Heljan announce Class 45 in OO

[D7100]

I would be grateful if anyone could give some useful knowledge or advice on the feasibility of converting a Heljan class 45/0 sealed beam into a class 46 sealed beam.

 

What are the main areas that would need to be addressed, i.e. Body details (roof & sides), bogies, buffers, pipework etc..

 

Thanks for your replies in advance guys.     D7100.

[66738]

49 minutes ago, D7100 said:

I would be grateful if anyone could give some useful knowledge or advice on the feasibility of converting a Heljan class 45/0 sealed beam into a class 46 sealed beam.

 

What are the main areas that would need to be addressed, i.e. Body details (roof & sides), bogies, buffers, pipework etc..

 

Thanks for your replies in advance guys.     D7100.

I think (hope) Heljan will have the 46 in their plans. I really want a very good Ixion to run with my eagerly anticipated Derby RTC SLW 24. The Bachmann ones cost a fortune and would probably let down the 24. Here’s hoping!

With regards to what changes need to be made to convert a 45 > 46 I’m not too sure. There are real Peak aficionados on here that will be able to tell you. 

66738

 

Edited June 1, 2019 by 66738

[Phil Bullock]

It’s only the trapezoid access panel under the long side grille and the small rectangular boiler room grille that you need to watch out for on the body. On the chassis it’s the battery box doors.

[D9001]

2 hours ago, Ian J. said:

 

I'm going to open a thread about headcode typeface as otherwise it might get annoying for those looking for Class 45 news.

Great! Whereabouts? 

[Ian J.]

28 minutes ago, D9001 said:

Great! Whereabouts? 

 

In Modelling Musings and Miscellany, but it hasn't been approved by the moderators yet

[caradoc]

15 hours ago, zigzag said:

I'm putting my money behind Heljan on this one. Bachmann have had an open goal for years and have ignored it, for them to announce now as a spolier to Heljan is a tad underhand in my view and for that they do not have my support in this one.

 

We do not know whether the timing of the announcements is coincidence (perhaps arranged to tie in with DEMU Showcase) or anything else. And it could be argued that as Bachmann have had all 3 variants of Peak in their range for some years (although not of course the sealed beam type) it is more 'their' model than Heljan's ! Anyway, my preference is for pre-TOPS BFYE, so Heljan's 64 looks very enticing. 

 

[drjcontroller]

42 minutes ago, caradoc said:

 

Anyway, my preference is for pre-TOPS BFYE, so Heljan's 64 looks very enticing. 

 

 

Me too, already ordered.

[Hal Nail]

3 hours ago, Phil Bullock said:

It’s only the trapezoid access panel under the long side grille and the small rectangular boiler room grille that you need to watch out for on the body. On the chassis it’s the battery box doors.

Plus an extra raised roof panel at the fan end and the small access flap on one side next to the trapezoid thing isn’t present on the 46.

[WILLIAM]

7 hours ago, tinsley-toton said:

It's a bit odd why Hattons are offering a customised service with headlight fitted, yet not all are listed but were fitted (45147 should be removed from the list)

Scroll all the way down.

 

https://www.hattons.co.uk/newsdetail.aspx?id=524

I assume 45504 won't have orange cant rail stripes as not many carried these? Better check before ordering as there is no base model in this configuration.

[dibber25]

5 hours ago, Ian J. said:

 

In Modelling Musings and Miscellany, but it hasn't been approved by the moderators yet

Oh, so sorry I upset you. (CJL)

[Ian J.]

1 hour ago, dibber25 said:

Oh, so sorry I upset you. (CJL)

 

I'm not upset Chris, why would you think that?

 

Edit: the new thread has been approved so this is the link to it:

 

Edited June 1, 2019 by Ian J.
Add Link to New Thread

[7013]

Well, there will be plenty of choice for China Clay traffic,

45015/16/20/51/60*/64/68/69/72/74/75/78 

45107

46001/2/27 ( for the future)

* Sherwood Forrester

All had twin central marker lights. 

[sc2016]

8 minutes ago, 7013 said:

Well, there will be plenty of choice for China Clay traffic,

45015/16/20/51/60*/64/68/69/72/74/75/78 

45107

46001/2/27 ( for the future)

* Sherwood Forrester

All had twin central marker lights. 

Is that for Cornwall Clay Traffic or another region?

 

Thanks,

Samuel.

[7013]

They were Peaks that ran Cornish China Clay  traffic usually between Burngullow and Severn tunnel junction. John Vaughan’s book ‘An illustrated History of West Country China Clay Trains’ has photos of all the Peaks I mention plus a real Pot Pourri of of rolling stock formations.

[DY444]

10 hours ago, 7013 said:

They were Peaks that ran Cornish China Clay  traffic usually between Burngullow and Severn tunnel junction. John Vaughan’s book ‘An illustrated History of West Country China Clay Trains’ has photos of all the Peaks I mention plus a real Pot Pourri of of rolling stock formations.

 

I've got a picture somewhere which I took at Starcross of a 46 on a train of clay hoods.

[61661]

On 31/05/2019 at 18:59, Francis deWeck said:

A very welcome model. What is missing from the details in this news release is a description of the drive mechanism and pick-ups. Will it be a true 1-Co-Co-1, which has pick-ups on all wheels? I note there is reference to the coupling being part of the buffer beam, but I return to a question posted on an earlier occasion, will the droopy coupling that comes with Heljan models be dispensed with, rather than keep on producing a glaring idiosyncrasy? Also, will the chassis be of an improved material, obviating issues found on some earlier models, i.e. Class 23s (Baby Deltics) and so on?

Good Morning All,

Thanks for the overwhelmingly positive reaction to this announcement. As you might have guessed, we've been working on this for some time and if the first batch sells well there will be more to cover other livery/detail variations that haven't made it into the initial production run (hence the gaps in item numbers). We were also keen to ensure that retailers and modellers were not overwhelmed with a large number of short-run locos in one hit, possibly causing confusion and upset if people can't afford/obtain all they want and end up missing out. 

For the sake of clarity, the item numbers have been chosen to identify different sub-types, rather than allocated randomly. They are as follows: 
#451XX = steam heat, vac or dual brake 45/0 with glazed split-centre headcode panels

#453XX = steam heat, dual brake 45/0 with sealed beam nose ends

#454XX = Electric heat, dual brake 45/1 with sealed beam nose ends

#455XX = as above but with square HI headlight added

The eagle-eyed among you will notice that there's a gap for #452XX. This was intended to be early ETH-fitted 45/1s with glazed split-centre headcode panels but due to the limited lifespan and lack of variety in liveries for this variant we held it over to reduce complication in the initial batch. It might appear later if there is sufficient demand. Other variants may also appear in due course if the model is a success. We would be interested to find out what your priorities are from the following options: 

- Class 46 - both original and sealed beam ends

- Split headcode Class 45 without centre doors

- As above but with centre doors 

- Single centre headcode Class 45 

 

Droopy couplings: We have specifically asked for all future OO locos to have the shorter variant of our tension lock coupling as developed for the O2 'Tango' but not used since for some reason. I've had a bee in my bonnet about this problem on Heljan locos for a long time, so it will not get approved unless the couplings are right. The same applies to headcode typefaces, which is something we've been particular attention to recently. 

 

Chassis: An image of the chassis and drive mechanism was issued with the press release and can be viewed on our Facebook page. It's a central motor with two flywheels and, as far as I am aware (will check the models when EP samples arrive) pick ups on all except the pony wheels. Apart from the Class 47 faulty metal issue from many years ago, we are not aware of any problems with Heljan loco chassis, including the Class 23.

 

Hope this helps to provide a little more insight into what we're doing and how we are doing it. 

 

Kindest Regards

 

Ben

 

 

 

['CHARD]

46 minutes ago, 61661 said:

- Class 46 - both original and sealed beam ends

 

D138-173 were built with centre-split headcodes

D174-193 were built with single piece headcodes

[Phil Bullock]

Probably best to focus on variants not recently modelled perhaps?

 

Class 45

Split headcode with end doors

Single centre headcode

 

Class 46

Split centre headcode

 

From the 60s/70s

 

cheers

[Bedlington North]

I've ordered a sealed beam 45/1 from the initial batch and I would like a sealed beam 46 to be produced next.

[royaloak]

On 31/05/2019 at 22:07, zigzag said:

I'm putting my money behind Heljan on this one. Bachmann have had an open goal for years and have ignored it, for them to announce now as a spolier to Heljan is a tad underhand in my view and for that they do not have my support in this one.

And I thought I was cynical , I have to agree with you though, does anyone know if the Modelzone copyright on the marker light model had a time limit in it or some other limiting factor which is why Bachmann had to wait until now to release their own version, there could be a perfectly reasonable explanation for the timing.

 

I have already ordered a Bachmann 45049 from my favourite Exmouth based retailer and was going to order a 45046 from a Kernow based retailers Guldford shop but might hold fire and see how the Heljan one developes.

[Terrier79]

Another vote for sealed beam 46 as a future release... ideally with Ixion RTC embellishments!

[tinsley-toton]

A sealed beam 46 sounds good to me.

[Ian J.]

7 hours ago, 61661 said:

...

#454XX = Electric heat, dual brake 45/1 with sealed beam nose ends

#455XX = as above but with square HI headlight added

...

 

That's puts my mind at ease. I'll be on the lookout for a 45 133, as well as an unnumbered one from Hattons for doing as 45 119.

[Mophead45143]

At the moment, Heljan are the only ones doing a 45/1, so there's a niche there. It would be nice if all the 45/1 variants were produced. The 'sealed beam' was the logical one to go for first as it's surely a contender for the most requested D&E era model of the past 10 years. The other nose end variants could come in future releases, and give a good choice of numbers for 70's modelers. 

 

The below should be correct prior to the overhauls with 'sealed beam' noses:

 

Split Headcode: 45101, 110, 113, 115, 120, 124, 127, 132, 135 - 136, 138, 140, 142, 150

 

Centre - Split Headcode: 45111, 116 - 119, 123, 125 - 126, 128 -131, 133, 137, 143 - 146, 147*, 148, 149*

 

Centre - Solid Headcode: 45102 - 109, 112, 114, 121 - 122, 134, 139, 141, 147*, 149*

 

*45147 had centre - split at No.1 end, centre - solid at No.2 end. 

*45149 had centre - solid at No.1 end, centre - split at No.2 end (Just as it does now in Preservation). 

 

 

A bog standard blue 'sealed beam' 46 would be another win, as this has never been done to modern standards. I would have one, and it sounds like many more would. Once you have class 46 tooling that gives scope to do the centre - solid version, and for the early members of the class in green days, centre - split.

 

Also the split box 45 with the nose end doors for 60's modelers, again, never been done.  

 

Peaks give lots of Potential!!!

 

Cameron

 

Edited June 5, 2019 by Mophead45143

[simon.pashley@sky.com]

Hi,

This is great news. For me any Pre Tops Blue and Blue small yellow panel where relevant.

Class 45

Split headcode with end doors

Single centre headcode

 

Class 46

Green Full Yellow Ends.

 

Lots of options.

 

Simon