Stevelewis Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 Just signed for one may be tempted for another, not sure why 'because I model Continental n gauge, but maybe one got through the Channel tunnel before it was built well thats my excuse!! ( Actually anything with the ARNOLD name is worth having) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
oreamnos Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 BTW, since I didn't notice anyone else mention it, the price for the 5 cars has come down 10 quid to £199.99. The original announcement set a price of £209.98 for 5 cars. Given the direction prices have gone over the past year, assuming it is put together reasonably well, I actually would now consider this set to be good value for money. Matt P.S. - The comment about having something with the Arnold name on it... at least here in the States back in the day, the name "Arnold" meant "Better buy another brand, instead." I have been advised that in recent years things have improved. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matabiau Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 I would love to be able to preorder one but Hornby's website won't let me use any discount codes (such as the 10% Collectors' Club reduction, or the 20% discount I was offered following the Christmas sale fiasco). It seems if you want to pre-order you have to pay full price. Hopefully there will still be some left when they are finally available to buy online. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevelewis Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 BTW, since I didn't notice anyone else mention it, the price for the 5 cars has come down 10 quid to £199.99. The original announcement set a price of £209.98 for 5 cars. Given the direction prices have gone over the past year, assuming it is put together reasonably well, I actually would now consider this set to be good value for money. Matt P.S. - The comment about having something with the Arnold name on it... at least here in the States back in the day, the name "Arnold" meant "Better buy another brand, instead." I have been advised that in recent years things have improved. Re the Arnold name is the reference being 'not very good' relative to the Arnold N Gauge railway brand or something else? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
oreamnos Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 Arnold N gauge USA outline years ago here in the USA had a poor reputation relative to other brands of N gauge equipment. That said, back in the 1960s and 1970s and the only better options were Con-Cor or Atlas and those companies also released some dubious stuff as well. I noticed in the in picture of the blue one when you roll over it with your mouse to magnify it, you can see the solebar cutouts for the wheels that many people complained about are still there. http://www.Hornby.com/shop/Hornby-arnold-n-gauge/Hornby-arnold-n-gauge-sr-5-bel-brighton-belle-pullman-5-car-train-pack-1969-website-exclusive.html Matt Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevelewis Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 Arnold N gauge USA outline years ago here in the USA had a poor reputation relative to other brands of N gauge equipment. I noticed in the in picture of the blue one when you roll over it with your mouse to magnify it, you can see the solebar cutouts for the wheels that many people complained about are still there. http://www.Hornby.com/shop/Hornby-arnold-n-gauge/Hornby-arnold-n-gauge-sr-5-bel-brighton-belle-pullman-5-car-train-pack-1969-website-exclusive.html Matt I first purchase Arnold items back around 1968 when it first became available here in the UK, It worked well and of course there was not much else to compare it with until Minitrix became available and the 2 brands were just about equal in perfomance and fidelity to prototype,, Fleischman Piccolo came a few years later and that brand upped the quality, to which the others obviously made improvements. I never noticed any real problems with Arnold items though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
talisman56 Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 Arnold N gauge USA outline years ago here in the USA had a poor reputation relative to other brands of N gauge equipment. I noticed in the in picture of the blue one when you roll over it with your mouse to magnify it, you can see the solebar cutouts for the wheels that many people complained about are still there. http://www.Hornby.com/shop/Hornby-arnold-n-gauge/Hornby-arnold-n-gauge-sr-5-bel-brighton-belle-pullman-5-car-train-pack-1969-website-exclusive.html Matt When I get one in my greasy little mitts I'll see if that is a problem that will bear scrutiny at normal viewing distances. What's more important and more difficult to hide is that in the 1969 Blue/Grey versions the bogies have the original Equalising-Beam suspension rather than the leaf-spring bogies which were installed in the mid-1950s. I think this was an issue raised when the 'OO' versions were released so looks like these models have just gone through the shrink-ray rather than being an improved version in N (1:148) scale. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Crepello Posted September 14, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 14, 2014 Had my first sight of the blue one running slowly round an oval at RM Web Live. Slow running very impressive. Noted that NEM couplings weren't fitted between coaches and Simon Kohler explained the couplers were to link the coaches electrically for the table lights. The gap between coaches wasn't as small as I would have liked. Otherwise, it looked very good. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les1952 Posted September 14, 2014 Share Posted September 14, 2014 I asked if the mechanism was similar to my recent Arnold railcar- not entirely dissimilar so it will be a cracker! Les Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahame Posted September 16, 2014 Share Posted September 16, 2014 Shame that the sole-bar cut-outs haven't been addressed and that the wheels still look like chunky continental (NEM?) ones with large flanges rather than the finer profile NMRA ones that we're now more used to the UK. I wonder how they will cope with Peco code 55 and the new fiNescale code 40 track/points. The unique internal unit coupler shouldn't be problem unless they cause a large coupling gap between coaches - then it might be difficult to close couple. The rapidos on the ends can be cut off if they don't easily un-clip. Still I've got a couple on order and it's a matter of waiting until they arrive. At least we now know that they are basically 'here'. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Multiple identity account Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 Another running video of the Arnold Brighton Belle.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BR(S) Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 Ready to ship from Friday: https://www.facebook.com/officialhornby Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Multiple identity account Posted September 26, 2014 Share Posted September 26, 2014 Thiss looks lovely.... Obviously an edit image. The original Pullman one should be marvelous. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold roundhouse Posted September 26, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 26, 2014 I have ordered the 1936 but want to convert it to as close as is practical to the one being restored then I can tow it through Banbury! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
oreamnos Posted September 26, 2014 Share Posted September 26, 2014 I received an email from Hornby today (Friday 26/9) that my blue one has shipped. It'll be interesting to see how long it takes to get to California!Matt Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pixie Posted September 26, 2014 Share Posted September 26, 2014 Does anyone know how hard it is to get spares from Arnold? I could do with a centre car bodyshell for a project! Alternatively, if anyone only wants a 4-car set, I'm a willing buyer for the left over vehicle. Pix Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Padishar Creel Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 Hallo, If I remember correctly this was supposed to be only available from Hornby directly, correct? well.... http.www.en.dm-toys.de Select Arnold from the list of manufacturers and the page rebuilds automatically Daniel M only displays items which are actually on stock in his shop so it must be available from other sources.......... Visa/PayPal etc and Daniel speaks english very well es grüßt pc Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrestburyJack Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 Hallo, If I remember correctly this was supposed to be only available from Hornby directly, correct? well.... http.www.en.dm-toys.de Select Arnold from the list of manufacturers and the page rebuilds automatically Daniel M only displays items which are actually on stock in his shop so it must be available from other sources.......... Visa/PayPal etc and Daniel speaks english very well es grüßt pc Presumably because he is overseas? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matabiau Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 As I understood it Hornby wanted to limit its UK distribution, the Belle was to be available through overseas Arnold dealers alongside other Arnold products. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Revolution Ben Posted September 27, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 27, 2014 Hello all, Looking at the DM website it appears that for the European market Arnold are shipping the models in two separate sets - one with the two driving cars, the other with the three intermediates. The combined total cost of these is around £240, depending on your Euro exchange rate. IIC they were originally listed on the Hornby website in this format, but have actually been put on sale in full sets of 5 for £199. I wonder if this is a response to the recognised price sensitivity of the British market? cheers Ben A. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
oreamnos Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 Received my blue one today. Shipped Friday 26/9 and arrived in California 3 days later on 29/9. That is excellent.Quick assessment: Good runner, nice lights, looks great, BUT extremely fragile and the special couplings between cars are a real pain and I strongly doubt could be replaced with something else. The couplings do incorporate a close coupling feature like, say, Dapol Mk3 coaches, and you really need to exercise extreme care not to dislodge them. Coupling a 5 car rake is very difficult (I suggest doing it on a some sort of padded table with the cars on their sides - DO NOT try to couple the cars by trying to push them together with the wheels on the track - you'll dislodge or break the close coupling mechanism) and you end up with an unwieldy snake which really demands care to avoid snapping or breaking anything. This is a set that you assemble once and then just leave on your layout. It's certainly not something to take to an exhibition! Attached are a whole bunch of pictures. Notice the traction tires on two wheels of the powered car. Also, the sole bar cut-outs are probably necessary for the wheels to clear on train set curves. The set will run on Unitrack 8.5" radius curves which is what I photographed it on. Bottom line - I'm hesitant to recommend this set to everyone. It's lovely to look at and runs fine, but given the couplings which manage to be both fragile and permanent at the same time, it may be something more for a dedicated fan of these units and less for the hobbyist (like myself) who would rather just run trains. Matt Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahame Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 I disagree that the sets cannot be recommended because of the couplings. Sure they are a little fiddly, but a bit of common sense when coupling them up is all that is required. Obviously do not force them, make sure that they are properly aligned before pushing together and place a finger behind each so that it can't be forced back and disrupt/damage the auto-close coupling mech. These are fine scale delicate N gauge models not wooden toys. If anything the internal couplers are rather chunky and overly large. The first report good points about the model are Great clear and near flush glazing giving a clear view of the detailed interiors NEM coupler sockets at the outer ends Moulded bogie detail/definition Blackened low profile wheel-sets (at least they are not the continental shiny one with large flanges) Drawbacks are Those un-prototypical cut-outs in the sole bar. Moulded door handrails and roof filler pipes (they're wire on many modern N models) Those chunky internal couplers (but they do make electrical connection and presumably save the need for a DCC chip in each coach) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevelewis Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 I agree that once 'coupled' best left that way I run a few Kato Japanese MUs and they are best left coupleed if possible Couple of rough pics attd of a Kato EMU showing the tiny couplings, these dont carry any electrical connections so can be much smaller than the Arnold ones, but close coupling on the Kato sets is quite good. I look forward to receiving my 5 BEL, but not really too concerned about coupling the cars ( yet!!) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Padishar Creel Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 Hi, Looking at the photos they are the same couplings as the Arnold RENFE suburban set (DMU not EMU as I posted.... oops). I will not be buying a Belle so here my experience with the RENFE. Couple as per Farish Voyager - ie lie the coaches on their rooves (or sides) Once the male / female parts are lined up, the electrical connections of the Arnold unit slide in well without snagging. Totally agree with Graeme. Fiddly so use common sense. I would not recommend frequent coupling and uncoupling And if the Belle runs as well as the RENFE it will give much pleasure to its owners es grüßt pc Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold roundhouse Posted September 30, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 30, 2014 I will probalby change the couplers when my 5BEL arrives (pullman livery) as will need to regularly set up and dismantle for exhibitions although will give them a try first. On my Farish Voyagers I changed the couplnigs to Microtrains which makes them much easier to set up. However each driving cab car does have its own decoder. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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