Heljan Hymek review

I have to be frank that in my opinion the MR review seemed to be something of a hatchet job on the Hymek. The comments about the bogie problems were quite forcefully made, with none of the usual get out phrases of "might be unique to the review model, check before you buy". The unpainted buffer beam and cowlings comment is interesting as the model being reviewed is in BR Blue, and the consensus of opinion seems to be that BR blue examples had black cowlings and buffer beams.

Theres a very strange comment about the model being test run on a "private layout", which I'm not sure what that is supposed to imply.

Perhaps my view of the article was tainted by the first few paragraphs which seemed to dwell needlessly on the fact that Heljan hadn't supplied them with a free review sample. On the other hand from the sales that seem to have been generated by word of mouth through the various internet groups, I doubt this one review is going to adversely affect Heljan in any way. The Western looks very nice, I may be moving my layout idea 20 years further back into the past.

Who's Dutch? Heljan are Danish! ;o)

John.

Yes I came away with that impression, but on a wider point, does anyone else think that Chris Leigh was rambling in his editorial ?

"P Morgan" wrote

It certainly hasn't affected Heljan Hymek sales, but Model Rail has been taken to task by several of my customers for what can only be called a pretty inept review.

Now all we need is for MR to suggest that the *new* (cough, cough) Hornby Hymek is a superb model (choke, choke).

John.

Sorry to be picky, but isn't Helan Danish?

Oops, sorry - I thought I had reached the end of the thread!

Don't apologise. We've all been there before.

Sorry for apologising. ;-)

My apologies for getting the country of origin wrong.

However, I think you still get the idea...8^)

"We give you the facts - independant and unbiased" ModelRail Autumn 1997, reviews page pre-amble

;o)

Its saying that the model will repeatedly derail on badly laid track; so what? Most things will do the same except perhaps really old Hornby and Lima stuff which will crash through most things because of those huge flanges. The Hymek probably sailed effortlessly round the ModelRail TTF.

I've had to relay and realign a number of sections of my layout when I got my first Heljan 47 because it would fall off on a few spots. My Bachmann Mk1s and intermodals used to fall off all the time - they don't now because I've not got smoother track with no sudden changes alignment, and I've now got a fleet of well detailed Danish 47s that work properly and will haul a train :o)

I've not yet bought a Hymek, but there are a number of them on my 'to buy' list. The Wessies have a little work to do on the cab roof area, which is a consistant curve at the moment:

Not a perfect match photographically, but enough to see that the roof lip needs to be 'pushed' down in the middle and the horn box blended into it.

Typing error, of course it should say that I've "now got" smoother track.

Another thing, who's actually selling the Hymek for £79? Most of the ones on sale I've seen seem to be around the £65 mark, I'd guess £79 is the RRP.

Indeed. Being the right shape doesn't seem to be important, it seems.

I liked that bit in the review about the printed circuit board. "This item looks a little sparse compared to the Hornby Class 50 but at least it has a DCC socket...."

Crikey, I know resistors and capacitors are nice and colourful, but to criticise the circuit board for being "sparse"......!

Regards,

Stuart.

I think Lord Hutton is free now...

Let's put this matter to bed once and for all. Darren Sherwood's last endeavour as Editor of the Bachmann Collectors Club magazine was nearly 12 months ago with the Spring 2003 issue. Since then two more issues have been published under the excellent influence of David J Williams. I believe that another one is imminent.

Also, Rich Mackin wrote :- "Interestingly, I notice that Hornby's (cough) "new" Hymek will have sprung buffers - must be their idea of getting one up on Heljan ;)"

Hornby's "idea" is to provide a range of mid-price locos for youngsters who wish to move up from starter sets or Thomas The Tank Engine, and cannot afford a Class 50 (or Heljan Hymek)!

Their Class 47 is still a good earner for them despite the emergence of the Heljan version for this very reason.

Dave W.

:oP