BritishRail60062

7 minutes ago, Roy Langridge said:

Not disrespectful, rather puzzled by some of your statements. If you are that on having realistic running and power train, surely that would mean replacing the electric motor and gears with a miniature diesel engine, turbo, generator, traction motors?

 

The real Class 60 is one of the best locomotives we have in the UK for hauling long heavy trains. The Cavalex Class 56 is equally sure-footed and able to haul its equivalent train, what more do we need?

 

Roy

Love it. Maybe one day when nano technology really takes off and we have AI robots making that kind of thing, it could be possible. But that's for another time. I have enough people on here that hate me as it is sadly. I love the Class 60's myself mate and I would be more than happy to talk about the real things via PM if you want as I don't want to russell anymore feathers. 

Back on topic and moving onto the model. 

It sounds like some people on here are being disrespectful because I have spoken out my views and there is really no need to have this attitude. I respect other peoples views without the need to make snide remarks. Like the example below. 

1 hour ago, SulzerPeak said:

Im sure all will be revealed in a splendid self indulgent, niave youtube review!

Nice one, no I really mean it. I wish Cavalex Models all the best with their model. I wasn't slating it for being A1A but I am a Class 60 fanatic and I love those locomotives. I just prefer realistic running and powertrain. I am not here to argue or start a mud slinging contests, all I was doing was airing my views with no offence intended. I am unsubscribing from this forum and I wish Cavalex Models all the best as I said before. 

Bye. 

I am looking forward to covering the new Class 50 in a future video. I love these old BR diesel engines personally. Kudos to Accurascale for doing this and their Class 31. 

12 hours ago, McC said:

 

They do have excellent motors which already are a significant percentage of the overall cost of the unit with each motor specified and wound for the performance needed for the specific locomotive. It’s our intention to provide motors as accessories shortly as well of course as providing the option for low or at cost repair /replacement for anything outside the Warranty 

That is most welcome news and I am glad to hear it for new models. Although I was point my finger more towards preowned models where either the warranty has expired or the model I buy is a non runner like those that come up on eBay. Also I will be living in the US in the future, so my methods will work out cheaper and easier unless you have an authorised service centre in the US that can fix them. But I really love the fact that you are doing your upmost best for these model trains and respect to all of you for offering this lifetime warranty for all models. 

10 hours ago, adb968008 said:

I mis read this, and thought you said could we have a bnsf liveried class 60….

but hey wouldnt that be a good idea?

Now you've given me an idea mate 😉. Something like an AC37CM project is what I will be working on and I use one of these models as a basis for a project to making something unique for my new layout project. 

9 hours ago, atom3624 said:

Is the Class 60 going to be the A1A - A1A format as per the Class 56?

 

Al.

It will be from what I hear but no bother. I will be modifying mine to AWD using the truck inner frames from an Athearn Genesis model, I like proper setups personally and I have wide radius tracks. I still respect their decisions for A1A though, although I do prefer AWD drive when the real things have it. 

10 hours ago, adb968008 said:

A big source of frustration on Hornby 66’s and as evidenced on ebay is the plastic horns.. so many broken ones, after market 3d printed ones etc.

 

Any chance of something more robust as they are exposed and a weak point ? Are these plastic ?

 

In truth about the Hornby Class 60's, the horns are a weak point and I have noticed that they are more prone to getting smashed off with the newer plastic packaging than the older styrene packaging was as they protected the model more. Personally I do hope Cavalex Models will at the very least consider using metal ones for the reasons of robustness and quality as metal horns do look nicer in my opinion. Perhaps brass or alloy could work. I wish someone would make metal ones for the Hornby Class 60 models too because they won't break off so easily and they are more robust. Perhaps Cavalex Models will do their Class 60 with metal horns and offer them as spares also, they would sell like mad I bet! 😉. 

Lovely photos of these Class 60's folks. I do miss seeing them since I left England in 2017. 

Nice of them to offer this on new models. However if I get any used models and the motors go pop. I will replace them with Mashima or Kato motors as I have never had issues with either make. These are really nice models and they deserve to have a good motor or at least in my opinion. I love your Class 92's and I am looking forward to trying out the Class 66's and others. 

13 minutes ago, YT-1300 said:

The steerable trucks reference is to the type of truck fitted to the prototypes, the models don't have, nor need steerable trucks.  Scaletrains models (and indeed all central motored US locos I've came across) are very sure footed and will pull way in excess of their prototypes loads without missing a beat.

Thanks for clearing that up for me. I never got the chance to buy one of those AC4400's to check as I thought it was just hyperbole and now I know it is. I can just move on and forget about it. My Intermountain ET44AC's don't have them but they are heavier than any UK models I have had as they are over 750 grams per engine! So much that I will only need two max at the front of any train! 

I wonder if the new Class 60 will be as heavy as that? Only time will tell 😉. Anyway, I am only getting 60010 for now as my main focus will be more onto American/Canadian stuff. Especially as I will be living there in the future and I intend to build a model railway based on the BNSF Scenic Sub route that I had for MSTS. I still love the Class 60's and I always will. I wish Cavalex Models all the very best with their new Class 60 model when it comes out. 

Two of my model trains chilling tonight on my table. Sorry for the fuzz on the photo as when I try to use macro mode on my phone, it puts on the light and bleaches out the colors! 

27 minutes ago, Denny said:

 

Looks like the MU receptacle has fallen off one end. 

Yes I picked them up and now fixed them on with PVA and added most of the pipes to the pilot at the front end. I did the name boards with PVA glue as well as the tape didn't work out so well for me. so most of them are secure. Just got the white hoses to add and that's all done. I am glad I got one :). 

I have done an unofficial review of my example. I really love the model and thank goodness for no opening doors to boot! I appreciate the new model, thank you. 

I gave this nice model a 9 out of 10. Great work! 

1 hour ago, Slacky89 said:

A Colas 56 thumped past my house today and I took it as a sign to get one...

 

Will the sound decoders be sold separately if we could only get hold of the DCC ready versions of our chosen livery?

Get one mate. You won't regret it! They are nice models. Although from my observations from the performance when I reviewed mine tonight. I feel that all wheel drive would have been a better option to have gone for. Not moaning, just some constructive feedback. 

I will leave mine here....

I will PVA the pilot bits on the front later but I like the detail on this! 

4 minutes ago, richscylla said:

Wonder how many of them will compare the Cavalex 56 to the real locomotive and how many will just compare it to the Hornby one? Or even to a Bachmann or Accurascale recent release? I'm sure it will do very well on all fronts, but only one is really relevant. 

In truth Rich. I don't know although it was 2015 when I had a Class 56 in Colas Rail last with sound. I went with DCR because I have never had that livery or operator on any model before except the Cappagh 60028 model from 2021. So its a new livery and a new model to review and to remove any bias. I left England in 2017 so I have nothing to compare it to so my review is based on the locomotive itself and I do the four categories of Details & Features, Performance, Quality and Price and where there is anything lacking on those criterias, that's where I take off a point or so. But my reviews are neutral and I do them to help the community where I can as I like to help people. The feelings I am getting is that this model could match or exceed the predecessors of said model of the Class 56 prototype. I am optimistic that my Class 56 will fit right at home with the TEA tankers I recently bagged as well.  

45 minutes ago, newbryford said:

 

Not too sure that Scaletrains locos  have steerable trucks. But it would be an eye-opener if they have.

Do you have any images of the models?

 

However - Scaletrains have modelled locos that have self-steering trucks under the prototypes.

In much the same way that Bachmann and others have modelled the HTCR under the Class 66s

 

BTW, the Cavalex 56 has a floating/unpowered centre axle.

 

 

 

 

 

Sadly I missed out on their AC4400CW's but there was talk about them having steerable trucks on some models as per the prototypes. Meanwhile. I am waiting for another run of them so I can find out. Thanks for the information on the Class 56's. Technically its identical to how the models of the Rapido Trains GE Dash 8-40CM's were made as my N scale model had the A-1-A drive and it was stiff a great puller. The middle axle had pickups though. Anyway, I will find out tomorrow how things work out on my test track when I do the review of my Class 56. 

I have a feeling an influx of videos will be coming on YouTube either tomorrow or at the weekend. I know mine will once I have received 56091 and checked it over 😉.

48 minutes ago, Chris56057 said:

It has been mentioned a few posts above by Cav that they are working on sorting a decoder specifically for the 56.

Thanks Chris. I appreciate the info mate. 

I went for a DCC ready version. Would a Dapol 8 Function decoder suffice for this model? I plan to upgrade to DCC later on. 

I got to be honest. With the Class 56 just came out on release to the public. I am getting more excited about their upcoming Class 60. As an owner of 3 Class 60's from Hornby and they are not an easy model to beat as it was ahead of its time in 2006 and its won many awards over the years. But this new model coming up from Cavalex Models could well be an exception because the first major thing about it is that the sound models will benefit from a nice bass speaker which has been implemented into the design of the heavy chassis. Then we will likely have things like cab lights, prototypical control of the head and tail lights, heavier chassis and maybe all wheel drive?  

Now I have put a question mark on this about all wheel drive because I would this would be the case with the new Class 60 model to aid traction on hauling heavy trains? If its going be all wheel drive, I wonder if its possible to have steerable trucks that would make the model more stable on curve tracks with the risk of derailing whilst still having the traction available on the central driven axle? ScaleTrains has done this with a lot of their American GE locomotives to make their heavy models more stable on curved tracks with the front axles randomly derailing when pulling a heavy loaded train. 

Either way, I am getting a few of these new Class 60's because I do love the real locomotives and I am going to build a modern era layout which will use a fair few of them on a fictional UK setting. For now, I will be enjoying their Class 56 models whilst I am waiting in awe for these new beasts to come to us. Another gem that is worth the wait in my opinion. 

My model of 56091 was posted out today Special Delivery. It should be with me tomorrow. Looking forward to making the review of it too. I will use my rake of TEA tankers and pretend my DCR Class 56 is borrowed by Colas to work the Preston to Lindsey Bitumen train. I know its fictional but its an excuse to exercise this beast in OO gauge. I am getting excited already. I will always be 28 in my mind and I was never destined to grow up grumpy 🤣.

**rubs hands gleefully**

1 hour ago, Erixtar1992 said:

Id imagine a spot of black tac would be quite good for fitting a driver ect, could be easily removed if ever wanted…

though im a ‘super glue ALL the things’ kinda guy so what do i know haha

Well I have learned a few hardcore lessons with superglue and sadly I would not recommend it for this kind of work because if you put the cab interior back in too soon (I would leave it for about 12 hours minimum to set) the fumes can haze the glazing and some plastics really don't like it at all. PVA is a much cleaner and safer option for me although I usually keep the drivers/engineers in the cab seat once its done and if I ever need to sell the model train onwards. The driver is always included and when I do clear out my older models. I do get a lot of feedback that they like it better with a driver in the cab that I have done. I really am looking forward to building up a wee fleet of these new Class 56's but I will have more of their Class 60's if anything mate in the long run :). 

Okay I will get a pack of Kato drivers and I will get a fitting tutorial done. The way I see it, it would take about 3 mins to add a Kato driver in the cab with a wee drop of PVA glue. Meanwhile my main focus is to get the review video all done and dusted whilst keeping it as organic as possible 😉.

Personally I think CM has done really well as its about 30 months (2 and half years) to pull off a very much dedicated replica of a Class 56 with new technology that that never been done on a Class 56 before and from development to release. That is dedication given the circumstances over the last 3-4 years of happenings in the world. So well done to them for their efforts I say. 

7 minutes ago, Triumph1050 said:

To Cavalex in here. Will be wanting to fit a driver as soon as mine comes. Can you tell me if it's straightforward to get to the drivers seat? Thanks

This video might help mate

Skip to around 5:22 and it should clear the air. 

I am going to be honest, The wait has been well worth it. I am looking forward to reviewing the DCR one on my YouTube channel when it comes to me and I am hoping to do it this weekend and get it up for all to see. I might get a Colas one later as I do modern day era but I will be looking forward to seeing other peoples videos and photos of their models in due course. Thank you Cav and Alex and co for bringing us these models.