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Little Loco Company - Ruston 48DS

The Nth Degree

By The Nth Degree,
in Little Loco Company

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BrushType4

BrushType4

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Posted

Does Heljan's announcement of a forthcoming  'late, refurbed' class 50 affect the crowdfunding project here for LLC?

 

 

Not at all as far as I'm aware. LLC will produce a better model, quicker and less expensive then Heljan. 

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norman

norman

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I think they are imminent Andy. I saw a layout of the sheet yesterday, so I'm guessing it's just printing and sending. I don't want to say anything public until I have them ready to send.

 

Steve

Hi Steve

Any further update on the transfers please.

Norman

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The Nth Degree

The Nth Degree

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Hi Steve

Any further update on the transfers please.

Norman

Hello Norman, I've had them for a couple weeks but finding the time to apply them is tricky. I've done most of one Loco and all seems OK. I just need to add more OHL warnings to the sheet.

 

I actually sent you a message on RMWeb to see if you wanted to test them for me while I was working on other things, but I don't think you've seen it yet. I'll post the results as soon as you get finished, but the quality so far is very good.

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The Nth Degree

The Nth Degree

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Yep, wouldn't disagree with that, quicker and cheaper...?

It's a pointless speculative post.[/quote

Yep, wouldn't disagree with that, quicker and cheaper...?

It's a pointless speculative post.

I think I'd prefer to call BrushType4's post an educated guess, and time will tell if it's an accurate one.

 

Little Loco now designs and manufactures its products in the UK, and although costs are higher, our lead times are less than half that of a typical Chinese factory. There are other benefits too - if there's a problem that needs solving I drive 20 minutes to see what it is, not 20 hours on a flight. I can be there and back again within an hour, not the 3 days I would have to find otherwise. There's a good chance we can turn this around quickly.

 

Everyone - and I really do mean everyone - involved with LLC is a railway modeller. From me to the owner of my factory. Every one of us wants to see a perfect model as the primary focus of our effort. The bottom line is at the bottom of our checklist, so there's a very good chance it will be good value.

 

With this project, as with all of our projects, we have a great team all doing their part, large or small, and all of them are passionate about the end product. I've just spent an hour talking to my Asian electric motor factory (unfortunately I can't find a more local supplier) specifying a custom motor for the Class 50, and in about 20 minutes I'll be making another call to my speaker factory. Also working with us are Preservation groups and individual private owners of Class 50s, along with some very passionate helpers, so we are also pretty confident that it's going to be accurate.

 

Thanks for your input.

Steve

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norman

norman

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Posted

Hello Norman, I've had them for a couple weeks but finding the time to apply them is tricky. I've done most of one Loco and all seems OK. I just need to add more OHL warnings to the sheet.

 

I actually sent you a message on RMWeb to see if you wanted to test them for me while I was working on other things, but I don't think you've seen it yet. I'll post the results as soon as you get finished, but the quality so far is very good.

Hi Steve

No I have not seen a PM from you but yes I would be delighted to test fit some samples.  

Please make some time to release as I don't want to display in public until my loco is complete.  Lovely job spoilt without the transfers.

Norman

Norman

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cromptonnut

cromptonnut

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Where can you add your name for a Class 50? Are all the crowd funded ones already gone??

 

Over on Facebook - the LLC group is a closed group but just apply to join.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/1864404633848334/

 

There's a thread two or three from the top with the title everyone who has come forward and said YES to a crowdfunded model could you please simply put YES under this post so we can count you all. many thanks ... simply state "yes" there.

 

I believe at the time of writing there are still a few spaces for crowdfunded ones - but that may change by the time you get there as it's not far from being full I believe.

 

The actual crowdfunding itself hasn't started yet, these are just 'expressions of interest' and no doubt a few will drop out once money is required.  I would expect that the facebook group is where the announcements will be made, as it's through that group of supporters that the whole project came about.

 

I have no connection with LLC or the project itself, apart from having my name on the list wanting one - for a layout I haven't yet built but that's another story.

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BrushType4

BrushType4

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Yep, wouldn't disagree with that, quicker and cheaper...?

It's a pointless speculative post.

In what way is the post a pointless and speculative one?

 

The sound fitted version of the class 50 will be at least £200 cheaper than a Heljan equivalent. Incidentally Heljan don't currently produce sound fitted DCC locomotives.

 

Steve (NthDegree) had already explained that the geographic location lends itself to a faster sorting of problems if any arise.

 

Lastly, the expected delivery date is sooner than Heljan.

 

Whilst you may not like my comment, my post is no more pointless than you expressing your opinions.

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BrushType4

BrushType4

Posted
Posted (edited)

I don't use Facebook so how could I get involved?

 

Paul R

 

 

For the crowdfunded ones, it is Facebook only. Annoying to miss out, but no different to any number of social media or internet crowdfunding opportunities, if you're not in it, you can't be in it. Had it been launched on this website, it would be equally frustrating for those to miss out who are not members on RMweb.

 

Not too late though if you do want to sign up. Facebook link here https://www.facebook...64404633848334/

Edited by BrushType4
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The Nth Degree

The Nth Degree

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Thanks for all your interest in all of LLCs projects. A few small updates follows.

 

If you're in Hertfordshire tomorrow Little Loco will be at the Albury S7 show (details below) with a limited amount of stock for sale and free chinwags with yours truly. The superb layout Love Lane will be the centre attraction, so if you like finely observed details, this is not to be missed!

 

The Class 50 is progressing. To avoid any sort of inter-manufacturer tangles I'm not going to say any more than that... Our anticipated Type 2 also continues, and fortunately the advanced systems developed for this model will be adopted and/or adapted for the C50. Both of these models will be state of the art in terms of embedded technology.

 

The Rustons are in the factory and have been 'virtually tooled' to check for errors and fit before the actual tooling is complete. This potentially saves a lot of money adjusting tooling after the first mouldings come out of it, and saves the time required to correct those errors.

 

I'd like to show you the level of technology we had to squeeze into this model to produce something that LLC would be proud to offer for sale, and to give you some insight into what is to come for future models.

 

To begin with, we wanted as close to a prototypical drive system as possible, i.e. a central drive shaft that in turn powers the axles. We really tried to produce a real chain to drive the axles, but it would either require a very over-sized chain or for it to be made from titanium. Neither was viable. The motor has been designed by LLC and the factory to produce plenty of torque at only 5000rpm, which requires a much smaller geartrain. As a back-up to these toothed gears we have a helical geartrain just in case, but we feel we should need it.

post-11337-0-38616700-1492789107_thumb.png

 

Next, we had to design the electrical systems to take up as little space as possible while also being capable performers, and these had to be secured in place. The die-cast motor block is screwed to the substantial die-cast chassis (shown next), and working from front to back we have the following:
The speaker is the latest technology flat panel design and utilises the radiator cowling as the sound chamber. This will produce bass frequencies well below 300Hz. For such a small model and speaker area this is quite impressive.
Behind this sits the built-in capacitor board, which provides several seconds of uninterrupted power – essential for such a small wheelbase model. This operates on both DCC and DC by utilising a unique feature of ZIMO decoders.
On top is a cut-down version of the all new LLC common interface board, which will feature on all our models, and as every model will be DCC you only have to choose sound or non-sound, and you are able to seamlessly upgrade at a later date with no additional wiring, soldering or hunting for a speaker that fits – everything is already there and pre-wired.

post-11337-0-82151900-1492789724_thumb.png

 

To give you some idea on the size of the mechanical and electrical systems, all of this fits in a volume of only 4x3x2cm as seen on this image.

post-11337-0-55098800-1492789848_thumb.png

 

Finally, with the cab attached you can begin to see the model in its final form. The design leaves the cab interior completely free of obstructions for you to add a driver, his newspaper and packed lunch. Inside the cab is the prototypical combined battery and toolbox. At only approx 8cm long I really don't think you can pack much more technology into something of this size and scale.

post-11337-0-21657100-1492790021_thumb.png

 

Thanks, Steve

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cromptonnut

cromptonnut

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Posted

Thanks for the detailed description of the Ruston Steve.  Amazing the thought and effort you and your team have put in.  Really looking forward to more on the Type 2.

 

Not sure my wallet - or my wife - is looking forward to it as much as I might be if it's something that suits my plans...

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gardenwall

gardenwall

Posted
Posted

1 in 11. Classes 30 & 31 were also type 2. Class 20s were type 1.

 

Roy

Heljan have done 20, 25 26 31 leaving 21,22,23,27,28,29  of which 23 is planned by DJM, 27 is v similar to 26 and 30 v similar to 31. That narrows the choice to 21,22,24,28,29

22 is a possible Dapol growbag job and not Eastern region so unless combined with a 21 (complex) that is out too,  the probables are thus 21, 24, 28. The Eastern connection says 21, preservation connection says 28.

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