Just noticed that a supplier Ive dealt for some time is stocking Minitrix locos. Although Ive known the name for ages Ive no idea of their quality.
Can anybody advise me please before I commit my pennies
I have one Minitrix loco - a class 27 diesel. It is quite a few years old but still runs like new and pulls like, well, a train. If the modern Minitrix offerings are as good as the class 27 you will be buying a very reliable little machine.
Detail wise it is of the standard of some years ago and is not as detailed as modern offerings. Having said that it looks good on the track and is very reliable.
Thanks cuppa..(no sugar in mine thanks)... thats encouraging :thumbsup:
The Minitrix UK locos are generally shoehorned onto a German chassis, so they are somewhat loose with their accuracy, particularly the Class 27 and Warship. Since these were pioneer locos for the UK market from the 60s onwards, I'm happy to forgive this and they are very impressive runners.
I've got a Warship from the mid-70s that still runs well - it's one of the originals with the buffer cowling turning with the bogie. OK, it no way compares for detail against the new GF model but I like it!
I have two mintrix loco's.
Class 47 in railfrieght grey.
The flying scotsman.
They are both great little loco's. The 47 has working headlights as std, and when you think about it, mintrix pulled out the uk market in the 80's. As already said the chassis are excilent compaired to what farish had to offer at the same time, although the bogie details may not be correct. As for whats avilable today, they are proberly one of the best manufactures around. Most are dcc ready just plug n play decoders and all have working lights.
I suspect that my questioning their quality/finish/etc. of today dates back to me remembering the rather 'loose' quality of Trix in the 1950/60 and their link with Tri-ang 'toys'.
Just learnt a wee bit more about their history from ....... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trix_(company) which has encouraged me a bit.
Anyway any help from you guys is much appreciated :thumbsup:
Captainelectra has a good point, their European stuff is generally very good quality (that is their main market), but there does seem to be some shortcomings with their British stuff. Having said that I only have American & Japanese stock so I can only go by what others have said ::)
Update...........
I took the plunge and ordered a 'krocodile' (12128) and it arrived today. I must say that I`m impressed by the quality of the build and by the way its running thanks for setting my mind at rest and getting me trust them :thumbsup:
I always liked the Minitrix class 47... Once upon a time I had a fleet of eight; now I am down to one, which was the first one I bought. It was the Railfreight example, which had been repainted into a sort of hybrid green livery. Not a bad job, but at the time it was only £35.00 at a time when these were regularly fetching £80.00 - £100.00 each. It was a lovely runner, so suited me at the time; despite the fact it was too wide, the bogies were wrong...indeed the whole roof design was pretty much wrong for the era and type of 47 being depicted. Also the buffers were way too small. I didn't care; it was a 47, and one better than the Farish example.
Back in 2002 I had a module on the West Sussex N gauge Society area group layout, which I took to the 35th anniversary show. One the items offered by the society was an etched set of name-plates with crest. A ficticious name for an unprototypical loco; well why not...it was wrong anyway, so the additional name would make no difference.
It is still used, still runs beautifully and still draws positive comments... ;D
(http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd417/Claude_Dreyfus/47.jpg)
I have 8 Hornby Minitrix locos.
2-6-0 Ivatt (BR Black)
Britannia
BR Type 2 Bo-Bo Diesel (Green) x 2
Class 42 Warship (Blue)
2-10-0 9F in BR Black
2-10-0 Evening Star
A4 Sir Nigel Gresley LNER blue
All are still superb runners and most have working lights.
mine have always been very reliable and far superior to anything of the same age, there probably comparable (in terms of running) to modern farish. I have started to replace mine for modern farish but only as I have dcc in mind.
My very first loco was a minitrix bought for me new back in 1990. This was the world famous 4472 Flying Scotsman. Although 21 years old this is one of my best loco's and best runners. It still holds it's own against any modern steamer.
I also own a minitrix 47, again an excellent loco. German Engineering in British form, excellent! I also have some modern Euro outline and this is good gear too.
Old or New dont hesitate to part with your pennies in regards to Minitrix.
I only buy second hand these days and Minitrix is one of the brands I have on my short list, regardless of age they are very nice runners and very easy to maintain.
Minitrix 2.6.0.loco, one of the slide bars on the motion linkage has broken, anyone had similar experience and where can I get spares?
Regards
Chris
Hi Chris,
You could ask www.brlines.com (http://www.brlines.com) they have limited Minitrix spare parts but may just have the part you need.
Failing them, the query you have posted may jog someones memory to have to look in their parts boxes.
cheers John.
The Model Railway Doctor can also normally assist with Minitrix repairs.
Paddy
Hi
I have a fleet of Minitrix locos dating from the early 1980s. Most were new and some bought at fairs second hand. All were superb runners but a couple suffered from being worn out or accidents.
Here is a rundown on them now.
Britannia pacific - my first n gauge loco ran continuously for what must have added up to a year. Then problem with a traction tyre and I lost the wheel pin holding on the coupling rod. I have now repaired this but the loco needs new brushes. can anyone assist with these?
2 x 9F Evening Star and black un-named. Both still running and easily my best pullers still. Both look OK on their own but not alongside my Dapol 9F.
A4 Mallard - Green - Good runner still in mint condition and kept in box no longer run on my layout - replaced with A4 Dapol Silver Link.
Ivatt 2MT Tank Still running and a great loco, good over points and a great puller
Ivatt 2MT tender loco. This worked great for a long time and looked good especially double headed with the 2MT Tank and a long rake. The valve gear slide got damaged during cleaning and I bought a complete chassis from Dr Al on this forum classifieds and it now runs again perfectly.
Dock tank 0-6-0 BR outline and German Both work well except at low speeds over points but look great double headed together and then no points stalling!
German 2-6-2 tank - Great runner with six lights!!
German Maroon diesel shunter. This got a shorted motor due to my own butterfingers during an attempt to replace brushes with some from another loco. Now running again with the motor from the old 2MT Tender loco chassis. (Motor had to be turned round to fit). Now just needs a new connecting rod on one side . Has anyone got one of these that is going spare?
Class 26 diesel
I have two of these, one bought second hand years ago for £14 This got worn out and I could not get brushes so last year I bought another cheaply on e bay and its running again, using the ebay one motor. I use it for pushing my Tomix track cleaner around the layout as it is very heavy and powerful.
The moral of all this. Minitrix locos are still cool and can be kept running by consulting on here and buying cheaply (don't get carried away) for spares on e bay!!
Cheers
Mac
Thanks for the very helpful information.
Regards
Chris
I also have a Trix Britania 70009, I`m also looking for spare parts four pickups in the tender that run against the wheels, also any info on tender dismantling
This site any help, Terry ???
http://www.jfheath.co.uk/ngauge/britannia/index.shtml (http://www.jfheath.co.uk/ngauge/britannia/index.shtml)
Many thanks for the link Newportnobby got the tender dismantled, looks like the pickups are not easily replaced will just have to reshape them. Also the weight that takes the tender link has a damaged screw hole so I will have to get round that problem, thanks again. :thankyousign:
I've been collecting a lot of "spares/repair" minitrix locos, and so far there hasn't really be any I have not been able to fix. New jap 5 pole motor transplants work very well (better than originals, dare I say...) and the rest of the gear barely wears from anything but abusive use. Congealed grease and carpet fluff are the two main challenges. The great thing about collecting classic british/hornby Minitrix is that:
a) It was built to last and can be kept running just about for ever
b) you really can aim to collect just about one of everything - ie there is no continual pressure to buy the latest "collectors" releases
I may be getting some of the trickier fragile plastic valve gear parts remade in brass or even silver. Anyone interested?
Are the 5 pole armature/motors available/exspensive? if so where from
+1
Think I may have an Ivatt that needs surgery.
Quote from: Jerry Howlett on February 19, 2013, 09:32:58 AM
Think I may have an Ivatt that needs surgery.
Usually fairl easy to get these going again as long as the motor itself is ok.
Cheers,
Alan
Hi....is it possible to fit a front coupling to a minitrix britannia?
thanks
Quote from: mcr22 on December 16, 2014, 03:35:29 PM
Hi....is it possible to fit a front coupling to a minitrix britannia?
thanks
and also to a Farish Poole Duchess?
I'm looking for the rearmost wheel set for a Dock Tank 0-6-0 (or German equivalent ). The gear wheel on mine (the one driven by the worm) is damaged. Any help on this appreciated. With or without coupling rods will be fine. Thanks for any suggestions.
Quote from: Geriatrix on December 18, 2014, 12:57:08 PM
I'm looking for the rearmost wheel set for a Dock Tank 0-6-0 (or German equivalent ). The gear wheel on mine (the one driven by the worm) is damaged. Any help on this appreciated. With or without coupling rods will be fine. Thanks for any suggestions.
I have one here if of any use - PM me if of interest.
Cheers,
Alan
Front bogie with coupling - I have been told the front bogie (with coupling) from a minitrix german class 52 steam engine will fit the british 2-10-0 models - anyone heard of this and if its true where I might get hold of one?
thanks
Just had a look at my 9F (for sale, see the classifieds) and it looks like there is a box for a coupling on the front pony truck. You might be able to try fitting an appropriate coupling and spring yourself.