Minitrix versus GF and Dapol and others?

[petercharlesfagg]

Just browsing Ebay and it appears that Minitrix gets much better prices than those we normally purchase.

I have no knowledge of Minitrix, is it a superior make?

Regards, Peter.

[Newportnobby]

My own feelings are that Minitrix locos are fairly bullet proof but inaccurate

[keithfre]

I once opened up my Minitrix Ivatt and it was like a Swiss watch inside - what a contrast with the old Farish Poole locos, which looked just like scaled down 1950s Triang! A superb slow runner. Visually the British Minitrixes (Minitrices?) are a compromise, though, being built on and adapted to Continental chassis, and the valve gear is inauthentic and overscale.

[EtchedPixels]

Just browsing Ebay and it appears that Minitrix gets much better prices than those we normally purchase.

I have no knowledge of Minitrix, is it a superior make?

Regards, Peter.

Depends on the item and period.

A lot of the Minitrix UK outline is seen as "collectable" so goes to the collector market, who will may silly money for some of the models. Mechanically they were very good quality models, accuracy wise varied. Some of them were pretty good for their day, others like the Warship, dock tank and 27 were ..erm not.

The better ones are still not in detail terms up to modern standards but they generally (Ivatt 2MT sometimes excepted) run very well and as they do things like 9" curves which some of their current replacements will not so have their place.

Alan

[silly moo]

I agree with what everyone else has said. I won't part with my Minitrix locos because despite their inaccuracies they run very well and as has been mentioned are virtually bullet proof. I had a couple of dreadful Ivatts but the Pacifics are very good indeed.

If you are thinking of buying them bear in mind that the Britannia was first produced in the '70's the older ones have solid wheels on the front bogie. The boxes they come in give a good indication of age, the first models came in polystyrene trays with cardboard lids, later versions had a clear plastic box.

Regards

Veronica.

[simonprelude]

When were the plastic boxes introduced? My A4 is of that type and I keep trying to work out how old it must be. I'm guessing around 1984. I also have a couple of the cardboard boxed variants (Green 27 and Red German diesel loco)

[silly moo]

I would guess that the plastic boxes were introduced in the 80s but I'm terrible with dates. For anyone with Minitrix locos to repair here is a useful website

http://www.jfheath.co.uk/ngauge/index.shtml

Regards

Veronica

[Paddy]

Absolutely love the British N Gauge Minitrix locos.  As someone pointed out previously the chassis and some of the model accuracy is a little "flexible" but in terms of build quality we have only recently got back to these levels IMHO.

HOLLERTON JUNCTION did have a lot more but even I had to do some pruning over the last couple of years.  At present, 13C has the following Minitrix locos on shed:

Fowler 2F 0-6-0T
Ivatt 2MT 2-6-2T (41234 & 41272)
Ivatt 2MT 2-6-0 (46400 & 46406)
A3 4-6-2 "Flying Scotsman"
Standard 7 4-6-2 Britannia (70000, 70004, 70013 & 70036)
A4 4-6-2 "Sir Nigel Gresleey" & "Mallard"

All are the latest post Hornby Minitrix models in plastic cases and mint.  All run very sweetly and the haulage capacity has been improved on the Ivatt 2-6-0s.

The wee Fowler 0-6-0T is amazing as it runs perfectly even across dead frog Setrack points and pulls far more than its size would suggest.

Paddy

[macwales]

Hi

I am a great fan of Minitrix, especially since I really have no idea about what detail is correct and my main layout requirement is a loco that runs well at slow speeds even over bumpy insulfrog points and can pull a decent load. Many newer models struggle to provide all these requirements and no modern Dapol or Farish steamers come with working lights!.

However, when the old timer Minitrixes are placed alongside the more modern models the inaccurate details and incorrect scale can plainly be seen.

My Minitrix collection is at least 30 years old with some dating back to 1976.

If you were looking for great slow running, a heady top speed, superb slow running over points, mechanical reliability, metal gears, all wheel pickup, steamers with lights and wire handrails and great pullers, nothing came near them in those old days. The only problem I have faced is getting spares. Some of my Minitrix motors require worn out bushes to be replaced but I am yet to find a supply. Can anyone help?

I also have noted that recently second hand prices on eBay have come down to about two thirds of what they were two years ago. This is probably due to many being replaced with accurate models of A3s, A4s, 9Fs etc from Farish and Dapol that have been released during this period.

So now seems a great time to buy these British outline Minitixes!

Cheers

Mac. 

[silly moo]

Since we are talking about Minitrix here is the story of how I got my Flying Scotsman in 1999. Gaugemaster got in a batch of new locos and if I remember correctly they cost about 80 pounds. That was the most I had ever spent on a loco.

As I didn't want to entrust my purchase to the local posties, a friend in England (who will remain nameless in case he ever wants to go to Ford again) offered to take delivery of the loco. It was to be sent by courier and when it didn't turn up he contacted Gaugemaster who in turn contacted the courier company who said they couldn't deliver the parcel because the only vehicle they had at the depot at that time was a pantechnicon. My friend is no shrinking violet and insisted they delivered it anyway, so my Minitrix loco arrived by pantechnicon!

Things got worse as when the loco was tested, it wasn't a very good runner. My friend decided to take the offending loco back in person and breezed into a very busy shop. He then insisted that the rather disgruntled staff get out the ENTIRE stock of Scotsmen (at least twenty) and a test track, he then proceeded to test every loco until he found one that ran to his satisfaction!

I was talking quite some time later to one of the local Marklin agents who told me that when Marklin took over Trix they found a room full of what looked like new locos which didn't appear on the list of stock, it was assumed that they were returns from all the retailers. The Gaugemaster Scotsmen may have come from this stock which would explain the odd poor runner.

Regards

Veronica

[EddieA]

I had a break from railway modelling for around 8 years due to various family commitments. During that time my collection of Lima(!), Grafar, and Minitrix loco were stored in their boxes.

It was noticable that the Minitix locos were the ones that needed the least aid to come back to life. Some of the Grafar, and all of the Lima seemed to be beyond help.

OK they don't have the most accurate dimensions but Minitrix has the best mechanics.

[EtchedPixels]

I find there is an art to resurrecting Lima locos - although I'd suggest "why bother" is a valid question to ask first.

Before you apply power to a long disused one turn the large cog or the motor bogie by hand a fair amount, clean out any old oil you can and carefully relubricate with modern oil. It should begin to turn a lot more easily. Once it's doing that take out the gear to the wheels and gently run the motor a bit. If it won't go very carefully poke the back of the brush springs and see if that'll jump start it.

Keep a very careful eye on the temperature as you do this. Farish ones will tolerate a certain amount of heat and sticking when they are being unclogged (not that this is a good idea!) but the Lima ones have little tolerance and will happily go up in smoke.

The large gear on the bogies also occasionally splits. Fortunately its very easy to find supplies of cheap failed Lima models 

Alan

[OwL]

If it wasnt for Minitrix, then quite frankly i wouldnt have stuck with British N Gauge!
For the time (mid-late 1980's) the models totally led the N Gauge British market. I still have the large logo blue Class 47 that i bought many years ago, with working lights back then! (something that has only been standard with other manufacturers in tbe last 5 years)
All of my mimitrix items both rolling stock and locos i will keep, and due to build quality will probably outlive me!
Detail compared to current models is not that great but then again who cares? I want to run trains not gawp at a stationary loco's 148 times smaller than the original! Lol.
If you buy a minitrix, you wont regret it.

[EddieA]

If it wasnt for Minitrix, then quite frankly i wouldnt have stuck with British N Gauge!

If you buy a minitrix, you wont regret it.

Ditto, I tried N Gauge in the early 70's with a Grafar pannier tank. Nothing I did would make it run reliably, dead frog points (probably only option in those days), stall!. Even on plain track it would shed the coupling rods...

Eventually a friend popped around with a Minitrix 27(sic) and a steamer, I think the Class 2 tank. Both ran like a dream, which is why I am on here today! 

[silly moo]

My friend the Flying Scotsman tester also had a bash at British N with an early Farish pannier, it drove him bonkers so he changed to German N never to return.