Ixion Manor v Dapol Hall

Elvinley · February 11, 2012, 02:03:48 PM

I recently gave in and bought one of each of these locos and thought it would be interesting to see which is favourite with NGF members.

I can see disadvantages and advantages with both models, but they are both generally good locos. I have owned a Manor in the past, but this one is more recent with the wire connection. It is much quieter than my first one. This is my first Dapol Hall. Both locos had faults when purchased but the Manor, which wobbled was exchanged with no quibble by Rails. The Hall had a missing splasher side but the part was replaced by the Ebay seller I bought it from.

Both my locos are in plain GWR green - both a little pale but slightly different shades.

HALL

Advantages:

Generally cheaper even though RRP is slightly more.
DCC ready
Traction tyres fitted (depending on whether you like them or not)

Disadvantages:

Bent running plate (which is nowhere near as noticable on the model as in photos)
Grey driving wheels (again not so bad as it looks in photos and not so bad when the bogie wheels are black rather than painted grey)
Oiling requires one screw to be removed.

MANOR

Advantages:

Easier oiling
Black driving wheels
Getting rare now so possibly a wiser buy

Disadvantages:

Con rods do not move completely horizontally - also a problem on the Hall but not so noticeable.
More expensive
Not DCC ready
No traction tyres - though it seems powerful enough without
The tender wheels tend to drop into and out of peco frogs - possibly because the flanges are so fine.

----------

So far the Hall is noisier than the Manor but most of the loco noise vanishes when the tender top is removed, so I am experimenting with making it quieter..

Karhedron · February 14, 2012, 03:26:30 PM

The Hall has some detail errors such as lining not being quite right and lacking fire-iron tunnels (all the models produced by Dapol should have them fitted). I like the darker motions on the Hall, the Manor is a bit bright and silvery.

Elvinley · February 14, 2012, 03:45:15 PM

I prefer the GWR plain livery due to the lining being a bit off. Both the Hall and Manor I have are in this livery. It is a shame that the green is so flat, but I can live with that.

Karhedron · February 14, 2012, 04:01:36 PM

The only Halls I have seen in unlined GWR livery were one or two converted to oil burning. I wonder if the Dapol model is accurate?

GrahamB · February 14, 2012, 08:20:11 PM

I have two Halls and two Manors. The Manors worked fine out of the box after oiling.

The two Halls both worked but neither would negotiate 9" radius curves until I had worked on the drive mechanism (See separate thread). It appears to me that the Manor has a sloppier drive linkage. While that might sound bad, it means it will take 9" radius curves with no fuss whatsoever.

Karhedron · February 15, 2012, 08:55:43 AM

That is interesting about the drive mechanism. My Hall derails on 9" curves too.

I was not particularly worried by this for 2 reasons. The instructions state 10.5" or above so I was not particularly expecting it to. Also the only 9" curves I have are on my loop of test track, my layout uses larger radius curves.

Still, if there is a solution it would b good to see.

Sprintex · February 15, 2012, 12:17:21 PM

I like the Ixion Manor, but then I also like the Dapol Hall, but which is better?

Only one way to find out . . . . .

FIGHT !!!!!

Paul

Elvinley · February 16, 2012, 12:11:38 AM

Quote from: Karhedron on February 14, 2012, 04:01:36 PM
The only Halls I have seen in unlined GWR livery were one or two converted to oil burning. I wonder if the Dapol model is accurate?

I'm no expert on liveries, but there is a mention here of the GWR taransitional livery on Pitchford Hall: http://www.eorailway.co.uk/departments/rollingstock/steam-locomotives/

Some photos here: http://www.docbrown.info/docspics/midlands/mspage20.htm

GrahamB · February 28, 2012, 03:15:34 PM

Quote from: Karhedron on February 15, 2012, 08:55:43 AM
That is interesting about the drive mechanism. My Hall derails on 9" curves too.

I was not particularly worried by this for 2 reasons. The instructions state 10.5" or above so I was not particularly expecting it to. Also the only 9" curves I have are on my loop of test track, my layout uses larger radius curves.

Still, if there is a solution it would b good to see.

I've looked and looked and even Dapol Dave never gave me an answer to this, where exactly have you read in the instructions (Or the publicity for that matter) about 10.5" curves?

Bikeracer · February 28, 2012, 06:20:36 PM

Quote from: Elvinley on February 11, 2012, 02:03:48 PM

So far the Hall is noisier than the Manor but most of the loco noise vanishes when the tender top is removed, so I am experimenting with making it quieter..

I've got a Dapol Class 26 that is considerably quieter without the body on so it would be interesting to know what you've come up with as regards reducing the noticeable noise.

Allan

Elvinley · February 28, 2012, 08:05:37 PM

I only got as far as lining the inside of the tender with tape and putting some foam towards the rear insidewhich seemed to make a small difference. You have to be really careful as the motor isn't sealed.

Elvinley · March 27, 2012, 12:03:59 PM

I have just recieved Foxcote manor in BR green which was on offer from Kernow. Much better colour on this than the GWR one. Definitely a darker green. Decoration looks great and a brief test run seems positive.

Newportnobby · March 27, 2012, 12:38:47 PM

Quote from: Elvinley on March 27, 2012, 12:03:59 PM
I have just recieved Foxcote manor in BR green which was on offer from Kernow. Much better colour on this than the GWR one. Definitely a darker green. Decoration looks great and a brief test run seems positive.

Hi Ian,

Just got the same delivered to work today so will be lubing/testing tonight. Thanks again for the tip off

Dr Al · March 27, 2012, 01:59:02 PM

I was running my Hall and Manor as a double header the other day and it was interesting to note the differences between them.

Both run about the same speed, but the Manor drops quite badly over turnout frog gaps as compared the Hall, which seems to glide over them much more smoothly. Makes me wonder about the weight balance on the Manor - folk say it's good but I'm less sure.

Also, the older style wheels on the Manor (black plastic spoke inserts) look better than the default Hall (grey), but less good once you paint the Hall wheels - the Manor rims really need painted to match up which is something I now intend to do.

Also the Hall bufferbeam is still bent on mine - though I suspect all the buffers on Hall/Manor would line up nicely if this wasn't the case.

The Manor cab interior could do with painting black too as green looks a bit odd!

Cheers,
Alan

Elvinley · March 27, 2012, 04:04:41 PM

Quote from: Dr Al on March 27, 2012, 01:59:02 PM
I was running my Hall and Manor as a double header the other day and it was interesting to note the differences between them.

Both run about the same speed, but the Manor drops quite badly over turnout frog gaps as compared the Hall, which seems to glide over them much more smoothly. Makes me wonder about the weight balance on the Manor - folk say it's good but I'm less sure.

Also, the older style wheels on the Manor (black plastic spoke inserts) look better than the default Hall (grey), but less good once you paint the Hall wheels - the Manor rims really need painted to match up which is something I now intend to do.

Also the Hall bufferbeam is still bent on mine - though I suspect all the buffers on Hall/Manor would line up nicely if this wasn't the case.

The Manor cab interior could do with painting black too as green looks a bit odd!

Cheers,
Alan

I found the wheels dropped into frogs too and was one of the disadvantages I listed in my original post. I have filled in some of my frogs with a little wood glue which is filed down when dry to stop this happening.