Compton castle
Western Thunderer
Looks great, looking forward to seeing it in action
Falcon in 7mm from heljan and other locomotives
- Thread starter Compton castle
- Start date
Brian Daniels
Western Thunderer
Now just to get your juices flowing I have today seen pictures of the first sample of the 4 character headcode 37 and it does look very nice. I will be picking it up on Saturday to test it round the garden and then paint it so watch this space for pictures.
It has been mentioned somewhere if Heljan will be doing a large logo version of these. I believe this to be true and that to get over the lack of a cut away bufferbeam that they will adopt the same as Tower did with their limited edition repaints on the split headcode 37's and paint the cut away area black. Whilst not ideal it will give the modeller a line to cut round if they so wish to remove the cowling and make a proper cut away. Now what they intend to do about the lack of a yellow headcode I don't know.
It has been mentioned somewhere if Heljan will be doing a large logo version of these. I believe this to be true and that to get over the lack of a cut away bufferbeam that they will adopt the same as Tower did with their limited edition repaints on the split headcode 37's and paint the cut away area black. Whilst not ideal it will give the modeller a line to cut round if they so wish to remove the cowling and make a proper cut away. Now what they intend to do about the lack of a yellow headcode I don't know.
Brian Daniels
Western Thunderer
Yes Jorden there are now rear cab bulkheads with some nice detail on them but there is still a bulge at the bottom, not as big as before but it's still there unfortunatly. There are beams now connecting the front and rear of the bogie sideframes and wire airpipes into the air cylinders on the sideframes. There are two styles of MU cable so one clears the snow ploughs if fitted. Lighting is now LED. It has the same style of steam heat pipe as Falcon so a bit beefier than previous ones.
richard carr
Western Thunderer
Brian
Has it got the new style narrow bogie chassis that falcon has as these also have better wheels.
Richard
Has it got the new style narrow bogie chassis that falcon has as these also have better wheels.
Richard
Brian Daniels
Western Thunderer
No Richard. It has the same bogies as the split 37 as it was thought better to stick with that so you could double head with an old 37 ok and it was basically a re-do of that model. It should have better profile wheels than the original.
Compton castle
Western Thunderer
Looking forward to seeing it Brian, I shall need a few for service on Gaer junction!
richard carr
Western Thunderer
Brian
That's a shame really as the falcon bogies are a significant improvement over those that went before., but it won't stop me buying one maybe even one in large logo.
Richard
That's a shame really as the falcon bogies are a significant improvement over those that went before., but it won't stop me buying one maybe even one in large logo.
Richard
Brian Daniels
Western Thunderer
Here it is then.
It has had the tanks narrowed, front and rear stretchers added to bogie sideframes, wire airpipes for brake cylinders (unfortunatly not done), finer wheels than split headcode 37, cab rear bulkheads detailed and bulge reduced (it's needed to clear motor mount), roof ribs removed, radiator roof fan frame finer and enlarged,metal western style side lampbrackets included, steam heat pipe enlarged as per later models, new MU jumper cable to get over snow ploughs if fitted.
It has had the tanks narrowed, front and rear stretchers added to bogie sideframes, wire airpipes for brake cylinders (unfortunatly not done), finer wheels than split headcode 37, cab rear bulkheads detailed and bulge reduced (it's needed to clear motor mount), roof ribs removed, radiator roof fan frame finer and enlarged,metal western style side lampbrackets included, steam heat pipe enlarged as per later models, new MU jumper cable to get over snow ploughs if fitted.
Cliff Williams
Western Thunderer
The headcode box is not right IMHO, too low in relation to the side grille, something does not add up to me.
37183 Georgemas Junction
37183 Georgemas Junction
adrian
Flying Squad
Not really into diesels but I see what you mean. On the full size loco the bottom of the headcode box is higher than the bottom of the side grill, whereas on this model it's the opposite way round - were they using a different prototype photo perchance?
It's still an impressive build in chocolate though!
Cliff Williams
Western Thunderer
It might look less obvious with paint on it.
Heljan hiccups always happen on each model and doesn't stop them selling.
Let's hope they get the wheel gauge and packaging right this time.
I will be converting a few to 37/4 for customers so we shall see how it works out.
Heljan hiccups always happen on each model and doesn't stop them selling.
Let's hope they get the wheel gauge and packaging right this time.
I will be converting a few to 37/4 for customers so we shall see how it works out.
David Varley
Western Thunderer
donnieworks
Member
Brian,
is this centre nose code box to low is to late to change it do Heljan ever listern to people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
is this centre nose code box to low is to late to change it do Heljan ever listern to people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cliff Williams
Western Thunderer
The frost grilles for the Class 40 were supplied separately for owners to fit. With this being a sample model only you do not get to see the packet add ons that they will supply at this stage!
Brian Daniels
Western Thunderer
Heljan do listen to people but at the end of the day it's Danish Krona that counts. We will have to wait and see what they are willing/can do. There are etched frost grills included in this as per the split headcode one.
Dog Star
Western Thunderer
Brian,
I accept what you are saying when the request relates to correcting what has been done "in the flesh"... what I do not understand is how the mistakes get there in the first place. Any idea?
Yorkshire Dave
Western Thunderer
Hi Brian
I've been following the various comments regarding the 37. Is it a pre-production sample and do Heljan send them out inviting comments prior to full production? You mention Heljan are listening but who are they listening to and, as Dog Star has questioned, how do the errors get there initially?
Granted Heljan have to make a profit and my perception is that they are producing the ready-to-run UK diesels for a price and appear to be willing to make compromises in doing so as they have effectively 'cornered' the UK market for these. But as you've alluded to, people are still buying them and I suspect more than likely most are happy to live with the errors.
Errors notwithstanding, other than the USA (Atlas) and Germany (Lenz), I don't know (as I have not investigated) which other market has the luxury of ready-to-run detailed 2-rail O scale diesels and stock at relatively affordable prices.
I've been following the various comments regarding the 37. Is it a pre-production sample and do Heljan send them out inviting comments prior to full production? You mention Heljan are listening but who are they listening to and, as Dog Star has questioned, how do the errors get there initially?
Granted Heljan have to make a profit and my perception is that they are producing the ready-to-run UK diesels for a price and appear to be willing to make compromises in doing so as they have effectively 'cornered' the UK market for these. But as you've alluded to, people are still buying them and I suspect more than likely most are happy to live with the errors.
Errors notwithstanding, other than the USA (Atlas) and Germany (Lenz), I don't know (as I have not investigated) which other market has the luxury of ready-to-run detailed 2-rail O scale diesels and stock at relatively affordable prices.
BrushType4
Western Thunderer
In the thousands of details they get right we only see where they didn't do so well.
I'd expect the cad work is done by a team that have no interest in the prototype and are working off drawings/photographs and supplied measurements.
Doing my own drawings I know how easy it is to draw something off plan only a long way done the road to find the plan isn't the same as the actual prototype or that the pencil line was less than accurately placed.
I'd expect they will fix the details they can justify retooling for but its probably a simple rule of will the error stop it selling or not and if so what is the minimum spend to fix it.
I'd expect the cad work is done by a team that have no interest in the prototype and are working off drawings/photographs and supplied measurements.
Doing my own drawings I know how easy it is to draw something off plan only a long way done the road to find the plan isn't the same as the actual prototype or that the pencil line was less than accurately placed.
I'd expect they will fix the details they can justify retooling for but its probably a simple rule of will the error stop it selling or not and if so what is the minimum spend to fix it.
richard carr
Western Thunderer
I can't imagine for one minute that they are going to fix that, its too late the tooling is already done, just look at all the previous errors that were spotted at this stage and never fixed.
People will still buy it me included and if you really want to, it won't be that difficult to fix, just a big pain in the A***.
Richard
People will still buy it me included and if you really want to, it won't be that difficult to fix, just a big pain in the A***.
Richard