Lionheart Lynton & Barnstaple Models

[PaulRhB]

The working signal was also demonstrated 

 

 

 

[PaulRhB]

 

 

Full lighting details, a few livery details still to finish. 

 

 

 

 

The roof comes off easily, no need to chop your passengers legs off either. 
It also clips back on easily. 

 

Compartments and seats as appropriate. 
 

Simplified but effectively chosen underframe details. The couplings are prototypical so no NEM pockets. There’s a cutout slot to allow the couplings to negotiate 2ft radius but it will be easy to blank off and add other coupling mounts with minimal effort. 

[PaulRhB]

Richard was happy to chat about the details still being refined on the stock and production has started on the locos, coaches will follow and he’s hoping they will hit production before Chinese New Year so he’s hoping around March next year for them all. 
14mm versions are being investigated still and the chassis allows for the b2b but it might require alternative assembly so viability isn’t decided yet. 
Richard also said limited goods stock is being considered initially while they see how it goes. 
 

 

The printing on these is sublime and a real challenge to the factory. He was interested what we thought about prices creeping up and I pointed out the initial hopes were the same as the Slaters kits so a small increase for this quality seemed realistic in the current climate to me. 
 

I can’t wait and next year means I will hopefully have more pennies to spend on more. 

[Night Train]

Excellent photos. Thanks.

[PaulRhB]

Some prototype ideas to tempt you further here 😉

 

 

[Bill Eaton]

Thanks for the recent update but I am not clear on the position with 14mm gauge for the locos. The Lionheart website and the leaflets available on their stand at Guildex each say "Adaptable to 14mm track gauge" which I have, until now, interpreted to mean that the model is designed to allow the purchaser to carry out a conversion with reasonable ease, and by that I mean that it should be possible to regauge the supplied wheelsets and it should not be necessary to carry out surgery to the model or substitute a new chassis. I have ordered a loco and three coaches on the basis of this understanding. I am not anticipating any issues with the coaches, as it looks as if it will be simple to either regauge the existing wheelsets or insert new ones. But what is now being said about the locos is a little concerning. Does anyone have any further information?

[PaulRhB]

2 minutes ago, Bill Eaton said:

"Adaptable to 14mm track gauge" which I have, until now, interpreted to mean that the model is designed to allow the purchaser to carry out a conversion with reasonable ease,

They are designed to allow the back to back for 14mm that was clear. I asked about re-gauging locos and Richard said he was still looking at if offering 14mm ready to go was viable as the complexity of the centre axle crank assembly is going to be the most challenging part in re-assembly. 
I’d intended 14mm too but I’d accept them on 16.5mm so didn’t pursue it further. Hopefully final clarification soon from Richard, probably worth dropping him a line via the contact link on the website.

[Jack]

On 24/09/2022 at 21:41, PaulRhB said:

Simplified but effectively chosen underframe details. The couplings are prototypical so no NEM pockets. There’s a cutout slot to allow the couplings to negotiate 2ft radius but it will be easy to blank off and add other coupling mounts with minimal effort. 

 

Hmm, I can kinda see where they are coming from with the lack of NEM pockets, but it doesn't take into account those customers that want to run them with other stock. I would have thought that if those couplings had been mounted in pockets, everyone would have been happy. This does seem a little retrograde. On models of this price I'm not sure I'm brave enough to start hacking around too much ...

 

... shame, as they do look exquisite!

[PaulRhB]

21 minutes ago, Jack said:

I would have thought that if those couplings had been mounted in pockets, everyone would have been happy. This does seem a little retrograde. On models of this price I'm not sure I'm brave enough to start hacking around too much ...

Fair points but remember Lionheart is the ‘Black Label’ for O scale, as mentioned by Richard in the video Andy did, so scale couplings were the aim and zamzoodle and other choppers are quite common. 
The pocket would require cut outs in the body I guess from the height. The advantage of the cut out slot for the swing means mounting an adapter in it should be easy for someone to offer a 3D option too so I think it’s actually quite useful as the pivot could be mounted under the coupler box. 
I’m sure aftermarket options will emerge once people get their hands on them but personally I’m pleased to see the scale couplings. 

[coeurdelyon]

Good Evening,

This new series of Ready-to-run Lynton and Barnstaple rolling stock in 7mm scale have to run on ready to  lay narrow gauge trackwork and the only suitable track available is made by Peco to 00 gauge designated 0-16.5, however the intention was to design from the start conversion of the wheels to run on 14.0mm trackwork.

Today I received specially prepared wheel sets from the factory set to 14.0mm and designed to be installed in the coach bogies to maintain the electrical pick-up for the lighting and will be available as an accessory part.

Please see attached pictures where you will notice the bogies have been designed to be a snap fit into the chassis of the coach making contact with electrical connections. Also the separate coupling units are fitted to a pocket in the end of the bogie frame.

I am waiting to hear whether a set of new driving and pony wheels are possible to be made to 14.0mm gauge for the locomotives.

Regards,

Richard

 

[PaulRhB]

Thank you Richard and that shows the connector for the coupling nicely. 

[RateTheFreight]

Apologies if these have been answered before but is there a list of lengths for the locos, coaches and planned 4 wheel box wagons? Likewise, is the 610mm/2ft min radius curve refer to commercially available OO track & pointwork (is it 4th radius?). 

 

They all look stunning, particularly the locos with the amount of metalwork. I imagine they have a nice ‘heft’ when handling too! 
 

Very tempted for a micro project/shelf layout. 
 

G 

Edited September 29, 2022 by RateTheFreight

[PaulRhB]

2 hours ago, RateTheFreight said:

Apologies if these have been answered before but is there a list of lengths for the locos, coaches and planned 4 wheel box wagons? Likewise, is the 610mm/2ft min radius curve refer to commercially available OO track & pointwork (is it 4th radius?). 

 

They all look stunning, particularly the locos with the amount of metalwork. I imagine they have a nice ‘heft’ when handling too! 
 

Very tempted for a micro project/shelf layout. 
 

G 

The 2-6-2’s are 22ft4in long around 160mm in 7mm

 

The coaches are around 35ft so around 245mm

 

Vans and opens aren’t confirmed models yet but are 10-10.5ft over the body plus couplings. Kits are available from Peco & Slaters though. 
 

The radius is to match the Peco O16.5 points and they do flex track to match. You’d need to look up what 4th radius is but set track won’t match the O16.5 points sleepers 

[37114]

On 29/09/2022 at 10:27, PaulRhB said:

The 2-6-2’s are 22ft4in long around 160mm in 7mm

 

The coaches are around 35ft so around 245mm

 

Vans and opens aren’t confirmed models yet but are 10-10.5ft over the body plus couplings. Kits are available from Peco & Slaters though. 
 

The radius is to match the Peco O16.5 points and they do flex track to match. You’d need to look up what 4th radius is but set track won’t match the O16.5 points sleepers 

Thanks for sharing the above, I read recently that Lionheart were doing these so was curious about how much space I would need for a little L&B layout. I have always fancied doing something narrow gauge but having recently gone 7mm then 0-16.5 has more appeal than 009 so this range is very much of interest. 

[Jeff Smith]

O-16.5 is a very nice size, have a look at Peco and Branchline products.

[PaulRhB]

I dropped an email to Richard who kindly answered a couple of questions I had. The first was about the O14 possibilities. 
I’ll let Richard explain it in his words. 
“Unfortunately the assembly of the locomotive chassis is very complex, and because the factory has an MOQ it would not be viable.

However I am looking at offering a set of correctly gauged wheel sets with the cranks fitted as a possible customer conversion but not for the faint hearted.”

 

So O14 will be a possible aftermarket option. Personally I’m still torn because while I’d love to do it exact it then means it can’t run alongside my other O16.5 stock if I do a 7mm modular setup with friends. Current thinking is to get conversion sets if Richard is successful in doing them and filing them away for a future exact layout but continue with modules for now. 
 

The second question was about their soundfile and chip manufacturer whether it includes a brake. 
“The sound file does have a brake function which is installed in a Zimo decoder, “

 

Finally I was trying to clear up the differences between two of the models as I suspected they were both ‘holly green’

“and yes you are correct the difference between 003 and 004 is the detail on the builders plate for the different era.”

 

So 001

 

& 002 will be

 

 

 

 

003 & 004 will be this colour but with changes to the plate company name

 

 

005 in SR green

 

And finally 006 with full SOUTHERN lettering  

Many thanks to Richard for clarifying my questions and giving permission to post his answers. 

Edited February 16, 2023 by PaulRhB

[PaulRhB]

Oh and if you wish to change identities of the L&B versions 

 

https://www.lightrailwaystores.co.uk/products/npp-310

 

[Andrew Young]

Samples of the Chelfham building kits were on display today at Kettering. Very nice they looked too, the station building, gents and the signal box. 
 

 

[PaulRhB]

Did they say if the stock is in transit yet? 😀

[vaud1838]

I asked Richard Webster at the Kettering show when can we expect to see the locos and coaches arrive in the UK. He told me both are in production and should be completed by the end of April, shipping May, available sometime in June.

[PaulRhB]

On 05/03/2023 at 00:35, vaud1838 said:

I asked Richard Webster at the Kettering show when can we expect to see the locos and coaches arrive in the UK. He told me both are in production and should be completed by the end of April, shipping May, available sometime in June.

Still on for June confirmed at AP exhibition. 

[vaud1838]

Thanks Paul, thats good news having it confirmed a second time. At least it means my efforts at creating an interpretation of 'Woody Bay' won't be in vain !

[Blobrick]

Quick question to the L&B experts lurking within RMweb,  I note that currently Lionheart list Exe in as delivered livery and details. Does anyone know if that includes the locally modified pipe work she received after thieves stole some of  the original fittings? The replacement pipe work sat higher over the boiler and therefore made the engine more easily identifiable. 

I m interested to find this out  as, if not it  hoping that a change of name and builders plates would be all that's needed to allow me to model both Yeo and Taw in as delivered condition using two additional "Exe"s models as base models

Any thoughts folks?

 

 

Bob C 

[PaulRhB]

50 minutes ago, Blobrick said:

I note that currently Lionheart list Exe in as delivered livery and details. Does anyone know if that includes the locally modified pipe work she received after thieves stole some of  the original fittings?

This was the model on show at Woody Bay last year with lower pipework. 
 

 

 

 

[Blobrick]

49 minutes ago, PaulRhB said:

This was the model on show at Woody Bay last year with lower pipework. 
 

 

Thanks Paul, that helps a lot, it also looks like the name plate etc are printed on as well, or is that my poor eye sight ?

Bob C

49 minutes ago, PaulRhB said: