After seeing brians excitement at receiving his first steamer and listening to carl, I am tempted to dip my toe in the water. I cant spend a lot but I have had a look at some of the models available for under 600 euros and some of them seem to be of different scales to 1/22.5. I really want something that looks french and wont be out of place on my line (which is getting close to running on ). I would also like to be able to have R/C.. final question; will live steam satisfy my need for the smell of old railway engines (not kinky but thats what i miss most about the real ones!)

mikey

Mikey....

It's a shame you can't get to see, smell and touch in the flesh so to speak.
I'm afraid that's what happened to Brian.

If you wanted to a 'play before you pay' for a weekend you would be welcome here.

Brian has followed a well trooden path with Edrig. A cheap entry level engine from Accucraft.
It's reliable, easy to use, looks like a real engine with proper cylinders and will give years of pleasure if half reasonably cared for.

I wouldn't worry too much about the quoted scale for these generic locos. they all look pretty similarly sized when they're in the garden.

I have a Caradoc which is essentially the same as Edrig.
This year I intend to 'French it up' a bit with the addition of some continental parts.

The basic Edrig costs around £450 and you can add £150 for (single channel) fitted RC.

I would advise strongly playing with it in manual mode for a while. This I find gives people skills and experience that you don't get with using an RC loco first. You can easily fit custom RC yourself later and cheaper.

There are other alternatives than Accucraft such as Regner. You can get a small 'ozzi' cylinder geared loco for under 500€.

Better still Mikey, the Edrig is £405 from John at Track Shack right now!

Carl is right you learn more every day you play with these things.

There is a skill involved in setting up but that's the attraction - tuning the gas/ water pressure and steam regulator to pull the train you've set up is all part of the fun.

I'm getting about 25 mins running out of a tank full of gas and it takes about 5 mins to get up steam. Just about the right time for a glass of claret.

Happy steaming

Brian

That's an attractive proposition Brian.

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't Track Shack connected to Dragon G scale albeit in Manx land.......and doesn't one get 5% discount with Dragon G scale if you're good boy on GSM....?

What colour is your Edrig BTW ?

I've just bought an Accucraft Edrig power plant - An Edrig without the body for £325 on e bay. New in box and never steamed.
Not a fantastic bargain but they're normally about £370 RRP in the shops when and if you can get one.
I only saw it by chance it about an hour ago.

I shall make up a very simple body in brass for it later.

I hope no-one else here was bidding on it. There were 15 bids plus mine and I waited until the last minute.

BTW John (of Track Shack) is Sealion on GSM .

I've been playing some more this afternoon and am so taken with the Steamy side that I've listed a few LGB bits and bobs on Ebay in order to buy a few enhancements and r/c for the Edrig.

Brian from the very "steamy" Charente

I see Track - Shack - now sold out of manual Edrig's ??

Is the Bangham resonator the standard whistle kit DJB sell for the Edrig?

The code is ACCED which is a special complete kit for the Edrig (and similar) locos at £80.

There was an article about fitting one to a Caradoc on GSM.
Fit a whistle


The only thing there is that he has fitted the servo for the whistle is behind the burner. I hope he never has a block burner jet. It will mean a lot of dismantling.

I think you could use half a throw on the direction servo for the whistle.

You could buy a Regner whistle for a lot less (les than half the cost) but you would need to adapt some fittings to fit the Accucraft manifolds. The Bangham whistles sound better as well.