Electra Rail Vinyl Overlays

[Adam1701D]

Andy has very kindly allowed me a quick post to provide an update on Electra Rail. Since losing my "day job" with Thomas Cook a month ago, I have been enhancing the range and creating a lot of new products in both N and OO scales.

 

The new website has been a great success since going live a year ago, though I am still finding things to add.

 

A core aim for Electra is to bring down the cost of modelling by producing overlays for older coaches, such as the Lima Mark 1 or Hornby Mark 2A, which not only upgrade the finish but also provide flush-glazing. With some new coaches costing over £50.00, the vinyls give new life to coaches that can be found in bargain bins for under a tenner! You can find the Mk2As HERE

 

Though the vast majority of my work is for coaches and multiple units, the occasional locomotive project appears which is too good to resist! The EuroPhoenix Class 91 will soon be available in OO and N. 

 

The only downside has been some delays with receiving the finished vinyls from the printers, which has caused delays to some recent orders. I really apologise for this

 

There are many new releases drawn up and ready to roll before the end of the year. Once all outstanding orders have been dealt with, these will appear on the website.

 

[Ramblin Rich]

Glad you've been able to expand  the range given the circumstances you're in. I didn't know whether to click 'like' 'craftmanship' or 'supportive'!

I like the look of the Hornby Mk2a on the website. Can I ask, does the overlay incorporate the glazing as well to get the flush effect?

Hope the new ventures go well.

[Adam1701D]

Apologies for the delay in posting. For some reason RMWeb does not let me retail my account password and I have to reset it each time.

 

The OO "Classic" overlays, like my others, are printed on clear backed vinyl. This allows the clear sheet to stretch over the window openings and gives instant flush glazing, along with any window labels where appropriate. I have also been working on the Hornby Mk1 RMB and Lima Mk2s with some interesting releases planned for the New Year. I have attached a shot of a Lima Mk2B TSO that has been Electra-fied. The bodyside has been smoothen down and the inside of the window frames painted black to hide the mounding depth.

 

A full range of Mk2Bs, including the Royal Generator Cars, will be available in the New Year when I re-open for orders. I will also have a full range of DRS coaches in OO and N along with the finished EuroPhoenix 91

 

 

[Adam1701D]

Things are still busy on the Electra front, with kind permission from DRS  to reporduce their livery, allowing me to introduce a range of Mk2 coach sets including the Mk2A Flask Runner and Mk2D Cumbrian push-pull sets in OO and N.

 

Freightliner have also granted me permission to produce the Class 90 in orange - the artwork is currently awaiting approval. This should look splendid when complete. 

 

There is a lot going on as ever with franchise changes that will keep things ticking over for the next few months with developments on East Midlands Railway and Northern.

 

 

[Adam1701D]

It's been a while since I was last on here and a lot has been happening.

 

We were planning on a move to Spain this year but Covid and politics have meant that we put this on hold for a year or three. Instead, I have purchased my own Roland VS-300 vinyl printer, which finally gives me the ability to turn around orders with days, rather than weeks as before. The quality I am getting now is as good, if not better, than the outside printed material. It's taken a few weeks to really get to grips with the machine but has really proved worth it.

 

I can get new items from screen to model in a few days and have been having great fun with some obscure requests, such as Mk3 Sleepers in DSB livery.

 

My "day job" is looking a bit dicey at the moment. I provide IT support for a retail chain that may be going into administration in the next few days. This will give me further impetus to expand Electra, including non-train related printing, such as canvas prints.

 

The website's had a revamp - please give it a visit.

 

 

[Bomag]

Adam

 

I have obtained some second hand unused Electra overlays e.g. Manchester Pullman in ICE. Is it easy to tell which type they are and which method to use to fix older overlays?

 

Also, although you have done some of them in packs (Royal train+Northern Belle) do you do any of RF (3xx), RKB (15xx), RBK or RB (both in 16xx/17xx) in Blue Gray or intercity, the later RB/RKB only?  In the drop down list there is a RK (800xx), but includes liveries which are suitable only for other type of Kitchen car.   

[Adam1701D]

Unfortunately, the e-commerce platform I use does not make it easy to limit the variations available in the drop down lists, so I have a full list of coach types and a full list of liveries. It works well for most options like units and HSTs but with individual coach types, there are some compromises.

 

If you are after a particular type that's not on the website, please drop me an e-mail and I'd happily look into it.

[Adam1701D]

It's been a good while since I updated this topic and I things have been tilting along nicely.

 

The biggest release of recent months has been vinyl sets for the N Gauge Class 370 APT-P by Bees Hill models. Steven Hill has produced a superb set of 3D printed APT vehicles, which have separate glazing and full interior detail and has very kindly let me have some to vinyl up. As well as the traditional APT InterCity scheme, I have had a little fun and produced a few fictional liveries, such as RTC Blue/Red, GNER and Virgin Trains.

 

The driving car is also available with the raised nosecone for haulage (fitted with a Rapido coupling). The power car comes as a dummy or body-only to fit a Tomix TM-18 chassis. Ideal for going behind a Dapol prototype HST with a couple of test coaches (also available).

 

Steven has also commissioned a full set of waterslide decals from RailTec, for those who would rather paint. These are really lovely and even includes the tiny "Caution - Gap May Close" notices.

 

Please visit www.electrarail to see the full range and other releases, including the Class 165/166 in OO and the fabulous range on N-Train Multiple Unit kits.

[Adam1701D]

Just a quick note to let everybody know that I have tested positive for Covid-19. It's chosen to manifest itself as a really nasty coldey / fluey type and I am feeling pretty grotty.

As a precaution, I will not be sending out any orders whilst I'm infectious - likely to be for the next week. The government advice is to retest after 5 days and see what happens.

The vinyls need a lot of manual cutting and handling, so better safe than sorry.

[Adam1701D]

RMWeb is back and so am I!  All clear on the tests but still feeling a bit under the weather.

[TangerineWizards]

I’m on the hunt for some Electra Northern Class 155 vinyls released a few years ago. I’ve contacted Electra but they aren’t currently available from them. 
 

If anyone has a set lying around unused, I’ll happily make you an offer!

[brossard]

On 31/03/2022 at 16:40, Captain Electra said:

RMWeb is back and so am I!  All clear on the tests but still feeling a bit under the weather.

 

From what I can see, your products look great.  I would suggest that you review the thread because I suspect, like me, you have lost posted pics in the crash.

 

John

[Adam1701D]

I shall have to revisit this thread and get some more photos uploaded. I need to review the Class 155 artwork in 4mm to check the fit against the Dapol / Hornby model. I have the artwork for the old Northern with bodyside vinyls and the new White / Blue scheme ready to roll.

[Adam1701D]

I am currently off-line at present and unable to take any further orders, as my printer has completely failed. No ink is flowing from the cartridges to the print head and all attempts at maintenance have proved fruitless.

 

This has been escalated to Roland, so it is now a case of wait until after the bank holiday to see what they suggest.

 

If this proves to be beyond economic repair, I may be forced to consider more drastic options, as the outgoings for the business are not sustainable, particularly with utility bills about to go nuclear.

 

As soon as I have more news, I shall post it here.

[TimberValleyRailway]

Hi,

 

If I wish to convert a Bachmann 3 car 170 to XC, will the overlays cover up the detail? I don't want it to look too 2D-ish in that all the detail is printed on.

 

Thanks

 

TVR

[SRman]

3 hours ago, TimberValleyRailway said:

Hi,

 

If I wish to convert a Bachmann 3 car 170 to XC, will the overlays cover up the detail? I don't want it to look too 2D-ish in that all the detail is printed on.

 

Thanks

 

TVR

 

The vinyls can be persuaded to mould over the raised details by heating with a hair dryer. It takes a little time and perseverance, but it works. I have used ERG's vinyl overlays on quite a few models (in OO scale), but probably the ones with the most raised detail were some Hornby class 153 DMUs.

 

 

 

 

[PeteB]

I see that the last post on here is last August when Adam said he was offline and unable to take orders, saying that he would post any further news here.  Does anyone know if Adam is still in business and taking orders?

[PM47079]

I will let you know, I have just placed an order for a set of grand Central 90 graphics

[John M Upton]

I am pretty sure he is back up and running, his printer was playing silly beggars if I recall but that was later sorted.

[Adam1701D]

Just returned from a week in Tenerife and happily managed to get almost all outstanding orders printed off, so currently up and running as normal.

 

Looking forward I am having serious thoughts about the future for Electra, particularly now I am working full-time for Dapol. 

 

Just putting feelers out if there is anyone who would be interested in taking it on (with or without the printer), or if I should call it a day later in the year.

 

 

 

[John M Upton]

Surprised this hasn't been mentioned here:

https://gofund.me/3a0aebaa

Serious printer problems, I have donated.

[Adam1701D]

Many thanks for the mention, John. I have been amazed by the response and have raised enough to cover the call-out charges and (hopefully) whatever bits are needed to fix the troublesome Roland.

 

May I just say thank you to all who have contributed - it means a lot.

[LNERGE]

Appears to be closed indefinitely?

[Adam1701D]

You just beat me to it...

 

It is with regret that I must announce that Electra Rail is no longer able to trade, due to the failure of the vinyl printer.

The printer is twelve years old and would require parts in excess of £2.5K to get working, which is not economically possible for me. I am looking at what options are available, including winding-up totally or selling the business on.

 

Massive thanks for everyone who contributed to the GoFundMe crowdfunder. As the repairs were not carried out, I have arranged for all donations to be refunded. This should take 7-10 days.

If  anybody is interested in taking on Electra Rail, please contact me. As well as this website, there is a library of over 1000 files ready for printing and many more that would need formatting for printing.

If you have any queries, please e-mail adam.warr@electrarail.co.uk

[Roy Langridge]

Shame to hear this. No option to outsource the actual printing?

 

Roy