Gene

I painted mine black...you don't have to take them apart to paint the ends...just use the correct size brush and take your time.

Looks good Jack...might this be leading to an article in MTI soon? on another track have you finished all the work on 149th Street??

Ok Gents,so I've read this thread through 3 times and I'm understanding now that the consensus seems to be it is an excellent model based on diagram N16, they were usually run in passenger trains and that the ends of the GWR brown versions should be black...is that correct???

Cheers

Gene

True...and they too are pricey compared to UK or US locos

Not really, the population of the UK in 2010 was around 61 million, Australia was 21 million, so the market is considerably smaller. In fact only a third. It still costs the same to build a model in China, but when the run size is considerably smaller, the unit price goes up. Basic economics.

Geoff...I knew the economics of it and understand why the cost is higher and don't get me wrong, I'm not saying its unjustified or ranting on Austrains ....but at the end of the day its still pretty expensive for a non-sound loco IMHO.

Those Austrains r-t-r locos are very expensive 269 UK Pounds for a non-sound DCC steam loco seems a bit pricey to me

I was able to get the coal load out without any cutting...just unscrew the 2 screws and unclip the tender body from the chassis, then you can insert a small rod/toothpick/screwdriver into the small hole under the coal load on the inside of the body and just pop the load off.

 

 

.....

 

Another question, Is it possible to remove the coal load from the tender? looks a bit too shiny, and the shape of the coal pile rather reminds me of the look of those old tender drive locos that had the huge coal pile to clear the top of the motor.

Well my order arrived today and it was well worth the wait. These figures are very detailed and the castings are crisp and clean...now I just hope my painting skills are up to the job

Cheers

Gene

It looks so good that I have to keep reminding myself that its N-scale...truly amazeing work!

LOLOL...I built the exact same overhead crane last month for my clubs' layout....I think I have 2 more sitting in my stash!

Gents...interestingly I just recieved an email from Richard at Dart Castings apologizeing for the delay in my order and informing me that my order was shipped today...so all is well

Gary if you're phone call was responsible thanks very much.

Cheers

Gene

I would not wait for an email reply.

 

I have emailed them 3 times since Christmas re a temporary out of stock item and never had a response.

I have dealt with them face to face at exhibition and have always been pleased with the service there.

 

I am just going to wait until the next time I see them to ask my question as obviously email does not either get checked or work properly.

 

Of course another possibility is that they have sent your items and they have got lost, they will not know that until you contact them, which of course is part of the issue if they do not use email and their number is not working. Only other way is to write to them or find someone that will see them at exhibition to ask the question for you.

 

EDIT

I just rang their number and although noone answered it rang through ok.

They do say evenings and weekends only, did you get the time difference adjusted ok?

 

If you want to PM me your order number and some details I can ask them if I get through if you like?

Brinkly/Nick..I did wait longer than the 21 days Dart requests days before trying to contact them, more like 30 days...and their phone # on the website seems to be out of order.

Normally orders from the UK take 4-10 days to reach me once its been shipped from the supplier.

Believe me, I understand they are a "cottage industry"...but I am a bit concerned that they haven't replied to my emails asking the status of my order, which they have been paid in full for since June 12th.

On top of which, when they confirmed reciept of my order this was included:

"Please allow 21 working days for us to dispatch your order. We are usually much quicker than this but we do sometimes run out of parts or have to cast items especially. If we are going to take longer than this we will contact you."

Gents, I'm wondering if anybody on this forum has made any purchases from Dart Castings/ Montys Models in the past month or two?

I ask because I made an online order with them on June 11th and received confirmation that my order had been received and the Paypal payment was completed also. I still haven't received my order and my e-mail queries are going unanswered, which is starting to give me some concern.

I understand that its a smallish business and the folks that are involved have real jobs but not replying to customers emails is not on.

Does anybody here have any knowledge as to the situation at Dart?

Cheers

Gene

We don't see Heljan rolling-stock in the stores here in Montreal, I'm curious if anyone can let me know how these Class 33s run? quiet/noisey? smooth/rough? good slow-running?? I'd really like to order the West-Coast ones but haveing no experience of Heljans locos I hope I can get some insights from the gang here at RMweb.

Cheers

Gene

My first layout from ten years ago with my first attempts at weathering.

Incredible!!!!