The risk we face from comments such as "poor quality control" and "BN16 has car 'B' plates and should be car 'C'.  The upside-down U for the pull release should be on a separate plate, not the ID plate (on the bottom sill) should also be on both sides not just the B side.  And P,V dates missing on one side"   etc, is that the importer (Auscision in this case), could just throw their hands up in the air and say: "It's all too hard...no matter how good our product is, we can never hope to please the fastidious modellers of today, so I think we'll go and do something easier, like land a man on Mars".

I think most people on here (even the ones criticising) would agree that Auscision are producing some of the best RTR models ever seen in Australia. However, when they talk up their on products with the slogan of "Trust Auscision for Precision" and statements of priding themselves on attention to detail, I think they shouldn't be too surprised when people pick them up on errors, however minor.

I was sorely tempted by the V/Line Passenger sets, but cannot justify the price at the moment. I know we are spoilt for choice in terms of available RTR rollingstock and the detail/quality today, but I wish there was a middle-of-the-road range that wasn't quite so highly detailed and hence more affordable for those of us on limited budgets... (I think Austrains Basix is the only one in this category at present, although I stand to be corrected).

I think for any new tooling you would be lucky to see a RTR car much under $90. Remember that the very basic Lima cars are simply re-runs of old tooling and they are in the $65+ range. Did Austrains even sell any passenger cars in the basix range?

I think for any new tooling you would be lucky to see a RTR car much under $90. Remember that the very basic Lima cars are simply re-runs of old tooling and they are in the $65+ range. Did Austrains even sell any passenger cars in the basix range?

To my knowledge, only a few locomotives were made in the Austrains Basix range.

You are probably right regarding the cost of Australian prototype RTR passenger carriages. For what they are, I can't justify the $65-$75 on the re-run Lima carriages. I'm not saying that the Auscision N carriages aren't worth the $130 each (after delivery price) - I just can't afford to spend that much on a single carriage at this time.

got my sets today and look fantastic.

To my knowledge, only a few locomotives were made in the Austrains Basix range.

You are probably right regarding the cost of Australian prototype RTR passenger carriages. For what they are, I can't justify the $65-$75 on the re-run Lima carriages. I'm not saying that the Auscision N carriages aren't worth the $130 each (after delivery price) - I just can't afford to spend that much on a single carriage at this time.

The Austrains Basix range consist of locomotives the John has sold enough of in the past to more than cover tooling costs that aren't up to the current standards and he knows he can't charge top dollar for them unless they are NR's in the new paint schemes. The TOR 44 closely followed the Austrains 442 many years ago and made the 442 took decidedly second rate way back then and things have moved on considerably since then. The Basix range is overpriced in my opinion.

My VLP Mk2 set of red cars have arrived too. They look awesome behind my matching red N class loco.......but.....

1. The two little red bits (apparently off the D van) were loose in the box.
2. A seat is floating around loose in the BRN car.
3. The set of steps under the guards door on the ACN car was broken off and was loose in the box.

These aside, another great product from Auscision, and am now looking forward to the Walker coming soon.

Markers anybody?

[img]http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt233/james1377/Image1989_zpsae9a5ddd.jpg[/img]

How did you do the markers

How did you do the markers

I used fibre optics and a led powered off the track with wipers on the bogies.

I have my VPS-10 (V-Line) and am pleased with it.  No one seems to have mentioned looking though the windows and looking up.  The luggage overhead racks are there.

As a person who built one of the Specialty Scale Models brass/white metal kits from DJH, I can say there is a lot of finer detail on the Auscision sets.  The SSM kits had oversize etched window stainless steel window frames.  Luckily for me, many years ago I decided to liquidate all of my Australian brass collection and the SSM set.  Engineering perspective, there is a compromise on the Auscision but I won't comment negatively on it nor am I going to mention it.  The models look great to me.  When I built that SSM set I had taken a lot of prototype research photos back in the day when you could jump down on the ballast at Spencer Street.  I've forgotten most of the detail that I once knew and will be looking for these research photos for a refresher.

Personally, I am very happy with my set and have always wanted a Victorian passenger set which is what I always saw around the time that I immigrated to Aus (1989).  I've always loved the V-Line scheme and I think Auscision have nailed the Orange/Tangerine.  As I recall, when Trainorama did their V-Line S class the orange sometimes looked brownish to me so I sold it at a good price.

My only minor suggestion is for Auscision to emulate the much higher quality boxes that are common to SDS Models' products.  Ironic that Auscision produce those high quality $40 boxes and then send out their models in paper.  Gee, do you think they do that for a reason?

Now, where is the Overland in plastic where we can get proper fluting and you won't need 18 locomotives to pull it like you do with a brass set.

Rick

I used fibre optics and a led powered off the track with wipers on the bogies.

Let's see ya do the D van

Looks awesome mate.

Now that these are here, and looking wonderful, it brings me to ask the following question.

Did the N sets just run as the 4 car set (and then Z car/s added later as needed) by themselves or did they also run with the S cars?

I now have a few of the different sorts of S cars in various liveries, and now the N sets in the same, and am wanting to know if they did in fact run in the same train or totally separate units?

And also what motive power would have been on the S cars opposed to the N cars?

Probably a dumb lot of questions but i have no idea myself. No harm in asking really i thought.

Lindsay

Did the N sets just run as the 4 car set (and then Z car/s added later as needed) by themselves or did they also run with the S cars?


Lindsay

The N sets have run with nearly all other cars that have existed in the time they have been around. However, other cars weren't included in the N sets until some Z cars were used to enlarge them in the 90's.
The N sets were often run in double consists with other sets of cars including other N sets. One example being the combined Albury/ Cobram trains, which were separated at Seymour. The Albury section would be a Z set, or in early days a mix of E, S and Z cars with a CD van.
Another thing to remember is that the D van was never a part of an N set. They were just added to trains as needed, so you could have an N set with no D van, or perhaps 2 or 3 at Christmas time. Auscision has made them part of the 'set'.

This is a brief answer, perhaps others can expand.

Cheers Matt.
PS I'm rapped in mine, however I will paint the stripes onto the BRN windows next summer!

I used fibre optics and a led powered off the track with wipers on the bogies.

James,

what is it like to pull apart the carriages?

Just wondering if I were to buy a teacup set and intend to repaint and decal. What are your thoughts ?

Regards,
David Head

Let's see ya do the D van

Looks awesome mate.

Challenge accepted.

James,

what is it like to pull apart the carriages?

Just wondering if I were to buy a teacup set and intend to repaint and decal. What are your thoughts ?

Regards,
David Head

David,

Personally I wouldn't strip them down, there are just way to many parts/pieces that are too fragile and will break. It "could" be possible to mask them up and spray them but that would be far from ideal. They are easy enough to get apart as the floor is only held in with four clips but getting all the windows and other parts out of the body for repainting is a job not for the faint at heart. Just my thoughts.

Regards

James

David,

Personally I wouldn't strip them down, there are just way to many parts/pieces that are too fragile and will break. It "could" be possible to mask them up and spray them but that would be far from ideal. They are easy enough to get apart as the floor is only held in with four clips but getting all the windows and other parts out of the body for repainting is a job not for the faint at heart. Just my thoughts.

Regards

James

Would it be easier than  some old Northern models Epoxy N set kits I have?

Regards,
David Head

Would it be easier than  some old Northern models Epoxy N set kits I have?

Regards,
David Head

I think the resin would be easier, the only major issue with the resin ones is the windows but that can be over come with some patience and time. You can now buy the interiors for the N cars from Auscision and I am sure it will be just a matter of time before the bogies are available too.

http://www.auscisionmodels.com.au/images/IMG_1980.JPG"

http://www.auscisionmodels.com.au/images/IMG_1978.JPG"

http://www.auscisionmodels.com.au/images/IMG_1979.JPG"

Regards

James

Challenge accepted.

Wow! you have better eyes than me, great job. Off topic is that A62 off to the left? or my bad eyes haha.

Loving the markers being added!

Derp...

Wolfpac

Wow! you have better eyes than me, great job. Off topic is that A62 off to the left? or my bad eyes haha.

Yep, it would be, complete with dedication plates. A66 is yet to come but won't be too far away.

Yep, it would be, complete with dedication plates. A66 is yet to come but won't be too far away.

Well thats awesome! do your own brass etching, or can you buy them?

Well thats awesome! do your own brass etching, or can you buy them?

They are available from Northwest Models.

I also did A60 tonight in V/Line orange and grey. It is yet to have the name plates fitted but I might leave those off for a while.

Out of interest, how hard is it to swap the number board numbers at each end, also?

Wolfpac

Out of interest, how hard is it to swap the number board numbers at each end, also?

Wolfpac

They are decals that go over the old numbers, the number boards aren't that well lit from factory so it doesn't really matter that they don't light up after the decals are applied.