Zenner Saxon baggage Car.....

Zerogee

Zerogee

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This may be a little premature opening a "review" thread as I don't even have the thing yet..... but I wanted to start the thread off with a post about the very speedy response to my order!

After several weeks of watching and dithering, this morning I finally made up my mind and clicked one of these as a Birthday present to myself:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281714281355?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Within a couple of hours, I've had a notification that it has been packed and shipped, and an email from UPS to tell me it is scheduled for delivery to me on Friday - which is perfect as that is actually on my birthday, I hadn't expected it would arrive till after the weekend!

So, very pleased with the service so far... as soon as it is actually here I will do a full review of it in case anyone else is thinking of buying one (it'll go perfectly with the LGB Saxon Historic Coach set).

For those who haven't noticed these on sale, they are based on the cheapo Newqida chassis and roof, with an all-new hand-built body from milled styrene; I'm looking forward to seeing what the workmanship and finish is like, but they certainly look nice in the pics. They're not cheap, but for an essentially hand-built model I don't think they are too bad, and it will save many, many hours of work should I have tried to build something similar for myself!

I know that Mike D has one of these, and it's been featured in some of his recent photos - he chose to replace the original Newqida chassis with an LGB one, but I don't think I'll be going to that expense - I've always been quite happy with the running of the NQ coaches I've got, once they are fitted with metal wheelsets and the softer LGB coupler springs.

So, more to follow when the parcel has arrived...... ;)
 
Just a shame that at this price the metal wheels are a cost option and not standard, but for the rest it looks good.
By the way, are we all invited round on Friday to inspect the cake carrriage? :D
 
I look forward with interest to reading your review. I keep debating whether or not to buy one of their revamped LGB "Harlequin" Spremberger R/C models.
 
Taking a look at those pictures with the magnifying thingy it would appear that the decals have been applied onto a satin/matt base and not gloss coat and then sprayed over for a final finish. Hmmm, at that price I'd though it would be done better. Especially as is has a "low cost" Newquida base. Max.
 
That will be interesting to see, Max, and of course the sort of thing I will cover when reviewing it.... looking at the one photo Mike has posted which shows his example, the decals look fine on his, so we'll see what mine looks like.

Re using the "low cost" NQ coach as a basis, I think that if they'd built a similar model using parts from a "genuine" LGB coach they'd need to be charging in excess of £300 for it..... which frankly I wouldn't be paying! ;)

Jon.
 
With NQ Coaches around £30-40 a pop, why did you not take the risk if having a go yourself. From what I can see a few (big) bits of Plasticard and some Troeger Transfers you could have done two for a £100 and joined us in the DIY brigade. Plus learning the craft with eventualy the satisfaction and pride of your own creation.
JonD
 
A few close up pictures would be useful to see if it is worth having a go. Not a great loss if it turns out a disaster. I bodged up an LGB coach which I am quite happy to put in my trains.
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dunnyrail said:
With NQ Coaches around £30-40 a pop, why did you not take the risk if having a go yourself. From what I can see a few (big) bits of Plasticard and some Troeger Transfers you could have done two for a £100 and joined us in the DIY brigade. Plus learning the craft with eventualy the satisfaction and pride of your own creation.
JonD
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Quite simply, JonD, lack of time..... I've done plenty of scratchbuilding over many years (not necessarily in the railway field, but I master-build most of my own product ranges in styrene...). If I had lots of available hobby time then I'm quite sure I could have made a very reasonable job of doing one, but I don't, so I chose the option of buying one and saving my extremely limited spare time for other things..... ;)

Jon.
 
maxi-model said:
... it would appear that the decals have been applied onto a satin/matt base and not gloss coat and then sprayed over for a final finish. Hmmm, at that price I'd though it would be done better.
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Got to admit that was my immediate reaction on following the ebay link. Very poorly applied decals considering the cost of the model.
 
Zerogee said:
Quite simply, JonD, lack of time..... I've done plenty of scratchbuilding over many years (not necessarily in the railway field, but I master-build most of my own product ranges in styrene...). If I had lots of available hobby time then I'm quite sure I could have made a very reasonable job of doing one, but I don't, so I chose the option of buying one and saving my extremely limited spare time for other things..... ;)

Jon.
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Understandable then. I forget that being retired I have all the time in the world shood I choose to use it on Model Railways. Tend to forget how time was so short when I was working.
JonD
 
Feld Grossbahn make similar models they have their own website and deal direct or are available from Grootspoor they appear to be a little more costly than Zenner
 
I've looked at the Feld stuff before, it's beautiful but expensive... anyone here have actual experience of it, particularly how robust it is for garden use?

Thanks for the link to the Hilbert range, Martin, some very interesting stuff there, at quite reasonable prices if you're prepared to buy in kit form and have the time to build it.....

To be honest, part of my decision to buy the Zenner wagon rather than investigate the alternatives was precisely that it IS based on the NQ coach chassis and roof, thus I know that it will visually match with the effectively identical LGB saxon coaches (and let's not re-open that particular can of worms, please).... anyway, it should arrive here tomorrow, so I'll see what it is really like and report here! ;)

Jon.
 
Zerogee said:
I've looked at the Feld stuff before, it's beautiful but expensive... anyone here have actual experience of it, particularly how robust it is for garden use?

Thanks for the link to the Hilbert range, Martin, some very interesting stuff there, at quite reasonable prices if you're prepared to buy in kit form and have the time to build it.....

To be honest, part of my decision to buy the Zenner wagon rather than investigate the alternatives was precisely that it IS based on the NQ coach chassis and roof, thus I know that it will visually match with the effectively identical LGB saxon coaches (and let's not re-open that particular can of worms, please).... anyway, it should arrive here tomorrow, so I'll see what it is really like and report here! ;)

Jon.
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That is a very good point
 
This is the Hilbert van, by way of comparison. It's probably less robust than an LGB vehicle, but still strongly made. The underframe is, to all intents and purposes, scratchbuilt/made to measure.

IMAG0443%252520%252528Small%252529.jpg
 
798.03 said:
This is the Hilbert van, by way of comparison. It's probably less robust than an LGB vehicle, but still strongly made. The underframe is, to all intents and purposes, scratchbuilt/made to measure.

IMAG0443%252520%252528Small%252529.jpg
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That's a very nice piece, but to my eyes it does look a little small against the LGB coaches - which is just what I'm hoping to avoid by going for the Zenner one....

Actually, I've just had a look through my copy of "Schmalspurbahnen In Sachsen (Erich & Reiner Preuss)", and both the photos and drawings in there suggest that the actual appearance is somewhere between the two - the baggage car should have the same side panel height as the coaches, but have a lower profile on the roof curvature as per the Hilbert model.... I suspect that in actuality the Hilbert car is accurately to scale while the ride height of the LGB/NQ ones is a little high.... ;)

Interestingly, your pic of the Hilbert would seem to suggest the same sort of questionable glossiness on the decal areas as folks have been questioning on the photos of the Zenner car..... maybe it's just a camera effect...? It'll be very interesting to see what the Zenner looks like in rela life when it arrives!

Jon.
 
Zerogee said:
That's a very nice piece, but to my eyes it does look a little small against the LGB coaches - which is just what I'm hoping to avoid by going for the Zenner one....

Actually, I've just had a look through my copy of "Schmalspurbahnen In Sachsen (Erich & Reiner Preuss)", and both the photos and drawings in there suggest that the actual appearance is somewhere between the two - the baggage car should have the same side panel height as the coaches, but have a lower profile on the roof curvature as per the Hilbert model.... I suspect that in actuality the Hilbert car is accurately to scale while the ride height of the LGB/NQ ones is a little high.... ;)

Interestingly, your pic of the Hilbert would seem to suggest the same sort of questionable glossiness on the decal areas as folks have been questioning on the photos of the Zenner car..... maybe it's just a camera effect...? It'll be very interesting to see what the Zenner looks like in rela life when it arrives!

I understand that the Hilbert coach is to scale 1:22.5 hence the difference. Checking with various sources I agree that the baggage car side panels should be the same height as the coaches.

Jon.
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Parcel from Zenner has arrived! No time to open it now, just off out for Birthday Lunch (fish and chips at the Ferry Caff in Felixstowe - always brilliant!) so will have the great unwrapping when I get back - don't worry, I promise you won't get a separate photo of each piece of tape being removed from the parcel.... ;)

Jon.
 
Zerogee said:
Parcel from Zenner has arrived! No time to open it now, just off out for Birthday Lunch (fish and chips at the Ferry Caff in Felixstowe - always brilliant!) so will have the great unwrapping when I get back - don't worry, I promise you won't get a separate photo of each piece of tape being removed from the parcel.... ;)

Jon.
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One of the best locations for Fish and Chips
 
Happy birthday matey!

Enjoy the Felixstowe fish & chips....
 
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