If this happens I would like to know which yellow SSR scheme you would prefer? Same as the B class or the yellow, black and silver scheme?
Google the SSR deisels to find the colours and let us know via badgerbits@gmail.com or social media.
]]>13 and 14th of January
Gopher models will have a small amount of stock and Phil will be helping Ixion, with the long awaited stock cars in HO.
Shops will be able to get their stock the week after Warnambool ( VIC only)
]]>They won't be a gopher models store but we will be there to chat and run trains and answer some questions people may have.
This is shaping up to be a big fun weekend, please join us as we celebrate local towns and all things trains.
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Private Owner Non-Air Hoppers
The private owner coal hopper was used in the Newcastle coal fields and beyond for over a century and became synonymous with J and A Brown and the South Maitland Railways Pty Ltd.
They were used to transport coal from the many collieries dotted around Newcastle etc. A typical train length was 28 wagons per loco and they were finally withdrawn from service in 1977.
Government LCH Braked Hoppers
The LCH was very similar to the private owner wagons of the Maitland coal fields. They were used by the NSWGR for replenishment of coal at small coaling stages around the state. They were typically found running from the Illawarra, Lithgow, Upper Hunter, Sydney suburbs and anywhere a small branchline coal stage was found.
This model has a steel underframe and a ratchet handbrake and was airbraked from the locomotive.
There were 2190 in service.
There are seven different packs available, one NSWGR grey LCH pack of five, and six different Private Owner packs, shop for your packs at the links below:
Technical detail
The coupler box is the same size as a Microtrains 1015, therefore it can be swapped over to allow automatic uncoupling at either end of your train.
Breaking NEWS!
A CHG guards van kit, suitable for the SMR and Government Railways LCH wagons, is in preparation and should be available mid October. Test shots have been successful.
Also in late stage development are kits for the SMR 10 class and NSWGR 50 class, we expect them to be ready around April 2021.
]]>The problems some people have had with poor running of the Gopher Model’s 42, 44, B, S and GM class diesel locos has been discussed on the Groups.io forum, with various reasons advanced and remedies suggested.
One issue pinpointed by Phil Badger was the different metals used in the bogie pickup plates compared with the sprung wipers attached to the chassis. It is conjectured that this could cause conductivity problems at the contact points, such as arcing, corrosion, etc. Phil is having replacement bogie plates made of phosphor bronze to match the wipers.
Another issue was the build-up of grease thrown off the drive train and fouling the wiper contacts. This gunk should be removed, and the flat end of a wooden skewer used to carefully burnish the wipers and the rounded contact points of the bogie pickup plates.
However there is another issue with these locos that seems to have slipped under the radar, although it is known to a few. Because Phil markets his models to some European countries, they were made to satisfy a European regulation concerned with radio interference caused by DC motors. As such they have a small capacitor installed across the motor terminals to smooth out the DC signal. But when converting the loco to DCC, the capacitor interferes with the waveform reaching the motor often causing erratic behaviour, and therefore needs to be removed.
In every case, removal of the capacitor has dramatically improved the running characteristics of the locomotive. The remedy is quick and fairly easy – it just requires a little care.
The book Coaching Stock of the NSW Railways, Volume 2, (Eveleigh Press), page 45, describes the trains as follows:
Mansard-roofed end platform car set 25 (G.G. Hudson, contract 12/96) was chosen in 1940 for use as the Royal Australian Air Force recruiting train. When outshopped on 10 September 1940 it was divided into two three-car sets, painted sky blue with the RAAF roundel on the right-hand end panel and on the side of end car. ‘RAAF Recruiting Train’ was painted along the three carriages. Seats were removed and the cars divided into waiting, interview, and medical test rooms. A 9.7bhp (7.5kW) Southern Cross electric generating plant was installed in each guard’s compartment. Set 25A 2 was returned by the RAAF in April 1941. Lavatories were fitted on August 1941. Set 25B continued in used with the Air Force until February 1942. Seating was restored and the cars fitted with lavatories in March 1942 and the set was reunited. It was not remarshalled and the first class cars were 2 and 5.
You can purchase the FO carriages, paint and decals from the BadgerBits/Gopher Models stand.
]]>Here are some examples of magnificently weathered rolling stock, imagine your layout with these running on them!
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Don’t forget we are at the Hills Model Railway Exhibition in Stanhope Gardens at the Stanhope Gardens leisure Centre 9-5 Saturday and 9-4 Sunday.
Drop by and say hello and enjoy a family day out
For those who questioned the Red Terror 44 Class colour scheme, you were correct about the inaccuracy, and after constant talks with the factory, they have admitted to making the error.
This has culminated with the Red Terror being recalled by the factory and all are being sent back; new bodies will be made and painted in the correct colour scheme for the Red Terror.
Those who have already purchased the Red Terror, please get in touch with us via email so we know who you are. You can keep your model now and when the replacements arrive from the factory, we will just do a straight swap of your "uniquely painted" version with the correct colour scheme.
Another issue that appeared is that when the factory included the 4 standoffs for mounting the buffer beams, they didn't realise that the front buffer beam required a different standoff from the rear one.
This factory error is also being corrected and the factory will send the front buffer beam standoffs along with the corrected Red Terror colour scheme loco's.
Once they have arrived, I will make everyone aware that we have received them, make sure you send me an email with how many you require so we can get them posted out to you.
Email us at Badgerbits@gmail.com
Just a reminder that the SSR colour scheme doesn't require any standoffs and is also the only loco in the 44 range that doesn't require numbering and is ready to roll.
Regarding the comments on the locos, the locos were only painting samples and thanks for your input. Changes have to be made and they have been submitted to the factory, so we will see what comes back!
The changes were:
As for the comments about the B class colour scheme, one of the things that I had to do was make certain compromises because I was doing 4 different locos and wanted to contain the costs so the price did not have to rise. One of those compromises was the valance, it had to remain on and the same sideframe had to be used. Back to the paint scheme, I chose the second scheme as this was on the B class for a far longer time than the original. There is a whole lot of detail under the valance so if people want to take the valance off I will do some castings of the detail and supply it for minimal cost. The same applies to the sideframes, if people want the later sideframes I will also supply them for a small additional cost.
The cost of the Bernie Baker B class will be $270 as it cost $30 more to do because there was so much extra in the scheme and I am only doing 200 of them. The factory has a minimum of 500 per colour scheme otherwise it costs substantially more if you want less than 500.
As usual with Gopher locos (except special 1 off schemes), decals will be provided for your choice of number.
Also, if you require a name for the S or B class, I will supply upon request the name you want for the named locos separately. I am looking for the font style so I can get it correct
The numbers available for sale of each loco are as follows:
If a second run is required (if first run is sold out) I am considering 500 of each, but this time: