Paul_sterling

2 hours ago, sb67 said:

 

Agree with that! Mine ran superb straight out of the box! I just need a suitable layout to run it on! 

Three of mine run really well, the fourth though is a grumbly thing. I've emailed the guys, having followed their advice to try and resolve the noise but i'm still waiting on a response to my second email from January. 

Paul.

5 minutes ago, E100 said:

Just in case any body like me was on the fence I've just made my one of these my first purchase from Bure Valley Models. Don't have any affiliation but at £172 for 78054 with a Scottish shed plate and painted timken roller bearings it's hard to say no. The first batch are at £164. 

They're a good shop and good people to deal with. I've always had great service from them, so I hope you get the same.

Thanks,

Paul. 

On 24/02/2024 at 12:46, zr2498 said:

Sorry about that, but it did make me smile as well.

It came up when browsing U-tube so was not unlisted.

Here is how to change the visibility:

 

Thanks 

I normally upload videos set to unlisted, it's not happened this time, but I've changed it to as planned. 

Thanks

Paul. 

On 23/02/2024 at 21:41, zr2498 said:

Good to see a 25 delivery, and a happy result 🙂

Thanks Mcsterl for uploading 👍

 

Thank you.

Must admit that video was meant to be unlisted, so I'll have to check why it's able to be shared. But nevertheless we are really happy with the 25. 

1 minute ago, MikeParkin65 said:

The handrails of the SLW look like they are there to assist the driver into the cab whereas the Heljan ones look like bars to discourage the tubby 🤣

I was thinking about the rail across the front, but the door rails, I agree haha.

(@40002, thank you for reminding me to post this)

This thread talked a lot about the front of the Heljan 25, so much so i didn't buy one. This was partly because I preordered an SLW 25. 

However I managed to get a second hand Heljan for a very reasonable price, and was impressed by it. The cab curvature is quite good, but even before the SLW arrived, the thing that I was drawn to, that makes the cab front look flat is the grab rail. The Heljan 25 grab rail goes quite straight across the cab, rather than following the contour. 

Otherwise it runs beautifully, and is done to a very good standard. It holds its own alongside the SLW, and the paint finish is okay barring the overly pale front end. 

Sticking my old Bachmann alongside both wasn't a good idea, and really exposed the shape of the cab roof on the Bachmann. Making me think about devising a print design to try and correct it. 

thanks

Paul. 

17 hours ago, Gilbert said:

I know I'm going to cop some flak here.....but when I'm exhibiting fidelity can come second to reliablity and simplicity....and I own and use locos from both B & A....

I dont think you'll cop flak for that. It's a perfectly reasoned approach, sturdy runner every time. We live in such impressive times model wise that the models can be fantastically finished, and credible runners too. 

I was a bairn at the time, but my first loco to arrive that was a truly consistent, smooth runner, was probably Canadian Pacific in Christmas 2000. Before that, a combination of no flywheel and steel track meant that a highlight for me, was getting a lap of the layout without the loco stopping! Smokey Joe could do it by virtue of, shall we say 'momentum'. 

Thanks

Paul. 

5 hours ago, Daddyman said:

Some of us want more than value; we want acc... acc.. accura - cough - accuracy. 

Definitely, but can anyone really argue that those manufacturers I mentioned, are offering anything but that. 

2 hours ago, Brian Hawkins said:

Well, no doubt we all know who the winner is going to be already.

For a model that from rhe first pics to right out the box, looks absolutely just right, I think the SLW 25 takes some beating. I think the others are great, and I'm very impressed by accurascale for the locos I've had from them, so it'll be close, but I'm in love with the cl25. I may be biased, as the cl25 has always been my favourite diesel, but a a series of illuminated dials on the drivers control panel is a glorious little feature. 

Actually I'd say that SLW, Accurascale, Cavalex, etc, have all given a rude bump to the big two/three on what can be achieved in a OO scale diesel locomotive, and at a (very) reasonable price. Bachmanns 37 wasn't long before it was discounted, as it couldn't match the acc 37 for value. 

Thanks

Paul. 

I thought about ordering another, as a don9r chassis for another lambton project, the wheel size and spacing matches up for Lamtbon 42. I decided not to in the end, as i didn't think it would sell in any volumes if the chassis were to become hard to acquire. Went for a second barclay instead. 

Thanks

Paul

1 hour ago, GordonC said:

 

I got the impression they were spreading the batch out to only receive one or two numbers at a time for sending out to make it easier for a small team to deal with

Appears that way. My blue one arrived today (a pity I'm in the office today, but also means I'm giddy waiting to get home and see the blue 25!). 

I've got another 25 on order as part of that order from 2021, and as that has not been paid for yet, its presumably not part of the current batch being sent out, shame, as combining the postage would have been a not insignificant saving. 

Thanks

Paul. 

56 minutes ago, SteveyDee68 said:

Still available on preorder on the Hattons website until (I believe) 12 noon today - just checked now and the webpage is still active but haven’t tried ordering as I preordered two a few days ago!!

 

If they do still produce this second batch, now is the time to throw you hat (and cash) in the ring and get an order in!

 

Steve S

(Two ABs and a P please, Bob)

Agreed. I put down for an AB this morning. 

Maybe should have ordered a P as well, but I'd be ordering out of sympathy rather than a real want. I have bluebell from the first batch and I'm quite happy with it. 

Thanks

Paul. 

Hope my two aren't too long now. It's all been quiet but I'm loathed to bother SLW, checked my emails and I have an order confirmation for one of my two locos, but not the other, hoping that will work out okay, as I think the second was ordered over the phone, as I recall chatting to Phil for quite a bit on that call, mostly about our mutual love of the Sulzer type 2.

1 minute ago, BWsTrains said:

Always nice to nudge an old topic back for 15 minutes of sunshine, which I shall attempt to extend by including a short video of 4869 with sound.

 

For those of you kind enough to guide my early steps through the design of Upper Hembury you will see some progess has been made. Many cardboard cutouts of future buildings and a lot more work in 2024 but recently a sense that it is coming together.

 

Colin

 

 

 

We might as well peddle an old thread as much as Hornby has peddled old tooling....... 😉 

1 hour ago, Brian Hawkins said:

I would give them a call on 01780 470086

They did ask us not to owing to how busy they were going to be this month. 

7 minutes ago, adb968008 said:

Agreed, the Barclay was a lovely little model.

Hopefully someone considers a crane to go on the boiler too.

Did the 14/16 ever get a crane conversion? 

I had a quick Google, but could only see other barclay locos with cranes on, and usually low side tanks. 

Thanks

Paul. 

3 hours ago, 9402 Fredrick said:

I hope so then, and definitely hope someone picks up the genesis coaches as well.

I think/hope, that given hattons has a decent range now, that it will appeal to either an existing manufacturer, or a startup, to buy the tooling (and project). there has to be some value in that. 

1 hour ago, NHY 581 said:

 

The difference is that the P class needs nothing doing. The design is sound. The 14xx on the other hand needs a new chassis. It's rubbish so a new owner needs to take that into account. 

If I take on face value the 14xx I got, the chassis is smooth as silk, so it can't be completely bad. Yes I've read the thread. 

Paul. 

1 hour ago, Mr chapman said:

Really hoping these go ahead. If it's a numbers game declare it. I'm sure given the reasonable price a lot of us would double down to get them over the line. Or perhaps drop a livery of two. Bluebell will sell by the crate but perhaps not the SECR goods green. I have ordered the goods green for the record, just realistically that will probably sell like the ROD models.

The only way you'll really know the answer, is to ask them direct if they'd allow a crowd fund or similar to finish the job.

My guess is that they'll find a new home like the 66. Which gives some of us hope for a new owner for the 14xx/48xx

Paul. 

On 05/01/2024 at 20:53, Brian Hawkins said:

SLW took payment for 25 324 today, so i'm expecting it early next week.............Happy Day's 🙂

Fantastic, hopefully more of us will start hearing from them this week. 324 was one of those I ordered as well. 

Thanks

Paul. 

On 22/12/2023 at 13:59, 97406 said:

 

It was the curve on the cabs being too shallow that put me off the old Bachmann 25. I did get one and after squinting at it for a while, gave it Hornby cabs. I painted it up in Ice Cream Van livery as Tamworth Castle, but it’s a bit rough close up so it will be stripped and resprayed Banger Blue when its replacement arrives from SLW.

I was unable to convince myself to buy a Heljan 25,  because of the cab shape. I admit I've never seen the Heljan one in the flesh, but the pics put me right off. Once SLW announced theirs, and the shape looked just right in the pics, I was happy to order from SLW. 

Thanks

Paul. 

26 minutes ago, Banger Blue said:

 

I thought exactly the same then checked my 'Junk' folder - it was in there.

Thanks. I've checked, and no sign. Not an issue, and the post below/above fills the gaps, so full light blue smoke ahead.

Thanks

Paul. 

15 hours ago, Brian Hawkins said:

I had a newsletter from SLW this evening as no doubt many on here did, it wont be long now folks !

I didn't get that newsletter, but regardless its good news that the delivery is near. 

6 hours ago, James Hilton said:

Thanks Simon, you are the first to notice! It appears we’ve managed to produce an etch with two left sides. It will be resolved with the utmost haste, etches won’t be back until the new year now though. Anyone who has purchased a set will receive a replacement free of charge, we’ll email you all today.

Thanks James.

As it happens one of the etches had some scarring at the bottom of the bunker end, so a replacement RH side will cover that anyway. 

Thanks

Paul.