Eureka R-class....No Really!

It has been a long process, but nearly 8 years after they were first announced, the Eureka Models R-class has finally arrived. The model has had a difficult birth, much the same as the real locomotives which spent more than 20 years in development. Eureka had to endure a change of factory a few years into the project, and other delays with sound chips for the DCC sound versions. However they are now here and being delivered to customers. Mine was delivered to me yesterday and I was eager to unpack the model and put it through its paces. Unfortunately the number I had ordered (R761 as preserved) was not the model I ended up with; R727 in 'as delivered' condition. On closer inspection I noticed the numberplates are only plastic mouldings with the numbers printed on, so rather than send the model back I will obtain some proper etched numberplates from a 3rd party manufacturer. Other than being the wrong number, the model itself is very nicely detailed. The cab interior has all the seats, brakestand and controls modeled, but will benefit from a bit of work with a paintbrush to add some colour. The driving wheels are chemically blackened but still appear shiny, so again some paint will cure this.

On the track under power the model performs well. There is very little motor noise and it track well through points and over undulations in trackwork. I've yet to do a  full load test but the engine easily handled hauling 2 Auscision E cars. The prototype was not regarded as a heavy freight loco but rather a fast passenger loco capable of hauling a 4-6 car train at up to 70mph. As such a single R might look odd a train of more than 6 E type cars. In preservation it is common to see a R haul close to 10 cars on flat sections of track such as Melbourne-Geelong without assistance.

Anyway enough gassbagging, here are some photos of the model:

In due course the model will recieve:
-New numberplates.
-A paintjob to the cab interior.
-A crew.
-Paint to the driving wheels.
-Paint to the buffers.
-A DCC decoder (possibly sound).
-An improved front coupler to those supplied.
 

Project Vulcan Part 2

With the weather turning bad recently I haven't had a chance to finish the AW car. So I decided to at least get the J-class tender finished. Assembling the oil tank proved an interesting exercise, and I opted to follow the instructions to make my job easier. The tank wrapper is brass, and the ends are whitemetal. To join the 3 components the inside of the tank wrapper was tinned with standard solder, then a layer of low-melt solder. The tank ends were inserted and flux applied before rolling the barrel of the soldering iron around the edge, being careful not to melt the beading on the tank ends. To keep the wrapper taught around the ends some copper wire was wrapped and twisted around the wrapper. The rest of the tender assembly was pretty easy with all the details added to the rear. I must also give thanks to David at Steam Era Models for supplying a replacement fireman's side step after I broke the first one. Anyway here are some pics of the tender more or less finished. The pickups still needs to be wired hence the tender top isn't finally secured and the oil feed from the sump is not fitted either:

BTW the number J541 is planned to be temporary until some J549 plates are made. It just so happens J541 is one of the numbers supplied by Steam Era Models.