[Gary]

The Hobby Company, who used to be the Lima importer for its UK outline models, will start importing British outline models from Italy once again!

VI-TRAINS MODELS (Vicenza Trains Models) from Vicenza, Italy is a young company started from the two legendary model railway enterprises Lima & Rivarossi synonymous with high quality "Made In Italy" hobby products. VI-TRAINS productions are fully made and assembled in Vicenza, Italy and are realized from basic design to end product by employing the highest state-of-the-art technologies and machinery to ensure the complete appreciation by even the most demanding modeler and collector. All VI-TRAINS models feature super detailing, crisp paint work and lettering, and the powered units are famous for the power and smooth running. The company is made up of former Lima employees.

Click HERE to visit the Vi Trains website and to download their catalogue.

Model Rail Express magazine has reported that QUOTE model retailers have been receiving a four page leaflet which is very similar in design to the quarterly leaflets that The Hobby Company were distributing in the last few years that they importing Lima models into the UK.

The leaflet announces the pending release of an 00 gauge Class 37/4 and the manufacturer is Vi Trains who principally make HO scale trains for the Italian market. The Class 37 is claimed to be modelled to a very high standard. Six versions have been planned so far and these are: 37428 'David Lloyd George' in large logo blue, 37403 'Glendarroch' in Railfreight Distribution triple grey, 37423 'Sir Murray Morrison' in InterCity Mainline livery, 37411 'Caerphilly Castle/Castell Caerffili in BR green, 37414 'Cathays C&W Works 1846-1993' in Regional Railways livery and 37422 'Cardiff Canton' in EWS livery.

The first two models should be in the shops during February and these will be 37428 and 37414.

Click here to view the story at Model Rail Express magazine.

No prices have yet been confirmed however it is to be expected that these new models will be competitively priced. It will be interesting to see how these new models made in Italy compare with existing examples currently offered by other manufacturers.

Happy modelling
Gary

 

[Gary]

They could well be special introductory prices to help with the launch of the new brand in the UK and pitched at that level the models could represent something of a bargain for astute minded modellers and collectors!

It is hard to believe that they will be able to maintain prices at this sort of level however time will tell.

The models are DCC ready and have working lights.

My order is in for "David Lloyd George" so expect a full review here which will include (with their permission) the opinions of Warley Model Railway Club members!

Happy modelling
Gary

 

[Gary]

That specification looks top knotch and up to Heljan standards or maybe even a shade better.

Those who say Lima were not capable of producing a decent model had better look at the Hornby Continental models that Doug has posted pictures of in another thread. OK Hornby have enhanced the finish and running gear but the look and detail has not changed.

If this new Class 37 is up with the best of the continental models then for £50 it represents an absolute bargain! And as a bonus "David Lloyd George" appeals anyway in the same way that anything with the name "Winston Churchill" has an appeal.

How some half baked PC looney could rename the former Class 87 "Sir Winston Churchill" with the name "Association of Community Rail Partnerships" is totally beyond me!

That is a digression and we have had a discussion about this in the past elsewhere.

Happy modelling
Gary

 

[Gary]

Duplication is common in European markets. Its something that European manufacturers live with. Its called competition. Why are we as customers (and even manufacturers?) so sensitive to duplication in the UK market?

Surely competition is healthy.

Happy modelling
Gary

 

[Gary]

Thank you for those pictures. It looks like a model that will get folk talking!

A correspondent to Model Rail Express magazine has today given a brief history of the company and suggested that the models will appear in the UK for around £100 if they match the specification and typical prices of models produced to date for other European markets.

What does the actual RRP of £59.99 and the offered prices of £49.99 tell you about the British market and the incredible value offered by these models?

As for rivet counters....

....maybe I am the only one who thought the first Bachmann example looked OK. Model manufacturers give in all too easily these days to a small group of rivet counters and for Bachmann to be on their third generation of this model already seems a trifle daft to me! Unless of course Bachmann feel they will sell more examples as a result of the modifications and only Bachmann know that answer. Come on guys. We Brits are not paying top dollar for our models unlike the modellers of mainland Europe so we should take this into account when offering up comments on models.

It seems absolutely daft to criticise a model when it is available to us on the shelves for around £50. We should be encouraging the manufacturers to produce more in this price range. Not discouraging them as to do so might mean that in future we Brits end up paying European type prices!

Happy modelling
Gary

 

[Gary]

I have now put my rivet counting hat on.

I have some good news tinged with a minor possible black mark.

I have the book "BR Main Line Diesels In 4mm Scale" by R S Carter in front of me right now and I have been comparing the 4mm scale technical drawings of body side, front and roof of a Class 37 diesel loco with the example shown in the picture and the shape and wheel and bogie positioning look spot on chaps so a thumbs up there!

However when looking at the image of the roof fan cowling there is not any evidence of visible fixing rivets to this ring.

Then I have the book "Modellers Guide to Modern BR Motive Power" by Peter Kazmierczak as a reference and certainly for the examples of Class 37/4 chosen the model appears to have the correct front pattern headcode and side grills following conversion for c.1985. including the 2 rivets above the headcode which again is spot on chaps!

Loking at the second image of the cab and upper body at an angle there is photograph P37:04 on page 26 of the first aforementioned book taken at precisely the same angle and the shape of the cab and roof profile are a precise match so again spot on chaps!

There may be a question mark over the depth of the headcode rim and light rim under and this will probably form the main area of rivet counting discussion chaps as there is a possible link between this and the extent of the curve on the front of the nose.

The line of the headcode where it meets the nose is not straight at any point and this is prototypical. Any flat spots and it would not be accurate.

Happy modelling
Gary

 

[Gary]

It seems like a decent model for £50-£60. I wonder how many detailing parts are to be fitted by the modeller? This may be one way of keeping the cost and price down. If this formula is successful then others may follow.

VI Trains do seem to have plans for regular releases each month this year.

Happy modelling
Gary

 

[Gary]

It does seem that VI Trains are adopting the marketing approach of surprise which Lima also used.

Models will suddenly turn up unnanounced!

A bit like the approach of Dapol when you think about it.

So who knows...

...if VI Trains are seen to be having a degree of success with their foray into British outline then other continental manufacturers may join in and those obscure classes that the two big incumbants shy away from may start appearing!

After all its Heljan doing the Clayton.

Happy modelling
Gary

 

[Gary]

I do very much like the theory of treating a rumour as fact as then the manufacturer will make it and it will turn up!

What other "facts" do modellers have about future VI Trains plans?

Happy modelling
Gary

 

[Gary]

A quote from one of the infamous sellers:-

QUOTE Please note that this loco is not a Bachmann loco, nor a Lima loco....just somewhere in between!

I wonder what Bachmann would make of that comparison?

And I wonder what ViTrains would make of that comparison?

Strange but I suspect both companies would feel a little insulted!

Happy modelling
Gary

 

[Gary]

Hmmm...

....apart from the air horns it does seem that you have received a model that is an exception to models received by mail order or purchased over the counter.

Packaging and handling can effect the condition that a model arrives in by mail order so it may be a liitle harsh to put the ball entirely in the court of ViTrains.

How the mail order company reacts to what has happened to your model is probably the key so please let us know how your replacement is when it turns up.

Happy modelling
Gary

 

[Gary]

I have been told that you have to take the body off to replace the airhorns.

The body clips on so not a big issue.

The airhorns have some sort of spot fixing on the inside of the body. Not sure if its plastic heat weld or glue. The advice is this spot fixing needs to be unfixed (obviously

) and the damaged horn then pops out and the replacement can be fitted with glue or whatever.

My replacements have not yet arrived. I am on a mailing list.

I will cross this horn fixing bridge when they eventually turn up.

Happy modelling
Gary