Members who are awaiting the arrival of the L&B 2-6-2T ( and its been a long 4+ years!) may be interested to know that I have just received an eMail from Heljan.dk advising me that the loco will be arriving on our shores Late March Early April.
I am currently in the process of building a L&B 'based' layout in a garden shed, got most of the rolling stock, just need the locos so I can return the Roco H0e locos to their rightful layout!!
The news from Peco at the weekend was that the consignment had been packed into a container about a month ago and that it was on its way to the UK.
The example on display at Shepton Mallet on the Peco stand was one of the first locos off the full production line, it even came in the full production box with instructions etc.
I have to say that in my own and the opinion of many others it is as near to perfect as any model of this loco could be in our chosen scale.
I doubt that even the best modellers could produce an equal or better example from a kit or scratch built.
It is easily the same if not better quality than the Bemo H0e products, but at a quarter of the price!
We were told that the final delay in shipping the locos was caused by assembly problems in the factory not any design issues.
I am very glad to say that demand has exceeded all expectations and the first production run is somewhat oversubscribed by retailers. As a result it is thought, but in no way official, that they are going to be rationed out between the retailers. Although this may not be the case if this happens it is possible that sadly some with pre-orders may be disappointed, but this is just conjecture. However a second batch is already planned.
Brian Meldon
Re the supply situation, I have spoken to a few retailers with Locos on order who advise me that their presell orders do leave quite a lot of 'unspoken for locos'
I also believe that the production locos which were not ordered by Heljan retail customers will be wholesaled by PECO thus the non Heljan Account customers will be able to obtain stock should they wish.
_________________________________________________________________
What chance 'LYN' I wonder, in reality probably very little, but as LYN was a production loco from Baldwin in the USA and therefore it would have been sold elsewhere there is the small possibility that NON L&B followers may be interested
It should be considered that Bachmann produced their G Scale example as LYN but also made it available in Black livery, which apparently outsold Lyn in the USA.
Bachmann USA and Bachmann UK (or Europe) have no links they operate as separate companies. Thomas locos apart it is doubtful that Bachmann USA would be interested in a 009 product as their market in the US is for H0 scale.
The Bachmann UK 009 WD Baldwin 4-6-0 has now been given a December 2018 delivery date and I do wonder if we will ever see it, so the chances of another 009 loco from them this decade is highly unlikely.
Heljan will produce all the L&B variations in names and liveries using the cab design they already have before producing the alternative cab versions (i.e. Lew and possibly even Lyd?)It is unlikely that we will get a freelance livery as the original L&B livery has no identifying marks so will do that job quite well anyway.
Only then will they consider another 009 loco, so again unlikely this decade!
Brian Meldon
Having been in this hobby for around 60 years I am aware that Bachmann US & EU are separate divisions of Kader industries!
The Baldwin 4-6-0 delivery date has been amended to DEC 2017 ( Unless of course it has been re amended to 2018!!) and apparently work on it is progressing. It has been signed off to proceed to the tooling stage .
Incidentally the Bachmann 009 rolling stock is listed as SEPT/OCT delivery
The point I was making re LYN is that it was not a ONE OFF as many think and that other modellers could perhaps be interested in other liveries for their freelance layouts.
My understanding is that Heljan DO have another 009 loco in development as well as Lew/Lyd. But they are very tight-lipped about its identity.
Quote from: rod335 on February 21, 2017, 15:10
My understanding is that Heljan DO have another 009 loco in development as well as Lew/Lyd. But they are very tight-lipped about its identity.
Interesting Remember the Cancelled ROCO project for the Ffestiniog Double Fairlie, I wonder how far that was actually progressed?
Hint Hint say no more, know what I mean!!
Or perhaps not!
Quote from: Steve Lewis on February 21, 2017, 14:10
Having been in this hobby for around 60 years I am aware that Bachmann US & EU are separate divisions of Kader industries!
No insult intended Steve!
Quote from: Steve Lewis on February 21, 2017, 14:10
The Baldwin 4-6-0 delivery date has been amended to DEC 2017 ( Unless of course it has been re amended to 2018!!) and apparently work on it is progressing. It has been signed off to proceed to the tooling stage .
Perhaps someone should tell Parkside Dundas as they are still listing a Dec 2018 date for the 4-6-0's:
http://www.parksidedundas.co.uk/acatalog/copy_of_Steam_Locomotives.html
Also for some reason there are double spaces between almost all the words in all your posts Steve!
(But you may know that as well and it could be deliberate for some reason??)
Brian Meldon
Quote from: rod335 on February 21, 2017, 15:10
My understanding is that Heljan DO have another 009 loco in development as well as Lew/Lyd. But they are very tight-lipped about its identity.
I am sure there are others that know what loco has been measured and photographed by Heljan.
But if the timescale for the L&B loco is anything to go by then it is over three years away from production. So not in this decade!
Brian Meldon
Not sure why the double spaces occur!
It does not occur on anything else I am using today ( work wise! and 009 track layin' and pulling up garden line between the Welsh Rain!)
But I will check it later**
The Baldwin 2018 date occurred round about the time of the Bachmann Presentation in Jan but it was apparently a misprint, but it did result in much wringing of hands & Gnashing of teeth on some forums!
**I think I may have sorted the double spacing Already!!
Quote from: Steve Lewis on February 21, 2017, 14:10
Having been in this hobby for around 60 years I am aware that Bachmann US & EU are separate divisions of Kader industries
I didn't know, and I am sure a lot if others didn't know either. Thanks for the info Brian.
Kader industries don't just make Model railways! They have extensive manufacturing facilities apparently for making all sortd of consumer goods items, worth a look at their website(s)
sorry to digress off topic!
I sent an eMail to Heljan DK today to request info regarding availability of the Manning Wardle Loco
They replied advising that an Official announcement is to be made late next week regarding deliveries, and that currently they ( Heljan Staff) are in China and checking production which they stated as being very good.
So we will know more next week I guess.
I had a message today that Hattons are increasing the MW Heljan loco to
Yes Hattons only have 2 variants on presell now the third being fully subscribed , so now Hattons are seeking to maximise their profitability by increasing the price to the RRP.
Derails Models (they have a website) are still listing their
Derails Models pre sell all spoken for now
Some other outlets are getting close to closing their pre sells
NEW DELIVERY DATES!!
First Batch MID to END MAY followed by a 2nd delivery END JUNE Heljan have said they are producing a further batch to be delivered end August but the price will show an increase on this batch.
Quote from: Steve Lewis on February 21, 2017, 09:18
Members who are awaiting the arrival of the L&B 2-6-2T ( and its been a long 4+ years!) may be interested to know that I have just received an eMail from Heljan.dk advising me that the loco will be arriving on our shores Late March Early April.
I am currently in the process of building a L&B 'based' layout in a garden shed, got most of the rolling stock, just need the locos so I can return the Roco H0e locos to their rightful layout!!
Delivery must be by return working of that first goods train that is taking seventeen days to reach china.
I read on the 'net' that the delivery date has been put back ( yet again), to mid -late may.
What's that song? So tired, tired of waiting, tired of waiting for yoo-oo!
As A result of an email from Heljan.dk I reprted on APRIL 5th the revised 'provisional' delivery dates of MAY (MID) and June for the first batch and a further delivery of a second batch different versions (see RM Advert May 17 full page Heljan) at the year end apparently, the 2nd batch will have 4 variants as noted in the Railway Modeller May advert and also showing on Hattons web site
The first batch is completely sold out out and many UK retailers have pre sold their stock, so the loco will be probably hard to actually purchase if not pre ordered.
The 2nd batch will be at a higher price ( understandable) as it has been over 4 years since initial RRP of 189.99 was set and many things have changed/changing in the financial world.
in the meantime we will just have to make sure the axle boxes on our Peco L&B rolling stock is well lubricated in readiness for the actual arrival of the 2-6-2T ( And I can sell off my MINITRAINS 2-6-2 & 0-8-0 locos!!)
Latest delivery info I received from Heljan today:
Part of the first production run should arrive LATE May/ Early June followed by the remainder in June or July
Hope this info is useful
A little more time to save up perhaps!! :)
Heljan advise me the first 420 locos are on their way as of today to UK retailers, but this is only a proportion of the production run so apparently not all orders will be fully fulfilled, more stock will be sent in July & August.
( My retailer advised me that as far as he is aware TAW is not in the first 420)
Invicta appear to have dropped the loco from their webpage, i have just ordered the 9950 version from hattons ( the chip arrived yesterday !?) expected delivery date is now estimated as late June-mid July.
As of today the locos have started arriving in the retailers, my 2 initial ones should arrive in the post early next week ( TAW is not yet delivered to Heljan that will be apparently July)
There is a post on rmweb forum in the Heljan section (L&B Loco) posted this morning of a loco getting its initial test on a layout.
The problem will be that most of the retailers have pre sold all their allocation.
I am aware of a retailer that 'may' have a couple spare PM me for info.
2 of my L&B Locos arrived today, to save retyping my personal initial review can I refer members to www.rmweb.co.uk forum Heljan section.
My findings so far are not quite living up to expectations yet!
And now even less enthusiastic about .... them valve gear problem, its come apart on 1 side!... more to follow!
Quote from: Steve Lewis on June 13, 2017, 15:03
2 of my L&B Locos arrived today, to save retyping my personal initial review can I refer members to www.rmweb.co.uk forum Heljan section.
My findings so far are not quite living up to expectations yet!
Received Exe yesterday, test running today on simple oval (Peco Setrack). Runs perfectly when turning left (in forward direction) but will not turn right in forward direction (or left in reverse). Issue seems to be with the pony truck (as you have mentioned on the RMweb forum). With pony truck derailed loco runs perfectly well :-)
Disappointing.
On Narrow Gauge Railway Modelling forum today a member has reported valve gear problems and a nameplate fell off!
Its not good news at all , I probably will not get my loco replaced for several weeks now and if the problems mount up it is likely that Heljan will not release further stock until the problem(s) are sorted out.
Re the pony trucks,, I do believe that the strange power collection method ( Brass strips springing down on to the tops of the wheels)
is causing the pony trucks be unable to swing freely to follow the track curves thus causing derailment, when the loco reaches a point it shorts out or jams up completely on the frog or check rail
I removed the ponies and ran the loco as an 0-6-0 and all was well no problems with power collection, the driving wheel base is around 4mm longer than a Minitrains 0-8-0 and whereas the 0-8-0 weighs 74gm the L&B weighs 139gm, removing the brass pickup pieces may be on option?
Also be aware the Valve gear covers seem to be just a push on fit they tend to fall off!
Quote from: Steve Lewis on June 15, 2017, 14:00
I removed the ponies and ran the loco as an 0-6-0 and all was well no problems with power collection, the driving wheel base is around 4mm longer than a Minitrains 0-8-0 and whereas the 0-8-0 weighs 74gm the L&B weighs 139gm, removing the brass pickup pieces may be on option?
On mine one of the pickups on the rear is not flat to the base of the loco like the other one, I suspect the springiness of this individual pickup is at least contributing to the problem (it coincides with the turn direction). Maybe removing these pickups altogether is the answer, but disappointed that the quality is poor necessitating this.
I received my Yeo today, and so far I am very disappointed after such a long wait. I have been building a layout for it, using Peco 009 track. The loco shorts and derails on the pointwork. The couplings will not connect to Peco coaches or wagons. I also have many loading gauge problems - the cylinders foul the platform edges I had carefully installed using PEco coaches to get the clearances right. Part of the problem with points may be the cylinders fouling the little pips on the tie bar of Peco points. I had understood that Heljan and Peco had been liaising on the development of these models to ensure compatibility. If so, the collaboration seems not to have worked.
There have been several posts made by purchasers of this loco on other websites also reporting problems ( Rmweb & Narrow Gauge Railway Modelling) it is all very disappointing considering that many of us have invested our time & money during the almost 4.5 years since the loco was first announced purchasing Peco rolling stock in good faith expecting to eventually get motive power that performs well.
I have just been reminding myself of the rave review of these locos in the April 2017 Railway Modeller. They extol the consistency with Peco 009 track and points, and say that the couplings are consistent with the Peco rolling stock - the couplings, they say "ensure a perfect match". I can only assume that the reviewer simply looked at the model in the box and did not actually run it on a real layout or attempt to couple it to Peco rolling stock.
My Yeo is a superb static display item in a siding on my layout, but useless to run and haul trains. One would urge the model railway press to be a bit more thorough and penetrating in their reviews, rather than simply providing uncritical advertising for manufacturers of poorly designed products.
Quote from: Ian James on June 16, 2017, 15:28
I have just been reminding myself of the rave review of these locos in the April 2017 Railway Modeller. They extol the consistency with Peco 009 track and points, and say that the couplings are consistent with the Peco rolling stock - the couplings, they say "ensure a perfect match". I can only assume that the reviewer simply looked at the model in the box and did not actually run it on a real layout or attempt to couple it to Peco rolling stock.
My Yeo is a superb static display item in a siding on my layout, but useless to run and haul trains. One would urge the model railway press to be a bit more thorough and penetrating in their reviews, rather than simply providing uncritical advertising for manufacturers of poorly designed products.
Hi Ian do you look at rmweb forum there is quite a bit on there re the Heljan problems (in the Heljan section) may be worth a look and posting your comments as I am aware that some manfrs do look/
I couldnt agree with you more Ian. If a model is submitted for public criticism then that is what it should get.
Heaping praise upon something that simply doesnt deserve it doesnt do anybody any favours.
I often think of that when I see a members model/layout/latest concoction so often being lauded within these very pages as 'magnificent' 'so lifelike' 'great modelling' etc when really it deserves a 'good effort, but ......' at most.
My own modelling skills are nowhere near good enough for public viewing and I am in awe of many contributors on here, even if I dont care for their chosen subject matter, but to ignore the many mistakes made by beginners that seem obvious to us is not doing them any favours either.
Please - can we steer folks in the right direction instead of just letting them carry on making their own mistakes until they get fed up and give up.
It will be interesting to see what if any reviews or follow up comments appear in which magazines now that the locos are becoming available, I bet there is a stony silence from PECO /RM!
For information I have just returned my 2 to the retailer!
For further info, on the Manning Wardle saga
I had info from a purchaser ( who makes some interesting L&B related items, wagon loads, bridges, small buildings etc and sells them on ebay) whose Loco failed with broken valve gear after under 1 hours running time and also a friend of his who had also bought a loco had the same failure almost immediately it wwas first run.
my supplying retailer told me yesterday that of the 8 he has had delivered to date, my 2 have failed and another 1 has reported valve gear problems and 2 have yet to be collected.
I would advise that if anyone has one they have not yet tested, they do so as soon as possible as I can see there being a bit of a waiting list for replacements.
Ah - could all this be the reason for the stony silence in the modelling press? - only statement in this month's Railway Modeller (page 716) is a short announcement that the models have arrived with retailers in early june.
Not even a sniff of a review mentioned as forthcoming in next month's issue.
I'm seriously considering cancelling my not-yet-arrived pre order.
Can anyone tell me if the recommended bachmann dcc chip will fit roco's bo-bo electric ?
Just returned mine.
Link pin on the left hand side, just behind the cylinder, was never fitted into it's socket on the chassis.
Definate lack of quality control at the factory.
Yes it is all very sad!
My understanding is that Heljan intend to use a different manufacturer for future batches.
Exactly how this will work out regarding moulding dies etc. I have no idea, but I guess that Heljan own them??
Brian Meldon
I have just received a reply from Heljan UK regarding my complaint about poor quality. They say that they have cancelled the contract with the previous company and have a new supply for the next batch and assure me that the quality will be much improved. In good faith, i have placed my pre-order today.
Quote from: Pete Williams on October 09, 2017, 12:06
I have just received a reply from Heljan UK regarding my complaint about poor quality. They say that they have cancelled the contract with the previous company and have a new supply for the next batch and assure me that the quality will be much improved. In good faith, i have placed my pre-order today.
Did they give you any dates for the next batch?
Brian Meldon
I was just about to cancel. Hm, now, what to do?
Let someone else try them first... ;)
"Let someone else try them first... Wink"
Ha! Very wise!
Meanwhile, can anybody tell me (sorry if this hasn't been covered before) how the 2-6-2T ended up doing on 9" radius curves?
Latest delivery date feb-march 2018 (suposedly )
Bachmans due may.
Are these able to run on 9" curves?
I've read many contradicting views on this. Some say it makes it if driven carefully, some say it doesn't make it.
I would like to get one, but my layout is tight as it is.
From my personal experience; sometimes!
I set up an oval of Peco set track to use for running in, testing etc. The loco ran through it OK. A bit "squeaky" on one curve. I decided to put a couple of set track points in initially to see how the dead frog affected running. The 2-6-2 does not like them and de rails most of the time. I tried slackening off the "end" wheels which made it slightly better (Someone may have posted on this?) but it still does not like the points, de railing about 30% of the time. It is now also stopping on one section of the curved track and I can't see why. I haven't pinned the track yet as I'm thinking of making the test track a small scenic layout so it may be that it was slightly uneven. Although the weight of the 2-6-2 compared to the Minitrains Bagnall pushes the track quite heavily down on the base (Cork laid on flat ply)
Sorry if a "sometimes" answer isn't much help, but that's my experience. The Minitrains Bagnall,and other Minitrains locos however go throught the curves and the pointwork at impressively slow speeds without problem.
I have perhaps a different perspective on the Heljan lynton and Barnstaple as,
on finding the running somewhat haphazard, I dismantled and fitted RC (it's a bad habit I have) in one of the two locos I have. Not an easy task...
This gave me the opportunity to see how the loco ran without relying on rail pick up.
Firstly the valve gear has a peculiar habit of jamming, just a small amount but needed adjusting. The motor itself sits poorly and tends to run free from the gearing if the screws beneath are not tightened correctly. I suspect stripped gears could result.
The main cause (only cause in my case) of derailment is from the front and rear bogies. (please excuse any errors in English as after 30 years in France I get rusty) ...
The solution for me as I no longer rely on electrical pickup was to modify the pressure on the front and rear axles so that they are free to curve round the tighter points. It works.
But it should work out of the box and it's truly a shame that it, and apparently many others, didn't.
Regards
James
Having now had a look at the locos with others we think the main problem with the bogies is that the axles are a lose fit in the bogie frame.
This can and does result in the wheels sitting at the wrong angle to the rails and can result in derailments at points.
What they need to do is to make the axles fit in the bogies with minimal movement (including side to side movement) with any movement required (left, right, up and down etc.) taking place in the bogie pivot only, thus keeping the wheels at the correct angle to the rails.
The contacts that press down on the bogie wheels are unnecessary in my opinion and should be removed leaving just six wheel pickup. However this will require the plastic bogie frames to be heavier and replaced with cast metal ones so that the weight of the bogie frame will be enough to keep the wheel on the track.
But this is just my assessment, so others may think differently.
I have not had a look at the valve gear or the motor.
Brian Meldon
Quote from: Paulc on February 20, 2018, 17:33
From my personal experience; sometimes!
I set up an oval of Peco set track to use for running in, testing etc. The loco ran through it OK. A bit "squeaky" on one curve. I decided to put a couple of set track points in initially to see how the dead frog affected running. The 2-6-2 does not like them and de rails most of the time. I tried slackening off the "end" wheels which made it slightly better (Someone may have posted on this?) but it still does not like the points, de railing about 30% of the time. It is now also stopping on one section of the curved track and I can't see why. I haven't pinned the track yet as I'm thinking of making the test track a small scenic layout so it may be that it was slightly uneven. Although the weight of the 2-6-2 compared to the Minitrains Bagnall pushes the track quite heavily down on the base (Cork laid on flat ply)
Sorry if a "sometimes" answer isn't much help, but that's my experience. The Minitrains Bagnall,and other Minitrains locos however go throught the curves and the pointwork at impressively slow speeds without problem.
That is a shame. They look so nice. I have limited space and already bought PECO setrack. Had I known, I'd might of went the ROCO way with my track.
This is so discouraging. I am still in the queue for my example from Hatton's. Didn't we once understand that the second batch was being made by a different Chinese company and / with much better quality assurance? (I don't know when or where I read this.) But a lot of what I'm reading now sounds like design problems rather than build quality.
I have a Fourdees Bagnall being chipped for DCC and I am so so close to cancelling my Heljan 2-6-2. Anything I run will be pretending to have shown up in India so it doesn't have to be authentically this or that....
Thoughts on a postcard.
I'm sure they did say they were using a different factory and that the "issues" would be sorted. I would wait and see, if they turn out to be rubbish you'll get your money back just as those who have had problems have this time, so you can't lose either way. Just be patient and wait...
I was chatting to someone at the 2017 Welshpool gala who had 2 of the L&B 2-6-2s running around an oval of Peco 009 set track over the weekend with no obvious problems. I recall that he suggested that Heljan had also had quality issues with their Chinese-built OO stuff - things not being located properly and the like - that seem to be similar to issues with the 009 locos.
I also have a feeling that he had bought his via Peco, and specking to someone at Peco prior to the release of the L&B locos he told me that every one they were selling on was going to be unboxed, track tested and repacked before sending off to the final customer. This seemed a little extreme at the time but in hindsight perhaps not such a bad idea after all, and I wonder what their 'return rate' was and if there was a particular variant that had more issues than others...
I don't think that the second batch from the new factory have arrived on the scene yet as I imagine it will take Heljan a bit of time to move the tooling to the new site and train staff to do the work (properly this time!).
@Tom perhaps a better bet would be the Bachmann 4-6-0 WD Baldwin as several of these went to India, admittedly for use in industry afaik but you could get away with them on a common carrier.
From what I have been told the next batch will have all new tooling!!
Heljan have the drawings and software details etc. to produce new tooling but the original tooling will remain with the original manufacture in China!
Obviously if this is correct, and I have no reason to doubt it, this will not be cheap for Heljan and it will not be a quick process either.
It has been mentioned that the cost of the new tooling may be offset by the number of the first batch locos returned to the manufacture. But this is pure conjecture.
Not everyone has had problems with these locos so as a comparison and to be fair to the product if you have one and have been using it without any problems please do post on this topic and let us all know.
Brian Meldon
Hi guys. This is my first post, having been a member for a few months I finally got round to registering.
My wife was kind enough to buy one of these for me towards the end of last year. It ran nicely. But the couplings were mounted at such an angle that it wouldn't couple to any rolling stock. In view of the noise they'd made along the lines of "in conjunction with Peco" I found this astounding as said stock was Peco RTR stuff. So, phone call to retailer, not happy with response of "you'll have to talk to Heljan", "sorry pal, you're the retailer". I was also told that I wasn't the first to report this problem.
Straight back in post for refund as "not fit for purpose".
How can a major manufacturer justify sending items out that are simply not up to standard?
My feeling is that the problem is that with Heljan being based somewhere in Europe (can't recall where) and the locos being produced in China whoever is responsible for quality control at Heljan can't just "pop down to the shop floor and do a spot check", as doing so involves getting on a plane and (probably) involves getting a visa to get into the country so I suspect that the factory know that the QC guy is on his way so that they can get things in order and do things properly when he arrives rather than continuing with the slap dash way they were doing it to maximise their own profits. One of the issues raised with the Heljan locos has been that it appears that the incorrect adhesives have been used - a cheaper superglue than a 'loctite' retaining compound for example.
To be fair to Heljan they didn't realise there was a problem until customers started returning them to the retailers who then returned them to Heljan. Once they realised there were problems they must have looked into the issues and on investigation have decided to stop production, and have announced a redesign the chassis - presumably to make the assembly easier (or less prone to being cocked up!).
It does seem a bit odd though that some retailers still seem to be selling them when you'd have thought that Heljan would have recalled the defective locos - though I wonder how many of those currently on sale are being sold (on eBay?) by people trying to cash in on their 'rarity value' as you can't get them in the shops anymore...
I can only relate my experience, regarding the short time that i owned one, before it was returned to the retailer for a refund.
I repeat:-
It ran purfectly during testing, it was only when i examined the valve gear, using a magmifying glass that i saw that the valve gear had never been assembled correctly, one of the triangular headed motion pins had never been inserted into it's mounting in the chassis, and was wedged in place behind the cylinder.
On further examination,
I also found thet the threads on the bolts that the pony trucks pivoted on, were either stripped by overtightening during assembley or tapped oversize With the possiblity of the bolt falling out.
I did email Heljan UK and receved assurances by return that the contract with the then chinese manufacturer had been ended and a new manufacturer employed. On the re-assurance that quality control will be improved, i have ordered a 9955 , Rails of Sheffield say that they expect deliveries towards the end of the month.
Have some of these been released already, i see they're available for pre order, is this another delayed project or have they already released some that have sold out and are now awaiting another batch?
Interested as i have pre ordered some from my local shop who seems to think there is a delay until next year from what Heljan told him but hattons have a release date of may 2018.
Anyone know anything more?
Sorry to make it a little more obvious i am talking about ones with the southern livery
I know that there was a first batch, as I thought the same thing seeing a few on Youtube and eBay. The first batch had issues with the valve gear coming apart. They switched manufacturers and they recently updated the release to be May 2018 (it was March).
Quote from: M.Melton on March 13, 2018, 13:17
I know that there was a first batch, as I thought the same thing seeing a few on Youtube and eBay. The first batch had issues with the valve gear coming apart. They switched manufacturers and they recently updated the release to be May 2018 (it was March).
The second batch have not been made yet.
All the examples you see for sale now are from the first batch.
Brian Meldon
I see on the hattons website that they have pre orders due for release in may? are these batch one or two? or is this just to entice you to pre order and then they will push the date back until they're actually released
I believe the answer is that the models from both the originally announced versions and the subsequently announced variations of the original three L&B Manning Wardles will arrive at the same time. Heljan have stated that they have switched factory for this production.
Chris H
I've just cancelled my order (from Hatten's). I've just received my Fourdees WG Bagnall - Bowater and it's everything I want in a loco.
Just got an email from Hattons:
QuoteProject Updates
All the latest news on up and coming releases!
Heljan OO9 Narrow Gauge - Lynton and Barnstaple locomotives
Heljan have provided us with a number of updates regarding their forthcoming Lynton and Barnstaple locomotives.
Batch 1 - Product Codes 9950 to 9956
We have been informed that revised samples of all above models have been received, tested and approved by Heljan allowing production of these models to commence, with delivery expected in September 2018.
We have a limited amount of these models remaining available to pre-order.
Batch 2 - Product Codes 9960 to 9963
Heljan have confirmed that models of Nos. 188 "Lew" and No.190 "Lyd" are also to be produced, with delivery expected in early 2019. These are now available to pre-order via the link below.
To see more images and for further product information, visit:
Heljan OO9 Lynton and Barnstaple
As soon as we have any further updates on the progress of this model, we'll be in touch! However, don't hesitate to contact us in the meantime if you have any queries.
Just in case anyone on here wanted to know.
Advised by hattons will be in stock (first batch ) in september
One advertiser offering pre-orders at a eye watering
I recently bought one from Footplate and I haven't tried it yet (I've not built a layout yet) - I'm hoping it's from batch 2!
I was wondering how wide a loop would need to be to run safely please?
Any points would be mainline rather than short to hopefully ease the issues there too.
Any advice would be appreciated.