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Text Box: The Eureka Times 12th Edition 6 February, 2007  

 

 

k.

 

 

Welcome to the twelveth edition of The Eureka Times.

        Well folks, it has been a long time between drinks in so far as editions of this newsletter are concerned but with the distribution of the garratts now complete normal services are slowly being resumed here at Eureka Models.

        High on the priority list has been this newsletter and with the long interval since the last edition there is plenty of news regarding current and future projects to cover. There is so much in fact that it will probably take this edition and the next to cover everything but this should not be a problem as the next edition will not be long coming after this one.

        The distribution of the garratts almost overwhelmed us here at Eureka Models and we realize that many of our normal activities suffered as a result. One lesson that was learned from the process was that Eureka Models had grown beyond the capacity of one and a half persons to operate on a part-time basis. As a consequence it was decided to introduce more capacity into the system by the employment of a staff member.


A view of the Eureka future.                                                                                                             Photo Ray Pilgrim
 

Welcome Charlotte Lee

        In late December, 2006 Charlotte Lee joined us here at the head office of Eureka Models on a temporary basis to help clear the back-log of AD60s. Her enthusiasm and interest in the hobby led to the decision to appoint her on a permanent part-time basis two or three days per week. Her main function will be to keep the paper-work moving (orders and correspondence etc) together with general administrative duties. Charlotte has been on a fairly steep learning curve as far as the hobby goes this past month or so but I was more than a bit surprised recently when during a lunch break Charlotte produced a copy of the most recent issue of AMRM which had copious notes and annotations on virtually every page together with a page of questions which were subsequently directed at your writer.

        Under Charlottes influence the backlog of correspondence has already started to diminish, the office is starting to look tidy and there is even talk of new office furniture and storage facilities. Things may never be the same at Eureka again.

The AD60

        As the above photo by Ray Pilgrim shows there are a lot of AD60s now in every day revenue earning service. We are still are holding around 50 models against orders so if you have not yet received yours please contact us to arrange delivery.
        We still have garratts in stock although holes are starting to appear in the available numbers. With sound models are no longer available in 6039 and 6042.
        The above photograph also shows what should become a common sight as our first "Trainpak" which features LCH and CCH four wheel coal hoppers is well underway.

The "Trainpak" - A new concept in NSWGR rolling-stock.

        To provide something to go behind all those magnificent diesels and steam engines that are in the pipeline from various manufacturers Eureka Models has commissioned its manufacturer to produce five "Trainpaks". Each "Trainpak" will feature items of rolling-stock along a particular theme. Five "Trainpaks" are under-way these being a coal train, an oil train, a concentrate train (W44), a stock train and a milk train. Apart from the coal train all "Trainpaks" will feature bogie vehicles. A passenger "Trainpak" is also in the pipeline.

 "Trainpak N606"

        This Trainpak will feature the NSWGR’s LCH/CCH 4 wheel coal hopper and each "N606" pak will consist of either 10 LCHs or 10 CCHs plus a CHG coal field’s guards van. (N606 was a scheduled train from Newdell to Bullock Island consisting of an AD60 plus 50 LCH/CCHs and van.)


       LCH SRA Photo                                                                                                                                                      CCH Photo H. Armstrong 


CHG SRA Photo.

Drawings of the LCH, CCH and CHG are complete and tooling is expected to commence after Chinese New Year. This would suggest a late 2007 delivery date.

The C38

        Corrections to the pilot models are underway at the factory and will be completed when work resumes in March after Chinese New Year. Art-work is nearing completion and will be at the factory when work resumes in March. Painted samples are also now nearing completion and will accompany the art-wor


Un-corrected non-streamlined pilot in green 3827 livery.

Proposed numbers and liveries.

                                                         3801                     Green, Black, and Grey.
                                                         3803                     Black.
                                                         3805                     Green.
                                                         3809                     Black.
                                                         3813                     Green.
                                                         3820                     Black.
                                                         3827                     Green.
                                                         3830                     Green.

A photo of each of the above proposed liveries on the prototype can be found on our web site.

Uncorrected streamlined pilot in black livery with red lining.

It is always dangerous to predict delivery dates but if corrections and paint masks are completed in March an April/May production date is likely.

The NSWGR CPH/CTH Rail Motors:

        Pilot models for the CPH/CTH have been received and minor corrections required have been forward to the factory. Art work and painting of the samples will commence after the art work for the 38s are complete. Delivery is expected in the second half of this year. A comprehensive article on the CPH/CTH is complete and will appear in the next issue of The Eureka Times along with photos of the pilot models. An order form is enclosed.

The "R" Class

        The "R" class project has been dragging the chain but the factory has advised that more resources are to be devoted to this project after Chinese New Year in order to complete the tooling. We are still working on the West Coast Railway version with the twin funnels and other modifications made when R 711 and R 766 were put into service by WCR and expect these versions to be progressed as part of the overall project. We will be visiting the factory again after Chinese New Year with a main aim of speeding this project up. Delays in this project are holding up other VR locomotive projects but more on that next edition after we have been to China.

The 900 class DEB set:

        The drawings for this project will commence after Chinese New Year and we are looking at a late 2008 delivery. We expect to release full details including price in June.

        That’s about all for this edition. We have a number of other items ready to go in the next issue which we will be putting out in late March after we have returned from the factory. Whilst the road to hell is supposedly paved with good intentions (I hope I never get to check the accuracy of this statement) it is our intention to get back to a more regular appearance of ‘The Eureka Times" and this edition is the first step in that process.

Next issue due out around the end of March might contain some or all of the following:

The Eureka Models rolling-stock program
More on the artwork for the 38
The CPH/CTH – A comprehensive overview
The VR "K" class.
The 2008 Eureka Models program.

Ron Cunningham
EUREKA MODELS
PO Box 407 SANS SOUCI NSW 2219
Phone: (02) 9529 2235 Fax: (02) 9583 1570
Email: eureka.m@bigpond.net.au
Website: www.eurekamodels.com.au

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