NSWGR C30T Steam Locomotive by Wombat Models

Discussion in 'Product Reviews' started by Davoetype, Jun 12, 2018.

  1. Davoetype

    Davoetype Full Member

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    The C30T started out life as the 30 Class 4-6-4 tank locomotive and used extensively in the Sydney Suburban network. Following electrification of the suburban system in the late 1920's, 77 of these locos were converted from tank to tender stock and redeployed throughout the light branch lines in NSW. A variety of tenders were used from scrapped locomotives, some bogie style and others with fixed six wheel configuration. The model I purchased is the six wheel type, saturated with red lining.

    The release of this model at the Rosehill show was quite a surprise and like some others I confess to not having heard of Wombat Models. I am sure that brand recognition will change in the future.

    The model is quite impressive and would have to be seen as excellent value for money at $350. It is a well weighted machine equipped with pick ups on all tender and loco driving wheels.Bi-directional front and rear lighting is included and there is even a nano cab light. Cabin detailing is of a good standard.Tender and loco chassis can be removed quite easily for servicing and the model is equipped with an eight pin plug for installation of DCC.

    IMG_0533.jpg

    Although documentation provided with the model indicated that "illustrated instructions for fitting a DCC chip to your model can be found overleaf" that was not the case. Documentation suggested that an ESU Nano 8-pin decoder would be suitable and that a speaker could be mounted underside of the chassis. Again, illustrated instructions for fitting the speaker were not provided as indicated.

    At this stage I am thinking that in order to house a suitable ESU sound decoder, stay alive component and speaker, it may be necessary to remove the top of the tender and replace it with a suitable coal type covering after DCC has been completed. Garry Salt from the Model Railroad Craftsman at Blacktown is looking at the options and will publish recommendations in his BLOG over the next few weeks.

    We were able to give the model a thorough testing on PFM1 Gary's DC layout Tomlins Creek at the Rosehill Show. It was in operation for much of the last day and certainly captured a lot of admiration. It was straight out of the box and did not even include a cursory wheel clean. The model ran flawlessly in both directions with smooth and steady acceleration and deceleration. We could not give it a decent load test because of space considerations on the layout but given the weight of the loco, it would seem to be able to pull more than a prototypical load, as do most quality modern models. Here she is on the layout with an FO in tow. A Standard Goods is in the background:

    IMG_0532.jpg
    I am anxiously awaiting Garry Salt's recommendations so I can complete the DCC installation and get on with weathering. There is. of course, the other attraction of being able to operate my new machine.

    Wombat Models hope to be at the upcoming Liverpool show but in the meantime, a limited number of models can be obtained via their website wombatmodels.com.au. More stock is expected within the next month or so.

    Cheers

    and happy modelling

    Richard
     
    Last edited: Jun 13, 2018
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  2. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    Thanks for the low down Richard. It sounds and looks like a great model. Shame about the lack of stated instructions but I'm sure you'll be able to work around that.

    Thanks for posting it up.

    Cheers

    Toto
     
  3. Dr Tony

    Dr Tony Full Member

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    Richard, your sales pitch was good and I am the proud owner of another one, mine is the saturated version, will have to put a photo up of it side to side with the tank version, also bought at the show. Only done really limited testing on Gundah Junction, the only thing to note is that it is not too keen reversing though a facing turnout on the loop (divergent path) will have to inspect things a bit closer to see what is going on there, (the tender derails)otherwise a terrific little loco, and especially good value for money.
    I'll leave it to others to pioneer the DCC route, I'm a way off that yet
    Cheers
    Tony
     
  4. Veers

    Veers Full Member

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    All I know is that this is the Shrike model. Apparently there is a history or something behind it, but I am not aware of.
     
  5. Gary

    Gary Wants more time for modelling.... Staff Member Administrator

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    Excellent review of the model Richard. The little loco did run faultlessly all day from the moment you had unpacked it. A great model and I'm looking forward to hearing it soon !

    Tony, what size are your points on Gundah Junction ?? Tomlins Creek uses Peco Streamlined points, both curved and large wye and she ran beautifully through them.

    Cheers, Gary.
     
  6. Davoetype

    Davoetype Full Member

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    Thanks Tony and Gary.

    For Veers, I would say that the politics I will leave to others as I am not really interested in the machinations of what goes on in the background. No doubt in business there are always strategies to be followed or not but as modellers we only need concern ourselves with what is offered to us and is it any good?

    We always hear tales of mutterings about what is going on between the various manufacturers. That is not of any concern to us as mere modelling enthusiasts. We do however have an obligation to each of us in this community to say if a product is good (in my opinion as was the case in the model I reviewed) or not up to standard or if we get mediocre or bad service. I for one have been a bit too reluctant to draw our communities attention to products which have been well below expectations.

    I will not make that mistake in the future.

    Richard
     
  7. Mark Newton

    Mark Newton Full Member

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    The 30 class looks nice. If I was modelling the NSWGR I'd be very tempted to get at least one. Minor quibble though, the model you have is of a saturated engine. 30Ts that were superheated had the extended smokebox to accomodate the superheater header and the improved spark arrestor.

    Cheers,

    Mark.
     
  8. Dr Tony

    Dr Tony Full Member

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    Hi Gary,
    The problem set of points was a peco large radius streamline, not where I was expecting any trouble. Gundah Junction was built mostly using large radius where possible. Will have to do some more testing when time allows, last night's time was spent on the very important task of tidying my work bench, looking for my packet of brass brake handles. The other bench is full of a Simpsons diorama under construction, but that is another story
    Cheers
    Tony
     
  9. Davoetype

    Davoetype Full Member

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    Thanks Mark

    I looked just now and it shows as saturated. Kidding as I have now fixed up my typo. I was distracted by my memory of the Wombat rep saying that superheated variants were not yet available but would be in a month or so.

    Age catches up with us all, alas.

    Cheers

    and happy modelling

    Richard
     
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  10. Gary

    Gary Wants more time for modelling.... Staff Member Administrator

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    Tony, my suggestion would be to weight the tender some more. I did notice on Richards model that the tender was bit of a light weight.

    Cheers, Gary.
     
  11. Mark Newton

    Mark Newton Full Member

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    No worries, I thought you'd probably mistyped. But it didn't detract from your excellent summary of the model.

    The superheated versions are what will really tempt me, having worked on 3001 and 3016 over the years. But I've managed to resist the recent model of 3112, another engine I've spent time on, so fingers crossed.

    As you say, age catches up with us all. After a full day at Rose Hill on Saturday, I felt every one of my 58 years!

    All the best,

    Mark.
     
  12. Davoetype

    Davoetype Full Member

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    Thanks Mark

    I probably overdid it a bit with three full days but I sure did a lot of gas bagging about trains. My lovely wife wonders how we could spend so much time talking about the hobby. She does not understand how easy it is!

    Cheers

    and happy modelling

    Richard

    PS for Tony. You might like to wait until you load up the tender with DCC stuff as a first step
     
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  13. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    Hi Richard,

    With regards to the modelling reviews, I for one encourage an honest and fair review. No supplier / manufacturing bashing as such but the goods and services deserve to be up for all to behold. Modellers all have different budgets and I'd be a bit miffed if someone has spent their hard earned cash on something that may be a complete disappointment.

    One of my major gripes is delivery times. We are charged full delivery prices and can sometimes wait weeks ....... And in some cases months to recieve the product. I total encourage these suppliers to be highlighted. If they warn people in their sales pitch then fine but if not ......... Not acceptable. I know folks who have paid for goods and have had to chase and threaten further action after months of waiting, almost ready to give up on the possibility of receiving either the goods or a refund. Why should that happen.

    I don't want to kick off a major debate here or give examples but generally I'm all for helping people to avoid such an experience and / or potential loss.

    Cheers

    Toto
     
  14. Veers

    Veers Full Member

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    Sorry, not trying to provoke a fight or anything. Just saying that apparently there is history, I don't know what it is, and if it doesn't affect the model or your running of it. It isn't relevant. :)g
     
  15. Davoetype

    Davoetype Full Member

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    Nor in any way was I but just reiterating that we should always concentrate on enjoying our hobby and just ignoring the odd bit of gossip we all hear about who is doing what. As I said earlier, that is their commercial issue and nothing to do with us mere hobbyists. We just want their products to meet our expectations. I could well have compared prices directly to those of other manufacturers but I simply said the loco was seen as good value for money.

    Toto has correctly touched upon delivery times and that is something we should all be looking at. Quite regularly here discounts are offered for full payment on lodging an order after a product has been announced. In most cases, delivery times suggested are just plainly vague. The manufacturing and delivery process can unfortunately extend over a period of years in some instances, with very little information from the manufacturers on the progress being achieved.

    Some manufacturers claim that pre-ordering with discounted payment is an essential part of their business in that it defines the likely size of the production run. Well then why not just take deposits as that surely is good enough to identify demand. To do otherwise is to ask the customer to actually fund the manufacturing process.

    I did not have to lodge any payment in full nor place a pre-order for my well priced C30T so cannot see why much larger companies cannot at least meet their customers part of the way and participate in the business risk rather than let the customers shoulder that burden.

    Back to happy modelling

    Cheers

    Richard
     
  16. Mark Newton

    Mark Newton Full Member

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    It's easy alright. But in my case my wife is just as likely to be the one gasbagging about them, so I get away with a fair bit myself.

    The downside to that is that she and my son have started dropping hints that we should get 3016, since they've both footplated the thing at different times. My resolve is weakening... And I'm lucky she didn't notice the Xplorer models on sale there otherwise I'd be broke by now. :)

    All the best,

    Mark.

    IMG_7309.JPG IMG_4119.JPG
     
  17. Davoetype

    Davoetype Full Member

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    I think you should weaken as 3016 would be a very nice addition...its only money anyway.

    Cheers

    Richard
     
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  18. Wolseley

    Wolseley Full Member

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    As a bit of a contrast, here's a photo I took in the early 1970s of 3090 awaiting its fate at Enfield:

    [​IMG]
     
  19. Davoetype

    Davoetype Full Member

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    Always a little bit sad to see photos like this. So many old warriors consigned to the scrap heap.

    Cheers

    Richard
     
  20. Mark Newton

    Mark Newton Full Member

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    Well, I weakened. I was out at Casula on Saturday to get some bits and pieces for the Belgian Congo project and I noticed a superheated 30T in the display case. I asked Joe for a closer look and a test run. It came home with me! :)

    Cheers,

    Mark.
     
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