Trainorama 830 class 847 review by Barcoola.

Hi All

After what seems an eternity, Trainorama have released the SAR 830 class locomotive.
Worth the wait? well yup!
The detail is right up there, for example;

1. The end handrails are metal, thus are very robust, great step forward, if these were done in plastic it would have looked all wonky.
2. Chains are real.
3. the cab side windows slide!
4. All the grilles including the filters are individual frets, this will make it easy to convert to louvred filters (this was my biggest concern).
5. Set up for sound out of the box, like the GMs.
6. Marker lights are operating, and warm headlights.
7. individual door handles.
8. individual lift rings.

Below are some photographs of the model, this is a non Shrike model, looks like the easiest to convert to 863.

You will notice that the model is a replication of 847 while on the standard gauge, and has the modifications installed for operations in NSW.

This includes:

• Handrails to the roof behind the cab.
• Continuation of the handrail from A end cab access door to the A end handrails, a sort one of the opposite side cab assess door.
• Tail disk, not installed, again not 100% sure this was installed on all NSW allocated 830 class locomotives.

http://www.comrails.com/pic_cd/cd_p0106104.html

I can't see the coupler light as installed in the model.  looking a various 830s this one below is 841 is not installed.

http://www.comrails.com/pic_cd/cd_p0108405.html

Here is 848

1 the airtank stand up.
2 roof handrails.

There is this picture of 847 in ASR livery
http://www.comrails.com/pic_cd/cd_p1008720.html

Additional detail includes:
1 airhorn four trumpets.
2 lipped exhaust, model and prototype are matched.
3 Handrails removed from behind the cab.
4 Airconditioner and double skin roof.
5 handrail between battery box doors, note it still retains its SRA of NSW added handrail between the cab and the A end aft step well handrail.
6 GPS.

848 same mods

http://www.comrails.com/pic_cd/cd_p0105954.html

1. re-railer, not on the model.

2. Sinclair antenna, not on the model.

3. plug, not on the model.

4. Destination board holder, not on the model.

847 post return from NSW.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/92625084@N07/9270591381

1. Destination board.

2. tail disk, I am guessing added in NSW, not on the model.

3 A end plate, again missing from the model, not the end of the world

4. MU dummy receptacle, not on the model, doubt that this was installed while in NSW?

847 in AN livery

http://www.comrails.com/pic_cd/cd_p0110625.html

Note:

B end destination holder is gone.

The filters now have louvred covers.

847 in AN green 1986

http://www.comrails.com/pic_cd/cd_p0105942.html

1. Derailer, not on the model

2. double skin roof,

the destination board holder is now gone on the A end.

Removal of the Body:
Its fairly simple.
remove both couplers,
Remove the chain between the bogie and the frame, there is a hook on the frame that can be slipped off.
the body can then be slid off.

There is 10 pins 8 for a normal DCC chip.
The room between the plug and the model roof is tiny, I installed a NCE N14IP, fitted no probs, but I had an issue with performance, turned out to be the chip, and swapped it out, for a tethered chip, this was a tight fit!  but its in there.

operation of the model is smooth, however it was noticed that some of the axles were out of gauge, this again was easy to fix I just prized them out with a screw driver, ever so gently!

The verdict.
out of the box the model is find representation of the prototype, detail is high no major flaws.
The selection of numbers is a little disappointing, as not everyone models NSW!  I would recommend purchasing 858 if you need to model a SAR ANR AN 830 of another number as it seems to have the more appropriate SAR 830 details, different handrails etc.

there is no doubt that there is some attention to detail with this model, however, some detail seems a little confusing.
The installation of the coupler lights at both ends, can't seem to find that on the prototype.
All of the models offered by Trainorama seem to be missing the destination board holders and re-railers and holders.

As I am modelling 863, the missing destination board holders are not an issue.  Adding the re-railers again not a big problem, a simple addition.
The handrails can be modified, again not a difficult job.
I will need to strip and repaint this to match 863, along with double skin roof and air conditioner, etc.
I was tossing up at getting a Powerline 48 and modifying it to 863, as the filters already have louvres, yes it is wrong detail for a NSWGR 48, but the Louvres are too fine for AN.
The grilles being separate inserts are perfect for converting into louvres, so that's a good thing.

Given I had a number of TRAX 830s and built a DA1 from one of them.
The Trainorama model is light years ahead, detail is a step up, even from the GM.
Hose and piping detail is extensive.
Well equipped for sound, especially considering the limited amount of room in the hood.

We all know that Auscision have anounced the 830 class as a model in production,
However this all might go the same way as the Flat top T - P class that Austrains was doing, BRM beat them to the punch, Austrains dropped the flat top T and the P class.  So as of today the Auscision P class is still in production, and unfortunately V/line modellers are still waiting for their P classes!

So my advice..........if you want a 830 class now, get it from Trainorama.