Dead Or Alive? | Heljan Class 15 | Unboxing & Review 

Is the odd one out the rail freight class 20? Great video by the way

As the originals were heaps of schyght, I think the makers have even got that down to perfection. The realism is astounding.

I just wanted to thank you for posting this, Sam. It's not the first of your videos I've used as a maintenance guide, but in this instance it's been invaluable because I just got one of these at auction and it turned out also to be DOA, lights on but no-one home. Once I could get down to the motor and physically turn it just a little, all was well; but there were no service sheets with mine, so I was a bit stuck till I found this. Not that I think I'd have got very far without your amiable decoding of the dreadful instructions! So thankyou for saving another of these, um, characteristic models with your video!

Heljan just wanted you to get the highest entertainment value out of the loco by having you dismantling the entire loco. Plus they wanted to make the most of having to print the dismantling pictures haha 😄 😆

I see it's time for the yearly gamble! I do think that heljan is capable of making great models, their class 05 is proof of this, but there is something happening at those production facilities that is holding them all back. Have you considered making a tier list of all these different manufacturers? It would be fun to see your opinions and maybe do a follow-up later if they've changed.

fun fact, a class 15 (D8206) was sent to woodham brothers, and sadly it was scrapped along with the rest of the diesels sent there, I wish one diesel their was preserved.

Always love your videos, Sam, I think you set a very good example for any children who may be watching. Almost like the sort of comforting but adult tone we used to get from Play School back in the day, and I mean that in the best possible way! Also good for adults of course, even when you're complaining you never make the tone harsh or rude. Here's hoping that more RU-vidrs follow your example!

I really like the real photo - it gives me a much better guide for the detail pack and potential for realistic weathering.

My favourite type of video when u pull apart a loco and company 😂 great review as always

When i first saw the thumbmail, I thought that the longer side was the forward direction, every time. It happened with the murphy models as well.

Again, another great, entertaining and informative video review. Thanks Sam!!! Keep them coming as I look forward to each new video release. Cheers!!!!

Hi Sam I have recently bought a Bachmann class 47 and I have to say it is one off The best I have seen highly recommended a review on one as I think you would enjoy it it’s very similar to the class 37 👍

That's a first that I've seen for you, a new loco that's DOA. The Class 15 almost reminds me of a Fairbanks Morse H16-44 built in the USA.

I've got a Class 15 too, and I bought it from Hattons just over three years ago. The build quality wasn't too good, since one of the bogie detail plates broke off the first time I took it out the packaging, and I think mine also had that issue with excessive oil. Other than that she's been a good and dependable member of my collection (I even went to the trouble of fitting headcode discs). For reference, my Class 15 is No. D8234 in BR green with the late crest and small yellow panels on each end. Incidentally I think the 15s look a bit like the New Zealand Railways Di class (which also has only one surviving example; Di 1102), although the Di has a Co-Co wheel arrangement.

I like the look of these. I have found some for sale but I tend to buy BR blue and not the earlier green, so I haven't pushed the button yet. I am a Heljan fan and own quite a lot of them. I even have two class 17s :) Yes agree about it being a pain to open the bag to get the couplings out. I had a class 33 arrive today from Hattons and had the same experience. In terms of the problem you had, I've expereinced the same with a Hornby after a lot of storage time. I got it going with some tlc. It is quite common in the locos I buy at auction, where the collection of someone who has passed away is sold. They have often been in storage for years and don't move at first, although you can hear or feel the motor trying.

That is a beautiful consist you lined up behind it. Great review!!

Another great review, thanks Sam👍😁

Decent review there Sam certainly an interesting looking locomotive.

Looking fantasticola, Sam. I am super grateful that there is a sole surviving member of this class. I wish I could say the same for the class 16.

Neat review, off topic but I hope heljian rerelease their class 28 some day

Great video as usual Sam! Will you be doing the class 14 from Heljan when it comes out? I've been rather hesitant due to the price and Heljan but I love the class 14s in real life.

I really Enjoyed the video sam and i think this is my new favorite diesel locomotive

Nice...(?) Love the oil slick, worth a fortune at the pumps today 😂 Dare I mention the bargain Star class by Hornby now available? I so want one as it's in shirtbutton livery, but ... As always, thanks Sam. 👍

Interesting review Sam. I bought D8233 (the preserved one) back in 2010 and it's still going strong today. I agree, there are lots of parts to fit, and it's neither as heavy nor as powerful as a Bachmann 20, but it does run well. Sadly, you can't fit the sandboxes because then the bogies won't rotate, not ideal..

Love it when you review a diesel. Even if it is a Hell-Jan. Nice one Sam 👍🏻

Great Review Sam. Well Done. 😎

The Class 15 is probably my favorite British diesel, probably thanks to the fact it was the only one of the two classes with a "high-hood" like that over there to survive, so I'm glad to see you review a model of one. Shame the performance for them is sadly accurate, but it's also Heljan, so what can we expect? Lol. Hopefully this remains running fine now and hopefully another manufacturer makes a better version of these.

I have a Class 15 DCC sound fitted, my first (and last/only) purchase from Olivias as I wanted it with ESU Sound. I reviewed it on my channel a year or so ago. Mine is an excellent runner and have generally enjoyed it.

If I am not mistaken, the motor is a bit lose mounted, so probably getting out of position will cause cogging and maybe even stop working. Probably carefully securing the motor in the proper position is the key to smoother running...

A lovely "Ready To Repair" out of the box. To expensive compared with the Accurascale Deltic. QC at high standard too - obvious! Nice entertaining video thanks to Heljan. And all that included in the price... Thanks for sharing Sam.

Hi Sam just to let you know the long bonnet is the front of the loco and the cab is at the rear of the loco same as a class 20 cheers for the review

Sam; have you ever come across a TechCAD class 15? They were a small production run made approx 20 years ago. A clever bloke used CAD to design the body master mould and then make the bodies from Resin. The bogies are soldered up from nickel etchings and it drives on one bogie with a decent Mashima motor. The paint jobs were highly professional and I can thoroughly recommend these models should you find one for sale.

0:14 - I love the shapes music.

The engine is like "No I'm not going anywhere" Cheers Jasper & Willow

Tip: When you insert the bladed screwdriver into the truck baseplate, don't pry it open. You'll have more luck by twisting the handle instead. Twisting only moves the blade a couple of mm. So you're less likely to do any damage while trying to pop the baseplate loose. Ran rather well considering it was a rock to start with. It was just your magic fingers, Sam. 😀

H Sam informative review as ever. I got my first Heljan recently an 05, whist generally better than todays model two bits fell off within minutes of taking it out of the packaging, terrible couplings and even after run in pants over points. I dont think its a brand Ill be purchasing too many of thats for sure!

Such a pity as they are nice looking and unusual loco. I have one these bought second hand but “as new” and “unused” on evil bay. It ran beautifully for perhaps 2 hours, ground to halt and is now stone dead. Have yet to pull it apart but am assuming the motor is toast. I believe it uses the same terrible motor that Heljans class 17. Great as always Sam 👍

Great review and great rockabilly music😁

lovely video sam

Was the cab interior glued the the loco body and if so why did it need to be removed I wonder? I seem to remember the earlier locos coming with bags of bits, Bachmann class 20, ViTrains 37 & 47. I think the arts being on sprues make it looks worse and is certainly preferable than paying someone to fit them and then having to remove them so you can actually use the loco, which is what I had to do with all my Heljans at one end.

'The miracle at Sam's Trains - Lazarus Special!' after a quick prayer over the inner workings, it's off! You'll have to try that on a few other dead locos!

Hains should do a manual for heljan locomotives lol. Great video sam!

Does anyone remember the one that was always at Stratford MPD...an ADB number.. Used for static heating ... Used to love seeing that when we wandered round on Saturdays now and again

Awesome video today Sam beautiful modle such a shame that it was dead

Well well, another one where it’s over lubed. I think the reason why it started to work better all of a sudden is that after you had cleaned of the majority of excess, opening up the model allowed some of the remaining excess to evaporate slightly and air to the mechanism helped. A truly weird model. Together with the others, class 14 and 20 , makes a good sight. Personally the teenagers live up to Kevin and Perry , awful performers and temperamental. Lol 😂. Good review Sam. Thought you were over generous, and without your intervention, I would have given it 4.5 out of 10. And that would only be for it as a static model with the details fitted. Sitting in a coffin, just before bonfire. Lol ( not wasting a hundred knickers ) .

I might have to add one to the collection, and tell everybody it's my GP7's little British cousin.

Sam not a bad looking Diesel it almost resembles US diesel. The only thing bothering me about this engine is their are only 7 yellow covers on the bogeys . I would not take a chance on buying one because I am not as easy going as Sam. Keep up the great videos.

Do you remember the days of Triang and the CKD (Completely Knocked Down ) models. If you took alot of time they usually turned out ok.

Hey Sam? Would you ever consider reviewing a Heljin Class 28? I’ve got a few of Rapido’s N Gauge Class 28 on pre-order, and I’d love to see what a OO Gauge version of the loco is like.

I have one of these as well. It is setup on DCC. It runs decently. Is is not as good as Heljan’s much more recent Class 16 model.

i think this or a class form around the same time was called the wonder engine(as in, i wonder if it will go today). also love the videos. it got me back into trains. i am likely wrong about that.

Kinda reminds me of the British Railways 10800 or the "Wonder Locomotive" (as in I wonder if it will work today?), fairly similar in design

Ok, I may have missed something, why was cab removal neccessary at all to take the body off? There were no screws or clips as far as I could see?

Hello Sam, I have trying to discern the current prototypical coupler practice in England. Near as I can tell it is a 'Hitachi' designed system. Is this correct ? Can a reasonable version of it be found on current 00 models ? What I have noticed looks to be a hook and latch system. How complex is the detaching procedure ? Cheers.

I've got D8235 in green with full yellow ends and double arrows. It worked for an hour or so while running in, then burned out. I tried removing the flywheels from the motor to remotor it, but one snapped the axle instead of sliding off, so the new motor only powers one bogie (I've removed the worm drive to the other), so it isn't very powerful and also gets very warm. Only two of my modern spec locos have ever burned out, the other being the 17. Fortunately, the class 16 is a much better model, like the class 23 baby deltic.

Although what the loco has to offer is not the greatest, I think the review does it justice and will be something I will consider purchasing someday.

Great review Sam but i won't be rushing out to buy it :)

I don’t know why but it really reminds me at least near the driver cab of most American freight diesels just blocky instead of angular

Sam, why do Heljan put all that oil in or on their locos? Is it made in Europe or China? I also don't like all those plastic gears in the power train. But I am glad you did not give up on it. I was wondering if that part of the Cab that was stuck with glue and should not have been may have had something to do with the non-running at first. Is it possible that there was a part that was pressing on some of the drive-train thus causing it to not be able to move and once you took it apart that freed the restriction? Perhaps one of those Heljan mystery's we will never uncover. Good review as always but I do like the look of the class 15. If we could just get Bachmann to do one or even better; Accurascale. Thanks and keep them coming

Hey Sam, which is your favourite? Hornby it Bachman?

I give you a lot of credit to tearing into a new engine! I would have been too upset to try!

So the way you set the class 15, is it running backwards pulling the train or forwards pulling train? I was confused which way the cab in the class 15 faces, example, what side the control panel on by the short nose end or the long nose end?

I look this my work she is a beauty but why is Heljan stil not learning about the mechanism? Good video as always.

Very cool Sam :)

Shame there seems to be so many problems with the Heljan 00 gauge locos. I have some 29 of their 0 gauge diesels and they are superb. Their Class 50's and Westerns are particularly excellent. None of the manufacturing or running issues that you have found with the smaller gauge with any of mine. Clearly I am not the only one who likes them as quite often the run is sold out at the shop I use before the model even arrives. They are possibly a bit too expensive for Sam's Trains to purchase and review, but if you get the chance you should try one.

Turned out to be a pretty good runner in the end. But what a faff dismantling it to get to the mechanism. And the oil slick! Oh dear! Powerful 3 pole motor? Hmm............ Oh well, better luck next time with Heljan.....??!! Best, Pete.

Bought the same model for 112€ (arround 92£) Its a pretty decent loco with some issues, like the separate details. Overall its a moderate model.

Very informative review! Bit disheartening though as the class 15 is one of those older diesels I really like the look of (even though I know in reality they weren't great) and I've considered buying one a few times, but I always tend to agonise over purchases as model locos aren't cheap! The very plasticky unrefined build quality is quite off-putting, as is the inexplicably terrible cab detailing; with all the interior space in a diesel there was just no way it needed to be built it like that.

Interesting loco. The Class 15 reminds me of the Fairbanks-Morse H15-44 and early H16-44 in that they're road switchers with semi-streamlined designs. Shame about the Heljan mechanism. Supposedly, Heljan upgraded the mechanism on the very similar Class 16, but I wouldn't blame you for avoiding it.

I have 2 of these since they were released and on DCC they are fantastic runners and at slow speed. The instructions for fitting decoders are badly illustrated as you say. On the whole their diesels are fine, its the railbuses that are problematic . Extremely difficult to put decoders in, plus ive had the nylon gears split and had motor burnout on the AC one. Get the Park Royal railbus see what you make of it 😀

Great review as always and i thankyou because sometimes it seems like you may waste money on these unless you can send them back for a refund…. And think you definitely should with this but it is saving so many from bad locos i haven’t tried a heljan yet and to be honest i cant see me in the near future either such a shame

The thing i dont understand with this diesel locomotive is that i dont know where the front and back is i know its a stupid question but im just confused

Ooo, heljan time! This will be interesting

Sam, without the body on you had 4 yellow dots visible on the bogies. With the Body on only 3 were visible. Maybe you did have the model the reverse way around.

Whether or not this is realistic I am not sure, but I notice that the decal on the side of the cab is in BR Blue, not BR Green like the rest of the model. But then that is not a surprise; as you demonstrated nicely Heljan are known for cutting corners when producing models... :/

Such a shame that Diesel was DOA at least it's working somewhat better now but in my experience if it's happened once it could happen again so keep an eye on it for sure. As an American I like this design of diesel given it reminds me of our early "Road Switcher" diesels with what we would call a "High Nose" diesel, such as GP and SD 7 and 9 diesels that came out in the 1950s. Such a neat looking locomotive.

Awesome Work

Awesome video Sam's trains

Sam, we’re all waiting on that bachmann percy review

can you pls review the heljan class 28 they are quality models i recommend d5702

Hi Sam, Nice review, Yes I do like the engine, looks good, but not if you have to put it together first, so on that I'm out , All the best Brian 😃

iIf no-one else has suggested it yet, I think the 'syp' must refer to the small yellow panels.

@Sam’sTrains I watched old videos of D8233 on YT by the youtuber of the same name. At least two of them: one is with a blue Class 08 moving it to its siding with the Rocky song (quite fitting actually!) in the background, and the other is the first starting of its engine (the last video by the youtuber). The trail ran cold from there.

If there is a Class 28 CoBo loco out there, you should review it as a Part 3 video if the Class 17 was Part 1 and the class 15 was Part 2

Agree its the earlier, lower powered diesels that are particularly interesting. Good for Heljan in capturing the less obvious market clases 15, 16, 17, 23, 26, 27, & 28. I have all of these and they are OK but agree the 17 is the least good.

hi sam. a good model for 49.99p more than that is over the top. although its proving itself to be an adequate model..

its not entirely the motors fault for the cogging. yes a 5 pole is smoother than a 3 but the gearing does no favours in that regard. if it was lower geared it would crawl better and reduce cogging maybe remove it completely. on a side note I would like to see you start testing dcc ready locos on dcc since you are already pulling them apart

I like the Class 15, but and this isn't Heljan's fault I really don't like how the short hood is than the short hood. If it was level in either direction, I'd think it was probably my favorite diesel locomotive. I do kind of wonder how a chopnose would look on the 15, though...

It was a really amusing video, but tinkering with a dead locomotive is a big no no for me it's typical Heljan for me. When this video popped up I was like: ah, Sam's suffering again. I can live with the mediocre detail, but if it would be a bit nicer and an actual cab it would do it for me. The mechanism I probably don't have to explain you did a good job of it. It's a very interesting locomotive for me the front reminds me of the GT-3 with all the lamps. Still a very good review Sam and definitely a good reminder that I won't buy Heljan models 😅

This diesel must’ve somehow gotten a hangover if it doesn’t want to move, lol! 😂

The motor was moving around when you had the circuit board unfastened. Is the motor held in in some way or does the circuit board hold it down?

Is the odd one out the grey class 20?

Nice video Sam sadly heljan has broken there spotless record now.

I just paid 300 Pound for heljans new marcipanbrød (loco made for the private railroads of denmark by Frichs) and for those money I get a loco that sways from side to side, drives faster one way than the other, does not have sound and is smaller than the class 15.... do we know heljan now.... I just wait for it to break down..... but what can you do if you want to drive Danish

Sam, your reviews are always good, but I think all of the loco manufacturers have a stock of rejected locos, and they sell them to you, ha ha, regards, keep the reviews coming, pete

Resembles that RS-11 you reviewed a few weeks ago

I'd just send the loco back and have it replaced as it didn't work when you first put it on the track opening it up invalidate the warranty

Thanks that was definitely fun

Still love your videos!

Is there a reason why one of the axles isn't painted yellow to denote roller bearings?