From Rails of Sheffield website;

https://railsofsheffield.com/blogs/news/product-launch-12-00pm-11-08-21

Best wishes to them, but don't forget us N gaugers!

Martyn

The OO Gauge model is an LNER A5 4-6-2 tank engine (inside cylinders and valve gear).

Given Sonic have just announced the J50 with suggestions of more to come I doubt N Gauge will be forgotten.

Steven B.

[I've just posted this on RMWeb, but perhaps Sonic might also be listening here...]

Well, I'm going to say it (with some justification I think) - please Sonic, add this to your N gauge range asap!  As everyone knows, there's been lots of comment about the complete lack of LNER tank locos in N, which Sonic responded to by announcing the J50.

However, the J50s were never, or very rarely, "train-hauling" locos, being used primarily for yard shunting and station pilot work.

The A5, on the other hand, perfect!  The GCR batch used on the routes out of Marylebone, and also in the West Riding, and out of Kings Cross and, in BR days, in Lincolnshire, Hull and around Manchester.  The LNER-built batch used in the north-east on all the routes radiating from Darlington & Newcastle, and in Br days also around Hull and (briefly) on trains from Liverpool Street.  In the absence of a V1/V3 in N the A5 is the nearest you can get to an "all areas" LNER big tank (for the English divisions anyway.)

It's always been a mystery to me why Langley did their kit for the similar, but very geographically-restricted, GCR L1 when if they wanted a "no outside motion" tank loco the A5 was there for the asking.  And the Graham Hughes kit in N for the A5 is like hens teeth on eBay.

Please Sonic - apply the shrink ray!

Best, Richard

I have an A5 from Graham Hughes...... which I've had for about twenty five years.

As well as Liverpool St temporary duties, they also had a longer spell at Norwich hauling mainly Cromer line trains, often quite lengthy ones.

How about a V1-V3 or an L1 for us?

M

Seems like a good next choice for Sonic in N, but it's ex-LNER again. However, it's one that Martyn has a kit of that is currently being refurbished, so maybe he'll have the same luck as I did with the J50!

Dave

I agree that a big LNER tank loco would be a winner.

They look more sexy than the LMS Fairburn tank.

Ooh no, you can't beat all that valve gear thrashing around on a Fairburn!

Dave

The earlier LMS 264 tanks were more curvaceous ?

I hope Sonic do an N gauge version and an N2 or N7 would also be nice 🤞

Elegant little tank engines, nice to see another older class being produced RTR.
Now for Sonic to shrink them to N gauge.

It looks as though "Sonic Sam" has a clear business plan. Releasing this OO gauge model will very likely bring in more revenue to invest in further models. I don't think for a minute he would starve N gauge of releases...probably the opposite.

Having previously worked for Kadar/Bachmann he will undoubtedly have the contacts and their known capabilities to bring products to the market in a timely manner.

I'm very pleased so far with my 66xx.
LNER is not my thing, but I'm sure many will be pleased with the announced new models. Sonic's presence in the market can only be good, and given he had a hand in the Grafar Duchess bodes well for future releases.

Am I correct in thinking the Duchess is no longer in the Grafar steam line up?

Really hope these get done in n gauge, looks fantastic in the green. Oh and with sound would be awesome !

Quote from: martyn on August 11, 2021, 01:06:00 PM
How about a V1-V3 or an L1 for us?

M

I agree that these locos would be great for LNER modellers.

Note that the Thompson 2-6-4 L1 and the 2-6-2 V1/V3 locos were both available as 3D prints from Atso-Cad's Shapeway's shop, but I don't think the L1 is currently available.

Here is a photo of my L1 No. 67733 and V1 No. 67664 on 'Ferryhill'.



The L1 runs on a modified Graham Farish SE&CR N Class chassis and the V1 runs on a modified Graham Farish LMS Ivatt 2MT chassis.  I have recently refurbished these models and they are both good performers. 

I know that Steve DaCosta of Atso-Cad was planning to upgrade the L1 print but then soon after announced he was getting out of the new 3D print business.  That is probably why the L1 print was withdrawn.

Ian

Hello Ian;

I've seen Atso/Steve's prints, and have built one of his N2s earlier this year.

I have a chassis for the L1, but as you say, the L1 is not now available. The V1/V3 for me would be partly Rule 1 anachronism as they disappeared from East Anglia relatively early, but if they were made RTR, I'd certainly have one. L1s lasted rather longer here, but went quickly with the introduction of DMUs.

Martyn

Sorry to be flipant, but when I saw the subject line, I was expecting to see something about a blue hedgehog