00ERmissus

Spoke to TMC earlier and the models are now available to pre-order from their website - just ordered mine.

On or after 1 June according to my sources. It would now appear to be the latter. The main suppliers usually notify about a week or so ahead of delivery if you’re on their mailing lists. Also my credit card is normally debited at least a week before dispatch and so far, nothing, which is not surprising in the grand scheme of things. According to Heljan it’s ‘available’, so my guess is it must be in the Copenhagen Tunnel somewhere!

Many thanks for that. Yes, I note from the Paye book that there are photo's representing two sizes of small yellow panels on the railbuses. Given the amount of information that you have at your disposal, can you shed any more light on the 'early' green livery issue?

That’s an interesting theory, John. I didn’t see them in service either. In fact, I wasn’t even aware there was a question mark over this now ‘alleged’ early livery until I read the thread earlier. Given that this may appear to be so, let me throw this in the ring: Could what people refer to as early light green livery in fact just be the shade WuM delivered and BR tested them in (as in the photo) prior to them being repainted in Brunswick Green? In ‘The Saffron Walden Branch’ by P. Paye, it states that the first two Railbuses – No’s E79960/E79961, travelled via the Zeebrugge to Harwich train ferry and were delivered to Stratford on 31 March, 1958. The photo is dated as 1 April, 1958 and was therefore taken as soon as E79961 had been taken out of its box and before the optional speed whisker transfers had been applied! So as you say, this colour was applied by the manufacturer whatever shade it may have been.

Thanks for that..............I've found an interesting photo of E79961 at Stratford TMD in April 1958, presumably just delivered. It appears to be in a light green livery but without speed whiskers. I wonder if it went into service like this or had the whiskers painted on beforehand? If not, it would be nice if Heljan could supply some of their light green ones without. http://www.flickr.co...57604635404420/

Now that DapolDave has given us the proposed running numbers of the initial batch of CL21 & 29’s, what do others think? My area of interest is the 21, so I’ll stick to that. It’s stated that D6112, D6134 & D6150 will be the first three all plain green versions to be produced. These were originally, I believe, Stratford, Ipswich and Aberdeen-based respectively. The two ER locos would have been produced in a batch featuring drop-side cab windows, whereas D6150 would have had sliding windows in order to accommodate tablet exchange equipment for Scottish operation. So the first question I have is; will this detail difference be reflected in the above models? Moving on, none of the above are from the first ten pilot scheme locos but the second batch. These featured, from new, a single large main radiator grille with vertical slats and a strengthening bar at waist level - as opposed to the first ten (D6100-9), which had two-part main radiator grilles (modified later) - according to my sources. I’m also informed that D6100-22 were all built with two ventilator bars above the cab windows, that looked like eyebrows. Whether we can expect to see finer detail variation such as this I don’t know but as Dave has asked for input, there’s some from me! Oh yes, and the windscreen wipers should be located above the cab windows - not below.............

Really good shots, dmustu. In it's original livery too, I believe. Does (did) that shade of green have an official name? It will now be very interesting to see how detailed the interior of the Heljan model will be, especially with such a good example to work from................

Looking good..................and unless my eyes deceive me, that looks like a WuM Railbus loitering between the Baby and Lion too. Anyone have any close-ups of that for the Railbus thread?

Many thanks for that Chris , it sounds very promising indeed. My other local branch is (was) St. Margarets - Buntingford (Herts) where Wickham (of Ware) often used to trial new locos as I'm sure you well know, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the Heljan Wickham Railbus model does come to fruition. I have video footage of one (SC numbered) leaving Buntingford on a test run!

I have two of these on order and will be interested to see how they stack up against the Silver Fox model of the same that I bought a few years ago, which I still rate very highly, despite its un-prototypical top speed of about 150mph!! I have photos (in a book) of all 3 of Heljan’s planned ‘E’ prefix versions at work on my local branch (Saffron Walden) in the early 60’s, in various liveries of the period. Was there any evidence of the progress on this model at Warley last weekend and does anyone know if delivery is still planned for early 2011? Also, what about the other railbuses they announced last year? I haven’t heard anything about them for a while now and Heljan hasn’t updated its ‘Products to come’ web page for over a year, so no clues there either.

You're a star Dave! I might as well initiate divorce proceedings now as SWMBO will not stand another winter of discontent without food and heat in order to fund my 'habit' - CL21 (2), DP2, Sentinel (2) and the list just keeps growing...........

Dave, Many thanks for undertaking production of this model, great news. Just to clarify, are you planning to release both CL21 and 29 variants? The reason I ask, is I believe your CL22 is the later modified version only i.e. with split headcode boxes. I model the ' plain green' period, so I'm hoping for an 'as delivered' version - well two actually! Thanks.

Wonderful news, Dave. Having just resumed work on my Hornby conversion, it was bound to appear in r-t-r sooner or later! Please put me down for 2 in plain green as well and a DP2, of course.

To wraparound or not to wraparound? Further to the saga of the Hejan 28, this is what I have received from Hattons this afternoon in writing: Thank you very much for your enquiry. In answer to your question, all of our Class 28's will now have "flat" windows. It is the case that originally we were going to have curved windows but this has now changed so that all have flat windows. Therefore, there will be no Class 28's being produced with curved windows. I hope this answers your question. If you have any further enquiries, please do not hesitate to contact us. ......... So, end of story?

You’re right this is confusing and thanks for your comments. However, I can only go by what is stated on the order that I made online with Hattons - the description for which they have now amended to read: Class 28 Co-Bo Diesel D5700 Full BR Green - with modified windows (Due First Quarter 2011). The three offending words were not there when I placed the order as it then stated ‘as delivered with wrapround windows.’ It seems they’ve now been unwrapped! I’d be interested to know if anyone has reserved this version online and not had theirs amended. Looks like another phone call to Liverpool. Very confusing - time for a pint of Old & Filthy, me thinks!!!

A little bit miffed as I specifically placed my order after querying this issue with Hattons who assured me the early model would have the original cab windows, which I also thought was too good to be true, given the extra cost that would be incurred in producing both versions. The web site now clearly states D5700 will have the modified (later) windows and their original(?) press release also says the same. However, well done Hattons for commissioning the model, I'm sure it will be a success and I'll keep my eye on the site just in case but in the meantime someone else can have my green one.

Many thanks for that Martin. A further call to Hattons jsut now and they assure me that D5700 (plain green) will definitely feature wrap round windows as advertised. Oh dear, may have to order both versions now. Not a word to SWMBO...................

As usual - a mine of information on this site! Thanks chaps. So it looks like plain green only carried the 'wrap round' windows and the modification took place at the same time SYP's were added. Seeing as there appears to be conflicting information from Hattons - i.e. I was told flat faces on all versions but the site quite clearly states ' wrap round windows as delivered' (as 59205 points out) on D5700 green only version but not the others, I'll check with them again to be certain.

I've just received the following response from Hattons to my query regarding the two types i.e. later flat window versions vs. wraparound on the originals: Quote: As the Class 28's are still in the early stage of production we have not got all the specific details. However from the designs from our modelling department it looks as though it is not a wrap around front cab on any of the editions. More information should be available as the release date (2011) gets nearer. Unquote. I would be highly surprised to see both versions on a limited edition run although anything's possible. Does anyone know when the modified cab windows first started appearing - in particular, did any actually run in original plain green with the later 'flat' windows?

Would have been my first question too - early (wraparound cab windows) or late? But both, now that really is a very welcome surprise. No question I'll order a plain green one on the strentgh of that - for test runs on the ER! Love 'em or hate 'em and I know there are those of us in both camps, Heljan is producing stuff in r-t-r form that otherwise we could have only dreamed of, so hat's off to them in that respect. Now, along with their other product announcements, could we have 'as delivered into service' versions of the CL26 and Baby Deltic please. Oh and a DP2, then I'll call it a day, I'm not greedy!

I noticed the door issue too and contacted Ben Jones at Model Rail. This was his response. Quote: The solid top half of the doors is only due to an issue with the screen rendering of the CAD images. Having seen the whole 3-D artwork, I can confirm that they will be as per the original, and not solid. Perhaps if you’re in touch with the forum, you can pass on my comments? Ben. I think that answers that query! Looking forward to seeing at least one of these little chaps on my layout!

Was literally just reading this thread, having been told by my retailer earlier in the month that I would have to wait until May for the first of the 2 that I have on order. when the doorbell rang. Mr Postman with, what my wife now calls, a 'highly suspicious' package. Indeed it was - D8200 in plain green! Out of the box and straight on to the metals. Sweet as a nut. How disappointing, nothing like the real thing at all. Serioulsy though, I'm well pleased with it as I have been with all my locos from Heljan ( I don't have a 17, they didn't operate in my area). I have D8215 on order. At last I now have something authentic for my forthcoming Buntingford branch. Can't wait for the Wickham rail car! Only criticism, as stated earlier by others, the cab roof is not flush with the short nose end but I can live with that. Oh yes and I paid a fair bit more than the K&S price of £75. I reckon they've sold out by now!