Revolution Ben

13 hours ago, cornelius said:

Are direct pre-orders for 59/1s still being processed?

 

I sent a query via the website as I seem to have received 2 balance invoices for one order (1 was paid immediately and then the second turned up) but the order is still in an indeterminate state. No problem if it's on the to-do list but I haven't had a response and I'm concerned it might be stuck.

Hello all,

There's an update on our website but in short: Due to staff holiday order processing and dispatch will resume in about a fortnight.

Thanks to everyone waiting for your patience and understanding.  We all need a break sometimes, and the last few weeks have been very busy!

cheers

Ben A.

Hello all,

My understanding is that the wagons used are down to the needs of the customer.  For high value cars and SUVs - such as the Landrovers in the image above - the fully covered wagons are preferred.

The vans always seem to go on the open wagons, probably for clearance reasons, and my understanding is that the majority are white because that is the preferred colour of most customers who wish to add vinyls.

cheers

Ben A.

Hi all,

Yes, obviously the actions of HMRC cannot be predicted.  Anyway, the items are expected to clear by the end of the week and arrive with us next week, when we can begin checking them over.

We will be able to supply Trains4U with their commissioned debranded Cemex models and also fulfil some retailer orders, but we won't be able to send out pre-order models, or balance payment notifications, until next month as the team member responsible is on holiday.   Apologies for this but unfortunately we can't control HMRC's timings!

cheers

Ben A.

Hi Tom,

Wow - that Buxton layout is stunning and one of my favourite parts of the world too.  Thanks to all who've posted images.  I will try to keep an eye out for its next exhibition appearance.

I'd very much like to see Colywn Bay Goods some time too...

cheers

Ben A.

Hi Tom

Thanks for posting those images.  Do you know the name of the layout with the two BR blue era units crossing?  That looks rather tasty!

cheers

Ben A.

Following a successful Expressions of Interest campaign, Revolution Trains has confirmed it will offer the Alcan PCA alumina powder tanks in N.

(Photo courtesy Alan Mitchell.)

These distinctive wagons are used to transport alumina from Blyth bulk terminal in north east England to the UK's last remaining aluminium smelter at Fort William in the Scottish Highlands, and while the flow is relatively restricted the train does operate through the beautiful highland scenery. 

(Photo courtesy Andy Hoare.)

They have operated primarily with Classes 37 and 66, though have also seen haulage by Classes 26, 56 and even, memorably, a Class 55 Deltic.  This makes them, arguably, an ideal 'Rule 1' model and they have proved surprisigly popular in 00.

Development should be relatively fast as the research was carried out for the 4mm version, and the response to our expressions of interest was very encouraging.  Should those expressions translate to orders relatively quickly we expect the model to go into tooling in the next few weeks.

CAD is complete and we expect to offer the models in the same format as in 00 - in a selection of four-packs all with different numbers, and representing the wagons throughout their service lives.  However we may not be able to offer the full variety of liveries that are available in 00.

The order book is expected to open early next month, so please look out for the discounted pre-order price, and for more information see the news page of the Revolution Trains website.

We'd like to thank everyone who took the time to show their interest and make this happen.

cheers

Ben A.

Hi there,

The four car train is approx 440mm long when coupled up.

cheers

Ben A.

12 hours ago, gpplumy said:

Any more news Ben on when the models may be arriving ? 

 

Andy

Hi Andy,

Right now we are waiting for decorated samples, and that's usually a good six months before the models are actually shipped to customers.

cheers

Ben A.

Hello all,

Prior to yesterday we were peparing for and attending Model World Live at the NEC, but balance payments for the 59/1s and 59/2s are going out now.

We process them in the order they were received, and fully pre-paid moels will be the first to go out.   But please bear in mind that for practical reasons there are only two of us who can pack and post, so it will take time for all orders to be dispatched.

Thanks to all for your ongoing patience.

cheers

Ben A.

Hi all,

For those who can’t make the show we’ve reserved some for online orders from 10am today.  
 

cheers

Ben A. 

On 26/10/2023 at 17:48, montyburns56 said:

An interesting picture by Tom Burnham of one pulling a tail load at Matlock in 1972

 

 

Nice pic.  Is it pulling a CCT?

Incidentally, I've always been intrigued by photos of DMUs with mixed up liveries - either a combination of green/blue cars or, as in this image, a mix of blue/grey and plain blue. 

Nowadays diesel and electric units tend to run in fixed formation and are, largely, permanently coupled.  Were the various Class 120 vehicles swapped around between units?  Or did they just paint them piecemeal?

cheers

Ben

Hi all,

It is fair to say that a 2024 delivery date is unlikely, but at the time it was given in good faith and after we had surveyed the similar Class 126 at Bo'ness.

Unfortuntately subsequent efforts to clarify the details on the underframe and elsewhere on the vehicles have proved difficult, though we have had some very useful help from outside including some from RM Webbers.

The difficulty for us is that we are all a bit OCD about accuracy and detail.  We realise that we are in a minority, and that we *could* have produced a model by now that would probably have 80% of people enthused.  But there would be 20% who'd be disappointed, including everyone at Revolution, and that is why we don't have anything we are prepared to show yet.

We have very recently located some *much* better drawings than previously available, and I am fairly sure that the next 4-6 months will see this project pick up speed.

cheers

Ben A.

49 minutes ago, VXDH92 said:

Great announcement, looking forward to these.

 

Did/do they generally operate in block trains or did they run with the likes of cartic 4-s, IPAs etc.?

I think they tended to operate in block trains however they do appear to have been mixed with other car carriers on occasion:

Didcot-Mossend (with two HEAs in the consist..!): 

Castle Bromwich-Southampton (with the IPA car carriers already offered by Revolution):

And the odd set could also be seen in consists being taken for maintenance or on trials:

cheers

Ben A.

Hi all,

We will be at Model World Live at the NEC this weekend with more info on this for those interested.

cheers

Ben A.

14 minutes ago, woodenhead said:

@Revolution Ben any progress on the model?

Hi there,

Yes - but nothing we are in a position to share online.  if you're at Model World Live at the NEC this weekend we'd be happy to give more info in person.

cheers

Ben A.

Hi all,

On a recent trip to South Wales we watched a couple of Port Talbot's CBD-90s (931, 933) shuffling back and forth with steel wagons between Port Talbot steelworks and the adjacent yard at Margam.  If anyone is heading to Model World Live at the NEC this weekend we will have (undecorated) samples of the loco and the canvas covered steel carriers on display.

cheers

Ben A.

Hello all,

Revolution Trains will be there on stand A27 - we're diagonally opposite to the left as you walk in so should be easy to spot if you're visiting.

We decided to attend because (a) at the time it was the only NEC show in the offing and (b) because I think the idea of a mixed-media show is new and exciting, and offers something different.  

We'll have some more N gauge Class 66 deco samples on display, including a couple of retailer commissions, as well as some samples, and we are announcing a new model too.

More info plus a map on our website news page www.revolutiontrains.com/news

Hope to see you there!

cheers

Ben A.

9 hours ago, MartinRS said:

after all, there is a raft of consumer legislation which deals with misleading information?

Ironically, given the images Hornby have published, it is only  if the models now arrive *with* the front coupler you want that you will be able to say you were misled.

cheers

Ben A.

9 hours ago, drt7uk said:

Hi Mike, just wondered if there was any update? Thank you

These models are a commission for Model Rail so information about them will be in the magazine, including livery selections and ordering details.

cheers

Ben A.

Roy,

The wagons are in production but they aren't yet ready to ship. Once they are we will start issuing balance invoice requests, that is usually the clue that models are imminent.

cheers

Ben A.

39 minutes ago, HA54SYM said:

Hi Mike,

 

I sadly missed out in the DCC sound ones of these, Will any be availed in your shop or from retailers at ?

 

or will none sound ones will be available and what’s needed to put sound in?

 

thanks

Hi there,

I believe some retailers still have stocks of DCC Sound models, depending on the livery you want, or you can obtain a DC silent model and upgrade to sound using the E24 Nano decoder from DC kits.   All the locos have an easy-to-access decoder socket beneath the removable engine cover, and have speakers factory fitted and pre-wired in.

However, when ordering please ensure you order the ESU E24 Nano variant (not Next 18, which won't fit) and make sure the sound project is correct for your model, as the lighting functions are different for 59/0 and 59/1-2.

cheers

Ben A.

Hello there,

As with the detail variations above, I have received several questions asking about lighting on the Class 59s.

Below is a brief summary, but there are full details with images of all modes explained on the Revolution website here:

https://revolutiontrains.com/revolution-class-59-let-there-be-lights/

Class 59/0

When hauling a train on the mainline the Class 59/0s all feature both headlights and both side marker lights lit.   In additionl GBRf's 59003 has the top marker that was added to make it UIC compliant when it moved to the continent in 1996.  This mode is how the Revolution model operates on DC.

When shunting it is normal for just the marker lights to be used; and when parked the locomotives show red lights at both ends.  Mainline, Shunt and Park modes can all be recreated with the Revolution model on DCC.

Class 59/1 and 59/2

By the time the Class 59/1 and 59/2 locomotives were built, BMAC light clusters had become the standard, so the locomotives were designed with these from new.  Unlike the 50/0s they feature different modes for day and night running.  From the driver's point of view, day running requires the right headlight and left marker lit, and night running vice versa.  Because this requires four separate light inputs a Next 18 decoder cannot offer these functions, as well as tail lights and cab interior lights, so this is why we went with the new E25 (Next 28) interface.  Day running is the default on DC, but DCC users can switch to night running mode.

When shunting it is normal for just the marker lights to be used; and when parked the locomotives show red lights at both ends.  Mainline, Shunt and Park modes can all be recreated with the Revolution model on DCC.

Apologies for the poor quality images - they were snapped on my phone and cropped to focus on the lights.

cheers

Ben A.

Hi there,

The 59s were trialled on the iron ore trains for a while.

ARC 59104:

Foster Yeoman 59001:

cheers

Ben A.

cheers

58 minutes ago, Littlethorpe said:

Maybe they could consider the N Gauge Garratt that Hattons started & then canned?

Hi there,

As we have said often, steam is rather outside our comfort zone.  When we do offer a first steam locomotive it is likely to be something relatively simple so we can use it as a learning process.  Jumping straight in with something like the Garratt is not on the cards.

Besides, if Hattons, having gone to the trouble and expense of launching it, found that it was unsustainable could we do better?  Their reach was signficantly higher than ours!

cheers

Ben A. 

Hi all,

There are  no limits on what retailers can order, but the wagons won't be here for a while yet.

cheers

Ben A.