Tag Archives: Y2

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!

Nyheter från september 2024

Våra Nyheter

På modelljärnvägsmässan på Nässjö under september fick vi chansen att prata med någon från MJ-Hobby/Jeco om problemen vi har med dieselloket T23. Problemet är känt och är begränsat till den första batchen; de har skickat ett ersättnings “blanking”-chip utan kostnad.

Vi har köpt ett modellhus; inget speciellt att skrika över förutom att den har egenskaper från flera av husen i vårt närområde. Det är alltså ett ”typiskt småländska hus” från 1940-talet, som vi kommer att hitta plats för!

Tillverkarens Nyheter

Dekas Y2 har äntligen kommit in i butikerna. Vi räknar med att ett antal av de Heljanska dyker upp på andrahandsmarknaden!

Dekas har annonserat ett par intressanta nya föreslagna vagnar. Den ena är ‘His’-vagnen, som är en korsning mellan ‘Gs’ och ‘Hbis’ – eller enklare uttryckt, som ‘Hbis’ med skjutbara sidoväggssektioner istället för dörrar, men på den kortare längden av ‘Gs’ vagn. Till en början kommer det att finnas tre tillgängliga. Den andra artikeln är en öppen version av “Udg” av vilken det bara kommer att finnas två, plus tre som pre-UIC typ “Kö”.

HNoll har sagt att de kommer att förbereda SJ B2/B10-vagnarna för produktion, och tycks inse att marknaden är för svag för att överväga produktionen (för närvarande) av deras andra förslag. Detta är klokt med tanke på att 1980-talets vagnar har en kundbas och folk vill färdigställa de HNoll-tåg som de har startat; medan Ma-loco och X10/X11/X12/X14 enheterna (och andra serie personvagnar) skulle vara en ny osäker marknad för dem. Naturligtvis välkomnar vi dessa nyheter och väntar ivrigt på B2 (och första serie A7/B7) vagnarna. Förhoppningen är att B2/B10-vagnarna ska vara tillgängliga under 2025.

Andra intressanta nyheter

Det verkar inte finnas några andra relevanta nyheter för tillfället!

News from September 2024

Our News

At the model railway exhibition at Nässjö during September, we got the chance to speak to someone from MJ-Hobby/Jeco about the problems we’re having with the T23 diesel locomotive. The problem is a known one and is limited to the first batch; so they’ve sent a replacement ‘blanking’ chip free of charge.

We have bought a model house; nothing especially to shout about except that it has characteristics from several of the houses in our local neighbourhood. So, it is a “typical Småländska house” from the 1940s, which we will find a location for!

Manufacturer News

The Dekas Y2 has arrived into the shops at last. We expect a number of Heljan ones to appear on the second-hand market!

Dekas has announced a couple of interesting new proposals. One is the ‘His’ wagon, which is a cross between the ‘Gs’ and the ‘Hbis’ – or more simply put, like the ‘Hbis’ with sliding sidewall sections instead of doors, but at the shorter length of the ‘Gs’ wagon. Initially there will be three available. The other item is an open-top version of the ‘Udg’ of which there will be only two, plus three as pre-UIC type ‘Kö’.

HNoll has said that they will prepare the SJ B2/B10 carriages for production, seemingly recognising that the market is too weak to consider the production (at this time) of their other proposals. This is wise given that 1980s carriages have a customer base and people want to complete the HNoll rakes that they have started; whereas the Ma-loco and X10/X11/X12/X14 units (and other series carriages) would be a new uncertain market for them. Naturally, we welcome this news, eagerly awaiting the B2 (and first series A7/B7) carriages. It is hoped that the B2/B10 carriages will be available during 2025.

Other News

There seems to be no other relevant news at the moment.

Behind the Scenes

Mini-Series about the new railway; 10: Köpingsvik revisited
Most modellers in Sweden, tend to build, as we are, layouts that are permanently fixed into place. Model Railway Exhibitions in Sweden are few and far between; the public events that are organised are mostly for buy-and-sell (where there might be the one layout on display also), or for the so-called modular systems, where the members build sections for a display layout, sections which have to meet certain criteria, especially at the ends, so that any two can be joined together and they will line up! Thus, very large layouts are created. But, they’re entirely DCC, and so have a limited following (and also require an enormous amount of planning and setting up, somewhat dependent on who is actually going to turn up with a module)! So, what about the odd one or two stand-alone layouts that make it to the buy-and-sell events?

There is a bit of a personal attachment to the Köpingsvik theme. This is where it all started, for us. And, although we know now that the diorama is a very unlikely one, it was an interesting model and continues to invoke fond memories, even though both track layouts (remember there was Mk.1 and Mk.2) were quite a challenge. Maybe a Mk.3 can carry the memory and the theme; but by taking advantage of all that we have learned over the last 30 years, can it be much more authentic in how we present it?
How would we present it? The golden rule offered to us when we were building the first, was sugar beet traffic! Loads of ‘O’ wagons with sugar beets would be the most authentic trains that we could run, and so this is easy to do. There would also be a few other goods trains carrying general goods, so the ‘G-’ wagons would be good here, but not things such as container wagons! Passenger trains would have diesel railbuses (Y6, Y1, or Y2 according to epoch) for the local routes, and probably electric units or loco-hauled trains for the main line to the mainland. And the idea of sleeper carriages detached from passing trains on the mainline at Alvesta is quite appropriate in the summer timetable.

Any new Köpingsvik would be independent of the RTJ, and time could only be afforded to it, if there is a situation causing a pause in the development of the RTJ. (This could be due to glue-drying time, or awaiting delivery of materials, or whatever.) Operationally, better-suited models are now available, and the mere thought of it is causing quite a stir among our Friends.

Next Month: Making it all work.

April 2020 News

Under so-called UK lockdown, the opportunity to work upon some of the more challenging kits was seized… the SMJ 2-axle carriages. The etched brass parts will need painting later, so where possible, they will be assembled and fitted with a low-tack adhesive for completion at a later date. Some changes have been made with their identities. SJ C3d 2128 (which would not have previously been from the OKB / East Coast Railway) was intended to be number 1984, but this number is not on the decal sheet (neither is 2128, but this is easier to ’manufacture’). Unfortunately although the C3d is a ‘plåt’ model (metal body), the number transfers are for the timber version, so a spare number 2 will replace the 6 in decal number 2168! SJ C3g 2996 (which would have previously been OKB C3 133) was intended to be number 2994, but this number would also need changing whilst the new number is on the sheet. SJ CF3 3017 (which would have previously been OKB CF 235) was originally believed to be type CD4, but it’s correct identity is on the sheet. The C3d and C3g are standard carriages, the C3d as a standard SJ version, and the C3g is as acquired from the OKB. The CF3 is a former OKB carriage with a luggage compartment. The OKB carriages were taken over by SJ in 1933.

Upon opening the package, it was refreshing to be reminded that the C3d was built and just needed decals (and a few adjustments). The C3g and CF3 are some way behind and it was done in this way so that the C3d could be used as a built sample (having taken a lot longer to build because it involved a dry-run first) and then as reference material for the later two. Unfortunately, we also needed the instruction sheets (but these are in storage), but thankfully, SMJ has them on their website as PDF downloadable sheets, both SJ and OKB versions. (Much appreciated, guys; thanks!) Here’s how it went, not in any particular order (unless stated otherwise, the following applies to both C3g and CF3):

  • The wheel-set ‘bolsters’ had their brake mechanisms fitted, and were then fitted to the chassis. The wheels have also been fitted, and both carriages are more freely running than the C3d!
  • The battery boxes and gas containers (the latter for the dessous gas lighting) were assembled and fitted to the chassis, and the one-piece compressed air brake with link arms glued into place.
  • The coupling mechanisms were assembled and fitted, then a stretcher between the bolsters to hold them straight when on straight track, and thirdly the springs and stretchers for the couplings. However, it was found that two components for the CF3 were missing, so we improvised with the couplings and they work just as well as on the other two models. We were also able to modify an improvisation that had been made on the SJ C3d regarding couplings, and again, the result is pleasing.
  • The buffer stocks were filed, trimmed and fitted. The actual buffers will be a last fitting because they are very fine and risk being damaged during construction!
  • The weights were glued into place, and now the carriages feel as sturdy as the C3d!
  • The appropriate windows were fitted with grilles (luggage areas) or clouded (toilet areas).
  • From a little research, we found that the luggage compartment doors on the CF3 should not be the same colour as the body, so our paint has been scraped off, and touched up with a permanent marker!
  • The etched brass parts, the end platforms and the steps (including the luggage door steps on the CF3, which had to be made from scratch) have been fitted. The gates have also been fitted, and for this reason, the rooves will remain loose until we have been able to paint them! The platforms on the C3d have been removed and refitted, and are a much better fit.
  • The rooves were fitted with their ventilators, and have been loosely fitted (to be painted, later). Using spare parts from these two models, we fitted the roof ventilators to the SJ C3d, thus virtually completing that model (disregarding the decals—still)!

Aside from these carriages, work was done on the träkorg (wooden body) D-lok, which certainly relieved the pressure of the work on the SMJ carriages. Again, there are some parts that will have to wait until later, but here’s how it went:

  • Hooters and windscreen wipers were glued into retro-drilled holes. Sun-shades were made from scrap brass strip and glued into place.
  • Lamp lenses were glued into their holes, but they’re slightly too small, so will be refitted later with a bit of ‘putty’!
  • The Pantographs were fitted into place, but one needed gluing because the screw thread was missing! It took some effort to obtain a drawing of the roof layout for the HT wire, but a source in Sweden procured the perfect image. The pans will need replacing because they are the wrong type!

The end gates with fall plates need painting (they’re etched brass) so they have not been fitted, and there are no handrails, so they will need making from scratch. But, we’re going to need to think of a way of providing the tail light because it is a raised fitting and very different to the inbuilt design used on the steel bodied version of the D-loco, as made by Jeco.

Moving onto relevant model manufacturer news: Dekas is bringing out a model of the SJ Y2 ”Kustpilen” unit available in either original blue/red livery or current (2020) livery. Delivery is planned for 2nd quarter, 2021; and the FLMJ would be interested in one as it represents the end of the epoch modelled (in the same way that the X2000 does). Dekas has also brought out some ‘Hbis’ wagons (types 712 and 731) at very short notice, and they sold out over one weekend. Hopefully, some more will be made.