Rails offer on Heljan L&B

[Paulc]

I haven't just bought one - but I'm not sure where to put this.  Rails offer on Heljan L&B if ayone is interested.

https://railsofsheffield.com/products/34591/heljan-9963-009-scale-lynton-barnstaple-lyd-2-6-2-tank-southern-railway-green-preserved-locomotive-no-190?utm_source=Mailing+List&utm_campaign=ff16efc8e3-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_09_07_10_46&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_74d01bc2ed-ff16efc8e3-5837197

Not sure whether that link will work but the rails website and link to offers should get you there - about £80 off RRP by the look of it.

[JulienW]

Looks like they've made the same reductions on all the Heljan 2-6-2s

https://railsofsheffield.com/manufacturer-heljan-JJJM4?Personalise=false&searchTerm=&Gauge=009+Scale&SortMethod=ProductCodeAscending&PageSize=24

(interesting that they are also showing the Baldwin 2-4-2T available for pre-order)

[Hobby]

The RRP made me laugh, has anyone actually paid full price, and is so, why?! That price is in the middle of the prices for that model since it was launched, so no great deal.

[Roger Pound]

I've seen these locos advertised at a similar price some time back - one has to wonder if the line is 'sticking' at the new increased prices currently being asked. It has not been unusual in the past for Heljan items in any scale/gauge to be subject to massive reductions on the rrp on occasion, so could one hazard that this is par for the course?

Roger.

[JulienW]

I suspect that it is more to do with the somewhat dubious reputation the initial batches gained for lack of reliability and what appeared to be quality control issues when they came out of the box resulting in locos where the running was somewhat disappointing for an rtr loco costing over £200.

Rectifying these generally needed some remedial work (again perhaps something no one shouldn't need to do to any rtr loco?) that required the sort of skills gained from building a range of 009 kits and possibly chassis too. I suspect that this would be something that the target market (railway modellers used to rtr OO?) would not have.

[Roger Pound]

I haven't bought one --YET!  But the further reduction in price on certain variations just announced by Rails  (22 Nov) does make it very much more tempting.

Roger.

[Graeme Dunbar]

Well, that's my Christmas present sorted out now - ordered just now!

They were offering free postage too.

[Roger Pound]

Yep - me too. Gave in to temptation and Christmas now solved.... ;D

Roger

[Andrew Findler]

Hi to all. I have recently bought the Southern 190 from my local dealer who matched prices.
Anyway, i have a couple of times had to re-fit the tie rods on one side of the loco. Not a problem but i have also noticed that when running the pony wheels do not turn...

Just my input.
Andy.