uk_pm

Very nice kit of a truly iconic train.  Nice livery too.  The HMRS transfer sheet 15 includes all the transfers necessary for the original Blue/grey HST power car livery.

So do we just have to sit back and wait for this kit to be released by someone else, or do we lobby you to release it?

Great work, in any event.

EPs now on display on Heljan’s Facebook page.  Jolly nice they look too.

What scale is this?  It is a wonderful piece of modelling whatever scale it is.  I had forgotten about the 'phone books/yellow pages.  Terrific work.

Gosh.  I should have done that! I paid a deposit, but have not had any updating email.. 

Is there any update on this project, I wonder? 

I do hope not.  They did revise the class 50 quite significantly after the first EP.  But, to my eye, even a good Brian Daniels paint job can't disguise the numerous errors which, between them, mean that this does not look quite like a 56.  The mechanism will be superb, the bogies look like works of art, but the cab remains fundamental - and it is really not good (and no amount of debates about the differences between various batches of loco can, to my eye, obscure that fact).  Fingers crossed for some further work on this lovely loco.  

I think they look terrific - the first RTR Mk 1 coach to look correct - and I love the interior detail.  An absolutely invaluable addition to the range. 

PM 

They look very tasty. I love the luggage racks.  I wonder if these will appear before the Lionheart blue/grey MK 1s? Or in time to grace the debut of the glorious Heaton Lodge?  I do hope so. 

Thank you all for this intel.  Very disappointing that Dapol has not whetted our appetites with any updates or photographs.  Having said that I am sure that they will be worth the wait when they do arrive - I reminding myself that grumbles about the production delays for the 08 evaporated once the superb model was finally released and gracing layouts (and shelves and planks) up and down the country.

PM

Large Logo splendour.

What a super little model.  Here is 03 382 shunting at Clagworth.

Does anyone have any update on these coaches?

6 hours ago, Gary H said:

Right then, I am now at the stage that I need to number my LLB example.

I know in the Railtec instructions it says that a shine is good but since the bodyside is fairly satin in finish can I get away without polishing a patch of bodyside or will I be left with an outline where the decal sits?

 

Does everyone spray the whole side with a varnish after applying decals? This obviously depends alot on handling but it wont be picked up and handled by the numbered area anyway.

 

Ive done lots of decalling on 00 and H0 models over the years with great results but any mistakes on an expensive 0 model is making me nervous of jumping straight in to this one!

Thank you for any advice.

It's a lovely model; I hope you enjoy yours.  I applied my Railtec transfers direct to the factory-finished body, then weathered it, and have not found the transfer vulnerable to handling or conspicuous.  I did not apply any protective varnish (largely because I couldn't;t be fagged to effect the resulting masking.  I'd get those transfers on and enjoy your new purchase, if I were you!

PM

6 hours ago, AY Mod said:

 

No-one's been robbed of anything - I feel the outcome may be substantially different next year when more people have been 'exposed' to the behemoth.

Erm, the exclamation mark was supposed to connote a humorous aside intended to convey my admiration for this wonderful project. Apologies if my cack-handed efforts have caused consternation to the moderators of RMWeb. 

16 hours ago, HeatonLodge40 said:

Thanks Ian, I’m not sure either if a Duchess went through HLJ in the ‘80’s but the problem is there isn’t a RTR example in ‘O’. Shame.
There will be a number of steam locos pulling charters in the future on HLJ but a 9F & an A4 will have to do for now. When the 9F eventually lands I will post a video. With synchronised smoke & sound it should look great with 13 on.

Ref shopping centres you might find they are just as good a bet as Warley. You won’t have to pay £16 for parking for a start!

I will publish a list of where and when HLJ will be later this year.

 

Just started back on scenery today. 
I have 4 months to finish the remaining eight 5’x4’ frames which includes the 3ft x 5ft River Calder. 
 

Another more comprehensive update soon..

 

Oh and thanks to all who voted for me in the RM modelling awards, very flattered & much appreciated.  
 

 

You were robbed; that award definitely should have been yours!  HLJ is surely the undisputed king of all layouts in the land.  What an inspiration.

PM

5 hours ago, Captain Cuttle said:

Where did you get the loco driver from?

 

Alan

I think 50 013 is driven by a figure from ModelU.  An excellent range of model figures.   

I understand the total production, across all liveries, was c. 1,000 locos.  I'm glad they're selling well.  

Here's 50013 getting underway with a parcels train... and 50007 with a TPO

I also had the same problem as the OP, so he's not alone.

2 hours ago, Captain Cuttle said:

 Ajax had a black roof certainly in late eighties till withdrawal, it was the last of the logs and a regular reliable loco on the Mule.

 

Alan

You're correct; she received a black roof at some point after refurbishment (and possibly at the same time as she received her crest).  But she emerged from refurbishment in the standard large-logo livery.  See http://class50.co.uk/main.htm

Sadly, I agree with all the comments on here about the various areas of the model in need of further work.  But I think it is a shame that nobody has yet commented on those aspects of the model which show real improvement and imagination; the bogies and under frame in particular (not to mention the Heljan mechanism which is always best-in-class in my experience).  I am certainly looking forward to the release of this loco, whenever it comes.  

PM

50 046 in Large Logo.  Terrific.  

On 24/12/2019 at 07:52, Pete the Elaner said:

 

I have to ask...which speakers did you use please?

I would rather have mine to hand than take it apart to measure, leave it for a few days then fit speakers.

Here's a picture of the chassis laden with highly effective speakers.  The result, when mixed with Legomanbiffo's class 50 recordings, is glorious.  

PM

3 hours ago, Ressaldar said:

 

Hi PM,

 

many thanks for your response. I have ordered my Zimo MX699KS + two Icecube speakers, so hopefully fun and games in the near future.

 

I have noticed that on my model, which I have yet to remove the body from the chassis, when looking at it 'end on' the right hand red light does not illuminate while the left hand one does - did the right hand one illuminate in real life? 

 

One other question, is the handbrake lever and chain part of the chassis or is it fixed to the body and therefore needs to be disconnected as part of the body/chassis operation?

 

kind regards and a merry Christmas

 

Mike

Hi Mike

I think that until relatively recently, only a single red light illuminated at the rear of locos running light engine.   Indeed, when HSTs were introduced, the only had one illuminated red light. Although I cannot say with confidence that that was the case with the class 50s.  It is certainly deliberate; there is only one red light in the loco.  

The hand brake lever and chain are indeed part of the chassis, so there is no need to worry about them when removing the body.  But they do make it impossible to remove the bogie sides in order to weather the wheels, or work on the bogie side frames.  

Has anyone else found their class 50 to be over-lubricated?  I am finding a lot of white gear-grease is emerging from the bogie and finding its way onto the running surface of the wheel (where it impedes pick up).

Merry Christmas.

PM

13 hours ago, Ressaldar said:

 

Hi uk.pm,

 

many thanks for the info, could I ask a question or two please - did you retain the Heljan pcb, did you have to fit resistors to the lighting circuits and did the speakers go in the fuel tanks? Also, why is the (-) wire on the headlight purple and not blue?

 

Thanks

 

Mike

 

 

Hello

Apologies for the slow response.  I ditched the Heljan PCB, and did not need to fit separate resistors for the lights.   I didn’t put the speakers in the fuel tanks - although there is space for a relatively chunky round speaker in there, I think. I will have to take the body off later, so will photograph the ensemble.  Basically, the whole body between the motors is filled with the speakers.  I’m afraid I don’t know why the wires are coloured as they are; it was trial-and-error. 

I hope this all helps.

PM

36 minutes ago, Gary H said:

Does anyone know if there are plans to cover the un refurbished versions? 

No plans, as I understand it.  I can see that the single livery might be a problem; but I suppose its a case of never say never with O gauge these days.