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Victorian VLCX - Auscisions, or OTM's??

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      davesvline Chief Commissioner

    Location: 1983-1998
    Well both Auscision and On Track Models have announced the VLCX. Although, if you read the Auscision page, theirs says they were unfortunately forced to announce it now due to circumstances beyond thier control (words to that effect). Presumably because OTM just did so prior.

    That aside, we all know these double up instances may continue to happen in the future with other models. With this in mind, it probably now comes down to price, and quality of the prospective models. Since neither model is hear to judge on its merits on quality, and both mobs have a reputation for good detail, It just leaves the price element to consider at this stage.

    So for a Victorian, this is the way I see it. I can prepay Auscision $220 now (or pay $239 later), and get them with free delivery. This is for a 4 car pack.
    Alternatively, i can spend $180 with OTM for a 3 car pack, but then need to shell out $17 for postage.

    So all up, its either $220 prepaid delivered for an Auscision  4pack, or $197 for an OTM 3 pack.

    So to my question - Are people inclined to go the cheapest (Auscision) option here, based purely on models sight unseen??

    Thoughts

    Regards
    Posted: 28 Nov 2013 20:32

    Last edited by davesvline on 28 Nov 2013 20:35; edited 1 time in total

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      Poath Junction Chief Commissioner

    Location: In front of a computer most of the time.
    Auscision's pre-order discount also includes a bonus wagon so you're getting 5 for $220 versus 3 for $197 (posted in both cases). The bonus wagon is for all 4 packs as noted in their blog entry of 7 October and applies to multiple purchases too. ie buy 3 x "4 packs" and you'd get 3 free wagons. From a purely financial standpoint Auscision wins that round by a long shot, however there are some liveries being done by OTM that aren't on the Auscision list which may in itself determine your buying choice.

    After delivery price, when Auscision pack prices are expected to increase and the bonus wagon is not likely to remain part of the deal, there's only a small $ difference per wagon between OTM & Auscision so quality / features, etc will then play a bigger role in the decision. OTM have lots of painted samples on their website and facebook while Auscision have only so far had their unpainted samples at exhibitions. Based on those samples the quality and features should be around the same as their BP vans so externally very nice. However internally the OTM models so far appear to have the extra 'wow!' detail factor, maybe we'll see this matched at the last moment by Auscision?

    You can always wait until both OTM & Auscision wagons hit the shores to make your decision, but no doubt by then a lot of the packs will have already sold out.
    Posted: 28 Nov 2013 21:45
      VRfan Moderator

    Location: In front of my computer :-p
    If it was me, I would wait. The VLX would have to be the most produced victorian wagon both in kit and RTR. BGB did I don't know how many versions of it, there was even a whitemetal one back in the day. Trainorama have since produced RTR versions twice.

    Point is, I don't think it will sell out anytime soon and even if it does, someone else is bound to produce it.

    That way you don't have to cough up the $$$ now and you can see which one either arrives first or wait a bit longer and pick the best model.
    Posted: 28 Nov 2013 23:37
      trawny Train Controller

    Location: Victoria
    Any ideas on delivery times of both?
    Posted: 29 Nov 2013 08:23
      Poath Junction Chief Commissioner

    Location: In front of a computer most of the time.
    Any ideas on delivery times of both?
    trawny
    Both are aiming for delivery this year. OTM posted some info on facebook 2 days ago indicating theirs are expected in late December.
    There are pics on their facebook page showing completed VLX models ready for boxing.
    Posted: 29 Nov 2013 11:09
      2LaGrange Chief Train Controller

    I emailed auscision and they confirmed today that vans will come with interior details the same as ontrack, so if its purely on cost auscision is the clear winner with a 4 pack at $220 and a 5th wagon free that works out at $44 per wagon inc postage compared to otm $65 per wagon inc postage.Trainorama previously did these wagons as mentioned by a previous poster but they had chunky bogies and lacked  detail and the roof profile was not correct compared to the more accurate models coming soon from auscision and otm.
    Posted: 29 Nov 2013 18:17
      dthead Site Admin

    Location: Melbourne, Australia
    If I could , I would buy both.

    Modellers know wagons are not identical, they weather differntely, some differ in batches as they were made etc.  To get that variation many a modeller will alter their loco/rollingstock.

    By two manufacturers doing the same, and the exisiting trainorama and BGB examples out there now, one can have a nice rake of so called same  wagons but with differences.....

    Regards,
    David Head
    Posted: 02 Dec 2013 16:26
      Iain Chief Commissioner

    Location: Concord, NSW
    OTM in my view are usually a little bit better in the detailing department and Kadee couplers and closer to scale wheels suit my requirements - I guess at 6'4" I am a small minority.

    Iain
    Posted: 03 Dec 2013 06:52
      andrewstrains Assistant Commissioner

    Location: Townsville, Where else but QLD
    But don't On Track use #5 couplers NOT scale head type (1)58s? they have on all their past projects.

    Andrew
    Posted: 03 Dec 2013 16:52
      NSWGR1855 Deputy Commissioner

    But don't On Track use #5 couplers NOT scale head type (1)58s? they have on all their past projects.

    Andrew
    andrewstrains
    Yes your right. My mistake earlier on.

    Terry Flynn
    Posted: 05 Dec 2013 15:43
      dthead Site Admin

    Location: Melbourne, Australia
    Thread split. this thread is about the wagon as a whole etc. we now have a spcific thread about the wheels....

    http://www.railpage.com.au/f-p1877929.htm#1877929
    Posted: 05 Dec 2013 18:01
      rustyrooster Beginner

    Am I missing something or are the 40ft louvred VR vans the same from OTM and Auscision?
    Auscision are offering a free Stephens Railex boxcar if you order early and OTM have the exact same model for sale under VR 40ft boxcar
    Therefore any discussion about quality is moot
    Posted: 07 Dec 2013 10:23
      Iain Chief Commissioner

    Location: Concord, NSW
    Apart from OTM claim theirs well be available in December and are slightly finer on the details which I prefer. They have produced some nice wagons in the past.

    Iain
    Posted: 08 Dec 2013 07:12
      ANDL36Y Train Controller

    If I could , I would buy both.

    Modellers know wagons are not identical, they weather differntely, some differ in batches as they were made etc.  To get that variation many a modeller will alter their loco/rollingstock.

    By two manufacturers doing the same, and the exisiting trainorama and BGB examples out there now, one can have a nice rake of so called same  wagons but with differences.....

    Regards,
    David Head
    dthead

    My sentiments precisely. Variation is the spice of an interesting looking goods train...

    Cheers
    Posted: 09 Dec 2013 11:46
      Wildtony Beginner

    Location: Ingleburn NSW
    Just taking a look at the pacific national wagon vlvx 13-N pics from both auscision and on track models that are on Facebook, and the auscision model seems to be missing the text on the bottom of the left door which appears on the prototype. Looks like +1 to On Track on this wagon.
    Posted: 23 Dec 2013 21:47
      ontrackmodels Junior Train Controller

    Location: Emu Plains, Australia
    Not only that Wildtony,

    Have a look at the Stephens Railex van.

    On Track has produced a van that is faithful to the original photo with the small VR behind the Stephens Railex logo.

    We've also produced the Stephens Railex logo in cream.

    Our competitors haven't.

    Also have a look at the codeboards on the various vans, we've tried to match them where possible to the prototype, and not have used a generic template.

    We've tried not to take our customers for granted.

    The On Track Models Team
    Posted: 28 Dec 2013 12:12
      Bills_Billboards Chief Commissioner

    On the history of VLX / VLCX vans here is a list of suppliers that comes to mind

    Protype  Kit white metal
    BGB       Kit resin 3 variations the 1st being based off the Protype white metal kit
    Lima       Announced in catolouge as comming soon but never produced
    PSM       RTR brass
    Trainorama RTR yellow box plastic
    Trainorama RTR reworked minor details green box plastic
    OTM  RTR  plastic
    Auscision RTR plastic
    Posted: 31 Dec 2013 09:52
      LaidlayM Chief Commissioner

    Location: Research
    On the history of VLX / VLCX vans here is a list of suppliers that comes to mind

    Protype  Kit white metal
    BGB       Kit resin 3 variations the 1st being based off the Protype white metal kit
    Lima       Announced in catolouge as comming soon but never produced
    PSM       RTR brass
    Trainorama RTR yellow box plastic
    Trainorama RTR reworked minor details green box plastic
    OTM  RTR  plastic
    Auscision RTR plastic
    Bills_Billboards
    I bought a couple of solid epoxy VLX from McBees in the late '70s,  possibly dodgy copies from the Protype version, they pre-date BGB.  They still run on my layout.

    Mark
    Posted: 31 Dec 2013 14:02
      davesvline Chief Commissioner

    Location: 1983-1998
    Sounds like there's a lot of merit in the OTM version.

    Pity both mobs skipped over doing the VLVX in V/Line livery. Whats with that?? 1 pack would suffice.

    Looks like Bills Billboards gets to pickup where these fellas missed out then.

    Regards
    Posted: 01 Jan 2014 16:58
      ontrackmodels Junior Train Controller

    Location: Emu Plains, Australia
    Hi davesvline,

    It gives us something to do the second run.

    Seriously though, we have 24 packs coming.

    To do the widest possible number of packs and styles is a challenge.

    The factory requires a minimum number of packs for printing and set-up reasons.

    Yes we could have done a 3rd pack of VLVX's in addition to our Freight Australia & Pacific National packs.

    But which other ones do we drop to do it ?

    Remembering we only have so much space at our warehouse for storage as well.

    We've produced 2 packs of V/Line logos in the VLF/VLX variant in this run.

    In the next run we'll look at producing these wagons for you.

    The On Track Models Team
    Posted: 03 Jan 2014 01:09

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