Hi all,
I'm experimenting with 3D printing for modelling, wondering if anyone recommend a suitable (and available) motorised chassis for a VR K Class body?  I don't mind if I have to buy a whole loco to donate its chassis.  

Thanks,
Trevor.

Hi all,
I'm experimenting with 3D printing for modelling, wondering if anyone recommend a suitable (and available) motorised chassis for a VR K Class body?  I don't mind if I have to buy a whole loco to donate its chassis.  

Thanks,
Trevor.

Eureka K class when it arrives.  Broad Gauge Models have a K class kit from time to time, they might be able to do a chassis only version.l

Mark

Hi all,
I'm experimenting with 3D printing for modelling, wondering if anyone recommend a suitable (and available) motorised chassis for a VR K Class body?  I don't mind if I have to buy a whole loco to donate its chassis.  

Thanks,
Trevor.

Eureka K class when it arrives.  Broad Gauge Models have a K class kit from time to time, they might be able to do a chassis only version.l

Mark

Hi Mark,
Thanks.  I have tried contacting Eureka numerous times via email and phone but no luck on any attempt.  Given that their website seems to be years out of date, I assumed that they were no longer doing business, or at least the K Class loco was not proceeding.  If Eureka do produce a K Class, I would rather purchase a couple ready to run from them.  I'll also see what BGM have available.

Thanks again for your help.

Cheers,
Trevor.

If you read the Eureka Blog there have been two updates so far this month.

Hardly gone out of business.

Also if you read the update in March there is mention of recovery of a large amount of "lost" tooling.
One of the many items was the victorian K class.

Possibly the lack of response could be the aim to get on with production rather than toying with somebody who wants to experiment with an existing project of theirs.

If you do not receive replies to emails have you ever considered sending a registered letter requiring a signature. ????

If you read the Eureka Blog there have been two updates so far this month.

Hardly gone out of business.

Also if you read the update in March there is mention of recovery of a large amount of "lost" tooling.
One of the many items was the victorian K class.

Possibly the lack of response could be the aim to get on with production rather than toying with somebody who wants to experiment with an existing project of theirs.

If you do not receive replies to emails have you ever considered sending a registered letter requiring a signature. ????

Hi Captain Choo Choo,

OK - I was referring to the K Class page - "ETA Late 2015", and "Update 2 October 2014", this to me does not seem current, hence my attempted enquiries to Eureka to ascertain if this project would be proceeding.

As I mentioned above, my aim to experiment was due to not being able to find a readily available K Class model at a suitable price, and this only after numerous attempts to contact Eureka with purchase enquiries for their K Class, as theirs would suit my needs perfectly.

Thank you for the information regarding the lost tooling - I look forward to the K Class project moving ahead and seeing a few of the locomotives on my layout.  I'd rather concentrate on 3D modelling and printing buildings rather than locomotives.

Cheers,
Trevor.

There is a small snippet of an update on the Eureka K class in the News section of the October 2018 issue of AMRM. Mid 2019 delivery......is the current forecast

Regards,

Catchpoint

If you do not receive replies to emails have you ever considered sending a registered letter requiring a signature. ????

Sending a registered letter does nothing more than provide the sender with "proof of delivery", that Australia Post have undertaken their part of the contractual arrangement which the sender has paid for.

It's not a subpoena, its still up to the receiver to open said letter and action its contents...

People in the past here have mentioned here on Railpage that they have done the same to other AUStralian model TRAINS importers to little or no avail.

Regards,

Catchpoint

If you do not receive replies to emails have you ever considered sending a registered letter requiring a signature. ????

Sending a registered letter does nothing more than provide the sender with "proof of delivery", that Australia Post have undertaken their part of the contractual arrangement which the sender has paid for.

It's not a subpoena, its still up to the receiver to open said letter and action its contents...

People in the past here have mentioned here on Railpage that they have done the same to other AUStralian model TRAINS importers to little or no avail.

Regards,

Catchpoint

Indeed.  But with the knowledge now that the K Class tooling has been recovered, there is hope on the horizon.  My layout is a way off being anywhere near completed, so I can be patient.  My 2 T Class diesels can handle any traffic to Cudgewa in the meantime!

Cheers,
Trevor.

Drilling back to the subject, and not Eureka Models.

Generally the concept of using a doner mechanism.

YOu would need a mech with the right wheel diameter, close to the spacing.   Even if it was a 10 wheel mech you can cut that.  Clyinders I assume you will have a casting, and the valvegear is always the issue too.

Themech may need reworking as the motor may just not fit a K class for instance. And the  leading pony truck will need surcing, it might be off another loco entirely. I doubt you will find a 2-8-0 as a doner to do a exact fit.

Specs though to find amech is the real reserch project !  Not sure where to start except for reviews oflocos, seeing and measureing locos you  physically see.

Someone  "might" know but you will have to do the same checking to make it ok for you.


Regards,
David Head

Drilling back to the subject, and not Eureka Models.

Generally the concept of using a doner mechanism.

YOu would need a mech with the right wheel diameter, close to the spacing.   Even if it was a 10 wheel mech you can cut that.  Clyinders I assume you will have a casting, and the valvegear is always the issue too.

Themech may need reworking as the motor may just not fit a K class for instance. And the  leading pony truck will need surcing, it might be off another loco entirely. I doubt you will find a 2-8-0 as a doner to do a exact fit.

Specs though to find amech is the real reserch project !  Not sure where to start except for reviews oflocos, seeing and measureing locos you  physically see.

Someone  "might" know but you will have to do the same checking to make it ok for you.


Regards,
David Head

Thanks David. I have considered the points you mentioned, and yes finding a mech has been challenging.  There are many that "almost" do the job, it is mainly a compromise of how much modification is necessary.  Hence my request here to teh experts who may have been able to assist.

But, having been made aware of the Eureka K Class tooling being recovered, I'm prepared to wait another year or two for a ready-to-run version.  I have plenty of buildings and structures on my 3D design and print list to keep me busy, not to mention a pile of kits to assemble...

Cheers,
Trevor.

Be advised though that you might find a suitable mech but as soon as you want one it is or could be discontinued. That is one problem with RTR locos they are now made in batches and once all are sold may not be rerun for a very long time all manufacturers these days do this some worse than others. So If for instance I bought a SAR 520 class steam loco body then I have to find a mech that will fit it or can be altered to fit it and as some SAR modellers find they buy a body kit made to fit a certain chassis from another manufacturer only to have that manufacturer discontinue the locomotive completely. So you then have to find an alternative. Not so bad if you are just doing one, but if more than one and they are all for you then you want to have them all the same if possible.

Hi all,
I'm happy to report that I have heard back from Eureka models and their K Class project is very much back in action - I have placed an order for 4 locomotives.  Thanks for the help and information above.

Cheers,
Trevor.

Hi all,
I'm happy to report that I have heard back from Eureka models and their K Class project is very much back in action - I have placed an order for 4 locomotives.  Thanks for the help and information above.

Cheers,
Trevor.

I heard that the K class tooling was among those items saved by Phoenix Reproductions when Eureka were unable to pay for them.

I'm told that Phoenix don't intend to produce the K class so I suppose Eureka can.

Hi all,
I'm happy to report that I have heard back from Eureka models and their K Class project is very much back in action - I have placed an order for 4 locomotives.  Thanks for the help and information above.

Cheers,
Trevor.

I heard that the K class tooling was among those items saved by Phoenix Reproductions when Eureka were unable to pay for them.

I'm told that Phoenix don't intend to produce the K class so I suppose Eureka can.

From SDS Facebook:

Recently Austrains Pty Ltd and SDS Models formed a dedicated partnership to facilitate the retrieval of Eureka Models long lost tooling. The trials and tribulations faced by Eureka Models over the past few years with this tooling has been covered in great depth across numerous posts on their blog: http://eurekamodels.blogspot.com.au/

In addition to securing the return of the tooling, Austrains and SDS Models will help expedite delivery of several outstanding projects.

Our high priority has been to commence die trial, of the tooling, to prove the completeness and the production readiness of various projects.

Nothing about Phoenix owning the tooling.

Hi all,
I'm happy to report that I have heard back from Eureka models and their K Class project is very much back in action - I have placed an order for 4 locomotives.  Thanks for the help and information above.

Cheers,
Trevor.

It's a brave person who pays in advance for anything from Eureka. That's a lesson many learnt at least ten years ago.

Yep, so I've heard. Warning well taken thanks.

Hi all,
I'm happy to report that I have heard back from Eureka models and their K Class project is very much back in action - I have placed an order for 4 locomotives.  Thanks for the help and information above.

Cheers,
Trevor.

It's a brave person who pays in advance for anything from Eureka. That's a lesson many learnt at least ten years ago.

Maybe more foolish than brave.  Count me in here!  Wish me luck (good hopefully).

Happy anticipating,

John

Nothing about Phoenix owning the tooling.



I didn't say Phoenix owned the tooling.
I said they paid for it...
Phoenix provided cash to save the tooling.

Peter

Hi all,
I'm happy to report that I have heard back from Eureka models and their K Class project is very much back in action - I have placed an order for 4 locomotives.  Thanks for the help and information above.

Cheers,
Trevor.

It's a brave person who pays in advance for anything from Eureka. That's a lesson many learnt at least ten years ago.

Maybe more foolish than brave.  Count me in here!  Wish me luck (good hopefully).

Happy anticipating,

John

The old saying about Hindsight being great as far as wisdom goes is well applied here. Same as for those who paid up front for the now Wombat 30T at prices around the $500.00 mark, only to see them released at $360.00 and those paying up front have to fork out another $100.00 to get a model, meaning they end up with a $600.00 version and in some cases more. Not sure how many have taken up the offer either.  
Imagine most would be wondering why having paid money out for a model that tooling had been completed with the new owners of the tooling not having to pay for that only production costs? and seeing the model come out at a Retail price of around $150.00 less than they paid out.

Pre ordering models is only worth it if a reasonable deposit is paid, and the remainder due when the product is on its way to Australia and arrives with the hope the ship doesn't sink on the way.