south_tyne Posted August 12, 2018 Share Posted August 12, 2018 Hi all, I know the quality of Skytrex stock isn't up to the standard of others and that the wagons are a little crude but what is the opinion on the 12t vans and the standard open coal wagons? I have the possibility of acquiring some secondhand and wondered whether it might be worth it if I can get them for a good price? I am not a rivet counter by any stretch of the imagination so as long as they are reasonable representations of the prototype I could be tempted! David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Dava Posted August 12, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 12, 2018 Hi all, I know the quality of Skytrex stock isn't up to the standard of others and that the wagons are a little crude but what is the opinion on the 12t vans and the standard open coal wagons? I have the possibility of acquiring some secondhand and wondered whether it might be worth it if I can get them for a good price? I am not a rivet counter by any stretch of the imagination so as long as they are reasonable representations of the prototype I could be tempted! David You may need to replace the wheels especially on the coal wagons which were ropey, Peartree Models do replacements. $12 max for the wagons. the vans are better models. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
south_tyne Posted August 12, 2018 Author Share Posted August 12, 2018 You may need to replace the wheels especially on the coal wagons which were ropey, Peartree Models do replacements. $12 max for the wagons. the vans are better models. Thanks Dava - that's handy to know. I'm a bit undecided about what to do. Whether it's worth it is debatable even if I can get a bargain, especially if I have to quite a bit of upgrading and improvement to make them usable. David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Father Dougal Posted August 12, 2018 Share Posted August 12, 2018 Hi all, I know the quality of Skytrex stock isn't up to the standard of others and that the wagons are a little crude but what is the opinion on the 12t vans and the standard open coal wagons? I have the possibility of acquiring some secondhand and wondered whether it might be worth it if I can get them for a good price? I am not a rivet counter by any stretch of the imagination so as long as they are reasonable representations of the prototype I could be tempted! David I have a rake of Clay wagons and they are great. I found the couplings were a bit tight to begin with, but they look good and run well. Dougal Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-UnitMad Posted August 12, 2018 Share Posted August 12, 2018 If they were about £20 or less per wagon I'd be tempted. As you recognise, they aren't of the best standard & for me any higher price would be too close to the cost of better kits or R-T-R. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bigbee Line Posted August 12, 2018 Share Posted August 12, 2018 I got 2 for £15 each at Ali Pali. They were the slippery slope into O. They are morphing into a pair of single bolsters. The buffers are ok and the under frames take better wheels. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew P Posted August 12, 2018 Share Posted August 12, 2018 Like Dougal, I've also had China Clays, and they were fine. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
south_tyne Posted August 12, 2018 Author Share Posted August 12, 2018 Thanks for the responses guys. I'll see what kind of price I can get them for. The vans don't look too bad to be fair so I might be tempted to go for them. Cheers, David 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold MarshLane Posted August 12, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 12, 2018 Thanks for the responses guys. I'll see what kind of price I can get them for. The vans don't look too bad to be fair so I might be tempted to go for them. Cheers, David Hi David, I've got three or four of the 12-ton vent vans. As you've said they're not perfect, but a good enough presentation for me. I've also got four of their 16-ton minerals and a couple of Cawoods coal container wagons - the latter are perhaps the worst of the the types in terms of detail. Some pics of one of the vans attached - if there is anything specific you want see, shout and I'll do some pics. These are just quick ones off the iPhone, excuse the mess in the background! And one with a bit of a distance to it. Rich 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
81A Oldoak Posted August 12, 2018 Share Posted August 12, 2018 Hi David, I've got three or four of the 12-ton vent vans. As you've said they're not perfect, but a good enough presentation for me. I've also got four of their 16-ton minerals and a couple of Cawoods coal container wagons - the latter are perhaps the worst of the the types in terms of detail. Some pics of one of the vans attached - if there is anything specific you want see, shout and I'll do some pics. These are just quick ones off the iPhone, excuse the mess in the background! IMG_8811.JPG IMG_8812.JPG IMG_8813.JPG IMG_8814.JPG And one with a bit of a distance to it. IMG_8815.JPG Rich Gently squeeze the coupling chain links with a pair of long-nose pliers to get the sides parallel and banish the bathplug look. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simond Posted August 12, 2018 Share Posted August 12, 2018 I agree with Chris, and factor in replacement wheels sooner or later. Best Simon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold MarshLane Posted August 12, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 12, 2018 Gently squeeze the coupling chain links with a pair of long-nose pliers to get the sides parallel and banish the bathplug look. Yes that needs doing, also the chain needs blackening! I agree with Chris, and factor in replacement wheels sooner or later. Best Simon These run fine and don't appear to have any problems - although on the test track (pictured) its only 13ft up and down. Whats the issues with the wheels, do the cease be round?? Rich Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simond Posted August 12, 2018 Share Posted August 12, 2018 Rich, There have been quite a few reports re the wheels. I’ve only limited personal experience, a pal bought one, and the wheels are round, but no longer perpendicular to the axles, so the btb varies as the axles rotate! I think they were a soft-ish plastic, and they have distorted with time. I haven’t helped him change them yet, but iirc, they weren’t turning very easily either. If they last, great, if not, it’s easy to buy replacements. Best Simon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold MarshLane Posted August 12, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 12, 2018 Rich, There have been quite a few reports re the wheels. I’ve only limited personal experience, a pal bought one, and the wheels are round, but no longer perpendicular to the axles, so the btb varies as the axles rotate! I think they were a soft-ish plastic, and they have distorted with time. I haven’t helped him change them yet, but iirc, they weren’t turning very easily either. If they last, great, if not, it’s easy to buy replacements. Best Simon Hi Simon, Thanks for that - not heard anything about any of that, so its useful to know. Mine haven't had a huge amount of use, but having just checked them they run freely and there's no catching in anyway. If I start getting problems tho, I'll remember to check that first. Should be relatively easy to change the wheel sets, looks like they will pop out without too much trouble. Is it Slaters for replacements? Rich Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simond Posted August 12, 2018 Share Posted August 12, 2018 Not sure, I don’t think the Slaters axles fit. I’ll get round to doing Tony’s and let you know. Best Simon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
south_tyne Posted August 13, 2018 Author Share Posted August 13, 2018 Again thanks to all for replying and for being so helpful, it is much appreciated. Sounds like the problems with the wheels are fairly widespread. I suppose for £20 or so you cannot expect the world mind! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
south_tyne Posted August 13, 2018 Author Share Posted August 13, 2018 Hi David, I've got three or four of the 12-ton vent vans. As you've said they're not perfect, but a good enough presentation for me. I've also got four of their 16-ton minerals and a couple of Cawoods coal container wagons - the latter are perhaps the worst of the the types in terms of detail. Some pics of one of the vans attached - if there is anything specific you want see, shout and I'll do some pics. These are just quick ones off the iPhone, excuse the mess in the background! IMG_8811.JPG IMG_8812.JPG IMG_8813.JPG IMG_8814.JPG And one with a bit of a distance to it. IMG_8815.JPG Rich Hi Rich, Cheers that is fantastic. Thank you for taking the time to snap those vans for me, exactly what I needed to see. They don't look too bad, a reasonable representation as you say and might be a good way of building my stock list for a reasonable cost. Thanks again, David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Enterprisingwestern Posted August 13, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 13, 2018 A tie bar would come in handy on the van? Mike. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hmrspaul Posted August 13, 2018 Share Posted August 13, 2018 Hi Rich, Cheers that is fantastic. Thank you for taking the time to snap those vans for me, exactly what I needed to see. They don't look too bad, a reasonable representation as you say and might be a good way of building my stock list for a reasonable cost. Thanks again, David But will they still be a reasonable cost after a set of 7mm wagon wheels are added at £9.50 compared to a Dapol van - to Lionheart standards at £42.50 from Tower? Paul 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
south_tyne Posted August 13, 2018 Author Share Posted August 13, 2018 But will they still be a reasonable cost after a set of 7mm wagon wheels are added at £9.50 compared to a Dapol van - to Lionheart standards at £42.50 from Tower? Paul Very true Paul, I think you're right. I am also one of those folk who would rather have two high spec models than five lesser ones; quality over quantity.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Father Dougal Posted August 14, 2018 Share Posted August 14, 2018 I have 6 skytrex wagons (5 clay and a Bauxite van), all of them have their origional wheels and couplings and they do not look out of place with any of my other stock. I have never needed to change the wheels. I'm not sure why this is suggested. They work and look fine to me. Dougal. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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