Roundhouse 2014

swiftsixteen · Post by **swiftsixteen** » Thu Sep 26, 2013 9:11 am

So there will be a second batch

That's good news

MDLR · Post by **MDLR** » Thu Sep 26, 2013 11:14 pm

Apparently the problems with the Quarry Hunslets is why there aren't going to be any more.

Hope Mountain Railway · Post by **Hope Mountain Railway** » Fri Sep 27, 2013 8:43 pm

There is definitely a second batch of Quarry Hunslets, due in Feb. I saw one running on Pete Ball's line last Friday night, and I was so impressed with its smoothness that I placed an order.

Mattyrallye · Post by **Mattyrallye** » Thu Oct 24, 2013 2:28 pm

I love the reliability of Roundhouse, I really do, so much so that i didnt hesitate to buy a 26 year old Billy.... But and it is a big but, the body kits i think are quite crude compared to accucraft. Saying that i would never buy an Accucraft locomotive as i do not thing they are particularly successful steamers on my line. (This is my personal opinion)

If Roundhouse bring out a new loco, I would like to see something that looks a bit more prototypical in its body construction. I even think Karen looks slightly un-detailled in the flesh to be honest.

I would love to see something with a full running footplate and british outline but "loosely" based around distinguished designer features. i.e. Bagnall.

Keith S · Post by **Keith S** » Thu Oct 24, 2013 10:09 pm

Well there is something to be said for the fun you can have adding your own bits and pieces to a model. The extra detail you want would come with extra price, too!

I might be alone in this opinion, but one of the reasons I like live steam is that they are real locomotives in miniature: it seems almost counter to the spirit of the thing to hang a lot of non-functioning machinery on a locomotive whose charm is in its functionality. That's just me though, I've got rolling stock with various levels of detail and my locomotive looks distinctly plain in comparison to the more detailed wagons so I know what you mean.

I really liked a locomotive Chris Bird made a while ago that had "Katie" valve gear, boiler and tanks on "Bertie" frames and wheels. It was a very nice-looking little engine. Something like that would probably sell quite well, maybe even in 7/8ths scale, or perhaps an option for either a 16mm or 7/8ths version.

Or...If Roundhouse were to build a special version of "Bertie" with hackworth valve gear I would buy one immediately, even if I had to resort to subterfuge with my wife.

swiftsixteen · Post by **swiftsixteen** » Thu Oct 24, 2013 10:37 pm

Just a satin paint job would transform RH engines.

andymctractor · Post by **andymctractor** » Fri Oct 25, 2013 10:00 am

swiftsixteen:90957 wrote:Just a satin paint job would transform RH engines.

There are a lot of paint colour choices. when buying new, so I think having a satin option would be relatively simple one but I stand to be corrected on that.
I'm a very keen Roundhouse fan and as a still learning steam chappy I support the argument that everyones first live steam loco should be a Roundhouse. (No offence meant to Mamod owners)

Keith S · Post by **Keith S** » Fri Oct 25, 2013 9:43 pm

I strongly advocate building a kit if you can't think of a reason not to. It's very rewarding. Maybe Roundhouse should make more locomotives in kit form. Like a Bertie with Hackworth valve gear for instance. Or the "George/Mildred" engine. Building the loco is much more fun than waiting for it to get built.

laurence703 · Post by **laurence703** » Fri Oct 25, 2013 11:04 pm

A Bertie or Millie kit would be good... I can see that one being popular as you'll still end up with a good loco at the end but are able to spread the amount over a period of time making them more affordable

Mattyrallye · Post by **Mattyrallye** » Sat Oct 26, 2013 7:59 am

So agree with the satin finish. It looks so much more realistic and less toy like. Even the loco's in black have a glossy finish. Can't think of any narrow gauge line that had loco's that were always mint condition.

My dad has a light blue lady Ann and it is a stunning performer... It just looks wrong somehow and I know he would never paint it for fear of "buggering" it up. Maybe I should re detail and give it a coat of Matt varnish for his birthday.

While I am on a bit of a high horse I have to get this out there, why oh why do people spend hours painting the loco's smokebox with BBQ paint and leave all the foot plate in black gloss?

Maybe I should start a loco painting business. It seems to be the one thing I can really do well.

TonyW · Post by **TonyW** » Sat Oct 26, 2013 12:04 pm

Mattyrallye:90988 wrote:... why oh why do people spend hours painting the loco's smokebox with BBQ paint and leave all the foot plate in black gloss?

While it is possible that a full-size loco has had more shiny gloss black on it than is the norm, I'd wager that no full-size loco has ever run with completely unpainted polished shiny wheels.

A matting agent additive is needed to turn gloss paint in to satin or matt. The additive's performance (i.e. the amount of matting) is affected by temperature and humidity and so can be variable, and so can vary from one day to the next. The only way to achieve a consistent finish is to paint the whole loco at once in one go.

The other issue with satin/matt finishes is that they have to be perfect first time and every time. With a gloss finish any minor imperfections can be polished out and they will not show. Using the same treatment on a satin finishes results in a gloss finish on the treated area.

As for a Bertie/Millie kit, remember that both of these locos have their wheels outside of the frames and pressed on to the axles, requiring special equipment to achieve. They are locked in place and cannot (normally) be removed.

Keith S · Post by **Keith S** » Sat Oct 26, 2013 7:57 pm

They are now, but it wouldn't be too hard to make wheels that press onto the axles the same way the cranks do on the outside-framed locomotives, with square ends so the quartering is correct.

Colinjamesporter · Post by **Colinjamesporter** » Mon Dec 09, 2013 3:15 pm

Since Tom Rolt has now been discontinued we might see something like Talyllyn since it is 150 next year.

Woodfields Light Railway · Post by **Woodfields Light Railway** » Tue Dec 10, 2013 7:35 am

Please can some expert assure me that the 'Millie' will be staying with us....

pauly · Post by **pauly** » Tue Dec 10, 2013 7:59 am

Woodfields Light Railway:93399 wrote:Please can some expert assure me that the 'Millie' will be staying with us....

I believe last time I spoke with RoundHouse I pretty much asked that question was got the usual: there are currently no plans to discontinue that loco ect ect

Ai no I don't think Millie is going anywhere, I think she's the top seller in the Basic range so...

BEYNAK · Post by **BEYNAK** » Tue Dec 10, 2013 10:43 am

pauly:93400 wrote:
Woodfields Light Railway:93399 wrote:Please can some expert assure me that the 'Millie' will be staying with us....
I believe last time I spoke with RoundHouse I pretty much asked that question was got the usual: there are currently no plans to discontinue that loco ect ect
Ai no I don't think Millie is going anywhere, I think she's the top seller in the Basic range so...

I guess you found the real expert !

Dannypenguin · Post by **Dannypenguin** » Tue Dec 10, 2013 12:34 pm

pauly:93400 wrote: I think she's the top seller in the Basic range so...

As far as I know the Bertie is the top seller.

laurence703 · Post by **laurence703** » Tue Dec 10, 2013 4:38 pm

With a millie / bertie kit I understand the wheels aren't the easiest of things but it wouldn't be impossible to change the frames slightly so they're a similar fashion to a set of mamod frames where they have a slot for the axle to slide in and a hole big enough for the bearing to sit in...
OR.
Key the wheels and axles with a grub screw.

Either way... what ever they decide on, it'll probably be as good if not better than the current offerings

IrishPeter · Post by **IrishPeter** » Fri Dec 13, 2013 5:23 am

I have a half formed plan to add a Bertie to the Millie that already trundles around on the CLR, but I never seem to have the folding stuff in sufficient quantities for long enough for it to happen.

Peter in AZ

Andrew · Post by **Andrew** » Fri Dec 13, 2013 12:01 pm

IrishPeter:93539 wrote:I have a half formed plan to add a Bertie to the Millie that already trundles around on the CLR, but I never seem to have the folding stuff in sufficient quantities for long enough for it to happen.

Peter in AZ

All you need to do is have twins. I persuaded my wife of the need for a Bertie while she was pregnant with ours, claiming that it'd be the last time we'd have enough money for such extravagances in the near future...

I'm very fond of mine (Bertie and twins) but saddle tanks aren't very Ireland/Isle of Man Peter, are your interests shifting again?

Cheers,

Andrew.

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