Tag Archives: NMJ

Nyheter för andra kvartalet 2025

Våra Nyheter

T21 64 har äntligen förklarats i tjänst! Det senaste arbetet har inneburit att denna Heljan-modell har utrustats med helt nya (hemgjorda) steg och ledstänger, de nyare buffertarna har satts om och ett bättre fäste för tutaren har gjorts så att den är mindre benägen att slås av. Nästa större service är planerad 2028 och förhoppningsvis klarar den sig dit utan att det behöver göras något större arbete innan dess!

Med hjälp av ett lån har Jecos nyaste modeller, släpvagnarna UBF7Z och UDFo15 som ska användas till Y6/Y7-rälsbussarna, anlänt, och dessa har utrustats med fungerande kopplingar som inte kräver att tåget vänds för att kopplas till eller från! ‘UBF’ har två delvis öppna fönster, vilket tyder på att den inte bör användas i vintertrafik (på riktigt, Jeco?), och ett av dem är vid toalettutrymmet! En annan liten irritation med dessa modeller är att de har fungerande innerbelysning, som är för stark och därför mer liknar att vara bara leksaker!

FV1 55816 har fått sina ledstänger ommålade i sidensvart (från krom/silver) för att få det att se lite mer autentiskt ut. I alla andra avseenden är denna Heljan-modell bra att köra.

Rickbackens stationsbyggnad (anpassad från Heljan-modellen, “Åmål”) har byggts med en enkel interiör för att eventuell belysning ska se realistisk ut. Normalt har tryckta “gardiner” ett svart område där de är “öppna”, vilket innebär att när innerbelysningen är tänd kan man se mönstret på gardinerna och inte inuti, vilket är helt fel. Så med detta experiment ska interiören synas – subtilt – och gardinerna mindre transparenta. Arbetet har pausats tills vi har mera pengar (för belysningen).

Modell Nyheter

Det svenska loket “Of” ska produceras av NMJ i deras prisvärda “Topline”-serie. Det kommer att finnas två exemplar av detta dubbellok, 78+79 och 84+85. Tekniskt sett är dessa samma som de norska loken “El.3”, som NMJ också producerar. “Of”, en utveckling av det mindre tillförlitliga “Oe”, var föregångaren till loket “Dm” och användes mestadels på malmbanan i norr.

Det orangea Rc2-loket som föreslås av Jeco anges på deras webbplats vara nummer 1094, men de har producerat en tryckt katalog där de också annonserar nummer 1097. Katalogen antyder att 1094 kommer att vara i original Epok III-lackering och 1097 kommer att vara i Epok IV-lackering, men Jeco kunde inte bekräfta någotdera, förvirrade särskilt eftersom 1097 inte ens finns på deras webbplats.

Det kommer att finnas tre nya Y2-enheter från Dekas, efter succén med deras första lansering. Men de lägger till en tredje färgsättning – den ursprungliga från när tågen körde längs Blekingebanan. Denna andra omgång kommer att ha nummer 1375 som Y2 i originalfärgsättning, 1377 som Y2K (som deras första i R/G/B-färgsättning) för trafik till Linköping och Stockholm, och sedan 1381 som Y2R i den nuvarande färgsättningen.

Det kommer att finnas fler ‘Ge’- och ‘Gs’-vagnar från Dekas, några av dem i märkesfärgsättning (inklusive en gul “ASG”-version), tre UIC- och tre pre-UIC-vagnar. Det kommer också att finnas pre-UIC ‘Hs’-vagnar (från slutet av 1960-talet) – en typ som blev ‘I’ (isolerad) enligt UIC-specifikationen.

Det norska El.15-loket ska produceras av NMJ i deras prisvärda ‘Topline’-serie. El.15 användes tillsammans med Dm/Dm3-lok på malmbanan i norr, ofta i par. Modellen kommer att finnas tillgänglig i fyra versioner lämpliga för den linjen, plus två nyare färger. NMJ hade producerat denna tidigare i sitt dyra “Superline”-sortiment, så detta är en välkommen modell.

Tillverkarens Nyheter

Vi är oroade över de senaste nyheterna från HNoll.
Ägaren attackerar nu de mindre butikerna med deras begränsade budgetar för att de inte har hela sortimentet av hans modeller i lager; de kommer att förbjudas att förbeställa utvalda framtida modeller! Han gör detta för att straffa dem för att de inte har resurser att sälja hela sortimentet, och har uppmanat kunderna att överväga att byta var de köper sina modeller ifrån, vilket är giftigt och skadligt för hobbyn i stort!
De efterlängtade Blue-X/IC-11-vagnarna kommer endast att säljas i ett 5-pack, vilket kommer att lamslå eller förbjuda personer med låg budget och personer med mindre järnvägsutrymmen (och detta kommer naturligtvis att minska antalet modeller som säljs, vilket han utan tvekan kommer att klaga på och skylla på alla utom sig själv).
Dessutom har han misslyckats med att korrigera ett detalj “misstag” med den efterlängtade “B11” och har sagt till modellbyggare att “små misstag kan och måste få passera” (vilket gör hans modeller inte bättre än Rocos).
AB7, AB9, BFS9, RB7, AFM7 och A7/B7 i första generationen är nu inställda.
Han verkar omedveten om att Sverige har en ekonomisk recession just nu och att både människor och handlare har mycket begränsade budgetar. Detta verkar vara början på den sorgliga nedgången för vad som ursprungligen var ett lovande företag.

Det finns en del sorgliga nyheter från SV&LV. I ett nyhetsbrev har ägaren starkt antytt att avveckla verksamheten på grund av dålig hälsa och andra olyckliga faktorer. Detta kommer också att påverka det tidigare varumärket Perlmodell. Precis som med Entec och Modellproduktion förra året känner vi inte till någon som är i en position att ta över sortimentet.

Andra intressanta nyheter

Denna uppdatering sammanfaller med evenemanget ”Hjul i maj” som anordnas av Nässjö järnvägsmuseum den 10 maj, och som också firar 60-årsjubileum i år. Evenemanget ”Hjul i maj” inkluderar två återvändande turer till Eksjö bakom ett ånglok, och andra evenemang planeras. Dessutom är den 10 maj separat, dagen för “Nässjö Street Festival,” så en intressant dag, särskilt för att besöka staden!

News for second quarter, 2025

Our News

T21 64 has finally been declared fit for service! The most recent work has seen this Heljan model fitted with completely new (home-made) steps and handrails, the newer buffers re-seated, and a better mount made for the hooter so that it is less prone to being knocked off. Its next major overhaul is due 2028 and hopefully it will make it to then without needing major work beforehand!

With the help of a loan, Jeco’s newest models, the UBF7Z and UDFo15 trailers to go with the Y6/Y7 railbuses, arrived, and these have been retrofitted with working couplings that don’t require the train to be turned over to be coupled or uncoupled! The ‘UBF’ has two partially open windows, which suggests that it shouldn’t be used in winter traffic (really, Jeco?), and one of them is at the toilet compartment! Another slight irritation with these models is that they have working interior lighting, which is too bright and therefore, more akin to being just toys!

FV1 55816 has had its handrails repainted satin black (from chrome/silver) to make it look a little more authentic. In all other respects, this Heljan model is good to run.

Rickbacken station building (adapted from the Heljan model, ‘Åmål,’) has been built with a basic interior for eventual lighting to look realistic. Normally, printed ‘curtains’ have a black area where they are ‘open’ which means that when the interior lights are on, one can see the pattern on the curtains and not inside, which is completely wrong. So, with this experiment, the interior should be seen—subtly—and the curtains less transparent. Work has paused until we have healthy funds (for the lighting).

Model News

The Swedish ‘Of’ locomotive is to be produced by NMJ in their affordable ‘Topline’ range. There will be two copies of this double-loco, 78+79 and 84+85. Technically, these are the same as the Norwegian ‘El.3’ locomotives, which NMJ is also producing. The ‘Of’, a development of the less reliable ‘Oe’, was the forerunner to the ‘Dm’ loco, and was used mostly on the iron ore railway in the far north.

The orange Rc2 proposed by Jeco is given on their website to be number 1094, but they have produced a printed catalogue in which they also advertise number 1097. The catalogue suggests that 1094 will be in original Epoch-III livery and 1097 will be in Epoch-IV livery, but Jeco were unable to confirm either way, confused especially as 1097 is not even on their website.

There will be three new Y2 units from Dekas, following the success of their first release. But they are adding a third livery – the original one for when the trains worked along the Blekinge line. This second batch will have numbers 1375 as Y2 in the original livery, 1377 as Y2K (like their first in the R/G/B livery) for services to Linköping and Stockholm, and then 1381 as Y2R in the current livery.

There are to be more ‘Ge’ and ‘Gs’ Wagons from Dekas, some of them in branded liveries (including a yellow “ASG” version), three UIC and three pre-UIC. There will also be pre-UIC ‘Hs’ wagons (from the late 1960s) – a type that became ‘I’ (insulated) under UIC specification.

The Norwegian El.15 locomotive is to be produced by NMJ in their affordable ‘Topline’ range. The El.15 worked alongside Dm/Dm3 locomotives on the iron ore railway in the far north, often in pairs. The model will be available in four versions suitable for that line, plus two more recent liveries. NMJ had produced this earlier in their pricey ‘Superline’ range, so this is a welcome model.

Manufacturer News

We are alarmed with the latest news from HNoll.
The proprietor is now attacking the smaller retailers with their limited budgets for not stocking the full range of his models; they will be banned from pre-ordering selected future models! He is doing this to punish them for not having the resources to carry the full range, and has told customers to consider changing where they buy their models from, which is toxic and harmful to the hobby all round!
The awaited Blue-X/IC-11 models will only be sold in a set of five carriages which will cripple or prohibit people on low budgets and people with smaller layouts (and of course, reduce the quantity of models that get sold, which no doubt, he will complain about and blame everybody except himself).
Furthermore, he has failed to correct a detail ‘mistake’ with the awaited ‘B11’ and has told modellers that they must accept the imperfections (which makes his models no better than the Roco ones).
AB7, AB9, BFS9, RB7, AFM7 and A7/B7 in the 1st generation are now cancelled.
He seems oblivious to the fact that Sweden has an economic recession right now and people and traders have very limited budgets. This seems to be the start of the sad fall of what was originally a promising enterprise.

There is some sad news from SV&LV. In a newsletter, the proprietor has hinted quite strongly at winding up the business due to poor health and other unfortunate considerations. This will also affect the former Perlmodell brand. As with Entec and Modellproduktion last year, we do not know of anyone who is in a position to take over the range.

Other News

This update coincides with the “Wheels in May” (Hjul I maj) event being organised by the Nässjö railway museum on 10th May, who are also celebrating their 60th anniversary this year. The ‘Wheels in May’ event includes two return workings to Eksjö behind a steam loco, and other events are being planned. Furthermore, 10th May is separately, the day of the Nässjö Street Festival, so an interesting day especially to visit the town!

News from January 2022

Our News

A lucky opportunity saw the purchase of a copy of the model that we have used at Lövhöjden station, Heljan’s model of Åmål station building. It is a good representation and very typically Swedish, but our model was very weather-beaten, and we had wanted to replace it for some time. Done!

We have also used our spare time without a railway for research, and will clarify an irritation with certain wagons. We purchased a ‘Kbps’ last year, thinking it was the ‘missing one’, but in fact we had recorded one with a completely wrong number onto our database with the correct number as it should have been, with the intention that we would correct it later on. So, the duplicate will either be sold or renumbered completely. NMJ’s ‘Kbps’ wagons have either 335 or 370 as the fifth to seventh digits. 370 is completely wrong, it applies to the ‘Os’ wagon. Interestingly, the latest wagon has the usual incorrect UIC control check digit, but it would have been correct if NMJ had printed 335 instead of 370; so arguably it has the correct control digit, just a wrong wagon type number! Our duplicate wagon is article 602.107, but the one that we need is 602.106, which the advertising suggests also has the incorrect 370! It does seem a shame that after all the effort that NMJ went to, to produce these wagons, they failed at the last hurdle, in not getting the number right! (We have made a list of 24 of our wagons with incorrect control digits, and 15 of them — yes, more than half — are NMJ!)

Manufacturer News

HNoll is increasingly frustrated with the Chinese production lines. It seems now that the A7/B7 carriages will not be produced before the Chinese New Year, and with the delivery schedules as they are, we may not see them this side of midsummer! As for the B4/BF4, photos of a prototype model have circulated on social media, but it would be foolish to make any estimates for a date to arrive into the shops! We certainly appreciate HNoll keeping us informed; we have quite a few on order, not just for the FLMJ, but for friends, also!

This is the time of year when there is a bit of a frenzy of announcements of newly proposed models. Here are the ones that we know about — obviously many of these new items are too modern for the FLMJ, but we thought maybe some of our readers would like to know about them!

  • An Rc4 in SJ blue with Green Cargo branding is proposed from Roco (a revised livery on a standard product).
  • A black liveried Rc6 is proposed from Märklin/Trix as a completely new model, digital, metal, and even gets heated mirrors!
  • The BR 185.2 is to come from two manufacturers, but different in detail. From Piko, it will be DB-AG red livery but branded for “Green Cargo”; and from Roco it will be in Green Cargo’s green livery (the 185.2 is the same as the ‘Re’, a TRAXX loco).
  • The Hector Rail G6 diesel loco (a very modern looking V5, in essence) is to be produced by Piko. As with many modern diesels, it is a standard European design, so it is easier (and cheaper) for the model manufacturer to produce than before.
  • A replacement motor for the NMJ Y1 and YF1 has been announced, using the Faulhaber 1624 with specially made flywheel, and a new engine mount from Winterzone. Construction description in Swedish is included. We are unsure of the producer of this ‘kit’ but hope to know more, soon.
  • Sadly, in order to give Märklin’s black Rc6 a train to pull, Märklin is also releasing a set of four black carriages of their standard 1960s designs, which is totally inauthentic as these carriages were withdrawn before the black livery was introduced!
  • The ‘DV30’ by Märklin is back in Epoch-IV condition. (If, unlike the previous one, it comes in a box that will accommodate a close-coupling head, then one could be procured for the FLMJ!)
  • The ‘Eaos’ wagon will also be produced by Märklin/Trix, in a set of three with a scrap load.
  • The ‘Sdggmrs’ articulated container wagon is to be released by Roco, labelled for DB-AG, but carrying two “Bode Spedition” containers.
  • A set comprising two ‘Zacns’ bogie tank wagons in “Pure Performance” (Green Cargo) livery is proposed from Roco.

Brawa does not produce Swedish models, but they are to produce the VTG Gigawood XXL, a non-Swedish timber wagon that is used by Hector Rail in Sweden, today. But it is not due until 2023.

Behind the Scenes

Mini-Series about the FLMJ, 2: Lövhöjden, Månstorp and Ålunden

Lövhöjden, representing the central area of Sweden, was naturally the centre point on the Railway. (At least it would have been, once the projection to Fjällnäs had been completed!) But it was designed to be a major station with several passing loops and three platforms, two of which were later split into halves by a crossover in the track. The control panel was designed so that the local controller could control the whole railway (well, maybe not the industrial sidings). Lövhöjden also had the most developed scenery, as much as we could manage given the weather damage (and cat damage)! Naturally, Lövhöjden became the most photographed location, and in the final days, the most was made of this. Even with forthcoming closure confirmed, development continued until the very last day.

Månstorp, representing the southern area of Sweden, needed a more modern look, and the buildings could be more European in style. Unfortunately, it became very modern in respect of being truncated, losing passing loops and becoming just the essential layout for passing trains. This had become necessary due to the vulnerable location of the station; at the front of the garden, near the gate, where things could be ‘uplifted’ by unwholesome people! Nevertheless, we made the most of what little we could have here. The track sections were switched from Lövhöjden, and a CCTV overlooked the area. The crossover points here were the first to be remotely controlled. An almost amusing fact here is that the model cars on this area of the layout were of the ‘toy’ Eko brand; no great loss.

Ålunden was our shadow station. This was the encouraged location for placing models on the track and removing them. It gave the railway a sense of purpose; the trains arrived onto the FLMJ through a tunnel (hole in the wall) from anywhere on the SJ network. Ålunden therefore, determined the length of the trains, and the tracks would accommodate seven carriage trains (so they were seldom used to capacity). One track was set aside (by virtue of a point midway, and then a long curved section) for extra long goods trains. As a secondary line; longer passenger trains would be out of place.

Next month, we’ll look at the Siljansbanan and the areas that it served.

Nyheter från januari 2022

Våra nyheter

Ett lyckosamt tillfälle var att köpa ett exemplar av modellen som vi har använt på Lövhöjdens station, Heljans modell av Åmåls stationshus. Det är en bra representation och väldigt typiskt svenskt, men vår modell var väldigt väderbiten, och vi hade velat byta ut den ett tag. Gjort!

Vi har även använt vår fritid utan järnväg för forskning och ska reda ut ett problem med några vagnar. Vår nyaste “Kbps”-vagn är faktiskt en kopia av en som vi redan har! Numret är fel och vi har antecknat rätt nummer, med avsikt att ändra det som står på modellen. Så den här vagnen kommer antingen att säljas eller numreras om helt. NMJ:s “Kbps”-vagnar har antingen 335 eller 370 som femte till sjunde siffran. 370 är helt fel, det gäller ’Os’-vagnen. Faktum är att den senaste vagnen har den vanliga felaktiga kontrollsiffran för UIC-kontroll, men det hade varit korrekt om NMJ hade skrivit ut 335 istället för 370; så man kan hävda att den har rätt kontrollsiffra, bara fel vagnstypnummer! Vår dubblettvagn är artikel 602.107, men den vi behöver är 602.106, som reklam antyder också har den felaktiga 370! Det verkar synd att efter alla ansträngningar som NMJ gick till, för att producera dessa vagnar, misslyckades de vid det sista hindret, med att inte få rätt antal! (Vi har gjort en lista över 24 av våra vagnar med felaktiga kontrollsiffror, och 15 av dem – ja, mer än hälften – är gjorda av NMJ!)

Tillverkarens Nyheter

HNoll blir allt mer frustrerad över de kinesiska produktionslinjerna. Det verkar nu som att A7/B7-vagnarna inte kommer att tillverkas före midsommar! Vi uppskattar verkligen att HNoll håller oss informerade; vi har en hel del på beställning, inte bara för FLMJ, utan även för vänner!

Det här är tiden på året då många nya modeller tillkännages av tillverkarna; här är en sammanfattning, än så länge (de flesta är för moderna för FLMJ, men DU kanske skulle vilja veta ändå)…

¨ En Rc4 i SJ-blått med Green Cargo-märke föreslås från Roco (en reviderad färg på en standardprodukt).

¨ En Rc6 i svart föreslås från Märklin/Trix som en helt ny modell, digital, metall, och får äntligen uppvärmda speglar!

¨ En BR 185.2 ska komma från två tillverkare, men olika i detalj. Från Piko blir det DB-AG rött liv men märkt för “Green Cargo”; och från Roco kommer den att vara i Green Cargos gröna färg.

¨ Dieselloket Hector Rail G6 ska tillverkas av Piko. Som med många moderna dieslar är det en europeisk standarddesign, så det är lättare (och billigare) för modelltillverkaren att tillverka än tidigare.

¨ En ersättningsmotor för NMJ Y1 och YF1 har tillkännagivits, med Faulhaber 1624 med specialtillverkat svänghjul, och ett nytt motorfäste från Winterzone. Byggbeskrivning på svenska ingår. Vi är osäkra på tillverkaren av detta “kit” men hoppas att få veta mer snart.

¨ Tyvärr, för att ge Märklins svarta Rc6 ett tåg att dra, producera Märklin också en uppsättning av fyra svarta vagnar av deras standarddesign från 1960-talet, vilket är totalt oäkta eftersom dessa vagnar skrotades innan det svarta livret introducerades!

¨ ‘DV30’ av Märklin är tillbaka i Epoch-IV-skick.

¨ Även ‘Eaos’-vagnen kommer att tillverkas av Märklin/Trix, i ett set om tre, var och en lastad med skrot.

¨ ‘Sdggmrs’ ledade containervagn ska släppas av Roco, märkt för DB-AG, men med två “Bode Spedition”-containrar.

¨ Ett set bestående av två ‘Zacns’ boggivagnar i “Pure Performance” (Green Cargo)-liveri föreslås från Roco

¨ Brawa tillverkar inga svenska modeller, utan de ska tillverka VTG Gigawood XXL, en utländsk timmervagn som idag används av Hector Rail i Sverige. Men det kommer inte förrän 2023.

July 2021 News

Rolling Stock Updates

TGOJ van ‘Gre’ 11003 arrived during July. This is the fourth and final wagon in this series, and will run in the set with the other three. This model had been searched for, for a long time, until being found on ‘Tradera’, the Swedish ‘eBay’.

Manufacturer News

Halling (www.ferro-train.com) has produced a model of the Göteborg type M33 tram; static for €379 or fitted with a motor and drive (analogue with NEM 568 decoder) for €439. Minimum curve permitted is 180mm.

Linie 8 GmbH (www.hoedl-linie8.de) in cooperation with Rietze (www.rietze.de) has produced a static model of the Adtranz GT6 tram marked for use in Norrköping. The model costs €90, but a driving kit is available for €40.

Modeltech (www.modeltech.uk) has produced a ‘pro-track rail aligner’ for gauges 9, 16,5, 21mm for use at baseboard joins to ensure that the tracks line up. Four pairs come in a pack for ±£10. Whilst these seem excellent for flat alignment, it does assume that you have the heights standardised! (Obvious to many, but third-party experience differs!)

Brekina has announced models of the Daf 66 sedan in four colours. We wonder if the chassis is interchangeable with the Volvo 66 estate (for the larger bumpers). If it is, then we’d only need to add the diagonal bar on the grille to get a Volvo 66 sedan! Or, maybe we should wait – just in case!

PCX87 models seem to be very limited editions, produced in single batches. Their Volvo 240 and 740 models came and went very quickly, and it was only by chance we found that the 740 had been produced. It had been our intention to get a couple of each model when they were produced and then ‘top up’ once funds were more readily available. This will not be possible. We have been able to complete the intended Saab purchase (four 900 coupés and one 900 cabriolet), but not the Volvo 240 or 740 ranges. (We have enough to not be totally disappointed!)
It seems that virtually nowhere in Sweden is advertising these models because traders don’t seem to know about them. Maybe PCX87 doesn’t want to survive the pandemic-induced downturn in business? These models have a great sales potential, if only they were more widely known about and available.

We commented on a faux-pas with the Volvo 240 estate in our March update, but both versions of the 740 don’t look quite right, and therefore needed a closer look. The boot on the sedan is a bit too low, and the rearmost pillars on the estate are too straight (but not as badly as on the IMU version) and not tapered! Nevertheless, they are nice and very welcome models.

Other News

We have seen at Stockholm City station and Stockholm Odenplan station, train location boards, giving an indication of approaching trains, as well as the ones that you’ve missed. It is a ‘real-time’ indicator, similar to one in use on the Great Cockcrow Railway (7¼” gauge), but not known elsewhere in the UK.

18th July was the 150th anniversary of the opening of Centralstation at Stockholm (from 1871). Sadly, its owners ignored this milestone and it was not commemorated in any way; a poor show Jernhusen, for one of Europe’s most significant stations! (It is not unfair to speculate that if SJ still owned the building, then there would have been a fanfare-worthy event organised!)

There is a new train operator in Sweden; FlixTrain is a subsidiary of FlixBus, operating mostly in Germany, but now in Sweden also; the trains are on the route between Stockholm and Göteborg, with a low-budget fare. Unfortunately, their timetable seems fictional because several attempts were made to see the trains to take photos, and not only were the trains not there, but there was no mention of them on the arrivals or departures boards at the station (not even shewing as ‘cancelled’). We did find one on a Wednesday, and that is the subject of a few photos that we captured.