charliepetty

If you want a plastic RTR British Garratt, then this is it. Anyone remember the all-brass Millholme LMS Garratt of the early 1970s costing a fair few weeks wages?

Looking forward to the Bachmann announcement!

Some sort of decent four wheeled diesel shunter surely! You know a class 01 would look good

That was the statement, all I asked was what diesel shunter do people like, just curious. I like 05 & 06's but as of today we have no plans to do any as we are busy with current projects:

These are:

Class 144 (Running late due to us being unhappy & picky with the bodyshells we have) Northern & Metro Red & Silver livery

Class 143 (Also running late but I am in Cardiff hoping to meet Sir Tom Jones next Wednesday, will be in Bristol on Thursday tracking down 'Lusty Glaze'then at Exeter on Friday & Saturday checking out close up detailing on the 'Local Lines livery' on the 143s.

Liveries on the 143s are Arriva Trains Wales & First Great Western 'Local Lines'

NEXT DMU All research & Measuring done, liveries selected.

Then more 144 & 143 liveries (Working our way backwards)

Then: A loco! Thats all your getting!!! One project at a time. Suggest starting a new post on this one as we are very interested in what RM Webbers think they need, we have our ideas, but what's yours!

Hate to say it but have the widespread and popular shunteres not been done? I love the 08... and 03... but things like 04, 14 have been done, either some time ago or recently but not to the same standard. 07? Looks nice and certaintly a novel engine...

 

Steam, a decent J94 would be good, especially one that can have industrial external motion too. A J72 redone... but thats my northern preferences. Others might champion a J69, J70?

 

But maybe its worth cracking on with more units, as the scope for there is quite large..... especially to the standards you are laying down.

We never mentioned it was diesel!

I still have the pics of you measuring the unit and memories of yourself, Arran and me getting locked in. But then again, you and locks don't have a happy relationship......

 

Mick

On no! Photographic evidence, locked in! Once again I got out without assistance. Charlie

So! The question, what diesel shunters do people like!!!!

Excitement is a state of mind!

Lets get the 144 on sale first, then more info. Arran & Charlie

PPS We do like nice dinky loco's.

I take it you might want some! Charlie

PPS Our next DMU will be upto the same standard too. Then we are doing a loco!

Had a detailed inspection at Perth at the weekend and all I can say is that the prototype is stunning. Roll on the finished article! The interior is exceptional and the interconnection is a work of genius!

We have pre thought the interiors, the Northern & WYPTE versions will have the current Chapman seating, with armrests and grab handles!! With the seating layout being correct. When we do the pre-upgraded earlier versions we will have 2+3 Bus seats fitted, not the 'one fits all' Hornby seating.

The 143 will have the correct seating layout as per the Arriva & First GW units (this is different to the 144 units). Also different on the models as per the prototypes are: Buffer Beams, Front Steps, Underfloor Equipment, Roof Pod earthing strips.

We are trying very hard to have the Best Unit in 4mm, hope we do! Arran & Charlie ( Next DMU being worked on!)

What Pin DCC socket is this likely to have?

8 Pin is what we have asked for! Charlie

Thanks Arran, the Nurse will call when it's your turn

 

Very nice looking wagons from Hornby and I'm glad they've done the more common Tiphook version seen in Freightliner and DBS intermodals plus the latter's MoD services. The fixed spigots are a bit of a pain, other than those supplied the only containers I have that fit are Dapol 20' on the outer positions. Sockets on Arran's wonderful boxes and tanks are a little bit wider apart than the spigots. Bachmann superheight 20' just go on the ends but anything else will need to have holes drilled to accommodate the extra mountings. The supplied 20' containers are difficult to fit on the centre position, I think the cutouts for the central spigots aren't quite big enough and mounts possibly a tad too close together. Bit tight fitting boxes door to door too.

 

A welcome addition to the intermodal fleet, all those spare Bachmann spigots may well come in useful now. That's if I can find the safe place I put them! Failing that Mr P can supply those for the FLAs

 

Graham

The DEMU sample only got the the UK 7am on the Saturday and its not got any rivet detail added yet or the printing fixed. Don't think production batches are starting for a while yet. Not a prototype I know much about but the sample was impressive on the stand.

No chance, suggest Christmas if your lucky!! Charlie

I believe they are on the list to for the second wave, though best if Arran or Charlie to confirm this!

Class 143 Planning program NEWS.

Just to keep you up-dated:

We have not finalised our Class 143 program yet but our thoughts on this are:

Class 143 Units (2012 Batch)

143-211 Arriva Trains Wales named 'Sir Tom Jones'

143-212 Arriva Trains Wales un-named.

143-213 First Great Western 'Local Lines' livery

143-214 First Great Western 'Local Lines' livery

We are planning the next batch of Class 143 liveries, our thoughts are:

143-311 Wessex Trains 'Visit Bristol' livery (Bristol Zoo promotion)

143-312 Wessex Trains 'Visit Bristol' livery (SS Great Britain promotion)

143-313 Valley Lines 143 named 'Valley Kids'

143-314 Valley Lines 143 un-named.

143-315 Regional Railways liveried 143 with Valley Lines logo.(Not Tom Jones as we will have Sir Tom Jones in Arriva Trains Wales livery)

143-316 Regional Railways liveried 143818 named 'Mute Swan' for the Swan Line promotion (Cardiff-Swansea line)

143-317 Regional Railways liveried 143 un-named.

Any interest out there for these!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks Alex,

 

I have seen that one and it does help, what I'm really looking for is the large portal ones with the A frame like uprights. Otherwise I should be able hopefully, to guesstimate dimensions from photos.

 

Some handy shots by Chris Higgs of the MSW overhead, if anyone hasn't seen them before.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrishiggs/sets/72157603339766313/

 

Trevor.

There seems to be 'Non Woodhead' catenery & masts in the shots, looks Great Eastern stuff. Charlie

Test shots inspected at DEMU Show at Burton, looks good. Well done Dapol, bit of a long wait but hey, what I touched impressed me. It looked right! (To me anyway!) Charlie

Had a good look at one at Burton DEMU Show this weekend, looks like Dapol have done a good job on this one. Charlie

A Meerkat's say, 'Its simples'

Project 1 (144)surplus pays for Project 2 (143), further surplus on 1 & 2 pay for tooling on project 3 ( New DMU), further proceeds from 1 & 2 gets us the re-run in Regional Railways (144 & 143) and a Valley Lines 143.

All the Wagon Projects are self funded and are not helped by DMU sales, so all FLA sales go towards the PCA.

The order book will open on the 144 when final painted samples are approved.

Trade orders & customer orders currently exceed 400, evenly spread between Northern & WYPTE Red & Silver.

Any one who wants us to reserve one for them can e.mail us at ' customerservices@realtrackmodels.co.uk ' All reservations will be acknowledged.

Charlie

Wait for Bachmann, as that's their territory. Charlie

Update on the 144: Adjustments made following a visit to China last week, more rivits added to cabs & roof areas, front step modifications & corridor connection & rear end mods now completed, second samples of the 144 shortly.

The response on this unit has supprised us, from Scotland to Bristol, the enquiries keep coming. One guy has ordered 6 Class 143 & 144 Units, thanks to him, with the obvious success of this unit, we are now well advanced on 'DMU 2' project. This could be brought forward if the 144 units sell out quickly.

Will keep you lot informed as we go along. Charlie

Exciting plans guys - have just had a look at your website having never heard about you before! You deserve to succeed.

Priced right too by all accounts. Perhaps I should put that Hornby FGW 142 on hold... Can't wait to see the final product and future developments!

You maybe have not heard of our NEW company REALTRACK models, but you have possibly heard of DC Kits & Models and C-Rail Intermodal, we have been in this game for 26 years, the REALTRACK portfolio is aimed at the ever expanding RTR market, for unusual or small runs of specialist items. Lots planned in the DMU, Wagon, Lineside & loco front!

What wrong with the poor old Hornby 142! just needs a little, or is it 'a lot' of updating. Our 144 / 143 is somewhat better, we are keeping the retail price low so don't expect discount as no one in the trade is getting good discounts, we all have to make a living, especially the smaller shops who we want to support. Our next DMU might be a little dearer. Charlie

I understand you being careful with regards to the different liveries that are out there. I think that small changes such as the lettering used for Regional Railways, Arriva, is a small change but its big enough when it affects the time era for the model in such a way. I would think that standard regional railways engines are the easiest to go for, as I dont think people would specifically model the area in a deliberate time period for Arriva Trains Northern opperation, when its just one TOC running at the time. The liveries of other units youd buy would overlap and so I dont think people would be that fussy generally.

 

With regards the two ideas for a northern 143. Well... these are the earliest liveries to do, and so I guess would be people returning to the hobby or those wanting to specifically model that area and time. Id fall into the second group. The provincial and Tyne and Wear 143s were allocated to the North East branches such as the Tyne Valley, Durham Coast, Bishop to Saltburn, Darlington/Boro to Whitby and Newcastle to Morpeth/Alnwick. That makes scope of opperation all the more restricted as they arent exactly top billing for layouts of the time - but Ive always held the view if the companies make them then people model the areas the trains run. The Tyne and Wear one would be select but a great one to do - the added bonus is that if Regional and Arriva are two seperate liveries then you can have two for Tyne and wear as they did change the Tyne PTE logo when they were done. The provincial one would be perhaps the most smartest 143 to do but both would be a while as more pressing and recent units need to be done to get sales in for your company.

 

Thanks for that:

 

The odd new picture for you!

So that leaves a 144 - and with a 3 car to come? ... Id add my name to that list as Id love one of them too.

 

The model looks fantastic and is setting the standard by which all other new DMUs should be made.

Charlie WOW!

 

Looks a very impressive model. To look at you who would have thought youd have this in you!

 

Ian

HI Ian

Your right he didnt !!!!! but i did.

Regards Arran

Now the sun shines on the Class 143 samples!

Looks very impressive, might have to stretch to 2 rather than 1.

We have numbered them in periods:

IE

2 X Northern Night Blue as operating today as 2008-2012 era

2 X Northern (Blue & Red & Silver Metro) as mid to late 2000-2010 era

2 X Arriva/Northern Red & Silver Metro) as early to mid 2000-2010 era

Charlie

Mmm, I think I'll have to incure some penalty points on my modellers licence to find a way to get one of these for my layout which is well out of their operating sphere!

 

Can you be persuaded to do an EMU?

NO! but you can offer suggestions? use: customerservices@realtrackmodels.co.uk

Charlie WOW!

 

Looks a very impressive model. To look at you who would have thought youd have this in you!

 

Ian

We are trying to get it right! I am sure certain things will not please some people but the cost is 'Lots', but I like it and we have, based on the sample, various minor mods to do.

The 143 is quite different in minor details to a 144 and some compromise here is required without doing a 100% completely different bodyshell. The differences we ARE doing are:

Correct bufferbeams & front footsteps (Both different on the 143 to a 144)

Different seating layout on both classes.

Correct underfloor & battery box detailing.

Different dampers on axleboxes.

Radio roofpod modifications for 144.

As you cannot see! both cars have different roofs, one with toilets & removeable panels and one with the old 'cab to shore' radio equipment fitted, including additional curved strengthening panel.

Both cabs come with fire extinguisher & telephone consol, the carriage interior has seating and NO visible motor, working bi-directional lighting and will have our 'unique'constant dc interior lights.

We have put alot of effort into our 'First' dmu, as we have to make an impression in todays market, cut out all the hype, but thats not cheap, our profit levels on this are low and at £100.00 we think that a 'Cracking Price', look at Heljans 'Waggon & Macheninbau' railbus. And it not to the 'REALTRACK' specification.

Our second DMU, which is being worked on now will be equally as impressive, and hopefully not very much more!

Please support us, as we need to do odd ball things st stay clear of the Big Boys.

Charlie.

PPS The new wagon will be good too! And less than 18 months away.

And another!