Another new supplier has emerged, Cavalex Models. This one intends to specialise in PGAs. Their first choice is the Redland Standard Wagon PGA design from 1979 which still runs today. Their first livery choice is the later Lafarge colour scheme in 00 gauge. They state that they will consider extending the offering to 1/148 scale if sufficient interest is shown.
http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/114911-all-new-rtr-pga-wagon-in-4mm-scale/ (http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/114911-all-new-rtr-pga-wagon-in-4mm-scale/)
Hi Mike,
Yes, I saw this. It's a good choice. Especially as I have a half-finished rake of Farish conversions complete with sheet of etched details of my own design!
I'll be interested to see how they go forward with this. CADs are peanuts compared to the actual cost of tooling, as Mike and I have found...
Cheers
Ben A.
Agreed Ben. I suspect it will take a lot of lobbying to get this going for N. The wagon is a good practical choice given its long period of operation and the wide field of action over 4 decades. One of the first routes they were used on was the Mountsorrel to Radlett service. Radlett terminal was a big circle and the operational plan we devised involved reversing the train each day at Cricklewood/Dudding Hill (IIRC) to even out wheel wear. The wear would have been severe if the wagons ran round the circle every day in the same direction. Uneven wheelwear on all the wagons in the train would have caused some unreliable behaviour on mainline curves.
Hope we can get enough support for this to advance in N.
The obvious advantage for n is that you can run some pretty long rakes of 4-wheel wagons even on a fairly modest layout. Considering the tendency toward shunting layouts in 00 it doesn't seem beyond the realms of possibility that the average order in n would be 2-3 times the size.
From RMWeb today:-
"Following considerable interest we are looking to move forward with an N gauge version of our PGA.
The plan would be to release this soon after the 4mm version, subject to interest".
Hi Mike,
Thanks for posting - I'd missed that. Great news. The Cav in Cavalex models in both OO and N, so not a total surprise, but no less welcome for that!
Cheers
Ben A.
Development of the N version is now underway according to post #326 here:-
http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/114911-all-new-rtr-pga-wagon-in-4mm-scale/?p=2844115 (http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/114911-all-new-rtr-pga-wagon-in-4mm-scale/?p=2844115)
Hi Mike,
Thanks for alerting us to that! Though so far it doesn't seem possible to pre-order the N version... unless I am missing something?
Cheers
Ben A.
this could get very expensive if I decide to replace all my redland pga wagons
looking forward to seeing there new wagons though and will decide then
At least it will be a real wagon and not the fictional ones that Farish call PGAs with ladders and undergear all in the wrong places
Bob
true!
Well I do hope they get these done in our gauge.
I remember them replacing the old ICI wagons on the Peak Forest - Northwich trains for a while. I hated them at the time as I like the unique ICI wagons and they were a lot more noisy than the wagons they replaced.
So for that alone I want some!
Some good news from Cavalex on their Facebook/Website
"Cavalex Models are pleased to announce that we have started the design stage of the process for the N gauge version of our PGA wagon. We will provide an update for how to submit expressions of interest in due course."
Regards
Tony
I saw the OO gauge livery samples last weekend and they looked really nice. Now can I justify any in N? Anyone know what their main uses were? I'll have a trawl through the RMweb thread for more info.
Cheers, Mike
Hi all,
I think these wagons were primarily used for aggregates traffic between the Midlands and various terminals in East Anglia.
Here are a few shots I have found taken at Manea and Barway in around 2014. By then they were debranded and mixed with former RMC hoppers including the types offered by Farish RTR and the NGS as a kit. And some of the PGAs are also similar to the type available (as a very old model) from Farish.
(http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/66/94-070618122856-661351727.jpeg)
(http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/66/94-070618122859-661351377.jpeg)
(http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/66/94-070618122959-661482194.jpeg)
(http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/66/94-070618123019-66149473.jpeg)
(http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/66/94-070618123022-661512423.jpeg)
So an interesting possibility for a nice mixed train.
It almost seems a shame these trains have now gone over entirely to HOAs... ;)
(http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/66/94-070618124113-661521494.jpeg)
(http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/66/94-070618124117-661541133.jpeg)
cheers
Ben A.
They spent time on the Peak Forest - Northwich service from around 2000 till 2003 IIRC taking over from the 1930s ICI wagons which were withdrawn when the 60s took over due to the older wagons been Vacuum braked which the 60s are compatible with.
The ones used were mostly former Tarmac and Yeoman wagons but IIRC there was a few former Redland wagons mixed in.
Since then I know that VTG own a few so they could be anywhere, although it would not surprise me if they were spotted around Peak Forest mixed in with other wagons like the HOA
CADs of the N gauge PGAs planned by Cavalex Models are now showing on RMWeb. Post #8.
http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/134760-all-new-rtr-pga-wagon-in-2mm-scale/?p=3238501 (http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/134760-all-new-rtr-pga-wagon-in-2mm-scale/?p=3238501)
Oh yes! They are looking nice. :thumbsup:
£400+ for a decent rake though. it's just too much.
a decent block rake of any of the newly produced wagons is going to cost around £300 - £450 now days. i just think that modelling non block-freights or shorter prototype formations is the only feasible option for most modelers - which takes away much of the advantage of n gauge.
tim
PGAs are often still mixed with JGAs (Farish and NGS) and HOAs (Revolution), so a wagon that has always operated in mixed rakes, unusually for anything modern!
Quote from: bluedepot on July 22, 2018, 03:05:57 PM
£400+ for a decent rake though. it's just too much.
a decent block rake of any of the newly produced wagons is going to cost around £300 - £450 now days. i just think that modelling non block-freights or shorter prototype formations is the only feasible option for most modelers - which takes away much of the advantage of n gauge.
tim
Hi Tim,
There are photos on the previous page showing these wagons mixed with others.
These wagons are not just mixed with the JGAs offered by Farish, but the JGAs represented by the NGS kit and the older Farish PGAs which can be picked up second hand.
So there are options for making up a lower cost train.
But I also think it's too sweeping a comment to simply say £400 is too much. Different people have different requirements and priorities.
Cheers
Ben A.
Quote from: bluedepot on July 22, 2018, 03:05:57 PM
£400+ for a decent rake though. it's just too much.
How do you know that? I haven't seen any prices quoted anywhere.
These will no doubt come available for sale six weeks after I finish detailing the rake of them that I already have ! Murphy's third law states that categorically ..............
Hi,
Are these available to order and if so where?
Thanks in advance.
Iain
Not open for orders yet.
Quote from: woodbury22uk on September 27, 2018, 10:55:30 PM
Not open for orders yet.
I am a bit confused here, I've had a look on the Cavalex website and that says the point for expressing an interest and pre-orders has passed? Id be interested in some of these in the original Redland liveries for my 'East Midlands' layout as I think they headed northwards from Mountsorrel as well as south/east?
Richard
Quote from: EastMidsCoal on September 28, 2018, 07:27:33 PM
Quote from: woodbury22uk on September 27, 2018, 10:55:30 PM
Not open for orders yet.
I am a bit confused here, I've had a look on the Cavalex website and that says the point for expressing an interest and pre-orders has passed? Id be interested in some of these in the original Redland liveries for my 'East Midlands' layout as I think they headed northwards from Mountsorrel as well as south/east?
Richard
That refers to the OO version. On their home page it says "Cavalex Models are pleased to announce that we have started the design stage of the process for the N gauge version of our PGA wagon. We will provide an update for how to submit expressions of interest in due course."
Quote from: Western Exile on September 28, 2018, 07:34:35 PM
That refers to the OO version. On their home page it says "Cavalex Models are pleased to announce that we have started the design stage of the process for the N gauge version of our PGA wagon. We will provide an update for how to submit expressions of interest in due course."
Ah! I'd missed that they did OO gauge models too. I went to the home page, then saw Pre Orders across the top!
Thanks @Western Exile (http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=1706)
Richard