Crisis Rail

12 hours ago, 97406 said:

I love the depth of colour in the maroon. If only WCRC would adopt that shade!

I think they’ve enough problems…

On 03/04/2019 at 20:39, russ p said:

I think its a shame as they will loose all their character

Let them loose on the Network! 

Operational wise the lack of LH is stagnating enough. 
 

On 25/01/2024 at 23:24, Hilux5972 said:

Just put my preorder in for 60081 sound fitted. Cant wait. 

F17: Authentic “Leg out” 🤷🏼

6 hours ago, admiles said:

Well, I'll say a simple well done and thank you to the members of the Warley club both past and present for bringing us so many successful shows. It truly was a monster to organize.

 

I hope it continues in some form or another at another venue.

 

Well done and enjoy the rest Warley MRC!

Probably and hopefully will. But the worrying keyword was Demographics. Age related in this instance. Hopefully a wake up call.
 

Long overdue

4 hours ago, The Stationmaster said:

According to 'The Radio Times ' it's on  Talking Pictures 20.05 New Years Eve, 31 December.

Excellent 

Unmissable. Thanks. 

On 14/12/2023 at 12:31, Metr0Land said:

Talking Pictures are running a series of ghost stories which were broadcast on BBC at 11pm Christmas Eves in the 70's (remember when we only had 3 channels and the station closed during the night?)

 

The Signalman starred Denholm Elliott and was filmed at the Severn Valley Railway in 1976.  Don't try identifying the signal cabin - it was built for the production!

 

Friday 29Dec 8:05pm Talking Pictures - Sky 328, Freeview 082

Can’t see the Signalman listed. Are you sure? 

On 04/03/2023 at 14:27, Halvarras said:

 

When I first heard about the '2+4' proposal I assumed only the leading power car would be powered up, since surely 2,200hp would be more than enough to shift four coaches and a 'dead' PC on the rear - 4,400hp seemed total overkill (and then the operator complains of running costs!) It was certainly enough for a D800 Warship to haul heavy holiday trains over the Devon banks and along Cornwall's twisty and hilly main line. However I'm expecting somebody to post a technical explanation of the necessity to keep both PCs running anytime now......😉

 

It's incredible to think how long these trains have been around - I was 23 when I photographed the prototype HST on the WR in 1975, 24 when the production trains arrived ("wow look at that - a train with no buffers!") - next month I'll turn 70 and they're still here! Just!! I should take some photos here in Cornwall this year of these trains passing the similarly doomed semaphore signalling at Lostwithiel, Par and Truro. I'm already seeing more 5-car IETs, a reminder of the encroaching take-over.......

Yes. Tempus certainly does Fugit. 

Memories of Doncaster ADEXES in 1979 with the Deltic lament. (And how as then 16 yr olds we saw them through that middle road on full chat)

Seeing the HST for the first time thinking they’ll never catch on. 

On 10/09/2023 at 23:43, Michael Hodgson said:

You should follow prototype practice and run a replacement bus service

There you go. 

Available from all the usual stockists. 

1 hour ago, dj_crisp said:

I can't see any moaning....??

 

And I'm a quite happy "rivet counter"  so like the chat of differences between locos and then how to apply these the models... which alongside discussing the merits/mechanics of the model I think is part of the point of the thread. I learn so much from them which hopefully then improves my modelling when i attempt to bash a few.

 

So way prefer the posts on the current model than seeing how far we've come.

 

I enjoy the entertaining froth of it all.

Criticism of manufacturers on here was at one time a capital punishment offence 😬

26 minutes ago, Daddyman said:

Why is all this Tri-ang junk appearing on here? This is supposed to be the thread for the new Bachmann 37. 

To make all you moaning miserable rivet counters eternally grateful. 

On 14/08/2023 at 20:33, Andrew P said:

Get thee behind me and remove that temptation, (bloody gorgeous BTW). 😃  👍

I thought your 7mm layout (Can’t recall the name) was quality. Excellent modelling. 

On 14/08/2023 at 11:10, DavidBird said:

 

It's not, believe me.

Even with the large 2nd car park, there were still vehicles parked on the main road up the hill on Friday, effectively reducing it to a single lane. There was no noticeable difference to the usual chaos in Glenfinnan when the "Hogwarts Express" (yes, I know!) was off and now that it's back on.  Most seem to come just to see the  "Harry Potter Bridge".

There is also now a very obvious muddy scar of a path through the heather to a point overlooking Eileann na Moine in Loch Eilt, where Ralph Fiennes played a character in great triumph at stealing from a dead man something that wasn't his anyway. The background of these scenes were digitally altered to avoid seeing a ScotRail Sprinter going past the magical location! Car parking on the verge at this location is starting to get problematic too.

It was nice. 
 

Back in 2007

Fast forward a decade and the dual carriageway. Definitely found but those Morar sands will live long in my memory. 

On 22/07/2023 at 09:22, Legend said:

Big blow to Lochaber . 

Glenfinnan will be quiet. 

7mm RAILFREIGHT SPA

On 27/03/2023 at 17:50, D6775 said:

That's one for the 'Realistic Models' thread Nick!

B&W.
 

As per the Ian Allan books? 
 

Apologies for the hijack. Good to have an informative chat last weekend Nick. 
 

On 15/01/2023 at 22:23, mikeford2002uk said:

Evening all

My version of a tatty Eastfield class 26 from the recent Heljan O gauge model. Yellow paint through the black and blue paint through the grey! Railmatch paints, Tamiya weathering powders and Railtec transfers.

Lovely model, although not without its issues - the screw coupling broke at a shackle and to fit a (better) Dapol replacement was quite a job! Also the roof fan is very temperamental, as though the feed voltage is too low or the motor too weak (Heljan are aware) 

Finally, this is the first O gauge model I've had with the pin interface for the ESU Loksound V5 XL decoder and although it is mentioned in the instructions for the model, it takes a leap of faith, on a £250 chip, to snip off the two extra pins that prevent the decoder seating correctly!

 

Mike

How did you fit the Ploughs? The instruction sheet diagram is contradictory. 
 

TIA

Lancashire Lass. (Cumbrian)
 

Bouth. Not far from Haverthwaite. 

On 08/10/2022 at 23:56, adb968008 said:

My unnumbered 45/1 arrived tonight.

 

First impressions, well it looks like what it says on the box.

its a 45/1 no doubting it, from a detail perspective it seems to have what it takes to make the grade.

How does it stack up ?

Well heres its historical peers… starting at the bottom, the first model to have a flywheel drive in the UK… the upgraded Mainline 45 (to a Bachmann 46), then a more recent 2020 Bachmann class 45/0 and todays Heljan 45/1.

first the bodies, well dimensionally, the length of all 3 are pretty much accurate, but thats where they start to diverge… for the most part I will focus on the Bachmann 45/0 and Heljan 45/1 

Body length matches, internally they are much the same.. as side of screw holes, you can ( and I tried ) to swap bodies.. sacrificing the screw holes would make it possible.

 

 

Externally not much separates the 45/0 from the 45/1 … its a few panels on the roof, body side steps to the boiler, and an eth socket…

 

Top to Bottom.. Old 46, Bachmann 45/0 and Heljan 45/1

How does the Heljan body stack up against Bachmanns

 

1. it has the frame strengtheners (for lifting)  under the body which Bachmann doesnt have.

2. It has some additional pipework on the top of the bogies, beneath the body.

 

Both have representations if the internal body side strengtheners through the grills, and handrails which arent quite right (bent into the body rather than a rail attached to a protusion near the top and bottom.

 

The maintenance hatch by the double arrow is slightly over pronounced for my liking.

 

 

both have a separate fan representation.

But something just isnt sitting right with me on the front end…

 

An in-depth look reveals the roof is slightly taller on Heljan than Bachmanns.. and the old 46 tooling is just plain dumpy by comparison of the other two.

The front end of Heljans bogies are decorated both ends and gave an NEM box for the coupling.

 

By levelling up and focussing on the bodies the Bachmann bottom end has that downward lip, which Heljans does not have. The nose seam is finer on Heljans but they  are at similar height. But then it differs.. Bachmanns nose seems slight less arc’ed meaning the centre window starts a fraction lower, and that arc at the roof feels rounder on the Heljan meaning a taller centre window.

 

Now when I measured body height there really isnt much in it… about a 0.5 mm, but there is a slight difference, and I think the darker blue of Heljan accentuates the feel of it.

 

There isnt really much to pick between these two… see below for performance, weight and draw bar pull… (drawbar pull is at max amps)… but the reason for the 1990’s class 46 is clear.. weight = pull, even if its 1/3rd more power consumption.

 

How about below the chassis…

 

HEALTH WARNING… the instructions say remove 4 screws and pull off the body… Good luck with that. There is simply nothing to hold on to… dont hold the bogies, you’ll break the towers, dont hold the battery box, it will come off. The body is a nice snug fit to the chassis… so snug those cab handrails are holding the body on too.

I used 4 old business cards (Hotel keys were too thick), push them over the handrails and deep into the body on all 4 sides. I then tipped it right side up and squeezed the business cards inwards.. it created just enough to loosen the grip at the nose end and pull out the chassis.. but this took several attempts.

 

In retrospect… refit the plastic holding cradle around the fuel tank, and use that as a grip to remove the chassis.

 

 

 

 

This chassis is a considerable improvement on the 25 and 86, nice chunky motor more soacious board and you could get a speaker onto the extension piece. There is switching for lighting options and a speaker jst. The board did feel a bit cramped at one end with jsts pointing wires out towards the body, rather than sideways along the board, especially when theres unused white space for it near the chip.

 

The cab is nicely detailed..

 

and the motor is a slightly smaller motor, but a more modern motor than past Heljan locos.. it looks like a Laisdcc motor not a Mashima, but it delivers the goods and its a step up from the older Heljan type motor

Bachmanns 46 is 4 wheel drive

Bachmanns 45/0 is 4 wheel drive

Heljans 45/1 is 6 wheel drive

 

and finally the bogies…

(Heljan chassis with a Bachmann bogie underneath for comparison).

 

Boy what big axle boxes you have..

And what a big hole exists for the front axle.

 

 

As can be seen above, the Bachmann bogie design allows for a much wider swing radius, when both were at maximum swing.

The Heljan chassis allows lateral movement of the bogie tower inside the bogie cradle (like in 18000), and the front pony has independant oscillation and lateral movement… it means, imo,  an oversized hole for the axle end and the wheel does make full use of the space. However I did find it tight in 2nd radius, it still worked fine, and with less outward bogie swing of Bachmann.

 

in summing up…

 

Pros…

its a 45/1 and its as accurate dimensionally as its Bachmann 45/0 equivalent.

its got a nice bogie swing

nice cab internal render

more detailed bogie/body interface detailing

6 wheel drive (12 wheel in total)

 

Cons

Imo the blue is too dark, it makes the roof curve especially look worse than it is

The centre cab window / roof arc is greater than Bachmanns and makes the nose end shape feel slightly off

Big Axle boxes, and a big pony axle hole

 

its a very credible model in my opinion, and as a 45/1 it will sit as it should, albeit darker blue than your other locos. But your choice in 45/0 is less clear cut.

 

What might I do next?

 

Well i bought some Bachmann 45/0 bogies a while back, as I saw the EP and wondered about that pony wheel, seeing the axlebox it may encourage me to do some bogie frame swapping… Otherwise all good.. 45106 and 45118 will now follow, but my Bachmann 45/0’s arent going anywhere.

Good summary 👏
 

From the Mainline version of yesteryear. No one really has the right to be critical. 

5 minutes ago, Kevin Johnson said:

I do like the refueling points. 

eBay. 3D Printed. Delicate but good. 
My lad says they’re from XBOX Train Sim. 

Overall view with side extensions. 
 

An Teallach

14 hours ago, philg said:

I hit the same issue ordering my Mk2s, though went for PayPals “pay in 3” instead

PayPal Pay in 3. 
 

The work of the devil. 

17 hours ago, 47606odin said:

it was stated previously that it was better than other versions available for the price, but you asked for elaboration to the issues. We were just answering your question. Anyway, I have an MM1 body shell to add to mine to improve it greatly. Yes, costs more, but it will look better, and the Heljan chassis are superbly built, so best of both worlds

We? 
 

Post the MM1 up.  I’m intrigued.