Gaugemaster Collection: Class 73's

[Bealman]

I think LASteve has nailed it in his last post.

[talisman56]

Exhibit A - E6009, purported to be in "the blue that isn't electric blue" in 1966, when it was still fairly new.



Exhibit B - E6009, when new. Probably a publicity picture at the English Electric works - note the '20' on accommodation bogies.



I'll leave you to draw your own conclustions...

[talisman56]

Genuine question; what is the 'electric blue' used on some early 73s in the collection? Is it like the west coast electric blue, or closer to rail blue?

Much closer to Rail Blue - you couldn't confuse a CL 73 with a CL 83 by color (I hope the class numbers are accurate, I grew up calling 'em E60'ers and E30'ers!)

Here's a CL 73 with a Crompton CL 33 close by for comparison with rail blue

Don't know when the 'comparison' picture was taken, but I would guess somewhere early 70s, which would place E6012 after it's first overhaul, at which it would have received proper BR Blue with full yellow ends, the same as the 'Crompton'. None of the early 'JB's in the early lighter blue had FYE. More interesting is the comparison between the early blue (albeit slightly faded) and 'proper' blue on the pair of 4CORs in the background...

[Bob G]

Not sure if you've seen all these in a single web page, but all seven are there with deco samples - including E6039 with the wrong deco sample - again
So annoying.
https://www.gaugemasterretail.com/magento/catalogsearch/result/?q=GM221020

Bob

[Newportnobby]

Drat. I was hoping for some positive news.
Now the class 17 has settled, we need something in our mitts to froth over/moan about. I have lots to choose from!

[Bob G]

Drat. I was hoping for some positive news.
Now the class 17 has settled, we need something in our mitts to froth over/moan about. I have lots to choose from!

I quite like the Network Rail "Yellow" 73 in what looks like Cantrail Orange livery. Beats any discussion over Electric Blue anyday.
Sometimes I do wonder about Gaugemaster. It would be fine for their man to stick his hand up and say "sorry, I'm colour blind" but just to produce items like this seems very odd.
I rejected their previous 73 in Exec livery for the same reason. Hideously bright and wrong colours.






Bob

[Newportnobby]

That certainly is a strange shade of yellow (the model, of course)

[Bob G]

I don't think Dapol have any say in the colours either.

But you would have thought that some joined up thinking would allow Gaugemaster to "copy" the colours used by e.g. Dapol and Olivia's Trains on the OO versions to produce the N gauge versions, rather than this seemingly random colour choice.

It is not doing the brand any good at all.

Contrast this with Kernow/EFE who turned out a beautifully decorated set of class 17s.

Bob

[Bornin1980something]

I don't think Dapol have any say in the colours either.

But you would have thought that some joined up thinking would allow Gaugemaster to "copy" the colours used by e.g. Dapol and Olivia's Trains on the OO versions to produce the N gauge versions, rather than this seemingly random colour choice.

It is not doing the brand any good at all.

Contrast this with Kernow/EFE who turned out a beautifully decorated set of class 17s.

Bob

Well, diesel green and rail blue should be hard to get wrong by now. Special edition 73s come in more unusual colours.

I admit my earlier queries about early blue were for a repaint. If it was lighter than rail blue, what paint might you recommend?

[Bob G]

Exhibit A - E6009, purported to be in "the blue that isn't electric blue" in 1966, when it was still fairly new.



Exhibit B - E6009, when new. Probably a publicity picture at the English Electric works - note the '20' on accommodation bogies.



I'll leave you to draw your own conclustions...

Colin Marsden's book on the EDs is a mine of useful livery info.

E6007 and E6009 both wore a tint similar to electric blue when first built in 1965.
The roof is described as light grey - not white, with a mid grey solebar.
Originally, for a few weeks/months, no BR double arrow logo was worn.
Witness the model that Dapol Dave commissioned (as NSprays) prior to him joining Dapol.



That is the same as the E6009 livery in the group photo, and also in the top photo. Remember that tints of early colour slides/prints are able to change.
This livery with minor variations was worn by E6007-E6012. they were repainted in BR Blue from 1969, with the last one repainted in 1972.

The livery for E6013 onwards, including E6039 (delivered July 1966) should be Rail Blue but with a light grey roof and window frames (not white as Dapol's OO version) with no solebar stripe and small yellow ends.
This copyright photo from 1969 shows it well
https://zenfolio.page.link/MbrLe
And here too

By 1972 they were all repainted with full yellow ends and blue roofs.

BTW Dapol's version of rail blue is more green than Farish's version. Just compare a Hymek with a Farish blue loco and you will see what I mean.

HTH
Bob

[talisman56]

I don't think Dapol have any say in the colours either.

But you would have thought that some joined up thinking would allow Gaugemaster to "copy" the colours used by e.g. Dapol and Olivia's Trains on the OO versions to produce the N gauge versions, rather than this seemingly random colour choice.

It is not doing the brand any good at all.

Contrast this with Kernow/EFE who turned out a beautifully decorated set of class 17s.

Bob

Well, diesel green and rail blue should be hard to get wrong by now. Special edition 73s come in more unusual colours.

I admit my earlier queries about early blue were for a repaint. If it was lighter than rail blue, what paint might you recommend?

You'll have to ask Ian at Mercig what colours he used when he painted mine...

[Bornin1980something]

I don't think Dapol have any say in the colours either.

But you would have thought that some joined up thinking would allow Gaugemaster to "copy" the colours used by e.g. Dapol and Olivia's Trains on the OO versions to produce the N gauge versions, rather than this seemingly random colour choice.

It is not doing the brand any good at all.

Contrast this with Kernow/EFE who turned out a beautifully decorated set of class 17s.

Bob

Well, diesel green and rail blue should be hard to get wrong by now. Special edition 73s come in more unusual colours.

I admit my earlier queries about early blue were for a repaint. If it was lighter than rail blue, what paint might you recommend?

You'll have to ask Ian at Mercig what colours he used when he painted mine...

Could you ask him?

[Bornin1980something]

^Update, I have emailed Mercig myself.

[Newportnobby]

From Dapol 2 days ago

The Class 73's are a private commission for Gaugemaster and this has extended the approval process somewhat. Best estimate would be mid summer for release.

Wonder if they're blaming Gaugemaster for the delay?

[Railwaygun]

this thread seems to duplicate

https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=53621

Shall I merge them?