A real review! As I've just started modelling the WCML in the early 1980s, I have no alternative so have two BR Blue Class 86/2s on pre order. I don't mind the paint issues as they will get sorted with extra detail and weathering but hope the running's better and the sound ok. They will also need to pull 10 coach trains at a scale 100mph as well but I hear Heljan are up to the task of heavy trains. Time will tell.. I will report when I have them!
Glad you enjoyed 😊 I took a look at some of your videos, it looks like a brilliant build! I’m sure you won’t have the issues I’ve had, Heljan are usually very solid with their diesels/electrics 😊
Hi mate Although quite old now I have a Heljan Hymek and Western. Both on DCC. Hymek reasonable but Western very disappointing. After very little running the Western kept locking up, stalling and buzzing. Obviously a mechanical problem. Running up to that point quite juddery,as with young 86. Luckily had a fabulous model shop nearby to solve my problems. The drive and universal set up internally was loose and locked intermittently When running. This was a new purchase! The nice man at the shop virtually had to rebuild and modify. Suggest you inspect the internals, worm gear, universal joints etc assuming They are similar to the older models. Enjoy your videos. Thanks Howard
Hello Howard, thank you for sharing your thoughts here, I greatly appreciate it. They do seem a bit hit and miss don’t they? 😅 I must say, more than a bit disappointed but as you say, there is usually a solution. I will inspect mine closer. Appreciate it and your support. Hylt
Thanks for another great review - I 〽️ enjoyed the history of the class, which I knew little abou. Sorry to hear you were disappointed with this one ... what a shame 🤷🏻♂️. All the best 👍🚂
Try changing the decoder to another brand & see if that improves the performance. 🤞 I have Heljan class 33’s & 58’s and they are all super smooth runners & I have had no issues at all with them at all.
That's the small correction? What would a large one have been? To be fair, it's primarily expansion rather than correction wouldn't you have said? It was in the end, a rather disappointing portrayal of a very much loved locomotive prototype that did a huge amount of work on the networks. I think the review brought that out well.
@@kellypaws a little correction regarding the 86/1 sub variant with some expansion. If you read what I put I did say it was a good review. I am sorry to have caused offence I will delete the original comment
Hi Paul, I was actually in the process of replying to your correction, it was very thorough and I really don’t mind at all, you put down a lot of info, I actually love the historical aspect of these videos so it was appreciated 😊 I never like to get things wrong but inevitably do sometimes. Thank you for sharing regardless.
@@paulmoore6345 My goodness. Not offence, no. Just noting that it was quite - detailed. Please, don't take a negative from that. Your attention to detail is quite admirable.
HI Hilton I am really glad to see Proper Chuffed back on track. It's a pity that your potentially excellent model turned out to be a sour fruit! Sadly I can't help with the juddering problem, however, I can relate to the pre-fitting of the buffer beam detail, it was the same for my newly purchased Heljan Class 57 in GWR livery, it is a superb model, and runs well. It would have been a 9.5 out of 10, but for, 1. pre-fitted detail is an absolute pain to remove, I managed to extract all but one piece intact, although I felt I had mutilated my brand new model. 2. No cab light, and more infuriating no working above cab centre headlight. 3. No etched nameplates for "Pendennis Castle". 4. The user booklet indicated a pre-fitted speaker which there wasn't. On the positive side I too got mine on sale at just over GBP109 (retail was about GBP159), but it was never worth the RRP in my opinion, not just the four specific issues, but it wasn't a new tooled model, is was an old tool with some modifications, however , it is runs well, it looks great, with rake of 'on sale' Hornby MK3 FGW livery nicely detailed coaches (at GBP19.95 each) and at the price I paid I gave it a 8.75 (and for me an RRP of GBP129 would be more realistic). PS It is said that the body is out of wack with the real life prototype, but for me that's not an issue. my other Heljan, Class 33/2 had no issues. Thanks for your video. Drew
Howdy Drew 😊 didn’t know you had a channel so I’ve just subbed! Agreed with your sentiments around Heljan’s frankly nonsensical approach to their models, the fact that all of the above on your 47 are missing on this loco too makes it even worse. I feel like the 47 at least deserves some better treatment. Thank you for watching and I’ll be checking out some of your vids shortly 😊 cheers, Hylt
If you want a decent caley sleeper loco other than the 92, I would recommend Hornbys caley class 87. Very good runner and it would match the 86. The only thing I would complain about it is the weak pantograph that can easily come loose and break. But overall its a very well detailed and well rounded model, plus you can usually pick them up for about 140 quid or so
Thank you so much for the recommendation 😊 I will most certainly keep my eyes open for an 87 then. In a perfect world a 73 converted would be my best choice, but sadly no ready to run versions of it
Hiya Hylton, Sorry to see the stuttering 86...top tips.. Remove the dcc decoder and try on normal DC analogue. If you don't have a controller just use a 9v battery.. If it runs smooth.. I recommend a zimo/lenz or Hornby dcc decoder as they IMHO have the best motor control. If it's still stuttering then.. OOBill as recommended to strip down, remove the motor, see if the loco freewheels OK and no tight spots, If there are tight spots investigate accordingly, if it freewheels OK, new motor... I had a Hornby railroad HST which performed similarly.. New motor for this was luckily cheap and was the resolution.. Best of luck..
Hello Mark and thank you for watching. You’ve given some solid advice here and it’s certainly a battery of tests I’ll conduct this week to see if we have any improvements. Still it must be said, out the box, not a great impression. Regardless, I’m grateful for your input. Thank you again. Cheers, Hylt
You could try running shaking Stevens in with some heaviery loaded wagons being pulled, that will run it in definitely if that's the problem, but maybe it is the motor, one of the poles might be out of spec some how, so I would try and work out the motor to wheel ratio and see if it corresponds with the coupler shake, so if you can see the motor turning with the case off mark some part of it or part of the shaft if there is one some how and work out the ratio, best over say 20 revs of the motor and divide the distance traveled by the loco by 20 and see if it ties up with the shaking, video record the loco next to a tape measure and see if the numbers match with the swinging cycle of the coupler or half the swinging cycle. Hopefully it will run in for you before all that.
I have the original Hornby example.Pheonix..which still gives sterling service and looks pretty good considering its age. That’s a real shame ,you should watch some of 00Bills videos ,he has repaired plenty Heljans,you might get some pointers . Love the coaches by the way……excellent 🏴
Thanks David, maybe that would have been the better option honestly 😂🤷♂️ I will definitely pop past OO Bill, love his stuff. Thanks for watching mate, keep well
I think to be fair to Heljan the slow running on DCC is down to decoder preference. Different decoders do different things with motors. Still got problems with droopy couplings I see. I love Heljan overall and have many. It is expensive but thats costs today. Good review
Hello Alain, thanks for sharing your thoughts here. I did try two different decoders and had the same experience. But some suggestions have been made and I will explore them. Cheers for watching. Hylt
@@Proper_Chuffed: Sprung buffers are very important even in OO, as they allow rolling stock to travel round non- prototype tight curves without a derailment.
Hi Hilton, I always watch your videos and I like your down to earth reviews. Heljan ! Never bought any of them due to price and performance issues. To top it all off I have never bought any overhead electric locomotives, I have always been a steam man but I have now got into Diesels with 14 class 66 and I have a Dapol O gauge one on preorder with Super Sound. Keep up the good work, regards from Ron 🚂👍😃
Hello Ron 😊 thank you very much for the kind words, I’m so glad you see value in these videos. It’s funny how that works isn’t it? The gradual transition from one form of motive power into others 😂 I’m sure you are dying to get your hands on that O gauge engine soon. Keep well and again, thank you. 🙏
@@Proper_Chuffed Hi Hilton, I must agree with you and the quality of models these days is just brilliant. But could this type of electric locomotive run on the main line without the overhead catenary cables ? Did they have an emergency power supply ? If the answer is NO then it ain’t going to happen because I will not be putting all that on my 3 layouts. So I don’t think I will be getting any of them models. But who knows. From Ron 🚂👍
Hi Hilton, I must admit that I am tempted by the Heljan O gauge class 52 Western and Rails of Sheffield and doing the Sand and the Golden Ochre for £ 375.00. This is obviously a very good price for an O gauge model. I’m not sure though. Regards from Ron.🤔🤔🤔
@@RonCooper-nl4pn on that note Ron, good point, personally I don’t see myself putting up catenary just for one or two locos, even if it’s just on my mostly hidden mainline.
@@RonCooper-nl4pn I have only seen good things about their O gauge models Ron, and that sure is a tempting model! Food for thought, let me know what you decide!
Hmmm think you may have a bad one there . I have an 86 and it is a smooth runner . The pipes installed at the ends are a real pain . You are quite correct the only way to get the coupling to work without fouling the pipes is to trim the pipes . It is grossly overpriced at £240 . Mine was much less expensive than that . But Heljan do charge the max for very little . They remain a 50/50 brand for me , the Clayton 17 was a joke , but on the other hand 26s and 27s perfectly fine .
Hey Rus, thanks for sharing your experience, as I mentioned, I am aware this may have been a once off dud, I really do try to convey that thought often in these videos, it really is my experience and not a blanket statement of the models. What a shame about the fitted detail isn’t it, how on earth does that pass before it’s finalized and sent out? I must say I’ve been keen on a Clayton but will wait for a major sale to grab one. Cheers for popping in mate. Keep well
Which decoder(s) did you try? It looks to me as if the decoder is fighting the radio-interference capacitors, but I've not seen that in a new model for many years. About 15y ago I had a Bachmann production Deltic which performed in a similar manner. I cut the capacitors away and it became smoother with a much slower starting speed. If the decoder gives the option (which it should) then try turning off the BEMF (Back EMF). If that makes a difference, the cut the capacitor and turn the BEMF on.
That’s a good thought Luke, I’m using a bachmann decoder in it currently but I’ll investigate that based on your suggestion, greatly appreciate it mate
PS: Historically, the name Mons Meg is contraversal. As you probably know, it was original one of "saint" Gresley's magnificent P2s, built to haul trains over the difficult Aberdeen line, before being "updated" by "villan" Thompson to an A2/2.
@Proper_Chuffed Well, I did put villan in quotation marks.... He had an impossible job: first, he had to unexpectedly fill the shoes of a true legend, when Gresley died suddenly, and secondly, it was wartime, so he had to update the LNER loco fleet with very few resources, to secure not only the survival of the LNER but also the country. Not an easy job by any means. But he did make a right mess of the P2s. His B1s were very good, though.
You’re absolutely right, an insurmountable task ahead of him during that period, I truly think he should be cut a bit more slack. Poor bloke. I have an A2 with his name on it and proudly run it every now and then. Worth a video at some point I suppose.
have few heljan 47 57 judder is often caused by the worm im top of gear box ive had 3 that had no lucrication on worm or thrust washers either side of it
You should try running on DC to ensure that it does not judder. Decoders are very complex and do not always suit every motor. CV 29 should be adjusted to disable running on DC with the decoder fitted. Try setting CV 29 to a value of 34. If this fails to improve the DCC running then disable EMF. Unfortunately decoder packaging does not now come with a comprehensive CV guide so you will have to look at the manufacturers website.
Hi, When testing on DC I should have written that this should be with the decoder removed and the blanking plate fitted. Poor running here points towards a faulty motor.
Hey mate, I’ve been debating it, but I feel like there are already some great channels showing methods I’ve used in my own building. I’ll be doing updates most likely, maybe more in depth stuff on certain aspects
Great video mate, I don't have any heljian locos but the odd review I have ever watched of them (not many) they always seen to come out fair to average rather than top notch so I personally will leave them unless a serious tempter comes along. I could be completely wrong in doing this as I'm relatively new and clueless but thats just my take on them. Your layout is coming along nicely and I personally cant wait to see the scenics coming along on it. That coupling chaos looks shocking though I can only assume they think people aren't going to pull any rolling stock with them. If your running esu decoder maybe try that back emf reset thing that sorted my accurascale 66 out so would be worth a go.
Thanks Dave, I did try the back EMF reset and nothing sadly. Honestly, Heljan have been pretty good so far, but this one does leave a lot to be desired in my opinion. I honestly dont know what they were thinking glueing the detail to the buffer beam... makes no sense.
Heljan really are their own worst enemy. There just isnt a Heljan model I can look at and go "wow thats the most ultimate model of this locomotive". To make a second Class 47 from scratch and still balls it up just shows how mediocre they are. The colour match with the Hornby coaches in your video is also way off, but for that one Heljan get a pass as Hornby really struggled with colour matching the "Midnight Teal" which is a colour that in real life can differ to the naked eye in different light conditions. Hornby's Class 67, 87 and later class 92 models in the livery just looks wildly off, they finally did get the coaches right however.
Hey Steve, I think you’re absolutely bang on with that statement, while I have had a few great Heljan locos, the general sentiment seems to be what you have shared. On the Caley colouring, I really feel like Accurascale nailed the colours with their coaches, they are outstanding! Thanks for watching and appreciate your comment. Hylt
Yes, it is a mercurial manufacturer, mixing moments of genius with schoolboy errors. Having said that, all my Heljan models run very smoothly. I have a rule never to buy them at anywhere near full price. I've recently picked up both a brand new class 33 & 57 for under £100ea, which I think is fair value for money.
@@stephendavies6949 Like you say, schoolboy errors, and it's a wonder how good their QC is at times. I must say, never had issues with them in the past, but this under a microscope is not a £240 model. You seem to find great bargains, and those two are steals at that price Stephen. :)
@Proper_Chuffed Did you see my longer post? Lots of sympathy for your plight, sir. Buying at bargain prices does take some nerve, patience and research. The key element is to be prepared to miss out: FOMO is not your friend when seeking out bargains!
Would it be a fair to say you are not proper chuffed 😬 In seriousness I’m sorry to see you have paid good money and been lumped with a lemon. I feel Heljan are very Dapol quality but at high end Bachmann / Hornby prices. At RRP it’s an extra £30 or so to get a ACC 92? The RRP’s are just bizarre and seem to always end up in 50% reductions. The single thing I will buy them in the future at release is the class 26. Can’t even bring myself to order the class 104 Mexican Bean despite being perfect for the layout. Their pantographs on these 86’s are excellent though and hornby should take note. I really appreciate that you’ve taken on feedback around the subscribe notifications during the video. Much more pleasant now! A couple quick bits for your accuracy (conscious you’re new to the hobby and UK trains). The new Caledonian Sleeper coaches are Mk5 (TPE are Mk5A). The Mk4 was back in the 80’s/90’s with the class 91 as IC225. You mentioned that the class 86’s could run on preserved lines. Unless I’m mistaken there isn’t any 25kV preserved lines in the UK (though will this always be the case!) Anyway great video and thanks for improving my week with it :)
😂 proper miffed more like. Thanks so much for watching and stopping by, always appreciate your comments. I am glad you enjoyed it. As you say, it seems they have their head in the clouds a bit with their pricing and it’s the main reason I haven’t preordered the U1 Garrett yet. £400 😂 You’re quite right about both the coaches and the 86s, my wording was maybe poor, not meaning to say they run on heritage lines, but more that they are considered and run heritage tours? If that maybe makes more sense. I appreciate your helping me with such things, always learning! In fact, one of the best parts of this whole journey is the history aspect. Thanks again, and have a proper good week! Hylt
Well, this is unfortunate especially when you are that customer that cannot return the thing with feasible cost. The Heljan Class 86 “Mons Meg” should only have had the two couplers in the detail pack, so it makes me suspect that the model you purchased was not new but run and had problems, was re boxed, and put on sale. First, I would reach out to Heljan to see what they can tell you. If you get no satisfying reply from Heljan, I would look at the drive unit to see if the drive weights were hitting any wirers or chasses parts. If the problem still persists, check each truck individually for tight spots. If it is one of the trucks, you then need to find out where the problem is. All this is not why you buy a new model I don’t know what you paid but here in the states the Heljan 86 cost $249 in its DC form. Problems like this is how we learn how to repair these things, and the first thing is to have a frame of mind that the locomotive is not that important to you and dig in. You may have fun in the end and that will be worth the cost of the thing. Great review and video, Jersey Bill
Thanks for the advice, JB. It’s definitely frustrating when you can’t easily return a faulty model, especially when you're not sure if it was re-boxed or already run before, though I am fairly sure this is new. I’ll also take a closer look at the drive unit and trucks as you suggested. It’s not ideal having to troubleshoot a brand-new model, but I appreciate the step-by-step advice. I’ll see if I can get it running smoothly with some of those checks. You’re right-it’s a learning process. Thanks again for the tips and for watching the video! Hylt
I find it fascinating how inconsistent Heljan are. I have 3 Heljan Class 33s and a Class 14 and all 4 are stellar lookers and performers then I see the dark side of their models other people have been unfortunately subjected to.
They are wildly inconsistent it seems, like you say, I’ve had some really good experiences with their models, this has been the first I’ve had issue with. Hoping their QC is better in future 😊 thanks for your thoughts, Hylt
It’s too bad that you had so many issues with this model. I have personally never tried a Heljan locomotive as I find their prices quite high and have heard that many of their models are not the best quality (check out Sam’sTrains video on the 1361, Class 17, Ruston 165, or Class 45 if you want to know what I’m talking about), and I’ve heard from others that the Class 17 and 45 as I previously mentioned, as well as the Class 47 released last year have some issues as well. Like you, I live international, so I’m always very careful before I order a model as it’s very hard for me to return a faulty model, and all the extra shipping makes it even more likely for something to arrive damaged. Given Heljan’s track record, I find it very hard to justify the high prices they charge when their detail is often below average (given the price point), there are lots of reports of bad running, and it seems like they don’t invest much in quality control. That’s just my opinion though, and it does sound like Heljan do make good models given the fact this is the first time you’ve had an issue with one of their locos, and several other UA-camrs also have not had issues
It’s such a tough thing for us abroad, we just have no real recourse if we have a broken model, or something wrong. Way too expensive to ship back to the UK. I totally understand your reservations around Heljan, though, as you say, I’ve had no issues in the past. Usually very solid runners, hence why I had no worries when I made this purchase 😅 oh well, we can’t win them all 😒
@@Proper_Chuffed exactly! I am thinking about buying a 10800 from Heljan now that the prices have come down, so if I buy one it’ll be interesting to see how that is
I don’t know what Heljan’s fetish for fitting buffer beam equipment Is about. They surly must know it fouls the NEM pocket or are they under the impression most modellers use the screw link couplings? Because newsflash: they don’t
😂 you know it was exactly those thoughts that came across my mind too. It’s truly a bizarre thing, how else are we expected to couple up? I mean at least leave one side open?
HIGH PRICE INDICATES SMALL PRODUCTION ??? Sprung buffers come in handy if you are going to "close couple" your rolling stock, as per real life. In "OO" really only possible if you have minimum radius (real life) curves in excess of 5ft (Diameter 10ft). So probably only possible if you have "Club room" sized space !!! Certainly there are too many assembly & production faults, but these problems are sadly not confined to Heljan ! And the retail price, would indicate they do NOT expect to sell many (overhead locos/EMU's are never that popular due to the complication of needing Catenary), so Heljan have probably only run a production of around 1000-2000 items !!!
Totally hear you on that, I just found the entire product, even for £120 odd a little lacklustre if I’m honest but you make some really good point here and I appreciate it 😊
@@Proper_Chuffed Indeed I've just sold a large exhibition layout (87ft x 27ft) that had scratchbuilt pointwork, and obviously needed a large fleet of rolling stock including 130 odd locomotives. The locos needed to be suitable for intense exhibition use, and capable of hauling real life loads of up to 13 coaches, up a (real life) 1 in 100 gradient. This requirement however revealed dozens of shortcomings. Roughly 1 in 3 Hornby steam locos has serious assembly faults. The most common being the four wires between loco & tender being pinched and damaged between the cab floor & chassis beneath. Which necessitated a complete rewiring of each loco to ensure no such issue would occur during a show. Many tender locos were also seriously short of weight, with the newish Hornby Lord Nelson clocking in at about 220g. Insufficient to pull 12 on the level. Removing the body revealed the loco was almost empty inside, so another 100g was necessary to improve their ability to haul 13 up the 1 in 100 gradient. Oddly none of their Diesel & Electric locos suffer such problems, with most weighing in at 400-550g ! This sort of issue is a problem from the design stage, and gives the impression no one on the Hornby Board, is a qualified engineer, or they think only collectors buy steam models to put them in showcases !! Keep up the good work, you're picking up this "art" of railway modelling quickly. Happy Modelling😝
Howzit Jade, I do import with a courier, have had to set up an account for all of it to make life easier and import duties get sorted a bit quicker. No I would never use SAPO 🤣 keep well mate
I don't model in OO but if I did I definitely wouldn't buy this. I still however have an old Hormby one that I updated and I reckon it looks better than this.
Hmm - yes - I have several Heljan locos - my 1361ST, 1366PT and Falcon diesel are pretty good - no problem... and my GWR Night Owl 47xx 2-8-0 is the worst designed loco I have ever had the bad luck to part with money for. An absolute lemon. Never ever run properly and I gave up on it and it languishes in a crate somewhere as I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. That 86 looks rather wonderful from a distance - sad, really. Can you check to see if it judders on DC? Oiled and greased OK? Pickups contacting OK?
Howdy Chris, thanks for sharing your thoughts mate, I agree, and like you said, I’ve also had great success with Heljan in the past. Funny you mention the night owl as that’s in the pipeline for later this month. Will be curious to see how that does 😂
Sad story, but am sure a solution will present itself as the loco is quite pretty. Another thing, why are the I assume rubber bellows between the coaches half white?
The contact surfaces between the gangways rub against each other and wear out so they have an inverted L shaped replacable wear surface, the white is likely just a visual indicator to help with forming rakes in the best orientation or visual indicator to easily identift when the wear has progressed enough to merit replacement.
I like the channel and the videos, so please don't take this the wrong way. Without further ado - meaning without further fuss or delay. (This inherently make sense.) Without further adieu - meaning without further French for goodbye. (This inherently does not make sense.) Please save us from further wincing.
Pity about that loco and the price. Even without the running issues, the fact there are no etched nameplates is just criminal for the price they are charging; you'd also expect a perfect paint job and glazing that actually fits! I prefer the original blue to the plethora of schemes about now but that's how it is. I did think the stag was a bit of graffiti to be begin with but it is authentic!
Hi mate I hope you are well Nice to see the named lift on. Am now a little worried for o2 Your seem a nice model. Am sure they a medium between not enough details added to the bufferim and too much Keep safe ARP
Its easier to cut off detail than add it. I prefer the Heljan policy. The Heljan 86 is usually a good runner but accept your example isn't. PS Nobody will have bought the Heljan 86 for £240, its just an imaginary number so people can claim they got a discount.
I suppose the concept of adding detail instead of trimming is a bit more personal, I would honestly prefer to add myself, but I understand your sentiment.
Hi, sorry to see you not impressed with your Heljan purchase, I steer clear of their locomotives due to watching Sam’s Trains over the years where I don’t recall him given any of them any glowing reviews, you don’t always get what you pay for these days, I was shocked to see that key model world have an exclusive Heljan class 47 in Porterbrook livery and the cost for the sound fitted model is £389 which shocked me! As far as I’m concerned the Bachmann class 47 2021 model is the best hands down, motorised fans and a great lighting suite are very hard to compete with, Heljan are suffering with Bachmannitis which is a need to overcharge for items that will gather dust on shelves because modellers are tired of getting their pants pulled down through pure greed of the manufacturers! Heljan wagon are very good in my opinion at the right prices, it’s very sad when you buy a loco that isn’t worth the money in many departments you should Al all it out because you didn’t get it for free, thanks for sharing.
Hey Stormmy, I totally get where you’re coming from regarding Heljan. It’s definitely frustrating when you feel like you’re not getting your money’s worth, particularly at those higher price points. I definitely don’t mind calling it out when something doesn’t live up to the price tag-it’s only fair as a customer. But that being said, I try doing so in a respectful way. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts. Hylt
@@Proper_Chuffed Hi, it’s always good to be respectful when calling things out, some modellers call out Accurascale for bits and pieces falling off their models when you get them out of the box, they have always sorted any issues out that I’ve had with their products where as Hornby don’t care and have shown contempt when dealing with certain issues that are production and development faults and that is a fact, they are driving customers away, as i stated before I’m not a Heljan locomotive fan because I’ve seen enough over the years to stop me buying them, it doesn’t mean they’re bad because they do sell them, I believe there are better choices and value for the money, Accurascale products can be very delicate and things break off, I accidentally broke a part off a brand new class 37 exclusive model a while ago so I contacted them and sent photographic evidence and they sent me a new part within a few days, that’s what I call great customer service, I’ve seen videos of new models that look like they were assembled by blindfolded workers! Some of the workers clearly don’t care and have no pride in their work, if they can’t do the job properly then they shouldn’t be there, these products aren’t cheap and can cause negative press for the brand and effect trade, Hornby can be woefully bad and very good at times, it’s always good to check as many reviews as possible if you are going to part with hundreds of pounds for what could be a pile of pants.
A real review! As I've just started modelling the WCML in the early 1980s, I have no alternative so have two BR Blue Class 86/2s on pre order. I don't mind the paint issues as they will get sorted with extra detail and weathering but hope the running's better and the sound ok. They will also need to pull 10 coach trains at a scale 100mph as well but I hear Heljan are up to the task of heavy trains. Time will tell.. I will report when I have them!
Glad you enjoyed 😊 I took a look at some of your videos, it looks like a brilliant build! I’m sure you won’t have the issues I’ve had, Heljan are usually very solid with their diesels/electrics 😊
Hi mate
Although quite old now I have a Heljan Hymek and Western.
Both on DCC.
Hymek reasonable but Western very disappointing.
After very little running the Western kept locking up, stalling and buzzing.
Obviously a mechanical problem.
Running up to that point quite juddery,as with young 86.
Luckily had a fabulous model shop nearby to solve my problems.
The drive and universal set up internally was loose and locked intermittently
When running. This was a new purchase!
The nice man at the shop virtually had to rebuild and modify.
Suggest you inspect the internals, worm gear, universal joints etc assuming
They are similar to the older models.
Enjoy your videos.
Thanks Howard
Hello Howard, thank you for sharing your thoughts here, I greatly appreciate it. They do seem a bit hit and miss don’t they? 😅 I must say, more than a bit disappointed but as you say, there is usually a solution. I will inspect mine closer. Appreciate it and your support. Hylt
Thanks for another great review - I 〽️ enjoyed the history of the class, which I knew little abou. Sorry to hear you were disappointed with this one ... what a shame 🤷🏻♂️. All the best 👍🚂
Cheers Darryl, it happens I guess they can’t all be perfect 😂 thanks for watching my friend
Great review, very professional and well balanced. Keep up the good work - you're very inspiring :)
That means a lot coming from the man behind the motion, cheers mate. I do my best but a long way to go yet.
Ahhhh "Hell jan" maintaining the standards as usual. 😂
I'll stick to my old Hornby 86219 which runs flawlessly and only cost me £35.
A few folks have mentioned the great Hornby version. Seems my Heljan was definitely a bit worse than most 😅
Try changing the decoder to another brand & see if that improves the performance. 🤞
I have Heljan class 33’s & 58’s and they are all super smooth runners & I have had no issues at all with them at all.
Comment and additional information on class 86 deleted as it was deemed to be too long, apologies
That's the small correction? What would a large one have been?
To be fair, it's primarily expansion rather than correction wouldn't you have said?
It was in the end, a rather disappointing portrayal of a very much loved locomotive prototype that did a huge amount of work on the networks. I think the review brought that out well.
@@kellypaws a little correction regarding the 86/1 sub variant with some expansion. If you read what I put I did say it was a good review. I am sorry to have caused offence I will delete the original comment
Hi Paul, I was actually in the process of replying to your correction, it was very thorough and I really don’t mind at all, you put down a lot of info, I actually love the historical aspect of these videos so it was appreciated 😊 I never like to get things wrong but inevitably do sometimes. Thank you for sharing regardless.
Thanks Kelly, that’s kind of you.
@@paulmoore6345 My goodness. Not offence, no. Just noting that it was quite - detailed. Please, don't take a negative from that.
Your attention to detail is quite admirable.
HI Hilton I am really glad to see Proper Chuffed back on track. It's a pity that your potentially excellent model turned out to be a sour fruit! Sadly I can't help with the juddering problem, however, I can relate to the pre-fitting of the buffer beam detail, it was the same for my newly purchased Heljan Class 57 in GWR livery, it is a superb model, and runs well. It would have been a 9.5 out of 10, but for, 1. pre-fitted detail is an absolute pain to remove, I managed to extract all but one piece intact, although I felt I had mutilated my brand new model. 2. No cab light, and more infuriating no working above cab centre headlight. 3. No etched nameplates for "Pendennis Castle". 4. The user booklet indicated a pre-fitted speaker which there wasn't. On the positive side I too got mine on sale at just over GBP109 (retail was about GBP159), but it was never worth the RRP in my opinion, not just the four specific issues, but it wasn't a new tooled model, is was an old tool with some modifications, however , it is runs well, it looks great, with rake of 'on sale' Hornby MK3 FGW livery nicely detailed coaches (at GBP19.95 each) and at the price I paid I gave it a 8.75 (and for me an RRP of GBP129 would be more realistic). PS It is said that the body is out of wack with the real life prototype, but for me that's not an issue. my other Heljan, Class 33/2 had no issues. Thanks for your video. Drew
Howdy Drew 😊 didn’t know you had a channel so I’ve just subbed! Agreed with your sentiments around Heljan’s frankly nonsensical approach to their models, the fact that all of the above on your 47 are missing on this loco too makes it even worse. I feel like the 47 at least deserves some better treatment. Thank you for watching and I’ll be checking out some of your vids shortly 😊 cheers, Hylt
@@Proper_Chuffed Thanks for that, I use club layouts for my videos, but just about to start building my own layout... Drew
If you want a decent caley sleeper loco other than the 92, I would recommend Hornbys caley class 87. Very good runner and it would match the 86. The only thing I would complain about it is the weak pantograph that can easily come loose and break. But overall its a very well detailed and well rounded model, plus you can usually pick them up for about 140 quid or so
Thank you so much for the recommendation 😊 I will most certainly keep my eyes open for an 87 then. In a perfect world a 73 converted would be my best choice, but sadly no ready to run versions of it
Hiya Hylton, Sorry to see the stuttering 86...top tips.. Remove the dcc decoder and try on normal DC analogue. If you don't have a controller just use a 9v battery.. If it runs smooth.. I recommend a zimo/lenz or Hornby dcc decoder as they IMHO have the best motor control. If it's still stuttering then.. OOBill as recommended to strip down, remove the motor, see if the loco freewheels OK and no tight spots, If there are tight spots investigate accordingly, if it freewheels OK, new motor... I had a Hornby railroad HST which performed similarly.. New motor for this was luckily cheap and was the resolution.. Best of luck..
Hello Mark and thank you for watching. You’ve given some solid advice here and it’s certainly a battery of tests I’ll conduct this week to see if we have any improvements. Still it must be said, out the box, not a great impression. Regardless, I’m grateful for your input. Thank you again. Cheers, Hylt
You could try running shaking Stevens in with some heaviery loaded wagons being pulled, that will run it in definitely if that's the problem, but maybe it is the motor, one of the poles might be out of spec some how, so I would try and work out the motor to wheel ratio and see if it corresponds with the coupler shake, so if you can see the motor turning with the case off mark some part of it or part of the shaft if there is one some how and work out the ratio, best over say 20 revs of the motor and divide the distance traveled by the loco by 20 and see if it ties up with the shaking, video record the loco next to a tape measure and see if the numbers match with the swinging cycle of the coupler or half the swinging cycle. Hopefully it will run in for you before all that.
That’s a brilliant bit of advice thank you so much for sharing, I’ll give that a bang 😊 cheers mate
I have the original Hornby example.Pheonix..which still gives sterling service and looks pretty good considering its age.
That’s a real shame ,you should watch some of 00Bills videos ,he has repaired plenty Heljans,you might get some pointers .
Love the coaches by the way……excellent 🏴
Thanks David, maybe that would have been the better option honestly 😂🤷♂️ I will definitely pop past OO Bill, love his stuff. Thanks for watching mate, keep well
I think to be fair to Heljan the slow running on DCC is down to decoder preference. Different decoders do different things with motors. Still got problems with droopy couplings I see. I love Heljan overall and have many. It is expensive but thats costs today. Good review
Hello Alain, thanks for sharing your thoughts here. I did try two different decoders and had the same experience. But some suggestions have been made and I will explore them. Cheers for watching. Hylt
"Mons Meg" was also a name given to an LNER P2 2-8-2
Indeed, it’s such a great name! I can’t believe they didn’t include an etched nameplate for it 😪 thanks for watching
I mean, I’d be upset if it didn’t have sprung buffers at that price
No I would be too, I’m just trying to say, sprung buffers serve very little purpose in OO. I honestly couldn’t be bothered 🤷♂️😂
@@Proper_Chuffed: Sprung buffers are very important even in OO, as they allow rolling stock to travel round non- prototype tight curves without a derailment.
Hi Hilton, I always watch your videos and I like your down to earth reviews. Heljan ! Never bought any of them due to price and performance issues. To top it all off I have never bought any overhead electric locomotives, I have always been a steam man but I have now got into Diesels with 14 class 66 and I have a Dapol O gauge one on preorder with Super Sound. Keep up the good work, regards from Ron 🚂👍😃
Hello Ron 😊 thank you very much for the kind words, I’m so glad you see value in these videos. It’s funny how that works isn’t it? The gradual transition from one form of motive power into others 😂 I’m sure you are dying to get your hands on that O gauge engine soon. Keep well and again, thank you. 🙏
@@Proper_Chuffed Hi Hilton, I must agree with you and the quality of models these days is just brilliant. But could this type of electric locomotive run on the main line without the overhead catenary cables ? Did they have an emergency power supply ? If the answer is NO then it ain’t going to happen because I will not be putting all that on my 3 layouts. So I don’t think I will be getting any of them models. But who knows. From Ron 🚂👍
Hi Hilton, I must admit that I am tempted by the Heljan O gauge class 52 Western and Rails of Sheffield and doing the Sand and the Golden Ochre for £ 375.00. This is obviously a very good price for an O gauge model. I’m not sure though. Regards from Ron.🤔🤔🤔
@@RonCooper-nl4pn on that note Ron, good point, personally I don’t see myself putting up catenary just for one or two locos, even if it’s just on my mostly hidden mainline.
@@RonCooper-nl4pn I have only seen good things about their O gauge models Ron, and that sure is a tempting model! Food for thought, let me know what you decide!
Hmmm think you may have a bad one there . I have an 86 and it is a smooth runner . The pipes installed at the ends are a real pain . You are quite correct the only way to get the coupling to work without fouling the pipes is to trim the pipes . It is grossly overpriced at £240 . Mine was much less expensive than that . But Heljan do charge the max for very little . They remain a 50/50 brand for me , the Clayton 17 was a joke , but on the other hand 26s and 27s perfectly fine .
Hey Rus, thanks for sharing your experience, as I mentioned, I am aware this may have been a once off dud, I really do try to convey that thought often in these videos, it really is my experience and not a blanket statement of the models. What a shame about the fitted detail isn’t it, how on earth does that pass before it’s finalized and sent out? I must say I’ve been keen on a Clayton but will wait for a major sale to grab one. Cheers for popping in mate. Keep well
Maybe they got a bit annoyed at people running them with cab lights on and ditched the cab lights so people don't 😅
🤣🤣🤣 I guess that could be the cause. But really, no light at all? 😏
@@Proper_Chuffed I got a loco with all lights accurately modelled but it didn't come with any darkness 😔
@@Samstrainss 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Which decoder(s) did you try? It looks to me as if the decoder is fighting the radio-interference capacitors, but I've not seen that in a new model for many years. About 15y ago I had a Bachmann production Deltic which performed in a similar manner. I cut the capacitors away and it became smoother with a much slower starting speed. If the decoder gives the option (which it should) then try turning off the BEMF (Back EMF). If that makes a difference, the cut the capacitor and turn the BEMF on.
That’s a good thought Luke, I’m using a bachmann decoder in it currently but I’ll investigate that based on your suggestion, greatly appreciate it mate
PS: Historically, the name Mons Meg is contraversal. As you probably know, it was original one of "saint" Gresley's magnificent P2s, built to haul trains over the difficult Aberdeen line, before being "updated" by "villan" Thompson to an A2/2.
Always insightful my friend 🤣 I don’t see our dear fellow Thompson as a villain by any means, he catches way too many strays I feel.
@Proper_Chuffed Well, I did put villan in quotation marks....
He had an impossible job: first, he had to unexpectedly fill the shoes of a true legend, when Gresley died suddenly, and secondly, it was wartime, so he had to update the LNER loco fleet with very few resources, to secure not only the survival of the LNER but also the country. Not an easy job by any means.
But he did make a right mess of the P2s. His B1s were very good, though.
You’re absolutely right, an insurmountable task ahead of him during that period, I truly think he should be cut a bit more slack. Poor bloke. I have an A2 with his name on it and proudly run it every now and then. Worth a video at some point I suppose.
Did u check for oil on the ends of the pick ups or the backs of the wheels?might be work a check
I did 🥲 pretty oily but cleaning it up didn’t improve much sadly. Thanks for the shout though
have few heljan 47 57 judder is often caused by the worm im top of gear box ive had 3 that had no lucrication on worm or thrust washers either side of it
I’ll take a look at that, thank you for the suggestion 😊
Does it come with a stay alive? With hm7000 i need stay alives to have smooth running
No it doesn’t Michael, sadly. May be another thing that is causing the staggered running.
To be fair… 86 cabs are like that. Fairly accurate detail.
You should try running on DC to ensure that it does not judder. Decoders are very complex and do not always suit every motor. CV 29 should be adjusted to disable running on DC with the decoder fitted. Try setting CV 29 to a value of 34. If this fails to improve the DCC running then disable EMF. Unfortunately decoder packaging does not now come with a comprehensive CV guide so you will have to look at the manufacturers website.
Thanks for that Robert, really appreciate it. I will do so and let you know what happens :) Cheers, Hylt
Hi, When testing on DC I should have written that this should be with the decoder removed and the blanking plate fitted. Poor running here points towards a faulty motor.
@@robertgates7686 yes absolutely 😊 I did actually make sure to put the plate back on.
The 86s should have interior cab and corridor lights by now.
🤷♂️ I mean… yes? 😂
Hylton, are you going to make videos on how your building your layout?
Hey mate, I’ve been debating it, but I feel like there are already some great channels showing methods I’ve used in my own building. I’ll be doing updates most likely, maybe more in depth stuff on certain aspects
Great video mate, I don't have any heljian locos but the odd review I have ever watched of them (not many) they always seen to come out fair to average rather than top notch so I personally will leave them unless a serious tempter comes along. I could be completely wrong in doing this as I'm relatively new and clueless but thats just my take on them. Your layout is coming along nicely and I personally cant wait to see the scenics coming along on it. That coupling chaos looks shocking though I can only assume they think people aren't going to pull any rolling stock with them. If your running esu decoder maybe try that back emf reset thing that sorted my accurascale 66 out so would be worth a go.
Thanks Dave, I did try the back EMF reset and nothing sadly. Honestly, Heljan have been pretty good so far, but this one does leave a lot to be desired in my opinion. I honestly dont know what they were thinking glueing the detail to the buffer beam... makes no sense.
Heljan are very bad but your channel is very good 😊
🤣🤣🤣 thank you friend, I greatly appreciate it. Indeed a bit of a hit and miss.
Heljan really are their own worst enemy. There just isnt a Heljan model I can look at and go "wow thats the most ultimate model of this locomotive". To make a second Class 47 from scratch and still balls it up just shows how mediocre they are. The colour match with the Hornby coaches in your video is also way off, but for that one Heljan get a pass as Hornby really struggled with colour matching the "Midnight Teal" which is a colour that in real life can differ to the naked eye in different light conditions. Hornby's Class 67, 87 and later class 92 models in the livery just looks wildly off, they finally did get the coaches right however.
Hey Steve, I think you’re absolutely bang on with that statement, while I have had a few great Heljan locos, the general sentiment seems to be what you have shared.
On the Caley colouring, I really feel like Accurascale nailed the colours with their coaches, they are outstanding! Thanks for watching and appreciate your comment. Hylt
Yes, it is a mercurial manufacturer, mixing moments of genius with schoolboy errors. Having said that, all my Heljan models run very smoothly. I have a rule never to buy them at anywhere near full price. I've recently picked up both a brand new class 33 & 57 for under £100ea, which I think is fair value for money.
@@stephendavies6949 Like you say, schoolboy errors, and it's a wonder how good their QC is at times. I must say, never had issues with them in the past, but this under a microscope is not a £240 model. You seem to find great bargains, and those two are steals at that price Stephen. :)
@Proper_Chuffed Did you see my longer post? Lots of sympathy for your plight, sir.
Buying at bargain prices does take some nerve, patience and research. The key element is to be prepared to miss out: FOMO is not your friend when seeking out bargains!
@@stephendavies6949 I seem to have missed it? Would you mind tagging me in it? I’ve been trawling to see if it’s in someone else’s comment 😂
Would it be a fair to say you are not proper chuffed 😬
In seriousness I’m sorry to see you have paid good money and been lumped with a lemon. I feel Heljan are very Dapol quality but at high end Bachmann / Hornby prices. At RRP it’s an extra £30 or so to get a ACC 92? The RRP’s are just bizarre and seem to always end up in 50% reductions. The single thing I will buy them in the future at release is the class 26. Can’t even bring myself to order the class 104 Mexican Bean despite being perfect for the layout.
Their pantographs on these 86’s are excellent though and hornby should take note.
I really appreciate that you’ve taken on feedback around the subscribe notifications during the video. Much more pleasant now!
A couple quick bits for your accuracy (conscious you’re new to the hobby and UK trains). The new Caledonian Sleeper coaches are Mk5 (TPE are Mk5A). The Mk4 was back in the 80’s/90’s with the class 91 as IC225.
You mentioned that the class 86’s could run on preserved lines. Unless I’m mistaken there isn’t any 25kV preserved lines in the UK (though will this always be the case!)
Anyway great video and thanks for improving my week with it :)
😂 proper miffed more like.
Thanks so much for watching and stopping by, always appreciate your comments. I am glad you enjoyed it.
As you say, it seems they have their head in the clouds a bit with their pricing and it’s the main reason I haven’t preordered the U1 Garrett yet. £400 😂
You’re quite right about both the coaches and the 86s, my wording was maybe poor, not meaning to say they run on heritage lines, but more that they are considered and run heritage tours? If that maybe makes more sense.
I appreciate your helping me with such things, always learning! In fact, one of the best parts of this whole journey is the history aspect.
Thanks again, and have a proper good week! Hylt
Well, this is unfortunate especially when you are that customer that cannot return the thing with feasible cost. The Heljan Class 86 “Mons Meg” should only have had the two couplers in the detail pack, so it makes me suspect that the model you purchased was not new but run and had problems, was re boxed, and put on sale. First, I would reach out to Heljan to see what they can tell you. If you get no satisfying reply from Heljan, I would look at the drive unit to see if the drive weights were hitting any wirers or chasses parts. If the problem still persists, check each truck individually for tight spots. If it is one of the trucks, you then need to find out where the problem is. All this is not why you buy a new model I don’t know what you paid but here in the states the Heljan 86 cost $249 in its DC form. Problems like this is how we learn how to repair these things, and the first thing is to have a frame of mind that the locomotive is not that important to you and dig in. You may have fun in the end and that will be worth the cost of the thing. Great review and video, Jersey Bill
Thanks for the advice, JB. It’s definitely frustrating when you can’t easily return a faulty model, especially when you're not sure if it was re-boxed or already run before, though I am fairly sure this is new.
I’ll also take a closer look at the drive unit and trucks as you suggested. It’s not ideal having to troubleshoot a brand-new model, but I appreciate the step-by-step advice. I’ll see if I can get it running smoothly with some of those checks. You’re right-it’s a learning process.
Thanks again for the tips and for watching the video! Hylt
I find it fascinating how inconsistent Heljan are. I have 3 Heljan Class 33s and a Class 14 and all 4 are stellar lookers and performers then I see the dark side of their models other people have been unfortunately subjected to.
They are wildly inconsistent it seems, like you say, I’ve had some really good experiences with their models, this has been the first I’ve had issue with. Hoping their QC is better in future 😊 thanks for your thoughts, Hylt
Mons Meg was and will always be P2 Mikado
Agreed 😭
It’s too bad that you had so many issues with this model. I have personally never tried a Heljan locomotive as I find their prices quite high and have heard that many of their models are not the best quality (check out Sam’sTrains video on the 1361, Class 17, Ruston 165, or Class 45 if you want to know what I’m talking about), and I’ve heard from others that the Class 17 and 45 as I previously mentioned, as well as the Class 47 released last year have some issues as well. Like you, I live international, so I’m always very careful before I order a model as it’s very hard for me to return a faulty model, and all the extra shipping makes it even more likely for something to arrive damaged. Given Heljan’s track record, I find it very hard to justify the high prices they charge when their detail is often below average (given the price point), there are lots of reports of bad running, and it seems like they don’t invest much in quality control. That’s just my opinion though, and it does sound like Heljan do make good models given the fact this is the first time you’ve had an issue with one of their locos, and several other UA-camrs also have not had issues
It’s such a tough thing for us abroad, we just have no real recourse if we have a broken model, or something wrong. Way too expensive to ship back to the UK. I totally understand your reservations around Heljan, though, as you say, I’ve had no issues in the past. Usually very solid runners, hence why I had no worries when I made this purchase 😅 oh well, we can’t win them all 😒
@@Proper_Chuffed exactly! I am thinking about buying a 10800 from Heljan now that the prices have come down, so if I buy one it’ll be interesting to see how that is
I don’t know what Heljan’s fetish for fitting buffer beam equipment Is about. They surly must know it fouls the NEM pocket or are they under the impression most modellers use the screw link couplings? Because newsflash: they don’t
😂 you know it was exactly those thoughts that came across my mind too. It’s truly a bizarre thing, how else are we expected to couple up? I mean at least leave one side open?
HIGH PRICE INDICATES SMALL PRODUCTION ???
Sprung buffers come in handy if you are going to "close couple" your rolling stock, as per real life. In "OO" really only possible if you have minimum radius (real life) curves in excess of 5ft (Diameter 10ft). So probably only possible if you have "Club room" sized space !!! Certainly there are too many assembly & production faults, but these problems are sadly not confined to Heljan ! And the retail price, would indicate they do NOT expect to sell many (overhead locos/EMU's are never that popular due to the complication of needing Catenary), so Heljan have probably only run a production of around 1000-2000 items !!!
Totally hear you on that, I just found the entire product, even for £120 odd a little lacklustre if I’m honest but you make some really good point here and I appreciate it 😊
@@Proper_Chuffed Indeed I've just sold a large exhibition layout (87ft x 27ft) that had scratchbuilt pointwork, and obviously needed a large fleet of rolling stock including 130 odd locomotives. The locos needed to be suitable for intense exhibition use, and capable of hauling real life loads of up to 13 coaches, up a (real life) 1 in 100 gradient. This requirement however revealed dozens of shortcomings. Roughly 1 in 3 Hornby steam locos has serious assembly faults. The most common being the four wires between loco & tender being pinched and damaged between the cab floor & chassis beneath. Which necessitated a complete rewiring of each loco to ensure no such issue would occur during a show.
Many tender locos were also seriously short of weight, with the newish Hornby Lord Nelson clocking in at about 220g. Insufficient to pull 12 on the level. Removing the body revealed the loco was almost empty inside, so another 100g was necessary to improve their ability to haul 13 up the 1 in 100 gradient. Oddly none of their Diesel & Electric locos suffer such problems, with most weighing in at 400-550g ! This sort of issue is a problem from the design stage, and gives the impression no one on the Hornby Board, is a qualified engineer, or they think only collectors buy steam models to put them in showcases !!
Keep up the good work, you're picking up this "art" of railway modelling quickly.
Happy Modelling😝
Hilton, I have to ask you - do you get the stuff couriered or through a local dealer. Surely you do not rely on SAPO?
Howzit Jade, I do import with a courier, have had to set up an account for all of it to make life easier and import duties get sorted a bit quicker. No I would never use SAPO 🤣 keep well mate
@@Proper_Chuffed thanks, I've had people send me stuff and a) they never arrive or b) it takes 6 to 10 months.
@@railwayjade it’s the biggest gamble, more often than not it never arrives
I don't model in OO but if I did I definitely wouldn't buy this. I still however have an old Hormby one that I updated and I reckon it looks better than this.
I’ve heard the same from a few people, possibly worth investigating on my end. Appreciate your comment 😊 keep well, Hylt
Hmm - yes - I have several Heljan locos - my 1361ST, 1366PT and Falcon diesel are pretty good - no problem... and my GWR Night Owl 47xx 2-8-0 is the worst designed loco I have ever had the bad luck to part with money for. An absolute lemon. Never ever run properly and I gave up on it and it languishes in a crate somewhere as I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. That 86 looks rather wonderful from a distance - sad, really. Can you check to see if it judders on DC? Oiled and greased OK? Pickups contacting OK?
Howdy Chris, thanks for sharing your thoughts mate, I agree, and like you said, I’ve also had great success with Heljan in the past. Funny you mention the night owl as that’s in the pipeline for later this month. Will be curious to see how that does 😂
Sad story, but am sure a solution will present itself as the loco is quite pretty. Another thing, why are the I assume rubber bellows between the coaches half white?
Good point Rinks, I’ve never seen them painted like that 🤷♂️
The contact surfaces between the gangways rub against each other and wear out so they have an inverted L shaped replacable wear surface, the white is likely just a visual indicator to help with forming rakes in the best orientation or visual indicator to easily identift when the wear has progressed enough to merit replacement.
Heljan? Disappointing? Shocked, shocked I yell ya.
🤣🤣🤣
what is it that turns people on to un-box. , who cares how it's packed as long as it's safe
Bob in some ways I agree, though it does seem like a lot of viewers enjoy that aspect 🤷♂️
@@Proper_Chuffed you're right, mobile phone users are the worst, lol
@@bobtudbury8505 😂
Accurascale made mk5 not 4s
@@Trainsatthestation quite right you are my mistake
@ can you please try review the Hornby class 87 in Caledonian sleeper livery please
@ I’ll do my best to find one!
I like the channel and the videos, so please don't take this the wrong way.
Without further ado - meaning without further fuss or delay. (This inherently make sense.)
Without further adieu - meaning without further French for goodbye. (This inherently does not make sense.)
Please save us from further wincing.
🤣🤣🤣 noted Kelly, I’ll make sure to not make you cringe again!
Pity about that loco and the price. Even without the running issues, the fact there are no etched nameplates is just criminal for the price they are charging; you'd also expect a perfect paint job and glazing that actually fits!
I prefer the original blue to the plethora of schemes about now but that's how it is. I did think the stag was a bit of graffiti to be begin with but it is authentic!
Completely agree. Etched nameplates are the very least I would expect at this price point Hugh.
Hi mate
I hope you are well
Nice to see the named lift on.
Am now a little worried for o2
Your seem a nice model.
Am sure they a medium between not enough details added to the bufferim and too much
Keep safe ARP
Hey Adi, honestly mate I’m sure the O2 is going to be a beast, don’t stress, especially after this revision.
@@Proper_Chuffed i know the old o2 was poo
Its easier to cut off detail than add it. I prefer the Heljan policy. The Heljan 86 is usually a good runner but accept your example isn't. PS Nobody will have bought the Heljan 86 for £240, its just an imaginary number so people can claim they got a discount.
I suppose the concept of adding detail instead of trimming is a bit more personal, I would honestly prefer to add myself, but I understand your sentiment.
Hi, sorry to see you not impressed with your Heljan purchase, I steer clear of their locomotives due to watching Sam’s Trains over the years where I don’t recall him given any of them any glowing reviews, you don’t always get what you pay for these days, I was shocked to see that key model world have an exclusive Heljan class 47 in Porterbrook livery and the cost for the sound fitted model is £389 which shocked me! As far as I’m concerned the Bachmann class 47 2021 model is the best hands down, motorised fans and a great lighting suite are very hard to compete with, Heljan are suffering with Bachmannitis which is a need to overcharge for items that will gather dust on shelves because modellers are tired of getting their pants pulled down through pure greed of the manufacturers! Heljan wagon are very good in my opinion at the right prices, it’s very sad when you buy a loco that isn’t worth the money in many departments you should Al all it out because you didn’t get it for free, thanks for sharing.
Hey Stormmy, I totally get where you’re coming from regarding Heljan. It’s definitely frustrating when you feel like you’re not getting your money’s worth, particularly at those higher price points.
I definitely don’t mind calling it out when something doesn’t live up to the price tag-it’s only fair as a customer. But that being said, I try doing so in a respectful way. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts. Hylt
@@Proper_Chuffed Hi, it’s always good to be respectful when calling things out, some modellers call out Accurascale for bits and pieces falling off their models when you get them out of the box, they have always sorted any issues out that I’ve had with their products where as Hornby don’t care and have shown contempt when dealing with certain issues that are production and development faults and that is a fact, they are driving customers away, as i stated before I’m not a Heljan locomotive fan because I’ve seen enough over the years to stop me buying them, it doesn’t mean they’re bad because they do sell them, I believe there are better choices and value for the money, Accurascale products can be very delicate and things break off, I accidentally broke a part off a brand new class 37 exclusive model a while ago so I contacted them and sent photographic evidence and they sent me a new part within a few days, that’s what I call great customer service, I’ve seen videos of new models that look like they were assembled by blindfolded workers! Some of the workers clearly don’t care and have no pride in their work, if they can’t do the job properly then they shouldn’t be there, these products aren’t cheap and can cause negative press for the brand and effect trade, Hornby can be woefully bad and very good at times, it’s always good to check as many reviews as possible if you are going to part with hundreds of pounds for what could be a pile of pants.