Roundhouse 2014

TommyDodd · Post by **TommyDodd** » Sun Apr 13, 2014 7:59 pm

Even though after the last acquisitions and repairs left me with a more-than-sufficient fleet and I was pretty sure I was all set for motive power for the next couple of decades, I for one am highly delighted with the choice. I would never have picked her as a likely prospect, knowing that the late great Alf Bennett (a keen NWNG/WHR fan) had shied away from attempting a scratchbuild and it's generally not a common loco. I think it's characterful enough to be attractive (probably more so than Atlantic which was a better model than Argyll but somehow lacked the latter's charm), whilst still being sufficiently typical in appearance to tolerate freelance furtling and fictional liveries (unlike say the Darj or VoR, which are distinctive machines and only really at home in prototypical liveries). I reckon this one will be with us a while- long enough for me to save the necessary £1900 at least (I hope!).

HereticUK · Post by **HereticUK** » Sun Apr 13, 2014 9:37 pm

DVT Dweller:99366 wrote:Either that or roundhouse might seem to think it will cost you £1700 manual or £1900 rc.

That's more manageable but it would require a great amount of savings on my part...

Keith S · Post by **Keith S** » Sun Apr 13, 2014 10:20 pm

I wonder if garden railways are losing some of their "freelance" appeal and if so, for what reason? I have always like the mentality that some people have that they are inventing their own little operation that is meant to feel, rather than look, similar to a typical little UK narrow-gauge railway company. The scale-model aspect seems to be increasingly popular. I personally am one of those people who think "Lady Anne" is a beautiful thing to look at, and more's the pity there aren't a greater number of full-size engines that look like that! Sometimes I feel the freelance rolling stock has greater charm than the scale stuff and in a way, is sometimes a little more realistic in the sense that it matches the out-of-scale landscape a little better. Sometimes you can ruin a painting by trying to make it look too much like a photograph.

The reason I bring it up is that I would have thought Roundhouse would have sold more of those "George" engines. I certainly wanted one, if I could justify buying another steam engine at this time. Maybe this always happens when a certain scale attracts more attention from the credit-card modellers. You almost never see "freelance" OO scale or O scale models. I wonder if this is because you can buy almost anything you want now and why not buy a scale model?

cncmodeller · Post by **cncmodeller** » Sun Apr 13, 2014 10:21 pm

Well for me having seen the Leek and Manifold loco close up for the first time, I think that will be my next purchase, I regret not getting Taliesin and am not going to miss the opportunity just in case it gets dropped.
I don't think I am that keen on the 7/8th trend at the moment, looking at the 7/8th quarry hunslet by accucraft leaves me cold compared to the dainty SM32 ones as the small size somehow equates to the real thing to my eye.
We sort of have run out of prototypes to build that are not too small, I think a lot of it has to do with using gas firing [ which is great ] but relies on having a largish fire tube running through the boiler so negates the small locos [ Talyllyn, Corris , Southwold ] being viable subjects for mass manufacture.

John

pauly · Post by **pauly** » Sun Apr 13, 2014 10:33 pm

I really dont like scale models or models that strongly represent a prototype for the most part because when you mix prototypes with freelance it just looks wrong, I ask myself why is that model with those coaches or wagons or next to that freelance loco
Id have to have stock to match the prototype loco ect and its all so limiting.

Id rather do things my way with freelance where anything is possible for me.

One of the reasons I left 00 was as I become more social with it I increasingly was met with the opinion that if your not following a prototype to a bloody T your doing it wrong and garden railways seemed very much ''on your bike, do whatever you like'' but thats becoming less so these days.

Id really like to see a new high end loco from RoundHouse that breaks the mold of freelance models
I personally think the new model is ugly

Colinjamesporter · Post by **Colinjamesporter** » Sun Apr 13, 2014 10:36 pm

Bedgellert is a very nice loco. I hope both it and the Leek and Manifold locos stay in production for a while as I would like to get one of each in the future.
Best wishes
Colin

paullad1984 · Post by **paullad1984** » Sun Apr 13, 2014 10:36 pm

Really, i think its the best they've done in a while! Wish the Russell looked as good....

pauly · Post by **pauly** » Sun Apr 13, 2014 10:45 pm

I think some people confuse freelance with generic
with freelance you can do anything, a freelance model can be any fantastic fantasy design or what-if model

doesnt have to be a generic 0-4-0 with side tanks

SpudUk · Post by **SpudUk** » Mon Apr 14, 2014 9:10 am

Would either be a SAR Lawley, a Metropolitan Waterworks Railway Kerr Stuart, a 0-8-0 Henschel, or some smaller 2' English proto-types, Bagnalls etc.

funandtrains · Post by **funandtrains** » Mon Apr 14, 2014 11:09 am

SpudUk:99414 wrote:Would either be a SAR Lawley, a Metropolitan Waterworks Railway Kerr Stuart, a 0-8-0 Henschel, or some smaller 2' English proto-types, Bagnalls etc.

I expect German Accucraft will be making the 0-8-0 brigadeloc in 16mm scale as they are making the French military 0-4-0.

Accucraft UK are making a Bagnall in 7/8 scale and they might also make a Kerr Stuart in that scale as they are too small to easily make in 16mm.

DVT Dweller · Post by **DVT Dweller** » Mon Apr 14, 2014 12:51 pm

Wow there are some complaints about the effort RH have gone to with this new loco, and surprisingly enough the complaining seems to be coming from the freelance boys.

There are plenty of generic freelance locos out there between the 2main companies and we've just seen some withdrawn due to lack of sales and the speed the order book has filled up has shown that RH have made the right choice after listening to what people have asked for.

As for prototypical v non-prototypical why does having a prototypical engine stop you from having a non-prototypical railway? I've got a mix of prototypical locos that never ran together and generic/freelance locos. All of them have a history for how they all ended up together to fit in with my line, that was never a 2' gauge line to start with.

Look at what Tag does with the L&W. Each loco is modified to suit the L&W's requirements no matter if it's based on a real loco or a generic.

Rule 1 applies at all times.

funandtrains · Post by **funandtrains** » Mon Apr 14, 2014 1:51 pm

Personally I would like all manufacturers to make models of actual prototypes rather than freelance models, however it would be better if the prototypes chosen had one than one ever made to make them easier to mix with other stock or looked more typical. Russell works well as it look like many other locos shipped around the world as does Argyle.

steamyjim · Post by **steamyjim** » Mon Apr 14, 2014 2:20 pm

DVT Dweller:99421 wrote: Look at what Tag does with the L&W. Each loco is modified to suit the L&W's requirements no matter if it's based on a real loco or a generic.

When you look at Tag's fleet of locos, generally, the locos that are based on real prototypes are for locos that were built in large numbers and could be seen on many different lines e.g. his Alco. As you say, it doesn't really matter though, this hobby should all be about playing trains and not getting het up! I personally prefer freelance locos for my line, however, I think this new RH loco is gorgeous and if this is what brings in the orders for Roundhouse, so be it!

I'm sure that you will agree it all boils down to: If you don't like it, don't buy it!

IRON MAN · Post by **IRON MAN** » Mon Apr 14, 2014 4:29 pm

Well said dweller of DVT's (ex dweller?).

In our own imaginary histories of the lines, whose to say how many of a certain loco were built. Maybe there were some other locos shaped uncannily like Beddgelert that were destined for an overseas railway but unfortunetly for Hunslet of Leeds the order was cancelled before shipment. Luckily XYZ Railway had a need for a new engine so helps hunslet out and buys them. . .

Some of the pipework details are great on the new release. I was talking to Harry of Roundhouse and he was saying about their new found love of getting patterns 3d printed. This may help explain why the price was lower than I expected.

kandnwlr · Post by **kandnwlr** » Mon Apr 14, 2014 8:14 pm

paullad1984:95515 wrote:Im hoping for something nice, who knows perhaps a SAR 4-4-0 "Lawley", lol

I´d vote for that, but that still only makes two votes. Anyone else up for it?

kandnwlr · Post by **kandnwlr** » Mon Apr 14, 2014 8:18 pm

Mattyrallye:95630 wrote:
INJIN:95614 wrote:WD Hunslet .........Yup I approve!

That is stunning!

Very, very nice. I had searching the interwebnet for such a pic.

kandnwlr · Post by **kandnwlr** » Mon Apr 14, 2014 8:21 pm

Matt:95581 wrote:How about Leeds No. 1? Or a Darjeeling C class?

Darjeeling "C". Please, please.

kandnwlr · Post by **kandnwlr** » Mon Apr 14, 2014 8:22 pm

Dannypenguin:95519 wrote:
ace:95513 wrote:Personally I'd like to a Kerr Stuart skylark. I found one here:

http://www.hfstephens-museum.org.uk/col ... ocomotives

It's a little 0-4-2, very cute! I can image it could be made to Millie proportions ok, it just means that the running gear would need to be condensed a little.

Like!

I would really like one of these. That´s just what the Colonel ordered!

kandnwlr · Post by **kandnwlr** » Mon Apr 14, 2014 8:23 pm

funandtrains:99420 wrote:
SpudUk:99414 wrote:Would either be a SAR Lawley, a Metropolitan Waterworks Railway Kerr Stuart, a 0-8-0 Henschel, or some smaller 2' English proto-types, Bagnalls etc.
I expect German Accucraft will be making the 0-8-0 brigadeloc in 16mm scale as they are making the French military 0-4-0.

Accucraft UK are making a Bagnall in 7/8 scale and they might also make a Kerr Stuart in that scale as they are too small to easily make in 16mm.

What makes you think that Accu.de will make the BRIGADELOC?

cncmodeller · Post by **cncmodeller** » Mon Apr 14, 2014 8:48 pm

I wonder what happens if the prototype loco is a bit small and you go up to 7/8 scale but its already a 3ft gauge loco?
For instance a Southwold Sharpie or a Rye and Camber Bagnall 2-4-0.

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