Michael

Any chance of a photo of the bogie arrangements please.

Its an interesting setup reading what you say regarding the bogies & the way they are produced, maybe in regard to being able to produce more accurate & higher detailed bogies & perhaps cheaper is nice, but the question is at what real cost?

I am all for added on detail for models, but I wonder how far & to what extreme its taken us, especially with so much being made in the Delrin type plastics that are almost impossible to glue when broken or simply come adrift, more especially when the detail that is added cannot be seen to the average eye on a layout.

The Austrains range of 4 wheelers certainly improved detail & brought things to a new level, but with the cheap junk couplers failing & needing to be replaced it can be a job of frustration, made harder by the 2 hand brake rods that cover them, also if one wants to change a wheel the fiddly brake pull rod assembly blocks the way, & needs to be gently prized away, to allow the replacement then try to refit, more often than not it falls off, & another time consuming effort to try & get it back in place again. On several occasions I have then found the same assembly lying in between the rails, & I am blowed if I am going to go to the trouble of lifting all the wagons to see which one is missing & then go through the assembly process again, & the reason I need to individually check them is that the detail cannot be seen at eye level when stationary at any distance over an arms length, let alone when moving.

The thing then, or question really is, have we gone too far in the area of underfloor detail with this setup?

For some they may be happy but in the end there will come a time when one needs to do work on a wheel or similar & it will be a problem then, also how much of this snazzy new level of bogie springs & brake detail can be seen looking down at an angle of the model? If it cannot be seen is the detail really necessary at least to that extent?

From my perspective & I have not seen these vans, although will be getting some, I would prefer that they have sliding doors on them, that way some degree of internal detail can be more readily seen than what is under the floor. Guards seats on each side, pot belly stove in the middle of the seats, emergency equipment along the sides between the 2 doors, a wall between the long goods compartment & passenger compartment with seats along the ends, they would be preferable to me.

A6et here are some pics of the LHG



I had to buy one

A6et here are some pics of the LHG

I had to buy one

Anzac

No photo's came up in the RP post, & when I opened the reply there is a link to your flicker photo page showing, which is not shown on the RP thread & your post, a C&P could not get it to work either.

Not sure what is going on as there has been some changes to my internet browsers also the provider is having problems.

A6et, try this: http://www.flickr.com/photos/anzac1959
(Hmm, may not work, I also got a space in the preview)

If it doesn't show, just go to the flickr site, and put in /photo followed by /anzac1959

(PS: Why are a lot of people quoting whole posts - especially if they're the previous post?! It makes for unnecessary scrolling)

PS-2: Newcastle Express would like to know why Anzac1959 has taken some FO cars apart like below:[img]http://c3.staticflickr.com/3/2818/12628662833_56701989dd_n.jpg[/img]
http://www.flickr.com/photos/anzac1959/12628662833/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/anzac1959/12958392344/

Michael

Any chance of a photo of the bogie arrangements please.

Its an interesting setup reading what you say regarding the bogies & the way they are produced, maybe in regard to being able to produce more accurate & higher detailed bogies & perhaps cheaper is nice, but the question is at what real cost?

Eeek, I somehow missed this request. Photo - no (for now at least), but I'll try to describe it.

There's a basic H shape piece that could be considered the 'working bogie' as it supports the wheelset and attaches the bogie to the body. This unit is very free running and has some detail such as rivets, however the sideframes are essentially flat and designed to do their job of supporting the wheels with a minimum amount of excess plastic to get in the way of the detailing which is (in the LHG case)  multi-piece attachments - the basic bogie and detail overlay are so well designed they even allow the detailed springs to appear as if they're fully 3D (ie like the prototype the centre spring not only protrudes outside the bogie it also continues inside the bogie! The detailed axle boxes and related springs aren't bearing any weight and can be made very thin, something that is noticeable. The design also means similar bogies without attached steps (or different types of springs, or different shaped axlebox lids) can be quickly (and cheaply) created as just one simple part needs to tooled rather than a complete (expensive) bogie. I can see potential for similar bogies with VR v NSW style axleboxes/springs to be produced using this method - why tool two complete bogies when you can now tool one and just tool the 1/10 other differences as detail overlays.

Comparing the LHG bogie to the FO bogie confirms it's a whole new design & construction method, well suited to superdetailing or making small adjustments to closer match specific prototype details. The FO bogie looks good and probably takes detailing as far as that traditional construction method allows, the LHG construction method opens up a whole new world of possibilities - some of which might seem pointless & overkill, however there clearly are benefits to this design.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/anzac1959/12958078453/


Eeek, I somehow missed this request. Photo - no (for now at least), but I'll try to describe it.

If you go to my flickr web site there are 7 pics of the LHG inc the bogies

Newy the reason I pulled the FO apart was because I wanted to
1 change the colour of the roof from orange to gray
2 paint the internal roof and end platform roof to white
3 paint the luggage a brass colour
4 add paying passengers
5 paint the floor black and steps
6 weather the chassis
7 main reason was to heavly weather the Tuscan and russet scheme
all very hard to do without pulling it apart
with thanks to Matt A for the guidance

Peter & Poath

Thanks for the replies, also the link with Newcastle Expresses reply also worked & a definite help.

I certainly think that the bogies construction method does look good & different also its a sort of variation, but a very much improved one at that of the bogie that came out with the FS/BS with the electrical pick ups in it, & the internal brakeshoe hangers on the inside used to hold the contact bars in place.  Certainly if this is the new construction method for bogies in the future it will usher in another step up in detail, I just hope its a robust step forward though.

Looking at the photo's it appears the doors are fixed & part of the main mould a bit of a shame really as I mentioned before how the LHG would be a wonderful candidate for internal detailing owing to the way it was set up, especially with out of traffic to put in the area.


Peter

I was able to weather my CCA's fairly easily without pulling them to bits at least to that extent, as I was using them for a school train & mixed service, I actually painted the roof in black & used blackboard paint, dries to a very sooty looking flat finish, & then rubbed the same paint around the main body, not too worried if some of the windows got a bit on them as the short car sets used in the bush areas rarely if ever got a wash, so quite blackish with dirt & soot.

I also found that even though I had so called HO seated figures I had to provide surgery on them by making them leg less in order to fit them into the seats, I do not think they were true HO, more like OO, also meant I could only fit one person to the seat, they also needed super glue on their butts in order to keep them there, certainly was not a case of wandering passengers or lower leg cramps.

I look forward to getting a couple of packs of the LHG to further check them out.

Taken at the TOK today at lunch time.

I love the look of these W&W vans! Growing up in Narrandera there was a siding on the eastern end of town where such carriages and other assorted wagons were always present. However, they rarely seemed to be dragged out of that siding and taken anywhere.

As such, for me anyway, these would be an expensive "ornament" which would simply sit unused on a siding. I would be just as happy with a el-cheapo wagon painted similarly and with only limited detail being displayed. So, regrettably, I won't be buying any of these superb items.

Now, if John or one of the other manufacturers could just see their way clear to building a JHG to the same level of detail.....I'd be in like Flynn with my c/card details!!

Roachie

I can confirm that the doors on the LHG are fixed and cannot be opened without a scalpel. So my guards will be tucked up inside trying to keep warm in these draughty vans. As others have noted, the detail is superb. Be careful picking them up as there are handrails and other bits everywhere. I bought mine at Barnes in New Lambton.

Lloyd

A lot of discussion in the thread about the LHG/OHG

http://www.railpage.com.au/f-p1695981.htm

PL carriages order form (only for those without an aversion to pre-ordering) : http://www.austrains.com.au/orderforms/of_pl_series_passenger.pdf

A BCPL would have been nice also to match.

A BCPL would have been nice also to match.

Two of the three car sets include a BCPL.

M636C

Two of the three car sets include a BCPL.

M636C

Many thanks M636C.  My eyes have not seen the "C".  I thought it was a bit odd.  There's even a BPCL in pack 3.

I can confirm that the doors on the LHG are fixed and cannot be opened without a scalpel. So my guards will be tucked up inside trying to keep warm in these draughty vans. As others have noted, the detail is superb. Be careful picking them up as there are handrails and other bits everywhere. I bought mine at Barnes in New Lambton.

Lloyd

Received my 2 packs, 1 shared with another, so a bit of a check over revealed a very nice model indeed.  No bits floating in the boxes & nothing looked to be missing.

I would be hesitant to remove the doors as it would just mean a fixed open against a fixed closed, which is a shame for me owing to potential internal detailing, although will have a closer look when I take the body off to weather one of them, could do so for the van that will be used on the pick up service. I also have a kit part built I may look at that but think the urethane would be harder to cut than the plastic ones.

The thing that does impress me, at least without any running tests yet is the bogie construction method, one really needs to have a model in hand to see how its done, rather than a photo. I think it makes for better prospective bogies in the future with just the primary frames having to be moulded, & the inner section including brake detail a separate add in.  Clever & hopefully rugged.

Austrains site is currently undergoing maintenance / updating.

Their 442 / 700 locos hit the shelves of SA Hobby Shops on Friday (saw them at both End Of The Line and Orient Express).

Unfortunately all the AN Green and Gold 700 Class seem to have been released with a 442 buffing plate attached (not so the Maroon and Silver and Mustard Pot).

Cheers,

Austrains site is currently undergoing maintenance / updating.

Their 442 / 700 locos hit the shelves of SA Hobby Shops on Friday (saw them at both End Of The Line and Orient Express).

Unfortunately all the AN Green and Gold 700 Class seem to have been released with a 442 buffing plate attached (not so the Maroon and Silver and Mustard Pot).

Cheers,

Update complete

Hi,

Just looking over the Austrains website, in particular the LFX, HCX and ACX page. I am not sure if I am missing something or perhaps going crazy but the first paragraph says the coaches are to be released as a three pack but then in the table just above the order form it states and shows only two coaches per pack.

Linton

Hi,

Just looking over the Austrains website, in particular the LFX, HCX and ACX page. I am not sure if I am missing something or perhaps going crazy but the first paragraph says the coaches are to be released as a three pack but then in the table just above the order form it states and shows only two coaches per pack.

Linton

Linton

Had noticed that myself, interestingly though the price increase to the $115.00 per car is $5.00 over older runs, but the packs including the ACX are up to $245.00 meaning the ACX is priced at $130.00, I sincerely hope at those prices they come with interior detail & hopefully lighting as well.

I cannot find any information on that in the news, unless I missed it. Without the detail it does add to the costs much more than with them as that's how its been up till now, the KP & LHG's excepted.

Hi,

Just looking over the Austrains website, in particular the LFX, HCX and ACX page. I am not sure if I am missing something or perhaps going crazy but the first paragraph says the coaches are to be released as a three pack but then in the table just above the order form it states and shows only two coaches per pack.

Linton

"The Dog Boxes will be sold as three packs in both Tuscan & Russet and Indian Red liveries.". This means there will be six packs in total. The order form confirms there are 6 packs to be offered (3 packs T&R, 3 packs red), with each pack containing 2 models.

anzac1959 shows pictures of a disassembled FO. I want to take the roofs off mine  & aren't sure how. He thanks Matt A  for guidance but I can't find any reference to disassembling them. Can anzac or someone help?

anzac1959 shows pictures of a disassembled FO. I want to take the roofs off mine & aren't sure how. He thanks Matt A for guidance but I can't find any reference to disassembling them. Can anzac or someone help?

Hi Railway D to remove the roof from the FO first you need to remove the chassis from the body , just spread the sides of the FO and the chassis falls away . Then its just a matter of removing the screws that hold the roof onto the body . All up 20secs .Good luck Guidance was for the weathering!

"The Dog Boxes will be sold as three packs in both Tuscan & Russet and Indian Red liveries.". This means there will be six packs in total. The order form confirms there are 6 packs to be offered (3 packs T&R, 3 packs red), with each pack containing 2 models.

Ahh yes, three pack times two colour schemes, two coaches in each pack.

Linton

anzac 1959
Thanks for the help with disassembling the FO. The idea in my case is to repaint the roofs a different shade of navy dressing, I can't abide what's on there now.
Not sure what paints I'll use yet.

Spoke to one of the guys at the Austrain's stand at the Canberra show today, apparently the G's are done and ready for shipping, but have been held up by a worker strike at the factory in China.

Here's a photo, for those that haven't seen them:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/113043324@N05/13479232665/in/set-72157643091662624

Spoke to one of the guys at the Austrain's stand at the Canberra show today, apparently the G's are done and ready for shipping, but have been held up by a worker strike at the factory in China.

Here's a photo, for those that haven't seen them:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/113043324@N05/13479232665/in/set-72157643091662624

Nice photo mate. Been waiting for one like that for a while now.

I do note the undate to their site, and with the G class it refers to reduced running numbers etc, and that the order page has reflected this change.
Upon checking said order page, i see the original numbers i wanted are still listed there. If i end up getting what i originally ordered - sweet. If not, just what they end up releasing i suppose.

Its been a while.

Regards