RMweb Gold Dunsignalling Posted June 11, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 11, 2018 Dapol certainly seem to have a problem with the packaging not being up to the job. Great model but arrived with a sandbox and rear lamp iron floating around inside. Still nothing that can't be glued on. Nik Courier quality/attitude, or how well packed by the sender, will also have a bearing, probably at least as much as the maker's efforts. However, my 30089 arrived from Hatton's, courtesy of Royal Mail, completely intact. The question is, was I lucky or were you unlucky? The packaging is uniform to all examples, so my own feeling is that it's more likely that any loose bits were just not adequately glued on in the first place. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shroomy Posted June 11, 2018 Share Posted June 11, 2018 My Caen arrived from rails in perfect condition and working order Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSpencer Posted June 11, 2018 Share Posted June 11, 2018 My two arrived via normal postage going from the UK to France. Both perfectly intact. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butler Henderson Posted June 11, 2018 Share Posted June 11, 2018 Not sure its an actual package design inflicting models but the use also of that thin plastic wrap - how poorly that is wrapped around the model can cause detail damage / equally on removing it unless you know in advance where the fragile bits their is a clear potential for damage. Thin foam strips stick to the plastic wrap moulding should be used instead IMO. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold PaulRhB Posted June 11, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 11, 2018 Unfortunately I don't think you can do much about certain items literally getting lobbed, as opposed to dropped, by the odd miscreant in the postal system. Having seen how certain people unloaded electrical goods in a past career I've seen items lobbed like a 'shot put'! You can only really prepare packing for normal handling and from Hattons these come wrapped in big bubble wrap too but other bigger locos have had a simple card outer box with less cushioning. Probably depends what boxes fit what packing they have. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest chris.trebble Posted June 11, 2018 Share Posted June 11, 2018 Just received Normandy from Rails. Excellent, highly attractive model running well straight from box. Apart from the loco itself, the Owner's Manual sets a new standard and a very professional image. Well done Dapol! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Nile Posted June 11, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted June 11, 2018 Dapol certainly seem to have a problem with the packaging not being up to the job. Great model but arrived with a sandbox and rear lamp iron floating around inside. Still nothing that can't be glued on. Nik More likely a lack of glue at assembly. Mine had a loose footstep. The packaging looks perfectly adequate to me, better than some. I don't see any foam in Hornby or Bachmann boxes. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wickham Green Posted June 11, 2018 Share Posted June 11, 2018 I have some initial thoughts and a few images of the Dapol B4s on my blog here https://grahammuz.com/2018/06/09/off-to-the-ace-and-few-pictures-b4-i-go/ Dapol B4 group.jpg Although not stated on my blog No.88 arrived with the bracket between the cylinders broken so they duly fell out along with slidebars and piston rods when I removed from the box but rather than return to the shop which is tricky due to travelling overseas this weekend I fixed her myself and she runs ok now. You talk about repainting to an earlier livery on https://grahammuz.co...tures-b4-i-go/ : that's exactly what I was intending with my '89' but I'm wondering where to source suitable - Bulleid-style - transfers for "TROUVILLE" !!?! .... any thoughts ? ( The loco was 30082 when I ordered it - and backdating would have carried 'SOUTHERN' on the tanks : no problem ! ) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wickham Green Posted June 11, 2018 Share Posted June 11, 2018 However, my 30089 arrived from Hatton's, courtesy of Royal Mail, completely intact. The question is, was I lucky or were you unlucky? John Have you checked EVERYTHING ? ......... I thought mine was OK but spotted a missing front lampiron over the weekend : I guess it hiding in the parquet ! ( together with who know's what else ) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shroomy Posted June 11, 2018 Share Posted June 11, 2018 My Normandy turned up today alas with bits not adhered with spit but quick bit of glueing back together Where they had meant to be glued there was no mark so guess no glued used in the first place 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shroomy Posted June 11, 2018 Share Posted June 11, 2018 I think for £115 Dcc fitted inc the flickering firebox glow that is value for money very impressed Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSpencer Posted June 11, 2018 Share Posted June 11, 2018 Dear Dapol, Please do 30084 with Drummond boiler and cab in BR early crest (you will find pictures of her at Dover like this). Thank you very much. J Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Dunsignalling Posted June 11, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 11, 2018 Have you checked EVERYTHING ? ......... I thought mine was OK but spotted a missing front lampiron over the weekend : I guess it hiding in the parquet ! ( together with who know's what else ) Centre bottom iron on the front? I wouldn't waste too much time looking for it. There's no evidence of one ever having been attached to mine. Photos I've been able to check (those that are clear enough) suggest that most of the prototype B4s (including 30089) didn't have one. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Graham_Muz Posted June 11, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 11, 2018 The middle front bottom lamp iron when fitted to the prototypes were not off the buffer beam / running plate but out from the base of the smoke box door. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Graham_Muz Posted June 11, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 11, 2018 You talk about repainting to an earlier livery on https://grahammuz.co...tures-b4-i-go/ : that's exactly what I was intending with my '89' but I'm wondering where to source suitable - Bulleid-style - transfers for "TROUVILLE" !!?! .... any thoughts ? ( The loco was 30082 when I ordered it - and backdating would have carried 'SOUTHERN' on the tanks : no problem ! ) Not many, especially those from the Southampton docks displaced by the USA tanks, received Southern in Sunshine lettering but retained their names. I aim to make my own decals using laser printed waterslide transfers. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Dunsignalling Posted June 12, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 12, 2018 (edited) The middle front bottom lamp iron when fitted to the prototypes were not off the buffer beam / running plate but out from the base of the smoke box door. Many thanks, Graham, It's quite clearly there on 30089 in the David Heys Collection photo linked in earlier posts (once I worked out how to blow it up). Much easier to find things when you know where to look! Now, where did I put that bit of 0.75mm N/S strip?.... Regards John Edited June 12, 2018 by Dunsignalling Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wickham Green Posted June 12, 2018 Share Posted June 12, 2018 Centre bottom iron on the front? I wouldn't waste too much time looking for it. There's no evidence of one ever having been attached to mine. Photos I've been able to check (those that are clear enough) suggest that most of the prototype B4s (including 30089) didn't have one. John Er - no the one that's not there on mine is actually the one that's not over the R/H buffer ( looking forward ) but should be ! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvin Posted June 12, 2018 Share Posted June 12, 2018 How easy is body removal for decoder fitting? Any pics available? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
34theletterbetweenB&D Posted June 12, 2018 Share Posted June 12, 2018 Post 345 on p14 of this thread should help. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold PaulRhB Posted June 12, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 12, 2018 The Dapol instructions are pretty good. Support it upside down so the wheels don't fall out. 4 small screws on the baseplate then lift that up at each end to get to the couplings, careful of the two brake rigging ends under the cab as they slot in too. Lift the couplings out and swing to the side, (but try not to remove completely as you'll disconnect the tiny springs), to reveal the 2 body screws Pop the baseplate back down to keep the wheels in. Note the decoder needs to be 10mm long if you want to use the plug. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvin Posted June 12, 2018 Share Posted June 12, 2018 Post 345 on p14 of this thread should help. Sorry; I missed that. Thank you! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butler Henderson Posted June 12, 2018 Share Posted June 12, 2018 (edited) Note the decoder needs to be 10mm long if you want to use the plug. Has anyone accurately measured the space as, referenced my me a couple of days ago in the thread, the DCC fitted ones seem to have a Gaugemaster DCC23 in them which is 10.6mm long. Edited June 12, 2018 by Butler Henderson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shroomy Posted June 12, 2018 Share Posted June 12, 2018 When you consider the loco is £95 approx and the gaugemaster dcc23 is £20 approx this is why I think the Dcc fitted version is great value Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gz3xzf Posted June 13, 2018 Share Posted June 13, 2018 Er - no the one that's not there on mine is actually the one that's not over the R/H buffer ( looking forward ) but should be ! I didn't notice that when mine arrived, but yes, there is no sign of a centre bottom bracket ever existing and the right hand one has a socket but no lamp bracket. Has anyone accurately measured the space as, referenced my me a couple of days ago in the thread, the DCC fitted ones seem to have a Gaugemaster DCC23 in them which is 10.6mm long. I am hoping a DCC23 will fit as I couldn't find a supplier for the Dapol one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold phil_sutters Posted June 13, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 13, 2018 (edited) Dad's photos are a bit grainy, but I think both these shots show the centre bottom lamp bracket on 30102. You will need to click to enlarge the images to see the bracket at all. In the top one I think that there was a hair on the negative, which makes it look as though there is a loop of wire or string around the bracket. Whereas there was none on 30093, in this shot where at least the front is in reasonable focus. Edited June 13, 2018 by phil_sutters 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now