charliepetty

A modern box! This is a classic 2nd generation unit, advanced engineering from the people who brought you the milk float, simply put, 'Cheap!'

Running Test Samples have now completed 72 Hours of 'No Stop' running on our test track, and its still working! As those of you who visited Warley last weekend & Falkirk this weekend you can make up your own mind what our pre-production sample looks like, I will have it also for inspection at: Wigan, St Albans, Leamington (Warwick Showground), Dartford & BRM Doncaster. See you there. Charlie

Lenz & TCS 21 Pin decoders are instockl at DC Kits! 01132 563415

Tight Sod, buy a guide!

Should I go 8 or 21 Pin?

Did you see the Northern 144 at Warley! It was there!!!! Charlie

Thats two sold then! Charlie

Not started livery work yet but the proposed Class 143 Units are: VERSION: 5 REALTRACK models Part Number: 143-211 Class 143 Two Car 'Pacer' 143609 Sir Tom Jones RRP £100.00 RT143-211 Arriva Trains Wales 143609 'Sir Tom Jones' (Driving Motor Second DMS (No Toilet) 55650 & Driving Motor Second Lavatory DMSL (Toilet) 55675) VERSION: 6 REALTRACK models Part Number: 143-212 Class 143 Two Car 'Pacer' 143610 RRP £100.00 RT143-212 Arriva Trains Wales 143610 (Driving Motor Second DMS (No Toilet) 55643 & Driving Motor Second Lavatory DMSL (Toilet) 55676) VERSION: 7 REALTRACK models Part Number: 143-213 Class 144 Two Car 'Pacer' 143611 RRP £100.00 RT143-213 First Great Western 'Local Lines' livery 143611 (Driving Motor 2nd DMS (No Toilet) 55652 & Driving Motor 2nd Lavatory DMSL (Toilet) 55677) VERSION: 8 REALTRACK models Part Number: 143-214 Class 143 Two Car 'Pacer' 143620 RRP £100.00 RT143-214 First Great Western 'Local Lines' livery 143620 (Driving Motor 2nd DMS (No Toilet) 55661 & Driving Motor 2nd Lavatory DMSL (Toilet) 55686) The expected dates for these two liveries (in 4 Versions) is 3rd/4th Quarter 2012.

Because I did not have any I could use!! Charlie

And more for comparison:

Here are the livery photos!

The options we have are: Rugby Cement (Older Livery) Ketton Cement (Plain undecorated Grey) Castle Cement (The most colourfull livery) Get voting! Our plan is to get them out in 4 packs of 2 (Twin Pack) all with different running numbers and livery variations, photos attached, its: 'SPOT THE DIFFERENCE' time!!! Charlie

PCA Drawing work on-going, moving to CAD drawing stages shortly. What liveries do people want?

More promises today from China of 144 Northern samples for Warley & Wigan. Wonder how long a Chinese 'shortly' is!

Thanks but life goes on I am afraid, Aldershot & Barrow in Furness this weekend, next I am at BRM Peterborough.

Only a 5p. You should see me when I find a £1

Too many assumptions, not good for you. Charlie

The only work from us on the 144 is approving the screens for the WYPTE 'waves' livery, thats it! Both Class 143 liveries are to be approved yet, but the 144 is top priority here. The work on new projects goes on, Measuring the prototypes (Done), research and photographs (Done), site visits (Done), archiving prototype information from TOC's and livery details (Done), Diamensioned drawings (Done), early CAD design work on chassis (Done). Lots more to do though! so don't expect a RTR model withing 18 months, it won't happen. Charlie

We get final body samples which hopefully have 'All the mods we asked for' and it should be painted in 'Northern Serco-Abellio' livery, if perfect in every way then it all guns blazing but to be honest the Chinese rarely get it right 1st attempt, fingers crossed though. As above a painted sample should be here in time for Warley, Wakefield & Wigan. We are anticipating Easter as a reasonable timescale if only minor livery changes/Mods are needed. Then we can get on with the 143 and also not forgetting the detailed work on our other DMU!

Sorry for not getting back on this subject but my father unfortunatly died. A little behind on orders etc. Sorry again. Charlie

Approved all Northern Liveries so PDF's now done for these, test screens in production as we speak so we are awaiting pre-production painted samples of Northern Livery, should be here within 8 weeks all being well. Charlie

Thanks for that, we have delayed the model due to wanting to get it right, our first model has to be as good as we can get it within the cost bracket we are aiming at, our £100 list price is a good price as we are not selling these models at normal trade discounts, we have lowered the list price and retailers don't have normal mark-ups so don't expect discounts. This unit in our eyes could easily be £120.00 with the normal online discounts from the online retailers of upto 20% = Around £96.00. So £100.00 is not a bad price compared with a discounted single Heljan railbus at £90.00 ish, for just 1 unlit coach!!!! ,. the Bachmann MPV is £110 and a Blue Cravens 2 Car for £97.00. The thing is we are not making 5000, they are!! Charlie

A Railtour was tried by Ilford/EM2 Locomotive Society on the Weekend of Longsite Openday some years back, the problems why it was cancelled early was pathing problems on the WCML, these being due to Toilet Stops on route! A 306 has no toilets!!! The plan was a single trip to Manchester, running the Hadfield Branch all weekend then a single trip back, alas it never happened. Shame really, but BR (LMR) stopped it not us.

No fighting boys!!

With all the DC Traction about I am amazed there is not more talk about getting something going to use them before they all rot away! The EM2 Society some years back made a sealed bid of £16,000 to Eurostar for one of their 5 Nightstar Gen Vans, which have an output of 1500V dc at 550amps, fed from 2 X Cummins 500HP diesel generator sets. We lost our bid to DRS who later had no interest in there re-sale. Currently these are at: 17 July 2009, 13:11:14 Told that 96372,3,4,5 are the ones moving to Wolverton - believed to be donating their bogies to DRS. 96371 is staying at Alstom Wembley for the time being. 17 July 2009, 21:13:19 96374 and 96375, plus one Unidentified, visible at Wolverton works this afternoon. These vehicles would power ELECTRA from a standing start easily to 25mph, on the flat GCR we were told by Eurostar engineers 70mph would be possible with 1 X Gen Van & 3 Mk3's in tow. 10 years ago this was a 'Big Project' for the EM2 Society, today its a No,No! To old and too few willing members. What we needs is someone to ask Pete Waterman or similar to get involved, we need contacts with DRS at a high level and some one with cash! and a bit of clought!!! Many safety issues re high voltage jumper cables to overcome re HSE regulations, but all very feasable! Time, Hands and Hard cash required, the gen van could even be plugged into a 'Demonstration overhead line' for real running!!!!! The EM2 Society would happily get involved, we have the loco!, The NRM has one too, if you stepped down the voltage you could have 750V DC for Southern stock & a Class 71. We were told the 306 unit could easily be reconverted back to 1500V dc, if that was true, what a demonstration line! We would love to be involved! Charlie Petty. EM2 Locomotive Society