Regner 'Betty'

[New Haven Neil 2]

As some of you may recall, I was left a Regner 'Betty' kit by my old pal Johnny Johnson when he passed away earlier this year. I have only just got around to finishing it due to calls on my time by other matters.

This was far from a straightforward nut and bolt job, as some parts didn't really fit very well, especaiily the slidebars which took a couple of evenings worth of fettling to get right, and the quartering is difficult as the axles have no squares or guide dimples - it has to be done purely by eye. There was also a fair few smaller parts missing, not sure if that was JJ's fault, but the packaging was mostly intact. Luckily I have have good supplies of suitable nuts and bolts etc. You also have to do all your own pipe bending etc, so while not overly complex, it is a fiddly build if you aren't reasonably handy with small tools.

The desructions are in German too, which presents it's own fun and games, however the drawings are pretty good, although there are several small omissions in them, and some holes have no purpose which is a touch befuddling.

I was however very pleasantly surprised when it ran well at the first try, and after attending to some small leaks etc, had a good run today, in fact it is a very steady runner indeed, and is as good as a Roundhouse.

 

[New Haven Neil 2]

The awful name plates will have to go, but as you can see by the mess on the back of the cab they are not easy to remove

The radio control will take a touch longer, they provide some super servo brackets (but they don't fit any of the servo's I have in stock) and there is no provision for the switch made. In fact the instructions show how t ofit the servos, but ignore where to put the receiver, batteries and switch entirely...ho hum.

While I have reservations about brass boilers, this bulds up in to a nice little loco, that runs well, and does not run away down hills badly on manual control. It is rather rather, er, tall, though!

Forgive the characteristically untidy NHN wokbench please - it's how I am.....although I am tidy at work oddly enough! &:

 

[New Haven Neil 2]

It got a touch breezy this morning.....then this happened! No damage done, the grass is very soggy at the moment!

 

[Steve]

Nice loco Neil

 

[hornbeam]

Looks stunning! In fact the first Regner I've liked the look of. I also am very untidy in the workshop but very tidy at work. You have done a nice job and it's a shame how regner insist on them dam nameplates!

 

[jameshilton]

Interesting to see how tall it is! I always thought they were scaled to match LGB. Looks a neat engine though...

I had some coach 'spills' on boxing day with LGB bogie coaches too!

 

[Ferrysteam]

Looks like it's been worth the effort Neil.A splendid job...They're made to last forever.

 

[funandtrains]

This loco has been on my wish list since it came out. They are much chunkier than the other Regner locos and I believe that this was a request by Martin's models to appeal to the 16mm maket.

 

[railwayman198]

This loco has been on my wish list since it came out. They are much chunkier than the other Regner locos and I believe that this was a request by Martin's models to appeal to the 16mm maket.

You would have thought that the 16 millers had a big enough choice already! It's those of us struggling to model 1:22.5 that are poorly served by the live steam manufacturers. Oh well, something else I don't need to save up for.

 

[funandtrains]

This loco has been on my wish list since it came out. They are much chunkier than the other Regner locos and I believe that this was a request by Martin's models to appeal to the 16mm maket.

You would have thought that the 16 millers had a big enough choice already! It's those of us struggling to model 1:22.5 that are poorly served by the live steam manufacturers. Oh well, something else I don't need to save up for.

There seems to be much less live steam manufacturers in any scale at the moment with 16mm, 1:22.5, 1:20.3 and 1:32 scales having similar numbers of models produced.

 

[railwayman198]

Mmm...not so sure about that Steve.

Accucraft U.K. 1:19 with generics rather larger
Roundhouse 1:19 with generics rather larger
Accucraft U.S. 1:20.3 and 1:32 (with the odd 1:24 and :29?)
Aristocraft 1:29
I can only think of a few of the Regners (not the easy line that are massive) and maybe the Roundhouse SRRL that are1:22.5. Maybe also a couple of very low volume continental manufacturers.

Have I missed something?

 

[wpandyr]

Most,, if not all Regner premier engines are made to a scale of 1:22.5 to go with LGB rolling stock. The freelance models and "Easy line" that are not based on a prototype may be a little more variable in scale.

The catalogue is available here;

http://www.regner-dampftechnik.de/bestellung/gesamtkatalog.php < Link To http://www.regner-dampfte...lung/gesamtkatalog.php

 

[funandtrains]

Mmm...not so sure about that Steve.

Accucraft U.K. 1:19 with generics rather larger
Roundhouse 1:19 with generics rather larger
Accucraft U.S. 1:20.3 and 1:32 (with the odd 1:24 and :29?)
Aristocraft 1:29
I can only think of a few of the Regners (not the easy line that are massive) and maybe the Roundhouse SRRL that are1:22.5. Maybe also a couple of very low volume continental manufacturers.

Have I missed something?

There are only the 2 volume producers of 16mm locos left in the market.
Regner, Herman and Aster all currently have 1:22.5 models available although most are not cheap.
Regner, Accucraft and Aster have 1:20.3 and 1:32 scale locos.

If anyone with mechancial skill is looking for a true scale German 1:22.5, 45mm gauge loco I am open to offers on a nearly completed kit for a Regner Prignitzer Kleinbahn 0-6-0 which I won on ebay some time ago. It is a little beyond my German ability and mechanical skill to get running although in theory it only needs the R/C system installed.

 

[railwayman198]

Mmm...not so sure about that Steve.

Accucraft U.K. 1:19 with generics rather larger
Roundhouse 1:19 with generics rather larger
Accucraft U.S. 1:20.3 and 1:32 (with the odd 1:24 and :29?)
Aristocraft 1:29
I can only think of a few of the Regners (not the easy line that are massive) and maybe the Roundhouse SRRL that are1:22.5. Maybe also a couple of very low volume continental manufacturers.

Have I missed something?

There are only the 2 volume producers of 16mm locos left in the market.
Regner, Herman and Aster all currently have 1:22.5 models available although most are not cheap.
Regner, Accucraft and Aster have 1:20.3 and 1:32 scale locos.

If anyone with mechancial skill is looking for a true scale German 1:22.5, 45mm gauge loco I am open to offers on a nearly completed kit for a Regner Prignitzer Kleinbahn 0-6-0 which I won on ebay some time ago. It is a little beyond my German ability and mechanical skill to get running although in theory it only needs the R/C system installed.

Ah yes, I forgot about the Aster plantation loco. A very nice looking little thing.

 

[New Haven Neil 2]

Looks stunning! In fact the first Regner I've liked the look of. I also am very untidy in the workshop but very tidy at work. You have done a nice job and it's a shame how regner insist on them dam nameplates!

Thank you. Despite the niggles it was satisfying to build, but I really think a translation of the instructions should be provided. To be fair to Martin he did offer to help with translation if I got stuck, but they should be included IMHO.

The nameplates are simply awful. The font is modern, they are plastic, and stuck on with depleted uranium or something.:thumbdown: Narrow Planet here we come.

 

[New Haven Neil 2]

If anyone with mechancial skill is looking for a true scale German 1:22.5, 45mm gauge loco I am open to offers on a nearly completed kit for a Regner Prignitzer Kleinbahn 0-6-0 which I won on ebay some time ago. It is a little beyond my German ability and mechanical skill to get running although in theory it only needs the R/C system installed.

hmm............:love: That looks to have the same parts (boiler, wheels, cylinders, detail parts) as Betty. but with full working valve gear. Nice. Shame I'm skint, I'd have it otherwise!

 

[New Haven Neil 2]

As for the Hermann locos, I saw them running a tAmberley in 2010 - VERY impressed.

Lot of Regner fittings on them!!

 

[funandtrains]

If anyone with mechancial skill is looking for a true scale German 1:22.5, 45mm gauge loco I am open to offers on a nearly completed kit for a Regner Prignitzer Kleinbahn 0-6-0 which I won on ebay some time ago. It is a little beyond my German ability and mechanical skill to get running although in theory it only needs the R/C system installed.

hmm............:love: That looks to have the same parts (boiler, wheels, cylinders, detail parts) as Betty. but with full working valve gear. Nice. Shame I'm skint, I'd have it otherwise!

It is quite a squat loco having a low cab with angled sides like the FR Mountaineer being lower and longer than Betty.

 

[wpandyr]

For translating the Betty instructions, Regner post soft copy here:
http://www.regner-dampftechnik.de/service/translation_sites/20790_betty_translation.php < Link To http://www.regner-dampfte..._betty_translation.php

Then one can use the on-line translation tools such as Google. It is not ideal but does work.

 

[funandtrains]

I really like Regner locos and their engineering and bodywork are more accurate looking than Roundhouse to prototype, it is just a pity that they don't have the excellent customer service that Roundhouse provide. Martin is very helpful but only being an agent he can only go so far. It is not just the language difference as several Germans I know have described the Regner people as odd and difficult to deal with.