AUSTRALIAN RAILWAY MODELS: 3803 REVIEW 

I'm glad you highlighted that lights were not used during daylight in the steam era. In fact, in NSW at least, it was a bungable offence to have the lights on during daylight, even on diesels! (Though this did change for diesels only around 1967 when it became compulsory for diesels to have their headlights on at all times outside station areas, as the 'powers that be' had finally realised that diesels were a lot less noisy and smokey than steam locos and quite a few staff were being run over because they didn't see/hear a diesel coming. I can certainly attest to how quiet and unnoticeable they were, even when working hard, as I almost stepped in front of a 48 class at Enfield in 1977 when I was shunting. Luckily for me, my Head Shunter was walking right behind me and pulled me back!) Nowadays, of course, preserved steam runs with the headlight on all the time. I think this started happening in the late 1990s. The prohibition against headlights is why I don't even bother putting lights in my steam locomotives when fitting DCC. My layout never operates in the dark, so they are totally irrelevant!

Hello Will, l picked up one of these 38 class locomotives last November from Auscision. I have it running around my layout in Minnesota USA. I had previously bought rake of 7 Lima NSW COACHES l drag behind it, up 2 % grade's. I think it's a good budget model. I have a J class,, & 2 D3 639a & b steamers as well. As you say, unless you are up close. As a Melbournian/ Aussie, it's good just to have Aussie locomotives available to run with such detail, as we never had such trains back in the 70s.

Great little video I worked many goods trains while I was at Enfield with 03 now I will buy the model thank you

Great review Mr Will. Great shirt sir. That loco is lucky to have you review it. It's sure got some nice lines. Its amazing they were building these extraordinary locos in the height of the 2nd World War when resources and skills were being stretched to the limit.

I’m looking forward to coming over to Melbourne soon and seeing the train shops. Another very good video Will.

Just picked up the c3830 and I am so stocked got it super cheap at 234 with shipping. As someone whos grown up with the c38 locos through my grandads books and stories words cant describe how excited I am!

Thanks for the update

Just bought 3803 after watching your excellent review a couple of times, also ordered the tender modification too . Would like to see you review one with sound next 👍👍👍

I got mine after Christmas and I love it especially the livery

A nice little video yes I worked on 3803 on many trains

Very nice modelling, good luck with your new layout.

thank you for the great detailed video as great their good price in the Australia model as the old only brass model in Australia railway in 1950

Nice update you done thanks for sharing.

Will, Great review. I agree with you on the Plastic Coal, it just does look good. Cheers, and stay safe, Michael

Another great common sense review Will, thanks. As a VR modeller I was wanting to see what people thought about this loco given some very negative comments on FB regarding the fixed tender wheels, your review follows my train of thought too as this seems a very affordable Australian steam loco and should be a nice addition to my layout. I am going to pick up a 3820 and the Ctrl P tender kit and have a go at this one.

Thanks Will. This is Not a Bad Locomotive. Like the C38 Class. Last rode on one on a Joint Tour Train a little while ago. Really nice Video. Regards John

Another great review of the C3803, It not my cup of tea with C3803 being NSWGR (as myself a Victorian Modeller) but a great review of the model. It was also good to see, the review of the Ctrl P bogie tender kits for this loco. Sound decoder lots a room in the tender

When I saw my mates for the first time and noticed it didn’t have a head light, I was quite surprised, such a shame, it would’ve been such a simple feature and brought so much too the model. But oh well, I guess if someone cared enough about a head light it would be easy to do, as you said. I also ended up replacing his couplers and plan to make him a CTRL P kit when he buys it.

great review will and very good comments re affordability

Hi Will, once again a good balanced review and as you point out a more reasonable price point for some one starting in the hobby. I bought one of these, fitted a DCC decoder and tried to add illumination to the front light. You may have noticed that there is a weight in the body of the loco and I couldn’t get this out (without destruction) to get to the light from the back I also tried to remove the light housing from the front to no avail. So if you or any of your subscribers work out how to fit illumination to the front light would be good to know. Otherwise it is quite a good runner. Waiting from the tender parts from CntlP.

The locked wheels was annoying but still runs pretty well on most tracks so far. I got Mike from DCCsound to put well sound and dcc. Did a great job like he usally does. I like that idea with the coal going to use that! Def agree with the price its spot on!

That company producing the bogie replacement is doing us a great service. The whole 3D printed thing is changing the modeling world in such a good way!

Always loved the streamliners in black and red - would be good to see the real 3801 running in it for a while!

Great review Will. The no-daylight-headlights revelation made me go back and look at all of my photos again - and you’re absolutely right! Funny how something as plain as that has been there for as long as I’ve been in the hobby and I’ve never really noticed it. I’d be keen to see you do a review of the DCCsound bundle for 3820 when it comes out. I couldn’t find any info on the planned DCCsound bundle - are you able to share a link here?

Great review Wil certainly good value for those on a tight budget. The only thing and it would be easy to do is why don't they supply a coupler for you to fit on the front as on a shelf layout you do run them tender first.

G'day Will Recently got one of these to go with my Aussie collection. Got some Lima 6 axle coaches to go with it. The coaches are good value for the price. I need to get them running on a layout🤔

I got 2 of these, 3820 and 3801, 3820 had a problem where the worm gear on the motor didn’t quite touch the gear to the drive so I had to make a metal clip to hold it in, both models I removed the middle 2 axles on the tender to go around a dodgy curve, and the coupler on 3801 is falling apart. Bit of a bummer I had to fix them both but I guess that’s what you get for a low price. I also did get a few of those Lima coaches which are pretty good, the couplers just suck. You gonna get yours sound equipped?

About getting into the hobby cheaply, do you think anyone there would be interested in Walthers FA units that I painted into AN livery to pull my Ghan before TrainORama/Bobs released the GM's? If not, I'll just strip them back to undecorated. Thanks.

Word of the day: brief Nice one Will

Another great review I think you need to go down the path of sound in another 38😀

I am really hoping for a green 3801 version - paying to add sound to my 3803 and also a headlight. The Eureka models are so hard to find (and it's so unclear if the reissue is even happening?)

Hi. Great review. Could you tell me what 8 pin ESU decoder is used if you want sound as well for it. Cheers Joe.

Nearly bought one as my first Aussie steam loco, but eventually decided against it. Kinda wish I bought one now, even though I don't think the tender would've made it around my layout without the rotating bogies!

Nice review video Will. For the price it's pretty good and I agree Bang for your buck model. In my opinion I feel that the Fixed bogies and no working lights is a bit of a let down for this model but still for the price you cant go wrong. - Nicholas.

The late Phil Bilpin had the original nose cone from 3803

i have both 3806 and 3803 they are great, i also have a lima 3830 as old and not a detailed as it is i still love it too

Kool ❤️😎👍👍👍👍👍👍

May I ask what decoder you through in the loco will, and awesome video!

Interesting Sam’s trains did a review on this model and bags it endlessly . Is your running plate warped and does your separate detail parts have excessive glue marks ?

Hi Will James, can you review the Auscision models XPT?

I’ll definitely be getting one of these if I can find one at a reasonable price here in the UK. Might I ask what music you used over your running shots?

My one is pretty good. Albeit the front steps are separate pieces and are very delicate. I broke it off accidentally taking off the shell to look at the DCC components

Yes sound version

hey Will loving your videos is there any chance with your reviews you could go into more detail of the models you review E.g. looking at how well the model is put together/painted what kind of motor is there a fly wheel/s or not how well does it run is it smooth will it pull a large consist will it run on tight curves or up steep grades that kind of thing then give it a score out of 100 or 10 or what ever that's if you could be bothered or have the time that is just my 2cents worth

Impressive: is Australian HO gauge 3.5 or 4 mm to the foot?

Totally agree re: price point, this is a great model for the price and it’s encouraging people to modify and detail locomotives again, which for a little extra outlay gives you a great looking model and helps build skills in kitbashing/painting/etc. I hope they can tool some other NSW locomotives in RTR as some are only available as brass or whitemetal kits. The NMRA did a great clinic on detailing this model, you can pick and choose bits to do and you end up with a great model with a few hours extra work ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-V154DQ5EubE.html

Would love a short video on modding the coal

i feel like i saw that yesterday that particular one the one you own

Can you share which DCC chipset you used for this?

What manufacturers need to take notice of is... THERE'S MORE THAN ONE MODEL RAILWAY SCALE!!. Oh well at least I have my N scale NR class diesel loco's and Indian Pacific carriages. But I simply cannot get any Australian steam loco's anywhere - they just don't exist for N scale.

I will look at getting when my new pay rise gets here

Will. Good to see this review and finding out more about this model. Around 8:00 you discussed locomotives running without lights. Until recent years it was standard to not have headlights on for daytime running even in Victoria. As shown in these normal service videos from Victoria well over fifty years ago, by MCS Railscene, when steam was more common : ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-M2bc8N4sL6o.html Although the R on the turntable at Ararat may have been testing if the light was working or the sun reflecting. Diesels in the film without lights on. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-XhiBTNk_p8o.html Some earlier South Australian and Victorian film with no lights on : ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-PsclMyi4Zto.html Although I seem to remember someone knowledgeable saying the streamlined S did run lights all the time More NSW film with 3803 without lights on : ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-49HD1OFCapc.html My feeling is that daytime running lights was a seventies or eighties safety decision. Preserved steam might have started a bit earlier for safety too So unless you are modelling night running or modern era or steam fan trips then the lights should be out. Might have even been in railway rule books as to when lights were allowed in early years. Might have been a low and high beam rule too.

At least you're fairer than another well-known "reviewer" from the UK.