61661

13 hours ago, bradfordbuffer said:

See.....quick phone call (old fashioned ....but it works)....it ends pages and pages of speculation...

 

 

 

 

But has it!

Perhaps I can help, seeing as no-one has actually asked the manufacturer about it. ;-)
We have not resurrected our plans for TT and have no intention to do so as things stand. That may change at some point in the future if we feel it is viable, but we think it’s more productive to focus on developing our OO and O gauge ranges at the moment. 

Hope this helps.

Ben

15 hours ago, jessy1692 said:

I was wondering the same but I'm sure I read somewhere they are expected later now? Iv not heard anything on my pre order.

Cheers

James

They re on their way now. A little later than planned, but factory output and shipping is still unpredictable. We expect to receive them in July. 

18 hours ago, stovepipe said:

 

Indeed, but none yet announced, which does beg the question 'Why not?'

Thanks for your interest. We're genuinely delighted that you want more Peaks ASAP. As alluded to above, there are a couple of reasons we haven't announced more versions of the Class 44-46 models yet. Firstly, the initial batch was (by modern standards) a large production run including a number of retailer exclusives. Although the response has been amazing and they sold out from our warehouse very quickly, we don't want to overwhelm retailers or customers by immediately flooding the market with more. 

With regard to split headcode locos, TMC doesn't have an 'exclusivity' agreement but we want to ensure that it sells through its batch of D11-D15 models before we announce a standard split headcode version. Announcing them too soon could affect TMC's sales and we want to be fair and decent to them as they placed a lot of faith in us by ordering a large batch of all-new models straight off the drawing board. All the work for the standard split headcode locos is done, it's just waiting for us to 'push the button'. 

Class 44 requires a bit more work, but as I said to several people at the NEC last weekend it is high on our 'to do' list. 

14 hours ago, Porcy Mane said:

 

Looks like the roof nearest to the tender may be requiring a stronger magnet.

The roofs and the magnets are fine on all the samples - looks to me like someone on the Hornby Magazine layout (who borrowed a set over the weekend) just hasn't replaced the roof properly. 

2 hours ago, davidw said:

Any chance of photos for those who are too far/ unable to get to Warley?

We'll take some photos on Friday/Saturday when everything has been unpacked and share them on our Facebook page asap. 

5 minutes ago, Phil Bullock said:

 Shame the blue/grey ones are all TOPs branded but we can soon fix that….

Not quite - pack #9623 is in the early version of blue/grey (with blue roofs and brown bogies) applied in the late-1960s retaining the 'TCV' code. The other packs are branded NVV (vac brake/steam heat) and NVX (dual heat/dual brake) for the 1970s/80s. 

16 minutes ago, Steamport Southport said:

Strange they are in packs of three. Seems a common number now.

 

I was under the impression they usually worked in 4 or 8 car sets. In later years there was 5 with one being a spare.

 

 

 

Jason

In the maroon years they often worked in sixes with 4 Mk1 day coaches. Haven't seen eight together in any of the research we've done. The number used in each train steadily dwindled to two or three during the blue/grey period, so packs of three makes most sense. 

50 minutes ago, Michael Hodgson said:

Oh yes please !  I've got a couple of kit-built ones (Southern Pride?)

Very expensive for 3 coaches, but if they're as good as the drawings they do look the business.

I know I'm biased, but they are even better than the livery artwork. The samples received this week have a real 'wow' factor. 

24 minutes ago, 'CHARD said:

Not forgetting their diagrammed use to and from Perth via Cowdenbeath and Kinross - W.V.Anderson's photo of a Brush Type 4 on Glenfarg bank hauling the down working is classic.

 

Are the end doors opening, or the roofs removable so I can install a vehicular load?  We know about the unhealthy obsession I have with cartrains....

Just for you Chard, the roofs are easily removable - held in place by small but strong magnets. We will be demonstrating this feature at the NEC this weekend. Unfortunately for you, it won't be possible to put any cars in the centre well as that's where we've put all the weight. 

23 hours ago, RBAGE said:

Contacted Heljan and had no response.

Contacted retailer who initially responded within 90 minutes to look for a spare part. After a week I enquired about replacement or refund and had no response.

Hi. How did you contact Heljan? Via the messaging service at www.Heljan.co.uk?  We respond to queries as quickly as we can via the website and I haven‘t seen one about this issue so far. 

If the headcode panel insert was completely missing from your model we strongly suggest that it should be returned to your retailer for exchange. 

Hope this helps.

Ben

On 06/09/2022 at 11:01, two tone green said:

You need to get it out to answer that question. 

We certainly do! It hasn't moved nearly as quickly as we'd like (various reasons, including the big global ones) but final deco samples are being prepared now. Assuming they are OK we should be able to go into production after we've reviewed the samples. 

11 minutes ago, Solo said:

 In reality I'd just love a DMU in 'O'.

Let’s see how the Class 117 sells. We’d be keen to look at other DMUs in O if there’s sufficient demand. We have one obvious candidate currently being developed for OO*. That would be very nice in O too - IF there’s demand. 
 

*THIS IS NOT AN ANNOUNCEMENT. ;-) 

1 hour ago, RANGERS said:

It seems naive for Heljan to try and dismiss an earlier announcement as fake news.

Can’t see where that was said or even inferred, but happy to  be proved wrong if you can point me to the source.

For the avoidance of doubt it was never really ‘announced’ as such - no item listing, liveries, vehicle IDs or item codes were ever allocated or advertised and the only time Heljan ever mentioned it public was very briefly on that flyer in 2016. In a previous life I remember seeing a poster (probably at the same show as the flyer) on the Heljan stand referring to it as a ‘possible project’ (or similar wording). 
It’s sad that it didn’t develop into a full-blown project but, for the reasons mentioned earlier, the decision not to pursue it was taken a long time ago. 
 

Hope this helps.

Ben 

3 hours ago, Hal Nail said:

 

Thanks Ben.

Next time I give you credit for an improved approach I'll check first! :)

 

edit: I was probably remembering the Collett goods project being stopped. Easy to confuse the two!

Things have changed a lot since that initial transition period. The 2251 was cancelled for different reasons. 

4 hours ago, Robert Shrives said:

IF it has reached Wack -a-mole rates then perhaps the public has voted....  might get picked up by another major O gauge player... 

Robert 

Perhaps you’re taking the ‘whack-a-mole’ metaphor too literally. It happens about once a year. 

1 hour ago, Hal Nail said:

 

I might be remembering wrong but I think it was canned when Ben @61661joined and they reviewed the pipeline, started doing re-runs of popular models but also stopped some projects.

Not how I remember it. Research work on the proposed O gauge Class 120 had already stopped when I joined Heljan in 2018. There was no 'review of the pipeline' or change of strategy at that point, I simply continued the inherited (active) projects and started new ones as required.

I'm told that detailed drawings were not available and that makes life very difficult when there is just one preserved vehicle (a buffet car) and no driving cars of any version to survey. The leaflet shown above dates from 2016 when all of the DMU projects would have been at a very early stage. 

We've stated on numerous occasions over the last four years that the 120 is not happening. It has never appeared in a Heljan catalogue - the most important indicator of whether a project is happening or not. And yet, like a 'whack-a-mole' it still keeps rearing its head!

Not sure who @Solo spoke to at Guildex but I recall only one conversation about the 120 over the weekend and it was along the lines of this post.  

5 hours ago, 47606odin said:

Just seen a picture of one of these releases, the size of the cut out in the bogie frame for the pony axle is HUUUUUUUGE! Way over size. 

Thanks for the feedback. It's a compromise forced by the necessity to work over second radius train set curves and sudden, sharp changes of gradient on model railways. If we'd made it to scale it would have restricted the movement of the pony truck and caused a whole raft of complaints from people who use R2 curves. However, the fact that it actually has a proper axle stub protruding through a hole in the bogie frame is a big step forward from previous models of 1-Co-Co-1 locos. In fact this feature was one of the most frequently mentioned positive aspects raised by people who had a close look at the Peaks at DEMU Showcase last weekend. 

Hope this helps.

Ben

1 hour ago, cctransuk said:

 

What is the minimum radius acceptable for the 'floating' inner bogie, please?

 

The recent model of the gas turbine 18000 has this arrangement, and has to be modified by the purchaser in order to handle medium radii .

 

CJI.

Class 45s are suitable for second radius trainset curves/points. The very specific design of 18000 with deep side skirts meant that a floating inner bogie arrangement had to be adopted even to get around R3 curves. Class 45s have no side skirts and the bogies are free to rotate further. 

On 22/07/2022 at 00:39, Northern Electric said:

 

Forgive me if this has already been covered but, do we have any info yet on exactly what condition NSE 86401 will be produced in?

When it first received the livery it was unnamed and had no TDM equipment.  Latterly it received the front end mods in line with the rest of the class and I think around 1989 it was named Northampton Town. The TDM cables were also carried in the early "upside down flap" arrangement the later pocket arrangement - though not for very long in that livery.  

I'm also curious as to whether it has been decided it will be in the early or late shade of NSE blue.  (My money is on early given the date at which it was repainted)      Cheers

It will have TDM cables but no names. As it's easier to add an etched nameplate than take off printed detail we thought this was the best and most flexible solution. It will be original NSE blue to match the original style of livery. 

On 23/07/2022 at 20:53, adb968008 said:

Anyone seen videos of this running ?

 

i note the front leading axle is correctly modelled with the axle protuding the frame, but this inhibits oscillation on curves. The other 3 axles also look fixed.

So i’m wondering how this handles curves ?

 

As reference Mainline, Replica, Bachmann all used a 6 axle bogie, with 1 axle held in a cradle that oscilates freely, but it meant the protruding axle was a moulded representation of the frame.

 

 

I've had a sample running on my layout for around 18 months and I can confirm that all the samples we've had are superb runners. The pony trucks are prototypically modelled with the stub of the axle protruding out through the side frames. It is not inhibited in its movement and works very effectively. I haven't had a single derailment during testing. The three powered axles are contained in a separately 'floating' inner bogie which provides excellent riding capabilities (similar to Kernow's Bulleid diesels). All six driving axles are powered and have pick ups. 

Hope this helps.

Ben

On 05/07/2022 at 16:10, wombatofludham said:

I'm pretty sure Ben from Heljan has stated that for the "reboot" of the 86 the priority was to launch the versions not yet modelled (ever) but 86/2s were planned.  I think the only ones not planned are the "86 and a half" Class 86/1 which had Class 87 bogies.

86/2s in 1975 condition without nameplates and with headcode blinds will further put me in the workhouse.

Correct. That's pretty much word-for-word what I said when the 86/4s were announced. The original AL6s and 86/4s were done as a priority because they were significant gaps in the fleet. It's also important that we don't overwhelm retailers and customers with dozens of different 86s at the same time, so the releases are being phased to avoid that. The rerun of AL6s and 86/4s was not in the plan but we had some requests for exclusive liveries (such as NSE 86401) and standard liveries that had sold out in the previous runs. 

22 hours ago, bradfordbuffer said:

Class 104 dmu for full nostalgia! Just don't copy under length triang MK1's 

Well, we do have the 104 coming OO! ;-) 

10 hours ago, adb968008 said:

Will spares go via Gaugemaster ?

 

i’m interested to do try some tweaks of my own, but want to try on spare parts rather than the original.

 

 

Spares will be sent to Rails when they are available.