Minitrains Fiddletown & Copperopolis Stock

[invercloy]

A message from the '009 Society Member's Sales & Recycling Service'...

A Christmas present

[tedp]

No I mustn't!   ::)

[JulienW]

No I mustn't!   ::)

But like many I'm sure you will Ted!  :D

Must say I'm tempted, but it seems a shame to buy one and bin the body...

Wonder if Andreas can be persuaded to sell the chassis separately?

[tedp]

Splice the tender body to the loco, fit a bogie and a straight chimney and you'll have a good likeness of a 2ft gauge Forney.

[Krizzy]

Look on the Minitrains link for a good broadside photo of the new loco and a coach.

Roger

[petersmith1942]

My Minitrains set 1503 F and C loco and 4 coaches in green arrived today. Loco runs beautifully straight from the box. The outside frame seems to be cast as part of the chassis integral with the cylinders. The wheels are inside framed and there are slots in the outside frames; wheelbase is 17 or 18 mm and my guess is drivers same dia. as other steamers. Separate tender has metal wheelsets insulated both sides in a frame that pivots like a bogie/truck; no pick-ups Chassis would seem to have lots of scope for other uses. I still think chassis is small for a Forney conv. but will see later
Coaches are 100mm long over coupler "faces" and 24 mm wide typical US style with clerestory but only moulded blank window spaces
I am very happy withmy set
Peter Smith

[tedp]

Sounds interesting, thanks for the info on the engine. I can imagine you're happy with the set. With a RTR train like this I can imagine some Maine style layouts may be planned.

The coaches - would you think they could be spliced together to produce a full length Sandy River style coach?

[petersmith1942]

Ted
yes I am sure they could be spliced in the way you suggest; the trucks would though then be undersized I think. A better way to reasonably priced Maine style coaches is via 3D at Shapeways by Myner Models. Can I use this opportunity to acknowledge your Christmas wishes and respond in like manner
This little train would certanly suit Nixnie especially crossing the bridge!
Peter Smith

[tedp]

Yes I know about Myner Models - I saw their products at Kegworth.

A train for Nixnie? Well perhaps I should like to, but I mustn't...    ::)   I have to draw a line somewhere...    ::)

[petersmith1942]

just draw the line in the sand and then accidentally walk over it
I think for what it is, the price is ok but wouldnt want 009 to become a cheque book modelling hobby; the Peco, Minitrains and Heljan items, not to mention Bemo, Roco etc are leading it that way.
A jinty bash is in the end rather more satisfying and unique maybe....
Peter Smith

[tedp]

Well - never say never, and it is an attractive model set. But for the moment I'm going to stay on this side of the line. I'm into Peco L&B stock now which is very beautiful but again, chequebook modelling as you put it!  ;)

[petersmith1942]

will do, I have been saving my Jan News for the most boring part of the holiday
Peter Smith

[Hugh Norwood]

Received my set today - gorgeous!

[gallopingalice]

Mine arrived this morning too, and have been for an outing on the layout. As Hugh says, they are gorgeous!  I do like the headlights, they look like I imagine an oil lamp would.
I found the loco to tender coupling a strain on the eyeballs and hand dither. I might need to make the connection rather more permanent.
I like the satin/matt finish, where the 'black' loco bits are more a graphite grey.

There is a slight difficulty if you want to re-pack the set into its flimsey.
All the cars have fineals or vents on the roof, with some along the edge below the clerestory.
The passenger car has them symmetrically on either side, and the package has hollows to suit.
The other cars have them on one side only, which do not match the hollows in the flimsey. These cars need to be packed with the vents up-most otherwise they are liable to break off.

All in all, a pleasure to behold and good value, to boot.

richard

[gallopingalice]

The locos are well moulded and detailed with a good complement of bells and whistles, at the same time as leaving open house for the DIY detailer. Perhaps a tender full of logs and a crew wearing dungarees and walrus moustaches?
I needed to tighten the draw bar screw on the loco and the screw holding the tender chassis, which needed slight re-alignment to cure a crabwise gait and get the tender horizontal.
On the layout the loco pulled 8 coaches round 9