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NXEA!

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Posts posted by NXEA!

  1. 7 hours ago, NZRedBaron said:

    Well, I can't recall if I've ever posted ideas on this thread; but I will make the same suggestions and comments that I made on the similar thread about Rapido models, such as their Jones Goods engine.

     

    On the one hand, it's all very well and good making those high quality models; but if they don't have appropriate stock to haul, whether passenger coaches or goods wagons, then it's all a bit half-baked; for instance, it's fine and good to have the 'Buckjumpers' (J67/68/69) in GER livery, but without proper GER coaches or wagons to haul, then the job feels only half done.

     

    On the other hand, as a shameless LNER-ist with a slight fondness for Scottish and East Anglian operations, it would be nice to fill out the roster there, with some ex-NER equipment (like Raven's S3 class, aka the LNER B16/1's), Gresley's K2 moguls, or even some of the more oddball designs, like the GER Class T26 'Holden Intermediates' 2-4-0's, aka LNER E4's.

    I’ll second an LNER E4 and GER corridor coaches please! 

    • Like 2
  2. 8 hours ago, wombatofludham said:

    Aaaanyways...

    How about this for a mad idea to have a discussion about at the next brainstorming over a few Liffey Waters...
    ...a Class 150.  With a few adaptations.

    Hear me out.  The 150 seems to be the railway equivalent of last night's curry smell, and are not going anywhere soon.  The Bachmann model, whilst nice, has a few compromises and none of the three car sets, both the original prototype and the Centro and GMPTE 150/1 and 150/2 three car lash-ups have been made (although I have modified three three car lash-up sets and am happy not to have through lighting).

    Now, the prototype units had a full intermediate car, and also had recessed drivers doors, so, with a different cab end slide, and another body tooling for the motor car, you could chuck out an NIR 450 class.  That would be a good tribute to NIR's make do and mend design, which combined used English Electric diesel engines salvaged from scrap 70 class, some bomb damaged 80 class and possibly the odd spare from the Southern, bolted to second hand Mk1 underframes onto which were welded Class 150 style bodies, kitted out with PEP style low back seats, at a time when getting any money for trains was virtually impossible given the stranglehold Ulsterbus had on public transport funding at the time.  One of these yokes even carried the Queen across Belfast at one point, Lord only knows what she thought of that.

    Of course, there are more differences than the cab ends between the 450 and the 150 but oh, the joy, if you decide to progress a 450 when you announce you are planning a Castle Class, only for the fans of those poncey green painted things that took posh people to Cornwall, to collectively whine when it turns out to be an NIR DEMU.  Northern Irish humour at it's best, naming the cut and shut 450 class after Castles.  The only sort of Castle I like given my main line experience with those 4-6-0s resulted in two partially cancelled railtours when they developed tummy ache after being fired with something other than Welsh finest champagne coal.  

    Joking and pithiness aside, I can't help thinking that the 150 could be worth a punt despite the Bachmann offering.  Price wise you would probably be competitive, they are widespread, have worn a paintbox worth of colours, have lasted from BR early sectorisation to now (and are knocking on for the same age as the trains they replaced) and if the tools were cleverly designed could also get the NIR 450 out on the back of the Sprinter, I can't help but think there is room for a competing model.  And before the "why do you want more duplication" team start, to be honest, Bachmann's pricing would leave room for Accurascale to come in with a better detailed product at a similar price without the compromises some of the Bachmann models have due to the way they were designed.  I would like many other units but given their longevity, colourful liveries, widespread use and possible crossover potential with the Ulster Castles subject to details etc, I have a strange feeling there could be a market for a better 150.

    Don’t disagree with that logic, but as we already have a high-quality 150 the Turbostar family is the DMU open goal for me. Geographically widespread, multitude of operators past and present, more liveries than you can shake a stick at, another 10-15 years of life left, baffles me that no one has announced one to the latest standards.
     

    For an EMU a RTR 313 is in the same category, baffling omission from mainstream OO. 

    • Like 1
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  3. On 14/03/2024 at 22:09, Gilwell Park said:

    The RCTS book on BR standard 4-6-0 & 2-6-0 report them as being used on excursions to Clacton etc.

    One of the Stratford engines, 78023, was reported being used on a special freight to Chingford.

    I always understood that they were allocated to Stratford to replace the remaining J15 for a few months before being transferred to March.

    A trawl online did turn up a photo of 78028 at Huntingdon East en-route to Clacton. 
     

    https://www.rail-online.co.uk/p645313931/hb5cdb0fc

     

    Question is whether it worked through! The more I look at the Hornby model the more I’m tempted… 

    • Like 2
  4. 2 hours ago, MarkSG said:

    Interesting. I have to confess that I'd never heard of a Palvan before. I'm not sure whether, realistically, one would have found its way into rural East Anglia very shortly after being built, but I suppose there's a viable Rule 1 scenario whereby one was attached to a regular fruit train simply to make up the numbers. 🙂

    Exactly the same scenario I’m pondering! I’ll have a trawl through some of the various books I’ve got tonight. 

    • Like 1
  5. 27 minutes ago, Steamport Southport said:

     

    They and their LMS cousins were used on heavy excursion traffic in Wales so I don't think they were exactly feeble for a 2MT.

     

     

    Jason

    Fair enough. The follow-up question to that would then be does anyone have any photos or reports? Would love to see photos as I’d love to justify buying one. 

    • Like 1
  6. I’m reading the latest issue of Model Rail and it has an article on the 2MT’s in which it states that 78028/029 of Leicester Midland shed were used on East Anglian excursion traffic and the article name checks Clacton-On-Sea. Has anyone ever seen photos or reports of this happening previously? Not heard of this previously, and the ones which were shedded on the GE 78022-025 were at Stratford (and then March) were only allocated for a few months and don’t appear to have ever been used. A 2MT also seems to be a bit of a small loco to use on heavy excursion traffic so it seems a bit doubtful to me. Any insight would be appreciated. 

    • Like 1
  7. Hadn’t seen this, but very pleased! Great choice. Have ridden on the real things quite literally hundreds of times in East Anglia, whether for trips to London, getting to college, then later commuting for work or on my way to see family dotted all over East Anglia. Always used to make a beeline for the pantograph area and enjoy the scream of the traction motors, very much missed. 
     

    I have only modelled East Anglian steam to date, but I think I’ll have to build a small Southminster-inspired layout just for this, and get a sound version.
     

    Special request from me for something East Anglian liveried in the first batch please, would absolutely love FGE but would also be happy with NXEA or Greater Anglia liveries.
     

    And if not, if you do Silverlink or LM in the first batch, any chance of choosing a Silverlink set between 321421-437 (321415/416 also went on hire in Silverlink livery) or one of 321411/417 in London Midland please, as these operated out of Liverpool Street in those liveries at various times.
     

    Very pleased, and hope it sells well! 

    • Like 2
  8. 1 hour ago, Fredo said:

    Hi, I have seen the video of the new auto decoupler Class 31’s and am looking forward to getting one. Have you considered a model of D5578 as new in Plan Electric Blue livery, also have you thought about the 31/0 Toffee Apples and the 31/1’s with disc headcodes. Thanks Fred

    1960 - Blue Brush on the East Side..

     

    That’s the one that I really want - was hoping it’d be in the Collectors Club today. Oh well, I’m sure someone will do it sooner or later! 

    • Like 2
  9. I notice they’ve even duplicated one of the Accurascale efforts, 31407 in Mainline Blue. Question is whether they’ll be able to outsell Accurascale, given theirs is an AS exclusive and Bachmann’s will be more widely available. 

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  10. 48 minutes ago, JSpencer said:

     

    Add the 03/04, 08, 20, 24/24 on top. Bachmann has covered most with all new tooling.

     

    Hornby are a bit stuffed. All their flagship diesels are now being done better elsewhere except the 08/09 and HST.

     

    I’d say 08 and 20 are the other big flagship diesels (ignoring the HST which is in the iconic category). Bachmann have the 20 market cornered, however it does feel like a new 08 is only a matter of time, despite the existing Hornby and Bachmann efforts already being excellent. Question is, who will get there first? 

    • Like 1
  11. 14 minutes ago, AY Mod said:

     

    Not really.

    We’ll have to agree to disagree - I have D5579 in Ochre from Kernow and I think it’s great. You pays your money and you takes your choice! 

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  12. Usually I don’t comment negatively as it’s up to manufacturers to decide what they’re going to produce and whether it’s commercially viable, and I’m all for competition but can’t help but feel a bit disappointed and slightly baffled.
     

    There’s plenty of choice out there to either do something brand new to OO gauge RTR or something due an upgrade, but they’re choosing to compete against Accurascale again (who’s project has been well known about for a long time), and as we’ve seen with the 37’s the market appears oversaturated and it will happen again with these. Not only that, as nice as the Accurascale model is it’s a little debatable whether an upgrade was that necessary given the Hornby model is high fidelity and very very good - so we’re expecting the market to support three high-quality models at a time when prices are going up steeply and there is a lot of pressure on modellers wallets. Seems unnecessarily risky to me, plenty of other choice to go at which is disappointing.
     

    But best of luck to Bachmann and I hope it’s a success for them - whichever one of the three manufacturers chooses to do D5578 in experimental blue will get my money. 

    • Agree 5
    • Funny 1
  13. 1 hour ago, Covkid said:

     

    So what is wrong with the current Bachmann 03 ?

    The Next18 mechanism runs like a dream with a decoder in it

    I think that’s what he means. I’m hoping for a Next18 version in plain green! 

  14. On 01/02/2024 at 20:31, Gwiwer said:

    Just looking carefully at @kintbury jon's images above my question remains "Have they got the face right?"  This was a contentious issue when the Vep first appeared.  It certainly wasn't spot-on.  But what is amiss?  

     

    Comparing both images with an almost head-on image of 3417 captured at Waterloo recently the models appear to have the central gangway area more or less correct.  It is the outer areas which are astray.

     

    We might only be talking in millimetres or even fractions thereof but it doesn't look quite like the real thing.  Even if it's fractions of millimetres then Bachmann got it right with their 4-TC which has the same front end as the 4-Vep.  

     

    On the Vep the cab windows appear too narrow leaving the outer corner-pillar too wide.  The outer bottom corner of the window should align with the outer upper corner of the jumper recess which the models do not.  This means the jumper recesses are also too narrow and should extend farther towards the corner-pillars.  The horns appear skinny and the warning "flash" out of proportion, too large and too wide for its height.

     

    I attach, with permission, a screenshot of my friend Colin Duff's review of the 4-TC which uses side-by-side images of a real 4-Vep against the model 4-TC.  The points made are salient and transferable to the Vep model; it also allows near head-on comparison which, if placed adjacent to a Vep model image (or even an actual model) will serve to illustrate the differences.  The 4-TC shows that the correct "face" can be modelled albeit it too has had a few minor dimensional issues such as "fat horns" 

     

    Such things may still be deal-breakers for a few modellers when we are being asked to pay something in the region of £350 for a new 4-car unit.  

     

    Screenshot2024-02-01at20_18_36.png.dc32a61696665c2baffe094c4bd082cf.png

     

    It’s interesting how people’s perception differs because I think the face of the new Hornby VEP looks more convincing than the TC to my eye! 

    • Like 2
    • Agree 1
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