We have been looking for a solution to our e-shop’s inability to take non-EU orders, or more specifically so that it deducts VAT correctly for non-EU orders.
Despite the system in theory being capable of adding VAT only to EU orders at the moment we seem to have a choice of VAT or no VAT for all orders! So customers from the EU should continue to use our online shop, but customers from outside the EU should use this “manual” order form and follow the instructions for payment.
A couple more images from the CAD. The bogies are pretty much there now. The dampers are separate parts to allow the bogie frames to be correctly recessed…
The PTF and PTSRMB vehicles have now had the pantographs added. These are plastic mouldings, and poseable, rather than sprung, since we felt that more people operate their models without contact wires than with!! We’d like to thank Brecknell Willis who sent us excellent drawings of the real thing to help us get this right. There are still a couple of mods to the collector needed – the ends should be less angular – but we think we are definitely getting there.
Here are some preview images of the almost ready CAD drawings of the Pendolino. Very soon we are expecting the designers to have completed the first stage of the design, and once we are happy we will post some images of the complete model to allow our customers to offer their feedback.
DMSO roof and bodyside653XX vehicle pantograph well. Note there is not actually a pantograph on these vehicles.
653XX under frame and skirts.
Once the CADs are approved we will move to the next stage of the project, converting the 3D images into steel tools that will mould the actual parts of the model. We are very happy with the overall shape and look of the model – the hard work is in making sure all the smaller details are right!
We’d like to thank all those that voted for their preferred Pendolinos. The majority of our customers did register their votes, so the counting process has taken a little longer than we’d anticipated, but here are the results. However, there are a couple of caveats which are explained below.
9-car:
390001 Virgin Pioneer
390005 City of Wolverhampton
390006 Tate Liverpool
390045 101 Squadron
11-car:
390104 Alstom Pendolino (Alstom livery)
390114 City of Manchester
390122 Penny the Pendolino
390138 City of London
390151 Virgin Ambassador (Business is Great Britain livery)
Plus, of course, 390103 Virgin Hero (Poppy Pendolino)
We had originally expected to offer 5 9-car and 5-11-car, however not only do we have more orders for 11-car trains, but also the 9-car selections are heavily skewed towards 390001 and 390045, while the 11-car voting was more evenly spread out. This means that the 5th choice 9-car set had far far fewer votes than the 6th choice 11-car set. The split is also complicated by the fact that the Poppy Pendolino could almost be considered a separate item on its own, meaning we could argue the split is more like a 5 for 11 and 4 for 9 car.
There were also a couple of almost-ties, in which case we have tried to select variety (eg offering City of London instead of City of Liverpool, as Tate Liverpool had already made the cut).
We are sure that the selections will not please everyone, but hopefully they offer a reasonable spread of interesting colour schemes, geographically diverse cities and notable identities. And, of course, they were selected by our customers, which as far as we are aware is a first for any mass market range of new models.
Over the next few weeks we will update the website to add set choices. If you voted for one of the selected sets and have paid in full then we will update your order. If you voted for one of the selected sets but paid a deposit or if you didn’t vote for one of selected sets then we will ask you to make your order choice via our website.
Revolution announces 21st century tankers as second model
Revolution Trains – the new company that uses crowd-funding principles to produce niche train models – is to produce an all-new model of the latest generation of petroleum tankers in N gauge.
Photo courtesy VTG
The model to be produced by Revolution represents the TOPS-coded TEA wagons introduced from 2006, of which there are now several hundred running across the network.
The model will be produced by Rapido Trains of Canada, who are currently working on Revolution’s N-gauge Class 390 Pendolino model.
Ben Ando, of Revolution Trains, said: “These wagons have been in service for nearly a decade, are in a variety of attractive liveries and operate over large parts of the network. They’re an obvious choice.”
Mike Hale, of Revolution Trains, said: “We are hoping to appeal not just to those customers who ordered a Pendolino, but also modern image N Gauge enthusiasts who model other parts of the country. A high-quality model of such an important type of wagon is long overdue.”
The model will feature an injection moulded body with photo-etched catwalks and separately fitted brake gear and discharge chutes, allowing small but significant prototypical differences between wagons to be depicted.
The largest single operator of these wagons is the well-known leasing firm VTG, and the model is being produced with their full assistance and co-operation.
Paul Lugg, VTG’s Fleet Sales Manager, said: “We operate these wagons for several customers on the real railway, and they offer significant operational and environmental benefits over older designs. We are delighted that a high quality model of these important vehicles is going to be available.”
Courtesy Tom Smith/Revolution Trains
The models can be ordered via Revolution’s website singly or in packs of three, with different running numbers on each wagon. They will be available in three VTG liveries – red, blue and grey – along with EWS grey and Freightliner green, subject to company approval.
A triple pack will also be available in the stylish green-and-white and blue-and-white colours of Greenergy, the UK’s newest bulk fuel rail operator. The operating efficiencies of rail travel were a significant factor in Greenergy’s decision to operate its own fleet of wagons. We will be working with Greenergy’s designers to make sure the livery is as accurate as possible.
Photo courtesy Greenergy
Andrew Owens, Greenergy Chief Executive, said: “We’ve recently regenerated rail infrastructure allowing us to transport over two million litres of fuel (the equivalent to over 50 road tankers) with each train load. Our branded wagons have really caught people’s attention, and I am looking forward to seeing them in miniature!”
In use, the wagons operate from Grangemouth refinery to destinations in Scotland and Northern England, from refineries or storage terminals on Teeside and Humberside to the Midlands and the South West, and from South Wales to central England. Furthermore, new flows are expected in the next 12 months.
TEA route map
Revolution Trains aims to produce models that are considered too niche – or risky – for the mainstream manufacturers. Revolution Trains offers an alternative – a crowd-funding community where members can support proposals, nominate new ones and watch as these pet projects reach the point of being funded and produced.
You can see further details of the proposed models on the project page and you can register your interest in models/liveries here.
We’ve just received the first draft CAD of the Pendolino driving car. Purchasers can log in to their account and get a sneak preview of the CAD and some of the point cloud data images (on the Pendolino Developments page – only accessible by Pendolino purchasers).
There is still a lot of detail to be added, but the basic shape is starting to get there.
The first 3D scan images are now in – you can see a teaser below!
We’ve also received some more CAD from Virgin – again a sample here:
If you’ve placed an order for a Pendolino then you can view all the images (and latest updates) here (please note you must be logged in to your account – the user name / email and password are the ones you supplied when you placed your order).
