Chris-ECT

22 hours ago, 37114 said:

Apologies if I have missed it but does the Wickham run on its own without the trolley or is it permanently fixed to the trolley for pickup reasons etc I.e. as per the 00 Bachmann version please?

The trollies are totally independent and can run solo. The trailers are connected by a bar between and other than looking good do nothing else. 

 

The pickups, dcc socket and electrical boards are all up front in the Wicham itself 

Simon George has been doing some engineering work on Heaton Lodge so we sent a Wicham down to help get him about the layout! 

On 20/08/2022 at 16:05, Bucoops said:

Very nice. So... are you doing the Shenfield Shark?

 

 

edit: I'm serious, I would buy one (happy for it to be intact, no need to replicate the missing planks).

This was on our list originally as one to do and nearly made it to the final cut but on closer inspection it has different buffers at one end which we aren't catering for, in this run at least.

19 hours ago, Courtybella said:

To order the shark + seacow six vehicle pack there doesn’t appear to be an option, I assume if you order that combo the checkout will automatically adjust the price down to the £800?

 

Cheers 

If you add the chosen vehicles to the basket we track the free pre-orders as they come in so once they arrive we automatically deduct any bundle prices they qualify for so when they become physical stock you get the savings then 

Ellis Clark Trains are proud to announce our next O gauge release!

 

May we present to you the Seacow, Sealion and Shark Ballast wagons!

These new wagons are designed with a wealth of features, including full internal, underside and pipework detailing

 

Release date is set for Q1/2 2024, with no upfront payments for pre-orders.

 

Prices are as follows:

Hopper Wagons

£150 each or £140 each when buying 3 or more

Shark Wagons

£120 each

Ballast Train Pack

£800 - This includes 5 hopper wagons and 1 shark wagon

Good evening all, this is a heads up to let you all know to stay tuned around 1215 on the 20th of August for the announcement of two brand new products

In preparation for Saturday we have just taken delivery of our Custom Coffee cups! They will be handed out filled with our award winning coffee and tea.

 

The high quality and detail doesn't just stop with our models! 

13 hours ago, bradfordbuffer said:

I'm in .....! Got me with food!...coffee a bonus!  Model trains can take or leave it!

 

Missed last year due to last minute commitments....but not missing this year....pending last minute commitments 🤪

Make sure you say Hello if you make it! 

On 13/08/2022 at 19:07, bradfordbuffer said:

 

Hi all at ect when is summer show? Missed last year's due to commitments else where....and at ½ mile walk to shop it should be high priority. 

G

Evening Bradfordbuffer, the summer show is this coming Saturday the 20th. In usual fashion the award winning coffees will be on tap (other drinks will be available) supporting layout and supporting trade with some demos too! Oh free food and free entry to add! 

2 hours ago, two tone green said:

Thanks for showing how the two fit together. 
 

How about doing a version of your coupling with an extended trip pin so they can be used with the Kadee magnets allowing uncoupling in the same way as the Kadee ones. 
 

Of course they won’t be drop head but would be a great very useful replacement for the hook on stock for us who use Kadee’s. 
 

 

This is something we looked at but if I am correct Kadee have patented their design, with this the main feature of our Buckeyes is the drophead feature, we are still looking into future options

Good afternoon all. Sorry again for the delay in posting, working up to our 2022 Summer Show is quite a task! 

 

I have taken a few minutes to fix our drop head buckeye to one of the Darstaed Thompson samples and then used a Darstaed  BG fitted with Kadees (as standard) to show how they connect together when both couplings are set at prototypical heights. 

 

The couplings connect as expected and keep a firm hold of each other. I pushed them back and forwards and gave them some abrupt stop - starting to see if I could get the connection to fail, which they didn't.  I did film this but I cannot upload this video here due to the size. The pair of coaches will remain together and will come on the road with us this year to exhibitions so you can see them and inspect them in person. 

We are pleased to add that our good friends at Peco will be supporting us for the day. The local rep will be at our event demonstrating how to use their static flock and also showing off their excellent 7mm range of track and accessories!

 

Apologies all, the last two week have been chaos in the office with a total move around and show prep for next weekend.

 

I will make sure to take some stills and if I can get some footage done today I will. 

IT'S BACK!

After the success of last years exhibition, we are running it again!

Located at our Skipton show room we are having a marquee out side with some fantastic local layouts and some of our trade suppliers.

 

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Trade Support

Ellis Clark Trains Pre-owned & New O Gauge

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Northumbrian Painting Services

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Uncommon Kits

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DCC Concepts

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Made in Manchester Models

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Connoisseur Kits 

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Layouts

Exeter St George

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Redwood Lumber

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Hope Street

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Hyde Lane

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Bolton Priory

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Demo Stands

MIOG (Modern Image O Gauge)

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The Gauge O Guild 'GOG'

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Keighley Model Railway Club

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Toni Armitage ECT How To

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Complimentary Food & Drink

Hog Roast

(Served from 12:30 - 14:30)

(Vegetarian option also available)

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Award winning coffee

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Cold drinks & more

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First Look at Samples for upcoming releases

You'll get to see first hand the latest samples of our Wickham Trolley and Black 5!

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New & Pre-owned Sales

As we did last year, we'll have plenty of both new and pre-owned stock available on the day.

There will be items you've never seen before, including everything we have listed on the website and, of course, Presflos & Darstaed Thompson coaches!

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Free Entry Into Our Raffle!

From our pre-owned stand in the main tent, you will be able to claim a free raffle ticket, with a 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize being announced between 1-2pm

1st Prize

£250 Gift Voucher for Ellis Clark Trains

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2nd Prize

Darstaed Thompson of your choice

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3rd Prize

Ellis Clark Trains Presflo of your choice

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Key Facts

Location

Ellis Clark Trains, Toller Court, Off Shortbank Rd, Skipton, BD23 2HG - there will only be a small amount of disabled parking available onsite, but there will be a park and ride service via vintage bus

 

Date

Saturday 20th August 2022

Time

10am - 4pm

 

Food

A Hog Roast will be available from around 12:30pm, with a vegetarian option also being available.

Throughout the day there will also be complimentary award winning coffee, alongside other hot and cold drinks, tray bakes and cakes.

 

Travel & Parking

Parking for the show is at the Bailey Car Park, Skipton, BD23 1UA, from which we are running a vintage shuttle bus!

Disabled parking is located opposite our premises in the old Cross Keys pub car park.

Parking is free at both locations, with the Bailey car park being a short five-minute walk from the exhibition, should you not wish to take the park and ride.

A full bus schedule will become available closer to the day

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FAQs

Q: Do I need a ticket?

A: No need for a ticket! You can just turn up at the event, however, if you definitely know you and anyone else is coming, then it would help us if you could send an RSVP to amey@ellisclarktrains.com, this is just so that we can keep track of numbers for food and drink.

 

Q: Is it free?

A: It is indeed! Not only that, but we also have complimentary food and drink

Q: Is there on-site parking

A: There is limited disabled parking for around 8 cars, however it is free to park at the Bailey Car Park and either walk down or use our vintage shuttle bus!

Just a quick note to say I haven't forgotten to show tests of the Drop Head working with Kadees and such. I will be doing the pictures and bits tomorrow so will get them uploaded as soon as 

On 11/07/2022 at 20:42, paulbb said:

It would be great if Oxford or EFE etc made one of the lorries used for discharging/loading these wagons, in 7mm of course. The wagons themselves are great vehicles, and the only (mild) criticism is that the links on the 3 links provided are slightly short, which could leave them bufferlocking on Peco 40" curves and short points, or has someone not found this to be an issue?

Evening all, sorry for the late reply. This last few week in the office has been somewhat busy (more on that at a later stage!). The 3 links are done to scale which is why they are tight when coupling. Being our first wagon this is a lesson we have learnt. They do work on Peco radius 2 forwards (nothing goes in reverse on Rad 2 without buffer locking) they also go back and forwards fine through pecos medium points and above. The tightness on coupling is something we have noted for altering next time round. 

On 16/07/2022 at 08:18, 2ManySpams said:

 

Good morning Chris, is there any intention to produce the Delafila Slate Powder livery variation in future, the ones that ran out of Delabole on the North Cornwall line?

Sales on this first batch are amazing with some close to selling out so inevitably we will get round to run 2. At this stage Liveries haven't been anything more than a breif discussion on what we feel would work but I will make sure it's on the list for consideration. 

On 18/07/2022 at 18:51, Hal Nail said:

My two have arrived and as others have stated are very nice. 

 

In terms of feedback, which it seems is welcomed, I wonder how others feel about the axlebox springing? Both of mine sit right down on the blocks as the springs are not quite sufficient to overcome the weight of the wagon so the springs are not really working in practice and its more akin to Parkside's floating axlebox (which I always replace with springs!).

 

From various threads on here spring tension is a bit of a subjective area but I get the impression the consensus is the optimum is a bit stiffer than this and, for example, a Peco mineral is far harder to press down in comparison.   

We have taken a different approach with the compensation, as I'm sure Ellis will have explained they are exactly as our CAD Engineer specified on spring strength. Nikki has a rich history in many fields of engineering including car, marine and aircraft and she uses this in our designs to maximise the quality and potential of our models. 

 

I have had a presflo roll over a 50p then 2 Bank cards to try and derail it and they take them in their stride.

 

If I have missed anything please let me know or ask me again and I will try and drop in more often. Equally feel free to ring our Skipton office or send emails to Chris@ellisclarktrains.com

11 hours ago, Bucoops said:

 

Gets better and better - how many ales does the bar need/have?

A minimum of 6 to make the journey worth while 😄

On 22/06/2022 at 13:11, ozzyo said:

 

Chris,

 

how do we uncouple them?

 

ATB

 

OzzyO.

 

On 23/06/2022 at 13:41, two tone green said:

Good question. Was thinking how they interact with Kadee knuckles that have the trip pin. 
 

I have had a quick chat with our Cad engineer and she has assured me there is a way to uncouple them using a bar, once the new samples have arrived it will be easier to demonstrate then, but over the next few days I'll write up a description 

We've just received our latest samples of our Finescale O Gauge Wickhams... Which are in colour!

 

Alongside these, we also have a number of other updates on this project outlined below...

 

New Prices:

I know what you're thinking, the dreaded price increase...

Well, fortunately, we have actually managed to decrease some of the prices.

In all honesty, they turned out to cost us a little less than originally planned and so we wanted to pass the saving on.

 

The new prices are as follows:

Wickham Trolley & Trailer (DC): £150

Wickham Trolley & Trailer (DCC Sound): £280

Wickham Planked Trailer: £30

Wickham Flatbed Trailer: £28

 

Release Date:

Unfortunately, we are having to put the release date back on these.

The issue is that we have a chain of complex PCBs hidden within the chassis, proving very difficult to get right.

The frustrating thing is that they're about 95% there - in fact, almost everything runs as it should.

However, this is our first self-propelled model and it quite simply has to be right.

It is, however, a mammoth task as are dealing with a model which is very light, with no room or hidden areas to put cables, PCBs or add weight, and on top of that, it only has four tiny wheels!

Having said all that, we have submitted to the electronics factory what we believe, and hope, to be the final alterations on the electrical boards.

 

From here they will make new and final test samples, which we will then... test!

The main delay from here will be, and as I'm sure you're bored of hearing this by now, the availability of the components.

I would say that we are now looking at having all types and liveries in stock in Q1 2023.

On 20/06/2022 at 13:00, bradfordbuffer said:

Skip the oo ones straight to 3mm scale

Let us perfect the O gauge sets first 😃

21 hours ago, Hal Nail said:

 

The key is they work. I'm not sure if just putting these new ones through a buffer beam slot with little sideways play would? 

We have had several pairs out with different customers and groups for the last 6 months on test. With this they have been trialed on a verity of kit built and rtr stock with great success and no issues reported back. 

 

Between both me and our cad engineer we have done a lot of stress testing on them too and I have yet to break them. Hope this helps answer any worries about them 

Update: ECT Working Drophead Buckeye Couplings

 

Good morning all!

Our smallest project (in size) has received a huge following since it's announcement back in April 2021.

We said then that it would take a while to engineer, test and tool these couplings, with an official RRP and release date being announced once we were satisfied with their operation.

After a long testing period, working both with The Gauge O Guild Group and a handful of individuals whom operate on various track set-ups, we're now satisfied with the strength and operation.

Shown in the pictures are the latest CAD renders and we must say, we think they look "drop-head gorgeous"!

Today, we're both proud and excited to announce that these couplings are now in tooling and we have both an expected release date and retail price for you!

 

Please see below for the key details:

Prices:

£12.50 per pair, with 10% off when buying 5+ pairs

 

Release Date:

Q4 2022

Pre-Ordering:

We don't charge anything upfront for pre-orders and instead, we take payment once the items are physically in stock with us in Skipton

 

Features:

Super-fine detailing

Die-cast construction

Working drophead function - prototypically operated via a lift and drop method

Sprung loaded

Will fit most RTR and kit-built stock through the buffer beam coupling eye

Sprung-loaded knuckle tongue

Adjustable length via pin slots in the drawbar

 

These couplings are now available to pre-order on the website (ellisclarktrains.com).

Who's excited to do some coupling replacements?!

23 minutes ago, Nick G said:

They look very nice. What is the estimated delivery time from ordering a weathered version please?

The currently delivery time for a weathered version is around 4-6 weeks though Neil is really picking the pace up now and getting though them so it may be sooner 

If Jenny's, Sam's and Hornby Mags reviews aren't enough to convince you our Presflos are top quality the guys over at MIOG have just published their review, head over and have a read for yourself

 

https://www.modernimageogauge.co.uk/ellis-clark-presflow.html

On 01/06/2022 at 12:08, ozzyo said:

Hello Chris, Ellis,

 

do you have any updates on the drop head buck eye couplings? Cost, release date Etc.

 

Yours,

 

OzzyO. 

Afternoon OzzyO, we will have an update relatively soon now the bulk if the Presflo flurry is over. I will make sure either Ellis or I will put a post on here as soon as we have the information ready to go, but it won't be long