Atomic Systems

Hi guys. I have had an excellent idea. I was thinking to myself, why don't we make a thread and write our own comments and reveiw an engine of ours. We can then give it a mark out of ten, some info on where to buy it and the price. Of cource if two people have the same loco and someone disaggrees with someone elses comment you can always say something different about the loco.
Let the reveiws start....

Ok i will start seem as no one can be bothered. And in true GWR style I will start with the Collet Grange.
A derivative of the 4300 class Mogul, the Collet designed 4-6-0 “Grangeâ€

Hornby's class 60's in a word - FAB!

Review over (Hope that helps someone who is debating whether to buy them or not )

Might need a bit more.

And now for the reveiw of the century. 4472 in NRM condition.

Well lets start with a little history. As most of us know, Mister Alan Peglar bought the Flying Scotsman from BR in 1963. He also had a smart idea (later to cause loads of trouble for RTR makers to get everything right.) So Mr Peglar also bought a spare boiler ex-Salmon Trout and another corridor tender ex-Seagull. The boiler Mr Peglar had bought from Salmon Trout was ex-A4. You may wonder where I am going with all of this.
Well the boiler was made to the specifications of Dia. 107 which was an A4 design. This was superior to the Dia. 94 and 94a fitted to the A3. The only visual difference was the position of the lower washout plugs which were moved forward of the final boiler band. This was to accomodate the A4's combustion chamber. The streamlined dome was also moved forward.
When Flying Scotsman was first adorned in BR green and German smoke deflectors, the A4 boiler was attached but the final cladding band wasn't moved forward, making it look like the first washout plug was inside the boiler. The overhaul at the NRM in 2004 kept the Dia. 107 boiler and the unique position of the cladding band. And would you beleive this- Hornby have noticed this.
This model is very specific-almost an exact representation of 4472. The unique boiler band is there and the washout plugs match the Dia. 107 boiler.
The livery on this is very well applied, even the separate lining on the wheels and frames.
Unfortunately the piping on the left and right hand sides of the boiler is identical and the deflectors aren't right for 4472. Due to the boiler on 4472 being differnt for 4472 no other A3 can carry it.

For £99.99 this is certainly a big bargain for what you get. A must have in my veiws

You get ripped of for £99. £79 is the going rate

I got my BR early liveried A3 for £75.

Ok, a review of my engine. Well, my engine is the Roundhouse Russell. This is a live steam, 16mm scale model of the famous Welsh Highland Railway Hunslet 2-6-2T, now preserved at Porthmadog and celbrating it's centenary this year.
The model is fairly well detailed, considering that it has to withstand high temperatures, the effects of steam, oil, and water, all weather conditions and the occasional derailment! Like all Roundhouse models they are solidly built to withstand the rough-and-tumble of life in the garden, but this obviously means that very fine details are unsuitible. However, I'm no rivet counter so that dosn't bother me She is availible in a choice of colours and for 32 or 45mm gauge-a conversion kit is also availible to enable running on lines of the other gauge. Radio control is optional.
The loco takes about five minutes to prepare before a run, involving filling with water, oil and butane. Once the fire is lit raising the working pressure of 40 psi takes just a few more minutes-although beware, lighting up can be difficult in cold or windy conditions! Providing fuel is used econmically (by adjusting the gas regulator) a running time of about half an hour is reasonable. Russell is a very poweful engine for her size-I once had her take 70 axles round Jon Potter's steeply-graded circuit!
All in all, this is a fantastic model for all who love live steam. Like all Roundhouse models she is very reliable and thus an excellent choice for beginners. She dosn't come cheap though-£1000 plus an extra £100 or so for radio control.
Personally, however, I think she's worth every penny.

I didn't buy it at £99.99. I forgot to put in Signal Boxs' price, £72.50(I think)

Hornby LNER ‘A1’ No 1470 Great Northern review
By Colin Porter Aged 17

The latest Pacific class loco from Hornby has appeared in the form of LNER ‘A1’ 4-6-2 No 1470 Great Northern which is a welcomed addition to the Hornby fleet. The model is in LNER Apple green and the locomotive is paired with a Great Northern tender, which is a definite improvement from the original Hornby model as it is better in proportion. The locomotive has finely moulded plastic handrails which look the part but seem extremely fragile, the same can be said for the moulded steam pipes and lamp brackets. The cab has much back head detail which is faithfully reproduced with pipes and controls picked out in colour, the cab has fine brass door fitted which appear very delicate and on the roof working sliding vents are fitted. Now I turn my attention to the front of the loco the smokebox door is finely moulded with the handle and hinges picked out in silver. Another feature is the metal working chain link coupling fitted to the buffer beam.
The chassis is the same as fitted to the previous BR versions with scale moulded brake gear ready fitted. The locomotive is fitted with a 5-pole skew wound motor, which runs smoothly. Moving to the wheels the brake shoes are well moulded and the fine valve gear is correct to the prototype. The chassis houses an NRMA 8-pin DCC decoder socket, which is neatly wired to the motor.
Following on to the tender all the handrails and coal rails are well moulded and reflects the prototype well. On the rear of the tender is fitted a NEM coupling as well as many details which include sprung buffers and finely moulded lamp irons. All eight wheels of the tender provide extra pickups for the loco and these are surrounded by the same standard of brake gear that is found on the loco. The front of the tender has a wealth of detail in the shape of fire iron holders and brake leavers and I am sure you will agree that this is one of the most detailed tenders available on the market at the moment. The top of the tender has the correct water filler cap and profile for where the water scoop comes up {the actual scoop is missing from the model but it does not detract from the models appearance}. The removable coal load also reveals a wealth of detail and provides the opportunity for the owner to add as much coal as they see fit.
The lettering and lining on the model is crisp and has been well researched.
Modellers will be pleased to hear that the model has the same traction and haulage capacity as the BR versions.
I would highly recommend it, as it is one of the bet Hornby models to date and it is well worth the money.


I wrote this and sent it in to model rail and they read it but were unable to put it in the magasine as they had already written one
cheers colin

My engine is the Heljan class 57, more specifically Virgin's 57307.

This model really captures the distinctive looks and livery of the 57. It certainly brightens up the spare headshunt or bay platform. There are sprung buffers, open cab windows and wire handrails. However, there is no nameplate - this may be because the real engines had not been named when their model counterparts were produced. Also, there are no working lights on the model. This is strange, as they are featured on the Western model. I have yet to put the small parts included in the box on the model (or rather dad has), but there are various snowploughs and wires which I'm sure will drastically improve the model.

The quality of the running is very good indeed. The engine is very heavy - the heaviest on the layout - and this ensures great traction and a smooth acceleration. Heljan claim it's pulled 15 coaches in testing; I think it could pull double that. The loco came with a slight squeak which required a dab of oil, however we all know this happens with many engines, and that Heljan cannot be blamed for this. My only fault is the centre axles on both bogies. They are very loose, which means they are good during running, but an absolute pain when re-railing the engine. It is possible to get the other two axles on and have the middle one derailed by a wheel's width. However, they enable the loco to get round bends which the Bachmann 66 & Voyager and the Heljan Western all turn their noses up at.

When we bought the Western we thought there was no coupling for it - just a couple of bars for the coupler pocket. However, on opening the 57 I found another layer of foam beneath the one with the train in - in it were two couplings, just loose in the box. Sure enough, a quick investigation revealed the same on the Western. This was very tedious, as we had tried various couplings and bits of wire to no avail when the necessary parts were right under our noses. There was no indication to the location of the couplings in the instructions, and you think once you've got to the train there is no more packing. We really expected better from Heljan.

I was in two minds whether to buy the 57, but the thing that convinced me was the price. The RRP is £89.99, and I got it for £50 at Blackpool's Tower Models. I read briefly, IIRC, that Heljan are taking the 57 out of production, hence the low price. Had I paid the RRP, this review would be quite different.

Overall: 9/10, brilliant for the price.

Jack M.

Thrashin wrote: there is no nameplate - this may be because the real engines had not been named when their model counterparts were produced.

No Bachmann got the licence to produce them and Heljen didn't to Heljen leagally cannot provide the nameplates. Also one other niggle is that the Body width is over size which is an inheritance from the Heljen 47 which is also slightly too wide.

But if you like it that's all which matters

The Bachmann 3F 0-6-0T 'Jinty' No. 47266

The model itself was actually bought after a rather spritied run with the Lancy 3F.

The packaging is very good, the loco doesn't slide around and the detail isn't damaged by it either. It includes the traditional Bachmann Info card and guarantee.

The model is very weel made, the motor hauled 7 Mk.1's (!) around a tight layout with only minor slippage, the control is also excellent, which makes coupling up a dream.

Detail is definately evident on this locomotive; all the lamp brackets are present, and even the fiddly Vacuum pump gear can be found on the drivers side.

One thing I must find fault with thought is the distance between the top and bottom rear centre brackets, they seem to be almost touching.

This model gets 4/5

Also one other niggle is that the Body width is over size which is an inheritance from the Heljen 47 which is also slightly too wide.

Yeah, I'd heard about that. It doesn't seem to be obvious to me, but then I haven't got the world's best eye for detail... Thanks for explaining about the nameplates - I wondered why they weren't there!

Cheers

Jack

Good idea train lover we can give the engines marks out of ten if you wish.