Bulleid Leader proposed by KR Models for EOI

[mattmay05]

...The market they seem to have aimed at is the 'that will do' ; it will sell because people will just want it and not care about the 27/30 areas that aren't right...

Commercial judgement in my opinion. It cannot be expected to make massive sales so 'quick. cheap and dirty' was likely the plan from the off. There are plenty of less than particular potential customers among those interested in model railways.

Indeed which is disappointing it will be probably a more see it and buy it thing... rather than being correct... sigh... better start 3D printing that body shell and motion then

[Bigmet]

...Indeed which is disappointing it will be probably a more see it and buy it thing... rather than being correct... sigh... better start 3D printing that body shell and motion then

It's always been this way in RTR model railway production. The Accurascale Deltic has received a deal of praise, but unfortunately it's visibly dimensionally inaccurate because they went for the compromise of way undersize wheels so it can run on set track. That's a backward step, not buying as I already have the superior solution from Bachmann.

[Bigmet]

And it is here I see, and very true to the subject in the way railway modellers dislike most - it's not completely mechanically reliable! There are quibbles over appearance too, but frankly for a loco which I doubt that more than 2 of the critics actually saw in reality, the model bears an unmistakable resemblance to the available photographs, and who couldn't love a steam loco that looks like a London Underground car driving end has been perched atop monster bogies? ('Quite a number of people' probably the likely answer.)

[mattmay05]

And it is here I see, and very true to the subject in the way railway modellers dislike most - it's not completely mechanically reliable! There are quibbles over appearance too, but frankly for a loco which I doubt that more than 2 of the critics actually saw in reality, the model bears an unmistakable resemblance to the available photographs, and who couldn't love a steam loco that looks like a London Underground car driving end has been perched atop monster bogies? ('Quite a number of people' probably the likely answer.)

Yes It is or was here.

I received mine, damaged, wheels off bits missing.. so that went back.
Number 2 arrived, same issues.
number 3 arrived and was mostly in one piece.. tested and checked, and then a wheel fell off... again.

Anyway it's not great, if those who have read the book looked at the drawings and done some proper research, unlike some who send a drawing they found on google to China and say make this for x price... and yes that did happen.
I am actually surprised got anything that resembles it.

But there are so many issues over 30, only some I can fix, the body shell some of the curves and shape isn't right, doors and windows in wrong places... rivets where there shouldn't be... its a shambles... even the numbers and colour of the infill is wrong.. lining thickness, and radius of corners, plus the placement of that lining.. yes I can go on...

[SRman]

I was lucky with my non-sound, fictitious black liveried model. It arrived with one whistle missing and the other one loose, but present. All wheels were on properly. All lamp irons were present and well fixed.

One pickup wire from one side off the leading bogie dropped off after a small amount of use, but that was soldered back on (a little bit of a faff to get at it properly).

Mine runs nicely, and all lights work as intended, albeit not as per the prototype.

The livery can't be criticised as it never existed in the first place. The wheels can be criticised as BFB-style could very easily have been researched properly. I have filled the holes in with Glue 'n' Glaze, then painted them black again. That's not a perfect solution but it stops one seeing right through the wheels, a problem that should not have existed at all.

I have removed the resin coal load and added some real coal to mine, and painted the buffer beams red.

Overall, I am happy with my model as it looks like a Leader, but I am also aware it could have been better, and as such I will not pre-order any more KR Models stock until I have seen the model in the flesh (or at least, some reliable reviews in magazines and online). If that means I miss out on one I would want, then so be it. Some other manufacturer will get my money instead.

[Bigmet]

... I will not pre-order any more KR Models stock until I have seen the model in the flesh (or at least, some reliable reviews in magazines and online). If that means I miss out on one I would want, then so be it. Some other manufacturer will get my money instead...

One consideration is how many more likely to be commercially viable 'unusual' UK traction subjects lacking RTR OO models have KR got available to aim at? Most are going to be short lived crashing failures one way or another. My thoughts turn to:
GNR Sturrock 'steam tender' 0-6-0+0-6-0
Baldwin 'Lovett-Eames' 4-2-2
GER Decapod 0-10-0T
GWR Kruger 4-6-0
MR Paget 2-6-2
GWR Great Bear 4-6-2
LMS Fury 4-6-0

[SRman]

True, although they have asked for expressions of interest in a class 40 (I can't fathom why!).

I would like a 4DD unit but have not ordered one. I want to see what actually comes out first.

[Bigmet]

I would like a 4DD unit but have not ordered one. I want to see what actually comes out first.

I'd put money on a wheel coming out first, based on the Leader problem set

... they have asked for expressions of interest in a class 40 (I can't fathom why!).

Might this be the magic combination of a numerous 'maximum size' BR diesel class with least competition and most discontent with the currently available model?