The Atlantics Project – All models now in production
The builders have made a massive effort and have put all models into production. This means that GNR/LNER locomotives will be made at the same time as the Brighton Atlantics. We have marginally raised the total production programme from 85 to 89 models. There is a small increase in the number of late Brighton H2s available to make up for the loss of slots due to recent reservations. The total production of GNR/LNER models remain unchanged at 25 units, of which 13 are reserved.
GNR and LBSCR Atlantic frames
The builders have just sent over pictures of the GNR/LNER and Brighton H1s and H2s locomotive chassis, the smokebox assemblies as well as the tender chassis and bodies. As you can see from the pictures, production is now well under way. We have ordered the motors and decoders for the engines and these will be sent to South Korea after they have been programmed by our sound engineer Bryan Robertson.
Tender tanks under construction
The locomotives will be powered by a Swiss-manufactured coreless aerospace grade motor with high torque and a very smooth performance. This motor, combined with our helical gearbox modified to fit on the second driving axle, should give a first-class running performance to all engines. Due to the requirement to fit into the small boiler/firebox GNR/LNER locomotives, we will fit a slightly smaller motor that we have used previously on the larger GWR locomotives. This motor gearbox combination should still lead to a better model performance in power terms than that of the real locomotives scaled down to the cube of 1/43.5.
Smokeboxes showing tubeplate and blastpipe detail
We have modified the locomotive design to be able to accommodate the decoder in the engine rather than in the tender. This will greatly simplify the electrical connection between the locomotive and tender.
On liveries, a number of people have expressed interest in Brighton Atlantics painted in Bulleid malachite green, and we have to decide shortly whether to offer this livery. So, if you are interested in reserving an Atlantic in malachite green whether with SOUTHERN or BRITISH RAILWAYS on the tender, please would you let us know as soon as possible.
Tender chassis