BRITISH RAIL 4MT gas fired 1 3/2

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main131

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OK, so this engine is not Gscale but I assume that the forum has a 'broad field' and I have seen these nice little steamers running at several G get.togethers.
I understand that some early production had modifications but as you can see on the video and as Arthur Daley used to say 'A nice little runner..never heard of him? Well that shows you how old I am. Certainly old enough to recognize good value when I see it!
Isn't it good to see a British outline running as well. Please note; These are Chinese imports (but none the worse for that)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uw--PwkJ6Ic

6e66650b9b65407aab36ac2b47d515b6.jpg
 
I think they're made in the Accucraft factory.....One of my favourates the 4mt.
 
The company that makes them goes by the name Bowande or wuhu brand arts and crafts. I have one of these little guys and it's a good all round unit, I have had no problems with it. I believe that the company from researching them prior to buying the unit do do work for accucraft and possibly for Gauge 1 model company and Aster. Maybe someone (An importer) can shed some light if this is correct ?
 
longwallmining said:
The company that makes them goes by the name Bowande or wuhu brand arts and crafts. I have one of these little guys and it's a good all round unit, I have had no problems with it. I believe that the company from researching them prior to buying the unit do do work for accucraft and possibly for Gauge 1 model company and Aster. Maybe someone (An importer) can shed some light if this is correct ?
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Almost entirely wrong I am afraid. Bowande was started by an ex Accucraft manager who took the original G1MCo 4MT design with him. The Accucraft loco was originally going to be gas fired and so the 'knock off' Bowande version still is. Most if not all of their other models seem to have Accucraft features and no doubt this has added fuel to this impression. Trevor Taylor of the G1MCo and of course Bing Cheng of Accucraft were rather obviously not happy about their original design work being stolen and would, most certainly, not employ Bowande to do anything at all. It is however, cowboy country out there and there is little in the way of legal redress. I cannot speak for Aster, but given the sometimes intemperate comments by Aster UK regarding Chinese imports, I would consider this scenario to be very unlikely.

Having said the above, Bowande seem to be continually improving 'their' products and there is little doubt that this model is a reasonable little locomotive. Accucraft, Accucraft UK and the G1MCo have full logistical back up in the UK ? but I don't know at present what the position is with the stuff from Bowande. I understand that that spares and servicing are being set up by the designer/importer of the Gauge 3 'Brit' but know little about other Bowande importers. You will have to ask.
 
Ferrysteam said:
I think they're made in the Accucraft factory.....One of my favourates the 4mt.
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The G1MCo ones are ? the Bowande copies are not. You would get short shrift from Accucraft or G1MCo if one was returned to them for whatever reason.
 
Ah yes, having been lucky enough to spend many hours firing and driving 80135 on the North York Moors I will come out of the closet and admit the 4MT tank is one of my all time favourite locos.

It is quite ironic that the model design that was allegedly stolen from the Accucraft factory was a rejected design, the finished product from the G1MCo out of the Accucraft factory is somewhat different.

Happy steamings,

John
 
It ain't bad at all David. Still a copied design however...and I can understand how the G1MCo feel about that.
 
yes i can imagine,,,, wasnt there initial problems with these
and are they available in electric,,,,
and anyone have any veiws or seen any samples of the mk 1 coaches from the G1MCo,,
are they any good,,
 
daveyb said:
yes i can imagine,,,, wasnt there initial problems with these
and are they available in electric,,,,
and anyone have any veiws or seen any samples of the mk 1 coaches from the G1MCo,,
are they any good,,
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Only the pre-production coaches. They will not be here until next year. There were probs with the gas fired locos certainly but Bowande seem to have sorted that now.
 
daveyb said:
and anyone have any veiws or seen any samples of the mk 1 coaches from the G1MCo,, are they any good,,
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I haven't seen the samples of the G1MCo Mk1 coaches yet, but being out of the Accucraft factory I'm sure they will be very good. It goes without saying that the availability of such iconic coaches at very attractive prices will do no end of good for the G1 hobby, they are something that people have been crying out for for years. I really am thrilled at the concept of these, can't wait!

Happy steamings,
John
 
yes hopefuly they will probably be very good,,,,

wonder why they dont sell them themselves,,,,
 
daveyb said:
yes hopefuly they will probably be very good,,,,

wonder why they dont sell them themselves,,,,
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Its probably because they're a G1MCo design and not an Accucraft one although some third party designs built by Accucraft are sold under their brand (e.g Maxitrak Fowler, Alice etc) in other countries.

I can't wait for these coaches and have just put an order in. Just need an Accucraft 68XX and 47XX to go with them:)
 
yes although there not cheap, there cheeper than the brass and probably lighter,,,

with the amount of gauge one locos out there these are going to sell really well,,
 
Wanted to add my name in as a happy Wuhu 4MT owner. I can't speak to the G1MRC version that was copied having never seen one, but if the QC on their version is anything like Accucraft's own models you would be better off with the Wuhu.
 
I have had the opportunity to buy one a Wuhu 4MT for some time. I was never a great fan of the BR standards but the 4MT tank was an exception, and it is a great looking model. A number of things have prevented the purchase:

1) My layout has a minimum radius LGB R3 curves. The radius is greater than the minimum quoted by Bowande, but can anybody confirm how this loco performs on these curves?

2) A lack of Mk1 coaches which can negotiate R3 curves - again, the number quoted on various websites shows that the forthcoming models should, in theory, be OK, but is this realistic?

3) Problems with the gas fired locos referred to above - was this serious? Can anybody confirm which locos were affected, i.e relevant serial numbers etc.

Thanks
Geoff
 
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