What experiences please ......

I am considering buying a DC controlled Vitrains  Class 37.

I've lusted after a Class 37 for some time but the corrent prices rather put me off buying new.  Out of the blue, it appears there's a railway modeller less than 20 miles away from me who is offloading his OO Gauge stock because he's switching to N Gauge.

Most of his stock is of no interest to me but he does have a DCC Ready Vitrains Class 37 which, whilst the wrong livery, could be repainted/renumbered and ultimately, have sound installed.

This one does NOT have traction tyres but I've read very mixed reviews on Vitrains locos.  Reviews range for fantastic to don't go near them.

He wants rather more for it than I'd really like to pay but it would avoid any customs and duty charges plus, I can see it running before I buy.

What's the general opinion of these locos - have you got one and what are your experiences with it please .................

Have you read this in that other place Peter.


Ed

Yes Ed, I had read that but it didn't actually say much about the running capabilities of the loco - it seemed to me to be more about the history of the brand and I think most already know that.

Against the Bachmann version, I'd probably agree that Bachmann is the better choice but here and now, I don't have that choice - it's simply do I buy the Vitrains one or don't I……..

Just thinking about support and availability of spares if you have problems Peter.

Do you  know what DCC socket it has?


Ed

It's an 8 pin socket Ed.

I note Zimo have discontinued their 'MX' range and replaced them with  an 'MS' prefix.  I'll have to ask which sound decoder set-up is recommended for this loco - always assuming I do in fact buy it ……

Tomorrow will tell - I'm going to see it running tomorrow afternoon.

I have one ViTrains 37, and one class 47 chassis with a Lima class 47 body. Both are good runners but both have a little gear whine, and are not as free-running as equivalent centre motored Hornby, Bachmann Accurascale, etc. models.

The body shell of my 37 benefitted from me painting the insides with black paint to eliminate the light showing through the yellow ends even though they are painted, not just coloured plastic. The nose ends have both popped off at different times but were easily reglued, with no damage evident (just not enough glue from the factory!).

I fitted a Hornby TTS class 37 sound decoder into the class 37 and it works very nicely with the ViTrains characteristics. I also added etched name plates to this one - 37 428 'David Lloyd George'

The only other criticisms I have are regarding the couplings, which use a less than usual fitting - it is still an NEM standard, but not what we are used to, and not easily obtained as spares - and the yellow on this particular livery is a little anaemic.

The 47 required a lot of separate parts to be fitted to the body, but I dodged that one by only buying the chassis and using the Lima body, which needed minor adaptation to sit over the lighting.




While not really relevant to Peter's query, the class 47 in early Network SouthEast livery on the right is the Lima/ViTrains one.

Rather old thread.

00 Gauge - The Upton to Dunton Line - Your Model Railway



Ed

Thanks for your input Jeff - great to hear from you again. 👍

I'd seen some of your comments elsewhere whilst trawling the net for info on this model.

Ed - many thanks for that link, it made interesting reading although the sad thing is, quite a few of those posting there are no longer with us.  Time flies and it certainly reminds one that life is a finite thing !!

I'm really not much further forward.  I won't give him his asking price and if he won't budge, then the decision will be made for me.  I'd prefer the Bachmann offering but in green, they seem either expensive or like hen's teeth.  The Accurascale is currently beyond my budget unfortunately.  I've just shelled out 2 arms and 3 legs for a sound fitted G5 which will be with me by the end of the week….

I'll know the answer by tonight ……

I am not the owner of a ViTrains Class 37 !

The object of today was to see it running and on arrival, the seller apologised for a wasted journey.  He'd got it out of its box  ready to demonstrate but it would only run in one direction.  He opened it up but couldn't see anything obvious.  Having tried it several times, we only managed to get a momentary blink from the light in reverse when eventually the controller tripped out.  

I declined his offer of a reduced price.  Had it been a Bachmann version, I may have had a bash but ViTrains spares will surely become harder to source.

I did however, buy a couple of Bachmann brake vans at €10 each so the trio wasn't a total waste of time and only 25 minutes from me anyway.

Prompted by this discussion, and my mention of the yellow ends being a tad pallid in hue, I gave 37 428 a quick brush-over with BR warning panel yellow (the later shade). It has improved the look a little, although parts of the nose sides could do with another coat.

PeterMac, you've really set me off on this now! Not content with improving the yellow by overpainting with the Tamiya BR warning panel yellow (late), I dug out the detailing parts and started adding those. I am missing one of the snow plough sides, but that did happen to the real locomotives from time to time as well. The air hoses had to be snipped short to clear the couplings, and the coupling hooks are the moulded ones with links in the hooked-up position for the same reason. I am missing one of the ETH cables, so might have to fabricate one later. I added a modicum of weathering on the underframes and bogies with browns and gunmetal, and I could do a little more yet to really bring out the details, plus the shiny wheels really need their faces painted too, but it is coming up nicely.

Looking good Jeff  



Ed