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At the L&B Gala this weekend, Lionheart Trains announced a range of 6 M-W Locos and 10 Carriages for O-16.5. Two prototype bodies were on display. By the simple procedure of trimming the axles, these are all designed for conversion to O-14. Expected release is about 12 months.
Something that may be of interest to members of this group?
Regards,
Martyn
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Yes definitely of interest, and the closest we've yet got to RTR O14
John
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I'm not sure I'd find trimming axles a simple procedure: I hope it's a matter of either pushing the wheels in or getting replacement axles (as Lionheart have done in 0 gauge for the Scale7 market).
David H
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At the L&B Gala this weekend, Lionheart Trains announced a range of 6 M-W Locos and 10 Carriages for O-16.5. Two prototype bodies were on display. By the simple procedure of trimming the axles, these are all designed for conversion to O-14. Expected release
is about 12 months.
Something that may be of interest to members of this group?
Regards,
Martyn
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This possibly means the wheels are mounted on stub axles, which is what Grafar now do for N-2FS conversion, and also for split-axle pickup. Whatever the technical fix, I’ll certainly be after a couple of the locos! Allan
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On 27 Sep 2021, at 22:22, David Hughes <formerchurchwarden@...> wrote:
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I'm not sure I'd find trimming axles a simple procedure: I hope it's a matter of either pushing the wheels in or getting replacement axles (as Lionheart have done in 0 gauge for the Scale7 market).
David H
At the L&B Gala this weekend, Lionheart Trains announced a range of 6 M-W Locos and 10 Carriages for O-16.5. Two prototype bodies were on display. By the simple procedure of trimming the axles, these are all designed for conversion to O-14. Expected release
is about 12 months.
Something that may be of interest to members of this group?
Regards,
Martyn
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Allan,
See the photos of the wheels and cranks on the second post in this RMWeb thread on the locos.
Andrew
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On Sep 28, 2021, at 10:46, Allan Dare <allan.dare@...> wrote:
? This possibly means the wheels are mounted on stub axles, which is what Grafar now do for N-2FS conversion, and also for split-axle pickup. Whatever the technical fix, I’ll certainly be after a couple of the locos! Allan On 27 Sep 2021, at 22:22, David Hughes <formerchurchwarden@...> wrote:
?
I'm not sure I'd find trimming axles a simple procedure: I hope it's a matter of either pushing the wheels in or getting replacement axles (as Lionheart have done in 0 gauge for the Scale7 market).
David H
At the L&B Gala this weekend, Lionheart Trains announced a range of 6 M-W Locos and 10 Carriages for O-16.5. Two prototype bodies were on display. By the simple procedure of trimming the axles, these are all designed for conversion to O-14. Expected release
is about 12 months.
Something that may be of interest to members of this group?
Regards,
Martyn
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For rolling stock, I have a simple jig with the correct 14mm back-to-back setting and with one fixed and one moveable support, can move the wheels together evenly on an axle to re-gauge from 16.5 to 14mm. ?Of course, for loco's, I know Accucraft offer a 45mm or 32mm option that can be swapped over but that's a different story - perhaps. ?This is really excellent news, except that I have commissioned 2 hand built Manning Wardles which will be a bit more expensive than the Lionheart versions.... - oh well! ?Can't wait to see these though and let's hope it will stimulate others to venture in to the o14 world, there are so many prototypes out there. ?Cheers, Cliff
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Andrew
Greetings from far-off Wiltshire, and thanks!
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For rolling stock, I have a simple jig with the correct 14mm back-to-back setting and with one fixed and one moveable support, can move the wheels together evenly on an axle to re-gauge from 16.5 to 14mm. ?Of course, for loco's, I know Accucraft offer a 45mm or 32mm option that can be swapped over but that's a different story - perhaps. ?This is really excellent news, except that I have commissioned 2 hand built Manning Wardles which will be a bit more expensive than the Lionheart versions.... - oh well! ?Can't wait to see these though and let's hope it will stimulate others to venture in to the o14 world, there are so many prototypes out there. ?Cheers, Cliff
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So you are one of the lucky ones on Tom’s client list. I am watching the build with interest. They are going to be wonderful models.?
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?I am watching the build with interest. They are going to be wonderful models.?
Yes I'm watching too. I just hope the track is good enough. They probably deserve a red carpet. And I'll be after some photos for the Review.
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I wondered if this might be your track, John.?
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I hope Cliff doesn't mind me saying so, but yes it is:
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If you can share any photos of progress on the layout, Cliff, I for one would be most interested. First class locos on first class PW, this will be an extraordinary layout.?
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Paul, yes I will share photos when sufficient progress has been made. ?Getting space to put it up and work on the actual layout has been limited due to space constraints, so I have been focussing on the rolling stock. ?The gaps in available 7mm scale L&B stock are reducing which is good news. ?You can see the track excellent trackwork via John C’s blog which also shows a couple of the buildings. ?I have all the buildings made and in store - even including the station managers bungalow. ?Still lots of work to do and probably a few years yet before significant progress is made - too many other things keep getting in the way. ?Best regards, Cliff
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If you can share any photos of progress on the layout, Cliff, I for one would be most interested. First class locos on first class PW, this will be an extraordinary layout.?
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I look forward to seeing more. It all sounds a rather splendid layout in the making. Are you keeping an eye on the sporadic progress that Tim Watson is making on a similar project to ?build Lynton in 4mm scale on 7.83mm gauge? ?Which era are you going to be building? ?
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Paul - keeping an eye on all that is going on is quite a challenge, particularly when I am not aware of it - could you post a link? ?Regarding era, very much towards the late Southern Railway period - 1932 onwards.
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I look forward to seeing more. It all sounds a rather splendid layout in the making. Are you keeping an eye on the sporadic progress that Tim Watson is making on a similar project to ?build Lynton in 4mm scale on 7.83mm gauge? ?Which era are you going to be building? ?
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David, they are stub axles, and I have suggested that they manufacture the "wheelsets" to O-14 standard, but supply them fitted with a pair of spacers/washers to bring them out to O-16.5! Not sure how that will play out, but it was worth a try! :)
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On Sep 30, 2021, at 18:16, Martyn de Young <martyn@...> wrote:
?David, they are stub axles, and I have suggested that they manufacture the "wheelsets" to O-14 standard, but supply them fitted with a pair of spacers/washers to bring them out to O-16.5! Not sure how that will play out, but it was worth a try! :)
_._,_._,_
Martyn,
The use of spacers / washers sounds like a less than sound solution which would create a weakness. Don’t suppose Lionheart would want to design in such a weakness. Shades of the Heljan 009 version!
Better for some enterprising individual to produce some replacement stub axles suitable for 14mm gauge to replace the 16.5mm gauge ones with.?
Andrew
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Many years ago I bought a Wrightlines 'Pug' replacement chassis. Converting that to O14 involved removing a slice from the end of the stub axles. I still have nightmares about how badly I did it ...?Let's
just say I bought Kay's RTR version of the chassis rather than fix the horrible wounds I'd inflicted on the kit, which kit is still somewhere down in the 'stash'.
I'll persist with my Link/Gibson kit for a little while longer, though the Lionheart is very tempting.
David H
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I'm incredibly excited about this announcement but feel it could be a missed opportunity.?
It's really positive that it's been promised as adaptable to O14.??Whatever adaptable to O14 means it isn't going to be without compromises (probably wheels inset from outside
frames), and probably require some skill and risk damaging an expensive model.
I dabble in O14, but my kit building isn't up to the standard of RTR products.? I know O14 is a "modelling" scale and I enjoy modelling but would love the support of RTR to open opportunities. i.e. wheel sets, track for fiddle yards, etc.
As I understand from subtle remarks from manufacturers this is not the only 7mm narrow gauge RTR announcement in the pipeline.??Every OO9 announcement so far has been a 2-foot gauge
prototype (OK some Baldwins were re-gauged).? 2-foot has the iconic prototypes which RTR manufacturers will produce.? I know some people will object as they're happy with their kits, however that doesn't change the fact it looks like 7mm narrow gauge RTR will
happen, but probably for O-16.5.? I think we all agree they won't look quite right on O-16.5.
O14 is currently a niche, even when compared to O-16.5, let alone OO9 and heaven forbit OO.? However, those markets are congested.? No one knows the potential of 7mm narrow gauge supported
by RTR but given success of 7mm standard gauge and OO9 it looks promising. Does it have to be O-16.5 or could it be O14 from the start?? With off the shelf track and a couple of RTR locos in O-14 its popularity would quickly overtake O-16.5, which could still
exist for those who want to adapt OO chassis or model railways around 2 foot 4 inches.
I believe Lionheart could be persuaded to produce a bespoke O14 chassis if they believed there would be sufficient sales.? The problem is lack of track and here there is a complete
market failure.? The majority of existing 7mm Narrow Gauge Association members are by definition happy with O-16.5 and some will like the idea of it being served by RTR.? Peco are likely to be excited by RTR O-16.5 to increase sales of existing products in
this range.? The opportunity is new entrants untied to a gauge, but these people are unlikely to be able to co-ordinate a move to O14.? So I fear nobody will act.
Can anything be done to encourage the production of O14 track and encourage the likes of Lionheart to produce a bespoke O14 chassis before we have range of 2-foot prototypes RTR but on O-16.5, recreating the legacy issues which sees the perpetuation of OO.
These aren't hollow words, I would happily help crowd fund such a project.? Does anyone have contacts within Peco that would be willing help put together a proposal?? I really feel there is an opportunity here but it is a short window that won't stay open for
long.
Thoughts?
Rich
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Many years ago I bought a Wrightlines 'Pug' replacement chassis. Converting that to O14 involved removing a slice from the end of the stub axles. I still have nightmares about how badly I did it ...?Let's
just say I bought Kay's RTR version of the chassis rather than fix the horrible wounds I'd inflicted on the kit, which kit is still somewhere down in the 'stash'.
I'll persist with my Link/Gibson kit for a little while longer, though the Lionheart is very tempting.
David H
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Hi Richard - you make a good point. ?However I read today that Paul Martin at EDM Models is now venturing into the area of ready made 0-14 track and is likely to have some on display/for sale at the 7mm NGA Show at Burton at the end of this month. ?Small steps, but heading in the right direction.
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I'm incredibly excited about this announcement but feel it could be a missed opportunity.??It's really positive that it's been promised as adaptable to O14.??Whatever adaptable to O14 means it isn't going to be without compromises (probably wheels inset from outside frames), and probably require some skill and risk damaging an expensive model.
I dabble in O14, but my kit building isn't up to the standard of RTR products.? I know O14 is a "modelling" scale and I enjoy modelling but would love the support of RTR to open opportunities. i.e. wheel sets, track for fiddle yards, etc.
As I understand from subtle remarks from manufacturers this is not the only 7mm narrow gauge RTR announcement in the pipeline.??Every OO9 announcement so far has been a 2-foot gauge prototype (OK some Baldwins were re-gauged).? 2-foot has the iconic prototypes which RTR manufacturers will produce.? I know some people will object as they're happy with their kits, however that doesn't change the fact it looks like 7mm narrow gauge RTR will happen, but probably for O-16.5.? I think we all agree they won't look quite right on O-16.5.
O14 is currently a niche, even when compared to O-16.5, let alone OO9 and heaven forbit OO.? However, those markets are congested.? No one knows the potential of 7mm narrow gauge supported by RTR but given success of 7mm standard gauge and OO9 it looks promising. Does it have to be O-16.5 or could it be O14 from the start?? With off the shelf track and a couple of RTR locos in O-14 its popularity would quickly overtake O-16.5, which could still exist for those who want to adapt OO chassis or model railways around 2 foot 4 inches.
I believe Lionheart could be persuaded to produce a bespoke O14 chassis if they believed there would be sufficient sales.? The problem is lack of track and here there is a complete market failure.? The majority of existing 7mm Narrow Gauge Association members are by definition happy with O-16.5 and some will like the idea of it being served by RTR.? Peco are likely to be excited by RTR O-16.5 to increase sales of existing products in this range.? The opportunity is new entrants untied to a gauge, but these people are unlikely to be able to co-ordinate a move to O14.? So I fear nobody will act.
Can anything be done to encourage the production of O14 track and encourage the likes of Lionheart to produce a bespoke O14 chassis before we have range of 2-foot prototypes RTR but on O-16.5, recreating the legacy issues which sees the perpetuation of OO.
These aren't hollow words, I would happily help crowd fund such a project.? Does anyone have contacts within Peco that would be willing help put together a proposal?? I really feel there is an opportunity here but it is a short window that won't stay open for long.
Thoughts? Rich
Many years ago I bought a Wrightlines 'Pug' replacement chassis. Converting that to O14 involved removing a slice from the end of the stub axles. I still have nightmares about how badly I did it ...?Let's just say I bought Kay's RTR version of the chassis rather than fix the horrible wounds I'd inflicted on the kit, which kit is still somewhere down in the 'stash'. I'll persist with my Link/Gibson kit for a little while longer, though the Lionheart is very tempting. David H
David, they are stub axles <snip>
?Links: You receive all messages sent to this group.?
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Martyn de Young
David Hughes
Allan Dare
Paul Holmes