Saturday 11 August 2012

0 Gauge for the People

From the official Ixion Press Release -  a full in-detail review to appear in Model Rail in due course.
IXION MODEL RAILWAYS - O GAUGE HUDSWELL CLARKE RTR LOCOMOTIVE NOW AVAILABLE.

Pic: Ixion Model Railways  - click to enlarge

Ixion Model Railways are pleased to announce that its finescale injection-moulded O Gauge model of the Hudswell Clarke standard 13in x 20in inside cylinder 0-6-0 contractor’s saddle tank locomotive in 7mm scale (1:43.5, for32mm standard gauge) is now available to purchase from retailers and on-line.

ABOUT THE MODEL
Made in the same Chinese factory which produced our acclaimed On30 CoffeePot models, the model features:

Pic: Ixion Model Railways  - click to enlarge
• An injection-moulded ready-to-run body and chassis
• Finescale wheels
• Six-wheel electrical pickup
• High-torque flywheel-equipped motor, driving the rear axle
• 40:1 precision gearbox for slow, smooth running
• Sprung rear wheels, and prototypically correct 'inside-out' coupling rods (front rod outside rear rod)
• DCC and sound ready, with provision for speaker installation
• Cab detail
• Sprung buffers
• Hook drawgear, with three-link couplings
• Choice of three liveries: lined maroon, lined green, and unlined black.
• Included is an etched brass fret containing a selection of prototypically correct cabside Maker’s plates, plus suitable saddle-tank nameplates, and engine number plates
• Also included is a set of injection-moulded 7mm scale loco tools, including shovels, picks, pricker, bucket and oil cans.

Pic: Ixion Model Railways  - click to enlarge
PRICE AND AVAILABILITY
The UK recommended retail price is £299 including VAT, but some retailers are offering the locomotives at discounted prices.

The fire-iron and toolset will also be available as a separate item priced at £3.75 including VAT and £2.05 trade excluding VAT.

The models are available now from retailers in the UK and Australia and directly on-line via the Ixion website. Ixion Model Railways

Pic: Chris Nevard/Model Rail  - click to enlarge
My comment:
Having been in the lucky position to see and handle one of the pre-production models at Warley last year, I was very impressed with the quality of the mouldings, fidelity of the detail and good heavy weight of the model, and with a sub £300 price tag (with some being discounted as low as £225) it's sure to spur a new interest in the scale especially from those without deep pockets or short of space. The the small size of the loco makes it suitable for small industrial layouts and maybe even minimum space light railway. With Dapol due to release an LBSCR Terrier in due course, this will further enhance an interest in this 'senior scale', but to a whole new audience which can only be a good thing - I personally cannot wait!

Chris

3 comments:

  1. I've handled the models too and they are really, really nice. With all this RTR O gauge appearing, my only worry is that people will just treat it as they do with OO and want to buy everything ready to plant. That's great to get you going but I suspect will produce an even less visually appealing layout than it does in the smaller scale. Then the interweb will have 3 scale (N, OO, and O) of people whining "Why won't the evil manufactuers make XYZ because I want one if it's cheap enough."

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    Replies
    1. RTR/RTP already happens, but you need an epic amount of money ...

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    2. Does this mean we'll be seeing the next Nevard micro layout with wider track??? Looking forward to it!

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