Wright writes.....

[Tony Wright]

Returning to the Heljan O2s, in this case the first O2/3 and O2/4 releases of some years ago...........

 

 

This was one of the first O2/4 production samples, and I was mightily-impressed with its running, especially its ability to haul very heavy trains.

 

Granted there were some quality control issues (many examples which suffered from this, I fixed), but the initial ones I had all worked well and their handrails were intact.

 

 

I decided to alter/detail/weather one of the O2/4s.

 

Accepting the odd valve gear, the person to whom I sold this model was very happy. 

 

I still have one; an O2/3.

 

 

 

Which I detailed (including a much better chimney, from Markits). 

 

Geoff Haynes weathered it, and now, as a 'layout loco', well....................

[sjp23480]

56 minutes ago, PMP said:

The Heljan UK operations are doing well. 

It appears to have originated from a poorly edited Danish local Tv interview which changed the context of parts of the conversation. 

That is good news, I must confess I hadn't picked up on the poorly edited/translation issue.  

 

Thank you for the clarification

[Bernard Lamb]

4 hours ago, lezz01 said:

As a former toolmaker I can agree with Bernard. We make what the design office draws. The tools were made to the specification of the drawing, It's not the toolmakers fault if the design of the part was gash to start with. 

Regards Lez. 

However a good toolmaker would question tolerances if his experience indicated that they were not going to work. He would go back to the designer and forward to the machine setter to ensure that they were all singing from the same hymn sheet. I worked with one who would say something on the lines of 'I have made dimensions x and y to drawing, can you try it in a press and let me know what you think as it might need one part polishing off a bit to get the best out of it'. Now, with production in China such cooperation is not possible. It is a case of do your job and pass it on to the next person. There is a limited number of sourses available I am amzzed that some of them still want to get involved in making model trains when there are far more profitable ways of earning a crust.

Bernard

[uax6]

13 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

I cannot speak from a position of much experience of Heljan's OO diesels (though I have photographed many of them).

 

I do, however, have two which run on Little Bytham (alternating as light engines in the sequence on their way to Doncaster). 

 

 

This was how I received the Baby Deltic.........

 

 

But, I thought it looked 'more-realistic' after I'd weathered it.

 

 

I also weathered the Birmingham RC&W Type 2.

 

I have no idea whether these models are 'accurate', though what I would say is that both are absolutely beautiful runners. Not only that, they're far, far superior to anything I could ever build in diesel-outline. 

 

 

 

You can't beat a nice weathered diesel... But might be worth putting a bit of dark paint (green or black) on the edge of the headcode discs to reduce their chunkiness.

 

Andy G

[Tony Wright]

1 hour ago, uax6 said:

 

You can't beat a nice weathered diesel... But might be worth putting a bit of dark paint (green or black) on the edge of the headcode discs to reduce their chunkiness.

 

Andy G

Good morning Andy,

 

Diesels (weathered or not) on Little Bytham are very few and in several cases anomalous for the period (nominally 1958). However, since it's my trainset and Rule 1 applies, they run on occasions (guest ones as well). 

 

Here's a random selection, in no particular order; I have no pretensions regarding my ability to model diesels, and, anyway, most of the following are not my work............... Though that's a poor excuse! 

 

 

A Bachmann EE Type 4, detailed/weathered by Rob Davey.

 

 

Someone came with another altered Bachmann EE Type 4, but I can't remember whom. 

 

 

 

A very old Palitoy Peak (altered into a Class 46), detailed/repainted/weathered by me. I should have done something with the armoured cab! Astonishingly, it works very well. 

 

 

Someone brought along a much better Peak, but who was it? 

 

 

Tom Wright altered/detailed/repainted/weathered an original Hornby EE Type 3 and put it on to a modified Lima chassis.

 

 

He also produced a DP2 from a Lima Deltic and, I think, a Craftsman conversion kit. 

 

 

Another Tom Wright Craftsman (or A1?) conversion, this time using a Lima chassis and scratch-building the basic bodyshell. Ian Rathbone painted FALCON and Tom then weathered it. 

 

Of course, Heljan has produced just about all of these prototype one-offs, but Tom's were made in his teenage years, many years ago now! 

 

 

Another of Tom Wright's conversions is this EE Type 4, which is a lowered-on-its-frames, re-wheeled Lima product, fitted with etched cab windows (A1? Craftsman?), new buffer beams, much detailing, a repaint and weathering. 

 

 

He also detailed/weathered this Hornby Brush Type 2, but later on the Mazak chassis expanded enough to damage the body! 

 

 

More years ago than I care to recall, I produced a prototype DELTIC from a Kitmaster body and altered Lima chassis. It ran for decades, until I dropped it - smashing it to bits!

 

I replaced it with...........

 

 

 

Bachmann's/Locomotion's superb model, which Geoff Haynes weathered.

 

Deltics are a must, of course!

 

 

A Bachmann example, detailed/renumbered/renamed/weathered by Tom Wright.

 

 

And, Accurascale's more-recent (and brilliant) one, this time weathered by Geoff Haynes. 

 

There are a couple of DMUs as well..............

 

 

A Bachmann Derby Lightweight, detailed/weathered by me.

 

 

And a Bachmann Cravens example, detailed by me, weathered by Rob Davey. 

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 6, 2023 by Tony Wright

[Northmoor]

Such a shame Tom seems to have lost interest in these things, Tony, because he's really rather good at it!  I know experts will find any number of faults with them, but these images also show just how good diesel models have been for many years; cab window thickness aside I still think the Mainline Peak looks great, especially considering the design is 40 years old.

 

By the way, your footage of Hornby's "Dublo" A4 racing through Little Bytham, especially the telephoto shots from under the M&GN bridge, are wonderful, thanks for those.

 

Rob

[Tony Wright]

7 hours ago, Northmoor said:

Such a shame Tom seems to have lost interest in these things, Tony, because he's really rather good at it!  I know experts will find any number of faults with them, but these images also show just how good diesel models have been for many years; cab window thickness aside I still think the Mainline Peak looks great, especially considering the design is 40 years old.

 

By the way, your footage of Hornby's "Dublo" A4 racing through Little Bytham, especially the telephoto shots from under the M&GN bridge, are wonderful, thanks for those.

 

Rob

Thanks Rob,

 

Tom's 'hobby' interests took a different course some years ago (20, probably) when he took up the challenge of rebuilding 'classic' cars, one of his current efforts being an E-Type Jag! 

 

I've yet to see the Hornby Dublo A4 in action on LB. I shoot the footage, it's edited at BRM, and, despite my being assured of seeing it, I'm probably the last to do so. Where can it be found, please? 

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

[Northmoor]

5 minutes ago, Tony Wright said:

Thanks Rob,

 

Tom's 'hobby' interests took a different course some years ago (20, probably) when he took up the challenge of rebuilding 'classic' cars, one of his current efforts being an E-Type Jag! 

 

I've yet to see the Hornby Dublo A4 in action on LB. I shoot the footage, it's edited at BRM, and, despite my being assured of seeing it, I'm probably the last to do so. Where can it be found, please? 

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

Link on this WoR page:

 

 

[Tony Wright]

The latest Hornby (Hornby Dublo) die-cast A4 is certainly impressive (at over £300.00?), and it certainly worked very well on Little Bytham.........

 

 

Here, as in the video, in charge of the Down 'Queen of Scots' (more likely an A1 job). 

 

It's not quite as powerful.............

 

 

As my own 60007, built from a SE Finecast kit and painted by Ian Rathbone. 

 

I have several Wills/SE Finecast A4s, and while there are some issues with the overall shape (at the front), they make-up into powerful and more-than-adequate 'layout locos'.............

 

 

 

Having run many miles on Stoke Summit and now on Little Bytham. 

 

60014 was built from a Wills kit on top of a scratch-built chassis, and 60030 was built from a complete SE Finecast kit; both painted by Ian Rathbone. 

 

Hornby A4s (the later ones) are very popular on layouts..............

 

 

On Gamston

 

 

On the World's End.

 

 

One ran on Stoke for a time as well; detailed/renumbered/renamed by me.

 

However, I sold it.........

 

 

Preferring to build 60017 from a South Eastern Finecast kit, which Geoff Haynes painted. The tender is scratch-built to represent a 1935-style streamlined corridor type. I somehow feel this has more 'presence', and it's certainly more powerful. More important, apart from the painting, it's all 'mine'. 

 

 

Hornby A4s are certainly powerful enough for Retford. Re-wheeled to EM and packed with extra ballast, they happily run well on this 'loco killer' of a layout. 

 

 

Previous Retford A4s had detailed/repainted ex-Trix bodies on scratch-built frames (MERLIN now carries lamps). 

 

They've looked the part for years and run superbly (as expected). 

 

 

The Trix A4, via Liliput then became the Bachmann one. 

 

Not in the same class as Hornby's, however...................

 

 

By building a new chassis and tender (SE Finecast/Crownline in this case) and detailing the body, a reasonable A4 could be the result, especially if the finishing thing were painted by the likes of Ian Rathbone. 

 

 

Here's another example from the same source, though this one has a modified SEF tender. 

 

I rather like Pro-Scale A4s.............

 

 

 

Having two already on LB (painted by Ian Rathbone), with a third complete and awaiting painting. 

 

Dapol's Black Label A4 has also run on LB...............

 

 

The smoke is not by digital trickery. 

 

And.............

 

 

The most-expensive of all (even more so because I had to pay extra to have the DCC stuff removed); Golden Age's MERLIN.

 

I'm still asking myself why I bought this! 

[Tony Wright]

Speaking of Golden Age Models; does anyone know if the firm is still trading? 

[ecgtheow]

If they are, they owe me quite a lot of money for models I paid for years ago but subsequently have heard nothing about.

William

[gwrrob]

10 minutes ago, Tony Wright said:

Speaking of Golden Age Models; does anyone know if the firm is still trading? 

 

The last update was August 2021 @Tony Wright They are still using your very nice photos on their website.

 

http://www.goldenagemodels.net/golden-age-models-available-stock.html

[polybear]

16 minutes ago, Tony Wright said:

Speaking of Golden Age Models; does anyone know if the firm is still trading? 

 

Companies Houses suggests they are still trading.

 

[ecgtheow]

Does anyone understand their financial statements? The latest for 2022 is just a balance sheet with stocks & funds representing a financially viable company, but there is no Profit & Loss statement. Are they delivering any models to customers as they seem to have significant current assets. In contrast there was a P & L in their previous financial statement for 2019 with a turnover of more than £500,000. Were they just collecting pre-payments for models yet to be delivered?

I have a direct interest as I paid in full for an OO gauge streamlined Merchant Navy in 2013 & paid a £250 deposit for a streamlined P2 in 2014. I have heard nothing since! I am feeling considerably more foolish than Tony.

 

William

[polybear]

7 minutes ago, ecgtheow said:

Does anyone understand their financial statements? The latest for 2022 is just a balance sheet with stocks & funds representing a financially viable company, but there is no Profit & Loss statement. Are they delivering any models to customers as they seem to have significant current assets. In contrast there was a P & L in their previous financial statement for 2019 with a turnover of more than £500,000. Were they just collecting pre-payments for models yet to be delivered?

I have a direct interest as I paid in full for an OO gauge streamlined Merchant Navy in 2013 & paid a £250 deposit for a streamlined P2 in 2014. I have heard nothing since! I am feeling considerably more foolish than Tony.

 

William

 

IANAL but sadly that's outside the six year time limit for a Small Claims Court action (or Section 75 Chargeback if the payment was via Credit Card).  Have you tried writing to them (Recorded Delivery) and asked what's happened?

 

[cctransuk]

23 minutes ago, polybear said:

 

IANAL but sadly that's outside the six year time limit for a Small Claims Court action (or Section 75 Chargeback if the payment was via Credit Card).  Have you tried writing to them (Recorded Delivery) and asked what's happened?

 

 

Do a Google search on Quentin Poore - an interesting judgement on his (failed) claim for £4m+ damages against Santander Bank.

 

CJI.

[Tony Wright]

3 hours ago, ecgtheow said:

Does anyone understand their financial statements? The latest for 2022 is just a balance sheet with stocks & funds representing a financially viable company, but there is no Profit & Loss statement. Are they delivering any models to customers as they seem to have significant current assets. In contrast there was a P & L in their previous financial statement for 2019 with a turnover of more than £500,000. Were they just collecting pre-payments for models yet to be delivered?

I have a direct interest as I paid in full for an OO gauge streamlined Merchant Navy in 2013 & paid a £250 deposit for a streamlined P2 in 2014. I have heard nothing since! I am feeling considerably more foolish than Tony.

 

William

Good evening William,

 

I know nothing about Golden Age's financial statements, and, to be fair, I did receive my A4. The reason why I subsequently puzzled over buying it was because I can happily build as many A4s as I like, so why pay in excess of four figures for something ready-made? That said, it is rather nice.

 

I did order an item of rolling stock from GAM (paying no deposit, fortunately). It was the 1938 'Flying Scotsman' triplet catering set I requested, in BR maroon. I was assured it would be 'accurate', meaning the provision of the standing bar in the RFO. When I went to collect it, there was no bar ('too difficult to alter the tooling', I was told). On the real thing, some seating was taken out, a window removed (replaced by panelling), and a bar installed. One set saw service in 'The Northumbrian' for around a decade. It was very distinctive.

 

Not only was there no bar, though the trio of cars were in maroon, so were their ends (always black in BR days) and most of the branding (internal and external) was in LNER style.

 

I refused to buy it. 'But, we've made it for you' was the response. 'You told me it would be accurate; it isn't!', was mine, and I walked away, having nothing more to do with the man, even though I'd photographed many of the models and helped him with research. 

 

It seems a sad story all round, but there's no doubt some of the models produced were superb.

 

 

I never photographed the maroon GAM triplet, but this Buffet shows some of the 'problems'; maroon ends and LNER 'No Smoking' internal signs. 

 

The proprietor once accused me of being 'too critical' in reviewing some of his products, claiming I was less-so on Hornby or Bachmann 'equivalents'. Since his products were, give or take, ten times the price, I thought I was justified. 

 

 

The firm's triplet in teak did come out very well, however.

 

 

Anyway, I did get a correct one, made by John Houlden and me using Rupert Brown's etches, PC parts, MJT parts, Comet parts and Kirk parts. The bar is at the near end (note the blanked off area on the far side). 

 

 

Geoff Haynes painted it for me (correctly).

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

 

 

[Tony Wright]

Some more examples/comparisons of Golden Age's models...............

 

I think the proprietor didn't like it too much when I was asked to photograph some of his latest models. Particularly when I pointed out....................

 

 

That this O Gauge A1 should not have a red tender drawplate, that roller bearing-fitted A1s only had one lubricator, had round ends to their axle boxes and, being Doncaster-built, had snap-head rivets on the tender!

 

He was on surer ground with his.............

 

 

O Gauge A4s; 60007 in current preserved guise, though the plaque on the casing is missing. 

 

 

A good job seemed to be made of the original MN (in O Gauge).

 

 

And (also in O Gauge), a rebuilt version. 

 

These do seem to be beautiful models, so what happened?

 

 

My GAM A4 again. 

 

And, in comparison...........

 

 

Eric Kidd's (I think it's Eric's) much-modified Hornby equivalent. In many ways, it's more-accurate - note the strip at the base of the tender tank (a relic from its 'Coronation' hauling days) and the uniform relief of the cladding bands. 

 

All at a fraction of the price!

 

So what if the cod's mouth doesn't open?

 

I spoke of price comparisons...........

 

 

 

One cost near ten times the price of the other! 

 

 

Edited May 7, 2023 by Tony Wright
to add something

[VIA185]

Salt in wounds! I bought the review sample of the GA Devon Belle obo car just before the Hornby one was announced. From memory the GA one has very bluish-white lighting and the Hornby one' s lighting is much more realistic. Can't think when I last ran either of them ! (CJL)

[t-b-g]

4 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

Some more examples/comparisons of Golden Age's models...............

 

I think the proprietor didn't like it too much when I was asked to photograph some of his latest models. Particularly when I pointed out....................

 

 

That this O Gauge A1 should not have a red tender drawplate, that roller bearing-fitted A1s only had one lubricator, had round ends to their axle boxes and, being Doncaster-built, had snap-head rivets on the tender!

 

He was on surer ground with his.............

 

 

O Gauge A4s; 60007 in current preserved guise, though the plaque on the casing is missing. 

 

 

A good job seemed to be made of the original MN (in O Gauge).

 

 

And (also in O Gauge), a rebuilt version. 

 

These do seem to be beautiful models, so what happened?

 

 

My GAM A4 again. 

 

And, in comparison...........

 

 

Eric Kidd's (I think it's Eric's) much-modified Hornby equivalent. In many ways, it's more-accurate - note the strip at the base of the tender tank (a relic from its 'Coronation' hauling days) and the uniform relief of the cladding bands. 

 

All at a fraction of the price!

 

So what if the cod's mouth doesn't open?

 

I spoke of price comparisons...........

 

 

 

One cost near ten times the price of the other! 

 

 

 

The amount of relief on all the Hornby boiler "bands" is rather too much so at least the alternate Golden Age ones are more to scale thickness and  the Golden Age one managed to get the proper curve at the lower edge of the cylinders. If they could do it, why do others struggle to get that feature correct? I see the GA model has a properly built up multi layer expansion link too. Whether such minor differences warrant a huge price gap isn't for me to say as my only 4mm A4 is my late father's old Hornby Dublo "Golden Fleece" and I have no need of another one, although I did weaken and purchase a Hatton's O Gauge model of Silver Link in original condition when they were selling them off with hefty discounts.

 

Was the valve gear on the O Gauge locos adjustable or is Sir Nigel condemned to run for ever in reverse?

[Tony Wright]

6 hours ago, t-b-g said:

 

The amount of relief on all the Hornby boiler "bands" is rather too much so at least the alternate Golden Age ones are more to scale thickness and  the Golden Age one managed to get the proper curve at the lower edge of the cylinders. If they could do it, why do others struggle to get that feature correct? I see the GA model has a properly built up multi layer expansion link too. Whether such minor differences warrant a huge price gap isn't for me to say as my only 4mm A4 is my late father's old Hornby Dublo "Golden Fleece" and I have no need of another one, although I did weaken and purchase a Hatton's O Gauge model of Silver Link in original condition when they were selling them off with hefty discounts.

 

Was the valve gear on the O Gauge locos adjustable or is Sir Nigel condemned to run for ever in reverse?

Good morning Tony,

 

I noticed the 'reverse' position of SNG's radius rod, but didn't comment. I'll check to see if other A4s in the range have the same feature.

 

Have you added vertical handrails to the cabsides on your Hatton's A4? A very strange omission.

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

Edited May 8, 2023 by Tony Wright
to add something

[Tony Wright]

With Expo EM on this coming weekend, Geoff Haynes (who'll be demonstrating painting/lining there) will be collecting some models of mine this morning for his display; models he's painted/weathered. 

 

He can choose from (at least) these............

 

 

 

A DJH A1. He hand-painted the coat of arms!

 

 

 

A DJH A2/3.

 

 

A Nu-Cast & Partners K2.

 

 

 

 

And these Mike Trice V2s. 

 

I haven't been to an Expo for years (believe it or not, I've given talks there, and demonstrated), and I really should make an effort to visit. Such events cater far more for folk who actually make things..................

 

 

[t-b-g]

1 hour ago, Tony Wright said:

Good morning Tony,

 

I noticed the 'reverse' position of SNG's radius rod, but didn't comment. I'll check to see if other A4s in the range have the same feature.

 

Have you added vertical handrails to the cabsides on your Hatton's A4? A very strange omission.

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

 

Morning Tony.

 

The Hatton A4 has only been out of its box for a test run but will hopefully get a coat of looking at one day, including adding some proper coal, lamps, a crew and the missing handrails plus a touch of weathering. I bought it mainly for the connection with my father in law, who saw the first run of the real thing in 1935. The old boy passed away recently at the age of 95 but he liked the model very much and I am glad he got to see it and it certainly stirred up some memories for him.

 

I have a few RTR locos of types that I would probably not spend time building as they don't fit my theme but I just like them. Cock O' the North in original form and Great Northern in GNR livery in 4mm and Silver Link in 7mm.

[zr2498]

19 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

Speaking of Golden Age Models; does anyone know if the firm is still trading? 

This has brought back some memories!

Here are a couple of photos of GAM A4's and coaching stock

 

 

 

There was a few pictures added to the GA thread explaining how to reduce the rolling resistance / drag on the coaches. Alas, those pictures are no more unless I get to reload them?

They were converted from plain to pin point bearings at the wheelsets. This did the job, and stopped the poor old A4's struggling with wheel slip.

From:

To:

 

The bogies also had the very strong spring which was replaced with a spacer to free them up on curves

From:

To:

 

[zr2498]

Now this is what I call a proper rolling road