Hornby/Arnold Brighton Belle, some pics and comment

[Dorsetmike]

Link posted on the SEmG grouip

http://grahammuz.com/2013/09/16/first-pictures-arnold-hornby-n-gauge-brighton-belle-engineering-prototype/

OOpps someone beat me to it

[woodbury22uk]

The latest version of the Arnold Brighton Belle is on the Hornby stand at the Great Electric Train Show at Gaydon this weekend. The bodyshells are in green plastic now with glazing and interiors fitted including the table lamps. The motorisation appears to be a large central motor above the floor line with flywheels and cardan shafts to the bogies of the powered driving car. the motor assembly is visible through 3 bodyside windows but I suspect it will not be too obvious as there will be illuminated table lamps even in the driven car. To facilitate the use of only one DCC decoder power is transmitted between vehicles via a three pin connector/coupler which looks like it will provide close coupling, and might even couple up with the vehicles on the track - otherwise it will be time for 5 car snake wrestling like the Farish Voyager, or the Blue Pullman if using the bar couplers.

The one thing which jarred a bit was the wheelsets which appear to have "continental" flanges rather than RP25 etc. and at this stage are bright shiny metal.

This shows the female coupler



This shows the male coupler




A general view of two cars to show the table lamps and roof boards.

[H]

The one thing which jarred a bit was the wheelsets which appear to have "continental" flanges rather than RP25 etc. and at this stage are bright shiny metal.

Yep, shame about those shiny wheels and the flanges do look a lot bigger than PR25 ones.

Not so sure about the bogie side-frames either. And are those dark patches above the wheels cut outs on the sole/bar?

I guess we'll have to wait for the finished model to check decoration and performance. Some of the window frames look like it will be printed on the glazing - especially the oval windows.

The roof boards look fine and separate fittings, but it would have been nice to see the other roof details.

H.

[Bealman]

The pics look good! Illuminated table lamps? Cool! It is a shame about the sheet, though.

[woodbury22uk]

The roof boards look fine and separate fittings, but it would have been nice to see the other roof details.

H.

Needs someone to take a yard of track and ask Simon Kohler to find space to put them up on his compact Hornby stand. The roof details can be seen in the body only photos here:-

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/73658-hornbyarnold-brighton-belle-price-and-delivery-date-confirmed/page-3#entry1188567

and the original link at the top of this page.

[DJM Dave]

I thought the B.B. Coaches were still in existence being used on the VSOE.
If this is right, then surely not having an NEM coupling housing so they can sell them separately (and make more money) is a strange move?

[EtchedPixels]

I thought the B.B. Coaches were still in existence being used on the VSOE.
If this is right, then surely not having an NEM coupling housing so they can sell them separately (and make more money) is a strange move?

They are still in use (or were..) I believe the intention is to turn them back into the Brighton Belle unit in the end.

I am surprised by the couplings but I guess its a trade off for the running power down the unit feature. Nothing Mr Hacksaw can't fix

[DJM Dave]

Ah yes, of course only 1 decoder.

Kinda limits use though, however if the power is being transferred by this method, will the interior lighting be on the same circuit, I.e. It can be turned off under DCC?

I'd have done it with 2 decoders personally, with the wheels (RP25 obviously) on pin points to power the coach lights.

Looking at the wheels and the cut outs for bogie swing (which look horrendous) this will probably be the first time since Minitrix loco's looking like BR ones that UK outline has taken a retrograde step backwards in certain areas on new models.

I hope they put this right but as it's aimed towards their 'famous trains' section, I think they are more likely to stay to keep the Euro's happy.

[H]

The sole-bar cut-outs look cheap, nasty and odd - I don't recall other Continental/European made N gauge coaches with then - and can be fixed with plasticard inserts, but will mean re-painting the sole-bars as a minimum. Also the couplers can be replaced wit the Dapol NEM sockets but fortunately that'll only be for those who want the coaches separately and not as a BB.

H.

[woodbury22uk]

At least 3 ways to avoid the solebar cutouts.

1. Reduce the wheel diameter as per the Farish Deltic prototype;
2. Reduce the flange height, though that probably does not gain enough;
3. Increase the gap between the bogie and solebar, as per numerous locos and coaches.

I think I would prefer a combination of 1 and 2.

Worth making sure the feedback here gets to Hornby, who may not be NGF readers

[H]

They might only be there for very tight radius bends, so are not needed on layouts with more sensible and generous curves, meaning none of those three options are required.

H.

[woodbury22uk]

They might only be there for very tight radius bends, so are not needed on layouts with more sensible and generous curves, meaning none of those three options are required.

H.

That would probably kill the economics of the whole project and I am sure Arnold will want it to take UK R1/Continental R2 curves like everything else they make.

[woodbury22uk]

The roof boards look fine and separate fittings, but it would have been nice to see the other roof details.

H.

Needs someone to take a yard of track and ask Simon Kohler to find space to put them up on his compact Hornby stand. The roof details can be seen in the body only photos here:-

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/73658-hornbyarnold-brighton-belle-price-and-delivery-date-confirmed/page-3#entry1188567

and the original link at the top of this page.

This is what it looks like on the track all coupled up .....and running!

http://grahammuz.com/2013/10/14/next-pictures-arnold-hornby-n-gauge-brighton-belle-running-prototype/

[EtchedPixels]

At least 3 ways to avoid the solebar cutouts.

1. Reduce the wheel diameter as per the Farish Deltic prototype;
2. Reduce the flange height, though that probably does not gain enough;
3. Increase the gap between the bogie and solebar, as per numerous locos and coaches.

I think I would prefer a combination of 1 and 2.

Worth making sure the feedback here gets to Hornby, who may not be NGF readers

2 would stop it meeting the european NEM track standards I suspect. A lot of the finer UK wheels tend to derail on some continental track pieces (eg Fleischmann 3 ways) that assume NEM wheel specifications.

[H]

That would probably kill the economics of the whole project and I am sure Arnold will want it to take UK R1/Continental R2 curves like everything else they make.

Eh? Of course not. No need to kill or effect the economics. It simple means that if you don't have such train set track radius you might not need the cut outs and can either fill then in, or that Hornby don't really need to include them. A simple snap out section in such circumstances would suffice.

H.