21-03-16 N Valanced A4s Released for Production

[Andy Dapol]

First decorated samples of the Valanced A4 have been received, a number of changes are being made from the photos attached.:

[Andy Dapol]

Updated samples have been released for production during late May 2016. Production photographs will be published here as soon as they are available.

[Themetropolitanline]

now these are nice,something else for the collection.

[JeremiahBunyan]

The LNER green ones are pretty hard to find in model form...Looks lovely. I love the crisp paint work. Fabulous.

[NGaugeUS]

Beautiful!

Do the valences cause any increase to the minimum radius tolerated?

[Andy Dapol]

Thanks! Nope, valances don't increase the radius, they are still good for R2.

[NGaugeUS]

Thanks! Good to know! Officially on my 'to acquire' list

[Ed-Farms]

These look great, are there any plans to do Mallard with valences?

[Andy Dapol]

Hi. My apologies for not listing this in the opening post!

The full list of general release models is:

1. 2S-008-008 A4 Valanced Mallard 4468 Garter Blue LNER
2. 2S-008-009 A4 Valanced Empire of India 4490 Garter Blue LNER
3. 2S-008-010 A4 Valanced Golden Eagle 4482 LNER Green
4. 2S-008-011 A4 Valanced Silver Fox LNER Silver Grey
5. 2S-008-012 A4 Valanced Sea Eagle

Plus Special editions:

1. Gaugemaster: DAGM202 LNER A4 4488 UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA GARTER BLUE
2. Osbournes: OSBND003 A4 VALANCED 4903 PEREGRINE IN LNER BLUE - RED WHEELS

[Les1952]

I assume Bittern will either have a non-corridor tender as built or a double chimney as currently preserved?

Similarly Mallard - non-corridor tender and double chimney. (built and preserved)

[JeremiahBunyan]

Sorry for barging in...I'd normally go for preserved steam locos as it gives me an opportunity to run steam locos in a well kept condition alongside modern diesel and electrics.

[Joel Dapol]

I think to be fair to Les and his cataracts one of the deco samples in the photos above is Bittern but we decided to hold it back from the first release :-)

[Andy Dapol]

Just off to the optician now Boss....

[MJM481]

Would love it if you eventually add Dominion of Canada with the bell (and DCC sound!)

[Argeebee]

I'd second that motion!

[Mustermark]

Oh, those are looking very nice. Given that I don't run steam, I should choose. But they are, without doubt, the most elegant locos ever. I'll be needing a Mallard and a Silver Fox.

[r23betts]

You mention that the full list of general release models is:

1. 2S-008-008 A4 Valanced Mallard 4468 Garter Blue LNER
2. 2S-008-009 A4 Valanced Empire of India 4490 Garter Blue LNER
3. 2S-008-010 A4 Valanced Golden Eagle 4482 LNER Green
4. 2S-008-011 A4 Valanced Silver Fox LNER Silver Grey
5. 2S-008-012 A4 Valanced Sea Eagle

What happened to the initially pictured 2510 Quicksilver in LNER Silver Grey from your original post? Is this still due to be released? Will this be a special?

[Southernlad86]

First decorated samples of the Valanced A4 have been received, a number of changes are being made from the photos attached.:

any idea on the realise as a friend of mine is looking forward to these and so am I Empire of India 4490 :-)

[JeremiahBunyan]

The last I heard is that they were due for release in July... But however delays are common and not that I care...Delays are often helpful.

[Les1952]

This came back to mind when reading the posts on the schools. The bogie on the A4 has a part with a forked end which (presumably) latches into a piece protruding below the body. The A3 bogie seems identical apart from this fitting. When an A4 derails (not always the fault of the loco) the fork can start to cause problems resulting in a loco that derails more and more frequently. I think it is because a derailment can cause slight damage to the part that isn't easy to see but which does affect the ability of the bogie to track through pointwork.

One particular offender I finally lost patience with and fitted it with a spare front bogie from an NQP A3 as a last resort. The loco has now run for five days at two exhibitions without a single derailment. None of my (now eleven) A3s have experienced similar problems.

Is it worth looking at using the A3 front bogie on the A4 in future?

Just a thought.
Les

[Jondi]

Will the upcoming garter blue Mallard be as built or as preserved? Hoping the former! Thanks.

[Andy Dapol]

As built Jondi.
FYI. Preserved will follow in the future.