Bluebell Model Railway

On the 4DD topic I know wrong topic someone said that the wheel pattern was going to be changed.... but again with KR's newsletters and not going in to detail about what small changes they are making it's hard to know. Think it was @Trofimow? But I haven't seen any clear photo's of this change. Just seen on a video the pattern on the wheels at Warley are still incorrect.

Samples look nice, I am with the other guy I don't like the finish on the dome/brass work... compared to other manufacturers who seem to have moved on from this standard metallic finish, one reason I didn't order the one with too much of it on, as I do feel it's lacking.

Thanks for the information on the wheel pattern, I made a comment on their FB page regarding this, along with an image of one that had fallen off lol 😅

Welcome I couldn't post it as it's a private link the video as I was on my phone I couldn't get a link up so thanks for reposting.

Yes hopefully wheels being wrong pattern might be one of those, Production has started which was seen in the BRM video yesterday, when ever that was filmed, some photos were put in to the video, showing the chassis block and the bogie towers.

Well you might have your wish judging by the most recent news letter that landed in my inbox 5 minuites ago

Something I have been doing for many years, I kind of... and I will say it quietly... miss the design clever stuff.. because you can buy railroad and make the difference, and back in that period the tooling were the same the difference was decoration. I went a lot further than you have here... but same sort of thing. Full Album: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmEbKoFY

I have a bit more information since some of the Deco samples were shown, as I was away at the time when I email KR... yes they do respond... sometimes. I still was looking for some clarification even as far back as March... as I was told "We are going through Leader with a fine tooth comb..." I did wonder how fine that comb was. So I wanted to know what is being changed... or improved... and why is the body shell so high off the chassis.. I got some answers but not really a whole answer... even though I outlined what I was asking... Anyway... So... I was actually asking about the 20 odd errors on it... but hey ho... Regarding the height of body shell.... So that's it really, a small update not many, I was kind of hoping for a little more but yea I guess, roof shape, number of vacuum cylinders, handrail position on door... are probably going to remain the same. I still haven't seen one move... 😄

I still have a Leader on order, in fact Keith messaged me out the blue, although he got my Leader wrong I ordered so fills me full of confidence lol, but message was we know it's wrong but will be sorted before release.... but didn't clarify what is being changed. Anyway apologies for moving away from the subject matter.

Indeed they were offered feedback and help but unfortunately it doesn't seem they took any of it up.... and usually you get a odd reply like... We got something right then... almost taking it personally rather than, thank you we will look in to it.

Guessing this is a GA Kit? I did make one for someone a while ago, and we did manage to get it to go round 2nd, it was tight but we did manage somehow, it was only a small comprimise as the owner wanted it to be reasonably low while not compromising the looks (if it's got any) or running.

I see a news letter has dropped this morning more about Leader and the 4DD painted sample being ready... I still have my concerns with this more like Muz....I can still see the body shell hovering 2mm maybe a bit more off the actual motor chassis despite it being black.. I can still see it... again no mention of going through it with a fine tooth comb or how wide the teeth were... But no mention of changes at all from the first EP, without seeing them side by side it's impossible to tell... If they have done this to allow bogie movement would sort of suggest the pivot point could have been moved backwards to aid the body being lower... I'm just guessing as they haven't said a word. They have released some images of the Blue versions... I did have hopes for this but they are slowly diminishing.. Problem when you pay up for things without seeing it first...maybe I'll have to 3D print an entire new body shell... Who knows... I've drawn up the valve gear 😂

Yes saw this this morning... It's difficult to tell anything really the photo being Facebook it's lower quality image... But I see the body is still massively high, I can see more details which ok get a better image of what it's like... But I can't see if any modifications have been made to the various issues reported.

Certainly waiting on a lot of samples painted one... its been certainly more than a couple of weeks unfortunately. At the moment retailers seem to have more information than those who ordered originally.

To finish off on what is and what isn't working I decided to use their Facebook before like everyone else gets blocked 😅 But they basically confirm its not fully working because parts will be too thin or too small

There are 4 photos apart from a different cab everything looks about the same as the previous.. the video above is 5 months old and viewing this amazing valve gear they keep saying is almost impossible.

Email update on this model this morning looks like a second prototype. Again information and transparency not forthcoming on what's been changed or anything like that.. so anyone's guess....but looks.more in one piece than the previous. It's still missing bits of the valve gear... So 😅 yea it works sort of.. Plus various other updates coming in the next few weeks apparently...

They do look smart. Would have ordered one but just couldn't justify it.

It certainly comes across as desperate, 3 emails, pushing, trying to throw in a good cause to make people part with cash... nice try, personally I would just like to see an update on a project I have money invested in.

When I received and read the email... I was like what is this... having a moan of not being believed... well they delivered something, ok its not entirely correct... like most things they are planning to do... so if they want to be taken seriously then do your research and produce something that makes us go wow, and sit up and pay attention. Unfortunately they still don't communicate well or tell us what exactly they are doing, like tooling changes or what they know needs improvement.. probably because they aren't listening. The Railway benefit fund, yea ok nice, but doesn't say what they have given them.. rather than say Bachmann standing there with a £1,000 cheque... kind of just trying to be seen to be doing a good thing, without much substance. To be fair I got bored half way down so I have no idea what the email was about. 😅 But I think the first few lines are telling, the GT3 was something he wanted, so he made it for him and for others... I get that... but corners were cut, there's a lot of detail, and surface detail missing, almost comes across as someone got to excited with the project rather than producing the best model they could. If it was done properly then it would have sold better.

I do enjoy these comparisons, I know moudling technology and processes have changed down the years, but as you say at the end 17 years between the two... which makes in my view Bachmann's effort commendable... also all the bits on the motion works, Hornby's doesn't... there's detail differences like the lamp irons being standard on Bachmann's and correct GWR ones on Hornby. I still think for a 2006/7 tooled model it stands up pretty well ok less fine, but they have a good reputation... unless you watch one Youtube review😄er... colour wise Bachmann's has always been good... its a difficult colour green in China. But really I think Hornby's shows the progress in detail and what the customer wants, plus all the electronic wizardry.... Bachmann's is from a time where none of the lights and dcc sound were really thought of... or a second thought. The mechanism/gear tower placement as well, bearings and no bearings, I still have my Bachmann one £92 from Hattons 13 years ago ... still starts, stops and goes. I take it he kept both 😅

Had a look and a discussion at Alexandra Palace, the first Ep looks good, all round, a few things I brought up was the molded roof vents, which I thought was a little disappointing, either down to tooling reasons, or costs or a compromise on looks. All wheel pickup, some adjustments only minor apparently, but still deciding over ordering or not. Fortunately for me I have a few Ashbury (Chesham set) I 3D printed some 8 years ago now. Still on shapeways, currently, although I will probably pull them off there soon.

Standards have certainly changed over the years, even more recently pockets being put too high... or just a dove tail joint... to take I have no idea what... back in the 90's or later there was a whole array of various types, old Airfix, old lima, old Triang...there is a mish mash of couplings... I have been over the years trying to help those who want to standardize old wagons, carriages, which fall outside of the OO standard.. some more easier than others... some need more cutting or drastic action... Been quite popular so far.... but of course the job is never finished as there are so many varieties out there. Think there's a link in my signature.

Well After a year of not seeing the prototype EP1 of Leader I had a chance at Alexandra Palace 2023, I spoke to the gent (it wasn't Michael) about Leader and it was nice to see they are doing a scrap version from the sample on display... ok it's lost a few more parts 😅 So from a newsletter which KR sent out in the morning, the decorated sample is being assembled... when asked about the previous mysterious (we want to make sure everything is right) newsletter which was January I think... I did ask what they are changing... and no particular answer was given apart from we are going over everything with a fine tooth comb.... yes well read in to that what you will, but from the reply's I had and a few others have had... KR doesn't seem to open to feedback... so I won't be holding my breath, as the answers I got just didn't inspire confidence. Only positive thing I could say was it's extremely heavy.

I had a Good chat with Graham today about all things Bulleid, as we were not to far away from KR's stand to day, and I have to say it's disappointing, unfortunately having seen some comments and jokes going around regarding KR, sides missing, copy and pasting.. its a worry because it's sadly deserved. I am not going to go in to details but if you don't listen to guys in the know who are trying to help... plus at least they have 2 ends of this 4DD to look at you know 😅 I have a Leader on order, and apart from the only good thing the weight, I wasn't that impressed with EP1, which has lost even more bits, but very vague answers, non committed to what is being adjusted or changed, almost as vague as their newsletters. As a customer, who has concerns with what is going on, it's a worry.