the-gog Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 I bow to your superior knowledge - but it doesn't change the fact that the genuine Rail Alphabet, which is better than "very similar" to the one used by British Rail, is only a Google search away from Heljan. Regards, John Isherwood. Oh indeed. Heck, at that small size, they could've got away with using Helvetica. I bet that's installed on the designers' computers as well! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium brushman47544 Posted February 21, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 21, 2014 The font issue came up before in respect of the green versions and this was posted by dibber25 at the time. Makes sense but equally means Heljan has known about the problem for ages but still hasn't managed, or maybe been bothered, to fix it. Apparently font issues on this and other Heljan models have been due to 'translation' (I can't think of the proper term for it) between the computers in England/Denmark and those in China. I know, when we did the the livery diagrams back in the early days of Model Rail, the lettering would often change to a default font between us and the repro house, so the proofs would come out all wrong. You could then correct it on the proofs, only to find that it had changed again between repro house and printing plate! Gill Sans seems to be particularly badly afflicted by this. CHRIS LEIGH Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
the-gog Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 The font issue came up before in respect of the green versions and this was posted by dibber25 at the time. Makes sense but equally means Heljan has known about the problem for ages but still hasn't managed, or maybe been bothered, to fix it. I'm sorry Heljan, but that excuse doesn't wash. If there's a font issue with exported graphics, you instead render it as a vector (like AI or EPS) and send that instead. Simple. If their graphics people can't do that, then they need to be sacked I'm afraid. It really is a part of any graphic designer's basic knowledge. Richard Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PhilJ W Posted February 21, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 21, 2014 Recently Oxford Diecast had a problem with one of their recent releases. Their model of the Leyland Limousine Fire Pump arrived in the UK with a left hand drive dashboard. When they were informed of this by customers their reaction was to set in motion an immediate correction of the fault and an offer of a replacement of the offending part. Would it not be possible for Heljan to do something similar, perhaps providing transfers in the correct font? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kal Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 HI My 128 in Royal mail just arrived from Hattons. If you want to see the pictures they are here: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/72163-arboretum-valley-run-to-the-hills-run-for-your-lives/?p=1355163 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
the-gog Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 I've photographed my RM red one. They're on my Flickr stream: http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=11066416@N06&q=55995 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southernman46 Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 When did the WR units actually lose their gangways, etc ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
muddys-blues Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 I've photographed my RM red one. They're on my Flickr stream: http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=11066416@N06&q=55995 I like the 128, but I think you need a better shunting plank, it's not exactly a lightweight one is it ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
muddys-blues Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 Just got my Red model today from Hattons, fantastic, what a beautiful model. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
the-gog Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 Just got my Red model today from Hattons, fantastic, what a beautiful model. It's what I was waiting for after Heljan announced the 128. I think it'll sell quickly once the mags print photos of it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Removed a/c Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 Hattons are already out of stock of the Red one......awaiting more Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baby Deltic Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 I picked up a GSYP midland 128 today. Very nice indeed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
warringtonbankquay Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 I wonder if Heljan are going to produce the remaining variant which is gangwayed with marker lights ie the new flush front release but with gangways. I think it's only good though for blue full yellow panel and Royal Mail red. Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
muddys-blues Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 Just a question for those interested in DCC sound, has anybody put a sound chip in there 128 yet, and if so which sounds have you used......bearing in mind there are no 128 around, has someone used a 121 sound file in it's place ? Thanks in advance Craig. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
the-gog Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 Just a question for those interested in DCC sound, has anybody put a sound chip in there 128 yet, and if so which sounds have you used......bearing in mind there are no 128 around, has someone used a 121 sound file in it's place ? Thanks in advance Craig. Yes, it's been done. Videos on YouTube. The details of how it was done is somewhere in this thread. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BR(S) Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 Just a question for those interested in DCC sound, has anybody put a sound chip in there 128 yet, and if so which sounds have you used......bearing in mind there are no 128 around, has someone used a 121 sound file in it's place ? Thanks in advance Craig. Howes' sound (unsurprisingly currently out of stock) based around their Class 108: http://howesmodels.co.uk/product/Gloucester%20class%20128%20diesel%20parcels%20unit%20(21) Legomanbiffo also does a sound decoder, based around his Leyland engine recordings: http://www.dckits-devideos.co.uk/shop/dcc_digital_loco_sounds/diesel_electric_digital_loco_sounds_includes_the_all_new_xl_v4_decoder_/class_128_diesel_parcels_unit_dpu_legomanbiffo_.php Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
muddys-blues Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 Howes' sound (unsurprisingly currently out of stock) based around their Class 108: http://howesmodels.co.uk/product/Gloucester%20class%20128%20diesel%20parcels%20unit%20(21) Legomanbiffo also does a sound decoder, based around his Leyland engine recordings: http://www.dckits-devideos.co.uk/shop/dcc_digital_loco_sounds/diesel_electric_digital_loco_sounds_includes_the_all_new_xl_v4_decoder_/class_128_diesel_parcels_unit_dpu_legomanbiffo_.php I saw this You Tube video last night, is this your layout ? very nice if it is, and very nice if it isn't anyway !!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BR(S) Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 I saw this You Tube video last night, is this your layout ? Not guilty. Mine's the one in me signature. Bromley North will hopefully have a Royal Mail red 128 on it in the near future. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lyneux Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 Pheaton, Thanks for posting those detailed photos! - Rivets are moulded onto the marker light panel but not the corridor connector replacement panel. - Number of rivets vertically is wrong on the marker light panel (see post 492). - The prominent creases that run vertically to the left and right of where the corridor connector used to be appear to be missing. This could just be the angle that your photo is shot from? Having just taken the corridor connector off my gangwayed WR I can confirm they exist on that version of the moulding albeit not as pronounced as the prototype photo suggests. I still think the rivets look too big on the marker light panel. I'll draw up an etched version of this panel when I have a chance. Guy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel_H Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 Re the Parcels red version - I'm eagerly awaiting mine (on back-order). I recall chasing 55992 from Leamington Spa to Reading, when it was on delivery from works and it made a striking sight in those days when we all thought blue/grey was boring! I'll dig out a snap... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel_H Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 Re the Parcels red version - I'm eagerly awaiting mine (on back-order). I recall chasing 55992 from Leamington Spa to Reading, when it was on delivery from works and it made a striking sight in those days when we all thought blue/grey was boring! I'll dig out a snap... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GordonC Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 I wonder if Heljan are going to produce the remaining variant which is gangwayed with marker lights ie the new flush front release but with gangways. I think it's only good though for blue full yellow panel and Royal Mail red. Chris Wasn't there another variant - 59994 which had the split headcode boxes (marker lights in the inner character positions), no gangway. I've seen pictures of it in the Red Star or Post Office Red liveries. Or a photo is appearing of another one, split headcode boxes (marker lights in the outer character positions) and gangway in BR all-over Blue Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GordonC Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 See post 38 in http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/14804-building-a-00-gauge-gloucester-class-128/page-2 and .... http://www.panoramio.com/photo/62995345 http://flickrhivemind.net/Tags/class128,dmu/Interesting I picked up one of the Post Office Red models on Friday at Model Rail Scotland and I'm very impressed with it, its an absolutely cracking model! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dibber25 Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 Of interest....why has one side (right if you look head on) have that plated arrangement around the headlight? but the other side does not? Because that's the way they were done on the real thing when the headcode boxes were removed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
the-gog Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 It may be to do with availability of fonts. I found it took a bit of chasing around to get Gill Sans for my Mac (although it wasn't unduly difficult) but I'm not sure Rail Alphabet would be available - I think Brian Haresnape recommended Helvetica as an alternative when we did the Corporate Image signs in Model Railway Constructor WAY back. Also, it may well be that these bodies were printed long before the font disparity was pointed out here or anywhere else. CHRIS LEIGH I've been looking loser at my RM red one, and it's quite obvious that Heljan DO have Rail Alphabet. The C1 on the cab front is printed using it, so there's no excuse not to use it on the other models that require it. Except of course the problem of apathy and mediocrity. RWJ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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