted August 30, 2020 Share Posted August 30, 2020 .... and/or the aftermarket suppliers. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
26power Posted August 30, 2020 Share Posted August 30, 2020 9 hours ago, Mark Saunders said: The problem with the comparison of the other manufacturers models is the comparison of apples and oranges given also that the Oxford model is as far as I can tell the first that was developed as a tank rather than using a pre existing chassis! With regard to the last part, presumably it depends if you are limiting comments to a specific time period, and/or “type” of wagon? Aren’t the Heljan class A and B tanks models of the whole vehicles? I.e. the same prototype as the Airfix kit. I do not have any of these, as too modern for my interests. Class B thread on here: Class A thread on here: Same, I would assume for the more modern TTA tank wagons by Bachmann, and various more modern bogie tank wagons by various suppliers. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Dunsignalling Posted August 31, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 31, 2020 21 hours ago, Mark Saunders said: The problem with the comparison of the other manufacturers models is the comparison of apples and oranges given also that the Oxford model is as far as I can tell the first that was developed as a tank rather than using a pre existing chassis! Which is something the other manufacturer was quite at liberty to do, and all of them will now probably have to when developing new tank wagon models. My point was that Oxford have produced a game-changing model within OO r-t-r. The difference can be likened to apples and oranges in more senses than you intended it. John 1 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold gwrrob Posted August 31, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 31, 2020 1 minute ago, Dunsignalling said: My point was that Oxford have produced a game-changing model within OO r-t-r. The difference can be likened to apples and oranges in more senses than you intended it. Yes the quality is there and I'm now scratching my head wondering why they didn't do it with their 7 plank coal wagons. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigherb Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 37 minutes ago, gwrrob said: Yes the quality is there and I'm now scratching my head wondering why they didn't do it with their 7 plank coal wagons. That is true of all manufactures. Even Bachmann have made a few pups, even they had a few goes at getting the 7 plank right. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Dunsignalling Posted August 31, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 31, 2020 1 hour ago, gwrrob said: Yes the quality is there and I'm now scratching my head wondering why they didn't do it with their 7 plank coal wagons. Just working up to it? Oxford are fairly new to the game, after all, and on this evidence, they've learned fast. Compared with their earlier efforts, The tanks seem to be built up to a standard rather than down to a price, although the latter is still very reasonable for what's on offer. Let's hope that continues. Now I've seen what they can do, I'm eagerly anticipating their GE van, and the cranes. John 2 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold gwrrob Posted August 31, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 31, 2020 2 hours ago, Dunsignalling said: Now I've seen what they can do, I'm eagerly anticipating their GE van, and the cranes. Absolutely. Not long to wait either. 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold gwrrob Posted August 31, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 31, 2020 On 22/08/2020 at 12:54, Dunsignalling said: I'm using the Kadee #18 with the clips shortened and will glue them in along with the necessary packing. Those who want to shunt round No.2 radius curves will need the #19. Just come across this problem and they don't actually clip in and are loose so gluing is the only option if using them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold TheSignalEngineer Posted August 31, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 31, 2020 11 hours ago, Dunsignalling said: Compared with their earlier efforts, The tanks seem to be built up to a standard rather than down to a price, although the latter is still very reasonable for what's on offer. Let's hope that continues. I think at the start Oxford thought they could get away with something looking similar to the prototype as in many of the Hornby/Dapol cheaper offerings from old tooling. They came a bit unstuck with the 7-plank which is a minefield anyway as traders/collieries came and went or changer ownership. Then most had some kind of on-site repairs by either the owner, local C&W or repair contractor. By BR times few would be in anything like original state. The LNER Cattle Wagon was another faux-pas, basically using the 9ft underframe from the 7-plank which meant that the version produced was virtually extinct by the time BR came about. Then there was the use of the same design for both sides when it should be a mirror image. Fortunately a scalpel and some Evergreen with a bit of filler and weathering can produce a decent model for a reasonable price. I paid about the same as a Parkside kit for mine The tank wagon does seem to be an improvement on the early offerings and is still a good price compared with the superannuated Bachmann version 4 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold gwrrob Posted September 1, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 1, 2020 On 31/08/2020 at 13:19, gwrrob said: Just come across this problem and they don't actually clip in and are loose so gluing is the only option if using them. A update to this and if you remove the nem coupling supplied by OR you can replace it with a Bachmann one if you take a smidgeon or a gnat's cock in old money off the wedge fitting. Then fitting a Kadee 18 in is a good match height wise to other rolling stock. I reckon a 17 would work on generous curves but I don't have any in stock to check. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold gwrrob Posted September 11, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 11, 2020 I believe two more releases are imminent on these in Benzol By Products and the Graham's Golden Lager versions. 1 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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