In this video I'm taking a comparative look and overview of the original as built Royal Scot Class 4-6-0s as modelled by Bachmann and Wrenn. Thank you for watching.
This is true. My recommendation, if you decide to go for one, is to avoid Ebay and look at what Wrenn Specialist and Collector or Connoisseur Wrenn are offering. You will be guaranteed an excellent model in all respects . Ebay sellers are overpriced, especially for the rarer models and are I find that they have too many flaws for the price asked.
Hi, Many thanks for your comment...The Scots were one of the most capable designs of the steam era, especially so after rebuilding. As Sugar Ray Robinson was to boxing, the Scots were pound for pound, size for size one of the best steam designs ever.
Lovely video and very much appreciated. In the day, I was a big fan of both Mainline and naturally Wrenn. This takes me back. As a schoolboy I could only admire Wrenn locomotives by gazing at them in shop windows. I was nine years old and they were just too expensive for me. Later at the age of fifteen or sixteen, there were other pressing matters and I missed the chance to collect the stunning Mainline models. At the time for example, their new range of goods wagons were little less than sensational. Compared to Hornby, their locomotives looked far more superior. Inevitably by that time, I spent the little money I had on guitars, amplifiers and my first girl friend. Such were the priorities! Happy days though!
Indeed! Like you back in the day, I used to look in model shops at those Wrenn locos with their varied liveries and the astonishment on seeing the "unrebuilt" Royal Scot that H.D. never built! Mainline really represented a major step change in showing what could be achieved in mass produced 00 model railways, particularly in relation to accurate detail. Pity was the poor drive mechanism which let them down badly. Looking back on them from today's vantage point it is salutary to note just how underscaled their LMS 4-6-0s were. Their wagons were great especially those with the private owner labelling and a good range of coaches, although their Mk 1 fell short (windows were wrong). Along with Airfix, Lima, Replica, early Bachmann they spurred Hornby on to instigate the huge changes which have led to the current ranges we are lucky enough to enjoy.
Thank you for sharing your locos. I have a few Mainline Scots and a Baby Scot, all with Stainer boilers and good runners. I would love to have a parallel boiler version, but as I model BR in the 50/60s, so I’ll have to get a Baby Scot.
Hi, Thank you for your kind comments and observations. Delighted you enjoyed the overview. You could treat yourself to a Fowler original 'Scot' under BR ownership. Rebuilding proceeded slowly from 1943 onwards and was not completed until 1955. Twenty-eight made it into BR ownership in original form. I have plenty of photographic material showing them working enormous passenger trains, topping Camden bank with Mk1 coaches in crimson and cream and a splendid colour photo of 46148 climbing Beatock with thirteen LMS coaches in blood and custard!
I do like it without smoke deflectors - but I can't thing of a loco that looks better with them. However, the black one(s) do look great. Fascinating, thank you.
Many thanks again for your insights and observations. I think the smoke deflectors contributed to a more balanced appearance of the locomotive. Let's not forget, that boiler was based on the huge 0-10-0 Lickey Banker 'Big Bertha' boiler and when matched to the Stanier tender the balanced appearance was complete. The Southern 'Schools' received a presence and appearance upgrade with the addition of deflectors and the Britannias were made for smoke deflectors!...imho. It's all good stuff!
Agree Fowler tenders look ok on 4Fs, 2Ps and compounds , maybe even the Crab , but not bigger engines like the Royal Scot or the early Princesses . It makes the loco look unbalanced, emaciated and vaguely ridiculous . Nice selection of locos. I think there’s no doubt Bachmann is the most accurate , particularly tender dimensions, which look rather small on the Wrenn locos. But Wrenn definitely has charm . I’d have both !
Hi, The massive 'Big Bertha' boiler on the Scots without deflectors and matched to the Midland tender gave them an unbalanced appearance. However, the scaled down 'Baby Scot' looked okay with otherwise undersized Fowler tender. It's all good stuff. Your observations are always appreciated.
I only ever had an Airfix and Hornby Scot. Never found the Airfix motor's to be a good arrangement! Didn't Dapol remake the exMainline model in later years? Lovely collection you have. 👍
Hi, I'm losing track of who made what, when, original, rebuild?! Phew, if I remember correctly Airfix and Mainline both produced a rebuilt Scot at the same time, both credible attempts but ultimately falling short on scale and dimensions. When Mainline ceased to exist, some of their models re appeared under the Replica and Dapol banners before re emerging under Bachmann with new chassis. Thank you for your kind comments and observations.
@@crewelocoman5b161 I use to live near to the Dapol factory in Northwich so was always in there. I once tried to get a summer job there when I was about 13 but I was told I was too young!
#Crewelocoman5B Thanks for the video due to the Wrenn being made from diecast these are the ones I prefer even though the detail seems to be more pronounced on the plastic versions. I then have to ask myself do we see them in real life with such detail or is it more subdued? How well did the Bachmann chassis fit and what was the part number of the Bachmann Chassis, please? I need to get a hold of a chassis as I have a rebuilt Mainline Royal Scot and the piston rod and the plastic piston rod wrist joint slide bars are totally mashed up on mine just after a short running. Are those components on the Mainline chassis made from metal rather than plastic and did you find there was a problem with back to back spacing on the tender wheels being too large? Thanks a lot!
Hi, Many thanks for your interest and I will endeavour to answer all your questions as best I can. 1. It is only possible to see all or most of the detail in real life if the locomotive is stationary or moving slowly and you are standing reasonably close to it. 2.The Bachmann chassis fits very well. Remember, Bachmann acquired most of the Mainline tooling, certainly for the ex L.M.S. 4-6-0s. Also, the Bachmann chassis is exactly the same for the original 'Scot', rebuilt 'Scot', rebuilt 'Patriot', 'Jubilee', and rebuilt 'Jubilee' (Comet and Phoenix). All these LMS 4-6-0s virtually shared the same chassis in real life...of course, there were small differences, but none to the casual observer. 3. All the Bachmann chassis are fitted with metal slidebars and piston rods. See my video above. When Bachmann started to produce the ex Mainline LMS 4-6-0s they realised that modellers would also welcome a 'replacement' chassis for their Mainline locos, the Bachmann having a much better, smoother drive and running characteristics. These replacement chassis were readily available in the 1990s and early 2000s. I'm almost certain that they haven't been produced in recent years. I don't know the component part number and I'm guessing they are not so easy to get hold of now. Ebay is probably your best bet. 4. I have never had a problem with back to back spacings on any Bachmann or Mainline tender wheels. Should that be the case, it is easily rectified if you are careful. On all my ex Mainline Bachmann models (and I have a great many) I shorten the tender draw bar to reduce the distance between the cab and tender. Hope this helps Graeme
Thank you very much for a very informative video. They are very handsome locos, particularly without smoke deflectors. May I ask that in your experience are the Bachmann versions good and reliable runners? Thanks again.
Hi, Many thanks indeed for your thoughts and observations. They are fine looking locos. I always thought that the smoke deflectors gave them a more balanced appearance with that enormous boiler..imho! The Bachmann versions are fine reliable runners with decent haulage capacity. Occassionally, you come across a 'jittery' one which in 99% of cases is a build up of lubrication. Worst thing you can do is oil these models. Remedy: turn upside into a cradle, remove the very small screws holding a plastic cover plate over the driving wheels, carefully lift off the plate (if I remenber correctly it also includes the the section with the front bogie) and you see the split chassis with the drivers sitting in the axle boxes. You can then carefully raise each set of drivers and clean out the axle box and axle bearing with a cotton bud removing the build of oily dirt and detrious. Give a final clean with a cotton bud with white spirit. Rods, valve gear etc remain intact and don't need touching. Hope that helps!
@@crewelocoman5b161 with lubrication the axle slots in the chassis will wear rapidly and render itself scrap by wearing through the plating - I use a special electrically conductive medium weight grease and that does the job of lubricating whilst conducting just fine.
