Hi Jenny, from deep in the heart of Beautiful East Texas. That is a lovely model of a unique locomotive. Very comprehensive review. This is not a model that I will probably buy, but it is a very impressive package for those who do. Thanks for the splendid work. I ordered my Jenny car today.
Hi Jenny, Re the reason for the cab position was the same as when the first generation diesels (classes 20, 37, peaks & Deltics etc.) was to ease the old steam drivers, who had for years been used to having a huge boiler to their front. The Unions felt it might scare them to suddenly have nothing in front of them.
Hi Jennifer, You're actually the first to review this locomotive. This loco feels unique as locomtive in general and as model with a unique tender coupling. I think all tender locos should have this special close coupling. Love the review!
The first time I heard an American S2 turbine in O gauge it was strange watching the drivers turn and not hearing the familiar chuffing sound. I do like this model very much because it is so different. Great review Jenny!
The GT3 looks to be a great model. The real prototype was maybe a bit far advanced for it's day but the model brings all of that out. A bit late watching this video but thanks for posting it Jenny. Keep Well there. Cheers.
It makes the same sound (unsurprisingly) as the gas turbine units (officially the RTG - Rame à Turbine à Gaz - colloquially known as le Turbotrain) we used to have here in Lyon on the Lyon - Bordeaux route. I even got to drive one once as a young recruit to the SNCF. (20 years ago you could easily cop a cab ride if you were a railway staff member. Nowadays it's pretty much impossible). They were introduced just prior to the oil crisis and had phenomenal fuel consumption. As far as I remember they were only withdrawn in the early 2000's. The first TGV prototype 001 was also gas turbine I believe, but abandoned after they went for 25kv AC overhead. Fascinating engine, though you do wonder why they didn't do just a conventional twin cabbed body with the fuel on board rather than in a separate tender. I agree completely with you on the subject of metal and paint. That's probably why I prefer my 60 year old Dublo 4MT tank to my modern Bachmann example. It just feels right.
The reason for the engine/tender setup is that the original plan was to take retired steam locomotives and their tenders, and rebuild them into gas turbine locomotives to save money. But the development process for the GT3 dragged out so long that by time it was ready for testing, most of the steam locomotives had been scrapped, and diesels had already taken over. It made the GT3 a bit of a laughing stock by the time testing was over, and it was quietly scrapped.
It’s a gorgeous locomotive!! I’m going to be getting one when the model railway shops open again. A very exciting model that is most attractive to people who prefer steam to diesel!!
Hi Jenny! I watched Sam's review along with yours just now. He griped about the pilot bogey mounting and tracking. His model had derailment problems which he ended up fixing by removing the spring and letting the bogey "float" on the track. It did help improve the pulling power of his model. Thing is that he had "messed" around with the truck before he ran the loco, which makes me wonder if he didn't cause the derailment problems by changing factory setting of the pilot bogey. Meanwhile I love the fact that it has RP25 flanges on the wheels. As a model in the states, many layouts are using smaller rail than the traditional code 100 rail. I have been leery about buying British prototype models because of the deeper flanges that they tend to use. But that won't be an issue with this locomotive. Also, even though I don't model British trains (yet) I could justify having one on an American layout as a demonstrator sent over by English Electic (sic) to try to generate sales in North America. As for the gas turbine sound, ESU LokSound does have other gas turbine sound files available for their decoders, and models factory fitted with them, such as the ScaleTrains Union Pacific 8500 HP "Big Blow" gas turbine electrics. I believe that reason for the steam locomotive layout of this locomotive was two fold. One was the mechanical drive used to connect the gas turbine to the wheels. If they were using an electric drive they could have used a diesel-electric locomotive layout with traditional bogies. The second reason was to make it as similar to the steam locomotives that most railway drivers wear familiar with so they wouldn't reject the gas turbine because it was "too different." Thank you for a great review. I went on the KR Models website and they have some more interesting locomotives in the works.
Great interesting review. I have pre ordered the Fell locomotive from KR Models so was interested in the thoughts on their first model the GT3 . Looks a lovely model for people that are interested in getting a GT3
Could there have been a concern with crash protection? When Southern Pacific Railroad designed their AC series of Mallet steam locomotives, the concern was the crew passing out from fumes while operating in tunnels. Running on oil, there was no need for the fireman to be located at the rear, and the engineer now had a clear view of the track ahead. But the crew no longer had the crash protection afforded by the mass of the locomotive. Most North American railroads have operated short end just forward in the diesel era This area held the steam generator and/ or sand for the rail. Two railroads that I know. Norfolk and Western and Southern, ran the long end forward in early diesel operation. Whether this was due to railroad preference or having a strong union mandate this procedure I do not know. Since the elimination of the caboose in North America, modern locomotives have extended cabs to accommodate the whole crew, and this area carries the lavatory.
A great and impressive looking loco but those buffer beam steps at the front bogie do look a bit squint to my eyes . Or are they meant to look like that ? Perhaps someone could let me know . Still i am tempted to buy one soon .
I think KR are to be congratulated on this . It looks superb and seems to run well . Who could believe this is their first model ! I admit I was deeply cynical as they appeared just as DJ was going pop. I thought their choices were weird . Who could make money on that . But indeed it is so different that it seems to have created its own market . I’d say well done and here’s looking for future models , but I’m afraid I’m mainstream so things like the Fell and Leader just don’t do it for me . But great model
Great review Jenny what a lovely loco I cannot wait for mine to came when they do the 2nd run. Oh by the way Jenny can you please use a cloth when reviewing models I always think of the lovely paint finish when you put them on the wood :)
Always had a soft spot for this unusual loco. I was interested to hear your disagreement with Sam's trains over the front bogie, which he didn't like at all! Mind you, your trackwork is rather better than his! Great review as always.
I’ve finally arrived was GT3 Locomotive is morning today 18th of December, so I’ll say this; Has ordered on 21st of June from KR Model Website, I chose a DCC Sound in £299.
Good job it hasn't got the exhaust heat of the prototype, as GT3 was very good at scorching overhead structures even managed to set fire to a few things
Sam's trains kept derailing but your track seems a lot better and less harsh of a curve. I found this model is good aslong as you don't look too closely.
Matt 19 Sam’s track is set track and sits on a carpeted floor and does not appear to be fastened down in any way. If there is one major “do not do” in model railways it is put your track on a carpeted floor. Sam’s track (which he admits is not good) needs to be off the floor. Jennifer’s track is fastened on a baseboard and will be flexitrack so the curves will be so much better as you can incorporate transition curves just like the real thing, set track doesn’t allow for that, you go straight into the curve.
The gas turbine car was Rover, not Brit Leyland! - - I have a feeling that I saw this loco parked outside the foundry, on the link-track between the road and what was British Rail, by the Vulcan halt, when I was cycling past, one day, when I was a school kid. I DO recall a HUGE loco that looked very odd, but at the time I had no interest in trains.
Hi Jenny what is the make up of those mk1s? It seems you have 3 restaurant vehicles in the drake's centre. You have a nice layout going on there. Your review and Sam's Trains are an interesting comparison. I dont like these locomotives personally the 2 views in reviewing has been very interesting.
You showed that off nicely, it's certainly superbly finished and a testament to English Electric's engineering prowess. The paint finish is exceptional. Shame attention to detail failed on the "Electic" misspelling, (someone must be kicking themselves for missing). The front steps look totally out of place - colour and angle of fitting - are they as original? Sadly for me it sounds like a vacuum cleaner which I've had enough of!! (personal to me of course), so know its the basic loco for me, as a special treat maybe! Stephen
I know exactly what you mean about painted plastic vs. painted metal: there IS a particular look metal has. I agree that this model's paint LOOKS like painted metal, somehow.
You don't tell us the price but give it a value score. At a smidgeon under £200 it must be one of the most expensive British outline models ever. But yes it looks superb and for a lot of people the price will be worth it. I wonder how many they've made.
That is a fantastic model and unfortunately i never saw it in the skin but I so remember it in my Ian Allan ABC's of my trainspotting days,,,,,,another item to add to the growing wishlist lol
"English Electic Vulcan Foundry", hmm. Mine is the DCC ready version, fitted with a random chip I had sitting on my desk. My major issue with this loco is its lighting. A red cab light? surely should be warm white. The lights behind the headcode discs and the tails on the tender are fine, working in only the forward direction. But those lights below the headcode discs are permanently lit, which creates an issue if you want to store the loco in a depot, shut down. And they shouldn't be white, because that would confuse signallers at night because they would interfere with the lamp codes. So my reckoning is that they should've been red directional tail lamps for reverse running, as per all the 3d renders I've seen of the loco. So until those lower front lights have a fix available, this locomotive is stabled out of sight on an unpowered piece of track. Not something I want to do with a £195 locomotive...
@@Matt19matt19 True. But that's also one of his strengths in reviewing. It shows up weak spots in a loco design that a top notch circuit with 6 foot radius curves will never find.
@@BRMRailway No one who spends a couple of hundred quid on a model will run it on track laid on a carpeted floor. That’s for very young children with a basic Thomas the Tank engine. A serious modeller who will willingly pay that kind of money will have a layout on a baseboard well clear of the floor.
@@juleshathaway3894 yeah I know. Locos and carpet a pretty bad idea. I'd certainly not entertain it. But as a reviewing platform it is quite good that its worse than any serious modeller will use, hence you can take the result and judge for yourself on the risk level for your own railway. Me, I'm still building my SM32 garden line, so snails, leaves, dirt and possibly worst of all, slugs, are my gotchas.
PLEASE PLEASE FOR the love of God or pussy cats for that matter USE SOMETHING SOFT to place the models on when you a bashing them about whilst taking them out of the package. The GT3 is NOT you model as far as I know it was kindly sent for you to review!
I always love seeing the different models in this hobby from around the world.
Thanks for such a concise and in depth review Jennifer. I am now a proud owner of a sound version after hearing it in your video!
Hi Jenny, from deep in the heart of Beautiful East Texas. That is a lovely model of a unique locomotive. Very comprehensive review. This is not a model that I will probably buy, but it is a very impressive package for those who do. Thanks for the splendid work. I ordered my Jenny car today.
Hi Jenny,
Re the reason for the cab position was the same as when the first generation diesels (classes 20, 37, peaks & Deltics etc.) was to ease the old steam drivers, who had for years been used to having a huge boiler to their front. The Unions felt it might scare them to suddenly have nothing in front of them.
Hi Jennifer,
You're actually the first to review this locomotive. This loco feels unique as locomtive in general and as model with a unique tender coupling. I think all tender locos should have this special close coupling. Love the review!
Nooo. oorail reviewed it ages ago, but he's in Canada so had an advantage :)
It doesn’t say hammer time on the other side, just priceless 👍🏻
Hi Jenny, a good review - thanks for sharing it with us.
The first time I heard an American S2 turbine in O gauge it was strange watching the drivers turn and not hearing the familiar chuffing sound. I do like this model very much because it is so different. Great review Jenny!
What a fabulous locomotive!! I can hardly wait to be able to get one of these!!
There is a 5" gauge model of this doing the rounds...very impressive. Just gives a small hint of what the full size prototype would have sounded like
The GT3 looks to be a great model. The real prototype was maybe a bit far advanced for it's day but the model brings all of that out. A bit late watching this video but thanks for posting it Jenny. Keep Well there. Cheers.
It makes the same sound (unsurprisingly) as the gas turbine units (officially the RTG - Rame à Turbine à Gaz - colloquially known as le Turbotrain) we used to have here in Lyon on the Lyon - Bordeaux route. I even got to drive one once as a young recruit to the SNCF. (20 years ago you could easily cop a cab ride if you were a railway staff member. Nowadays it's pretty much impossible). They were introduced just prior to the oil crisis and had phenomenal fuel consumption. As far as I remember they were only withdrawn in the early 2000's. The first TGV prototype 001 was also gas turbine I believe, but abandoned after they went for 25kv AC overhead.
Fascinating engine, though you do wonder why they didn't do just a conventional twin cabbed body with the fuel on board rather than in a separate tender.
I agree completely with you on the subject of metal and paint. That's probably why I prefer my 60 year old Dublo 4MT tank to my modern Bachmann example. It just feels right.
The reason for the engine/tender setup is that the original plan was to take retired steam locomotives and their tenders, and rebuild them into gas turbine locomotives to save money. But the development process for the GT3 dragged out so long that by time it was ready for testing, most of the steam locomotives had been scrapped, and diesels had already taken over. It made the GT3 a bit of a laughing stock by the time testing was over, and it was quietly scrapped.
It’s a gorgeous locomotive!! I’m going to be getting one when the model railway shops open again. A very exciting model that is most attractive to people who prefer steam to diesel!!
Great review Jenny. It sounded like my washing machine on a spin cycle!
Very impressive loco jenny, great review 👍
Great review Jennifer love the loco a bit of a one off
Didn't get a badge with mine :( I did get running boards that needed gluing down though, as well as glazing to glue back on in the tender.
Hi Jenny! I watched Sam's review along with yours just now. He griped about the pilot bogey mounting and tracking. His model had derailment problems which he ended up fixing by removing the spring and letting the bogey "float" on the track. It did help improve the pulling power of his model. Thing is that he had "messed" around with the truck before he ran the loco, which makes me wonder if he didn't cause the derailment problems by changing factory setting of the pilot bogey.
Meanwhile I love the fact that it has RP25 flanges on the wheels. As a model in the states, many layouts are using smaller rail than the traditional code 100 rail. I have been leery about buying British prototype models because of the deeper flanges that they tend to use. But that won't be an issue with this locomotive. Also, even though I don't model British trains (yet) I could justify having one on an American layout as a demonstrator sent over by English Electic (sic) to try to generate sales in North America.
As for the gas turbine sound, ESU LokSound does have other gas turbine sound files available for their decoders, and models factory fitted with them, such as the ScaleTrains Union Pacific 8500 HP "Big Blow" gas turbine electrics.
I believe that reason for the steam locomotive layout of this locomotive was two fold. One was the mechanical drive used to connect the gas turbine to the wheels. If they were using an electric drive they could have used a diesel-electric locomotive layout with traditional bogies. The second reason was to make it as similar to the steam locomotives that most railway drivers wear familiar with so they wouldn't reject the gas turbine because it was "too different."
Thank you for a great review. I went on the KR Models website and they have some more interesting locomotives in the works.
Hello from NYC! Love your channel! "Sam has his buffers..." 🤣
Great interesting review. I have pre ordered the Fell locomotive from KR Models so was interested in the thoughts on their first model the GT3 . Looks a lovely model for people that are interested in getting a GT3
Could there have been a concern with crash protection? When Southern Pacific Railroad designed their AC series of Mallet steam locomotives, the concern was the crew passing out from fumes while operating in tunnels. Running on oil, there was no need for the fireman to be located at the rear, and the engineer now had a clear view of the track ahead. But the crew no longer had the crash protection afforded by the mass of the locomotive. Most North American railroads have operated short end just forward in the diesel era This area held the steam generator and/ or sand for the rail. Two railroads that I know. Norfolk and Western and Southern, ran the long end forward in early diesel operation. Whether this was due to railroad preference or having a strong union mandate this procedure I do not know. Since the elimination of the caboose in North America, modern locomotives have extended cabs to accommodate the whole crew, and this area carries the lavatory.
A great and impressive looking loco but those buffer beam steps at the front bogie do look a bit squint to my eyes . Or are they meant to look like that ? Perhaps someone could let me know . Still i am tempted to buy one soon .
I think KR are to be congratulated on this . It looks superb and seems to run well . Who could believe this is their first model ! I admit I was deeply cynical as they appeared just as DJ was going pop. I thought their choices were weird . Who could make money on that . But indeed it is so different that it seems to have created its own market . I’d say well done and here’s looking for future models , but I’m afraid I’m mainstream so things like the Fell and Leader just don’t do it for me . But great model
WOW! A " And now for something completely different " review ^,^ Good review, I'll take one in N scale , i almost typed "N Gauge" ^,^
"It's"
I notice that the cab detail is not painted in any way, none of the gauges picked out. .... Why is there a red light in the cab?
Great review Jenny what a lovely loco I cannot wait for mine to came when they do the 2nd run.
Oh by the way Jenny can you please use a cloth when reviewing models I always think of the lovely paint finish when you put them on the wood :)
24:13 Spell check please! Lucky you can't read it under normal circumstances.
It's a fantastic model though.
Nice review as usual Jenny 👍
Oh yeh thats definitely clumsy.
Wow! I didn’t even notice that while taking the photos. Well spotted.
Canadian spelling eh
Always had a soft spot for this unusual loco. I was interested to hear your disagreement with Sam's trains over the front bogie, which he didn't like at all! Mind you, your trackwork is rather better than his! Great review as always.
Jenny that's awesome locomotives and I'm watching and enjoying the video and I like it 👍👍👍👍👌👌👌👌😎😎😎😎❤️ video
I’ve finally arrived was GT3 Locomotive is morning today 18th of December, so I’ll say this;
Has ordered on 21st of June from KR Model Website, I chose a DCC Sound in £299.
Good video, this will look good with a load of your wagons behind, almost goes with the logo on the side of the tender 😄
Good job it hasn't got the exhaust heat of the prototype, as GT3 was very good at scorching overhead structures even managed to set fire to a few things
Sam's trains kept derailing but your track seems a lot better and less harsh of a curve. I found this model is good aslong as you don't look too closely.
Matt 19 Sam’s track is set track and sits on a carpeted floor and does not appear to be fastened down in any way. If there is one major “do not do” in model railways it is put your track on a carpeted floor. Sam’s track (which he admits is not good) needs to be off the floor. Jennifer’s track is fastened on a baseboard and will be flexitrack so the curves will be so much better as you can incorporate transition curves just like the real thing, set track doesn’t allow for that, you go straight into the curve.
I love that train
The gas turbine car was Rover, not Brit Leyland! - - I have a feeling that I saw this loco parked outside the foundry, on the link-track between the road and what was British Rail, by the Vulcan halt, when I was cycling past, one day, when I was a school kid. I DO recall a HUGE loco that looked very odd, but at the time I had no interest in trains.
Nice review.
Sam has his buffers. 😊
Well, on this model, one issue I have with the buffers is that they keep twisting around.
Yes I can see that in Sam's video.
Go to the Science Museum in London to see the first gas turbine car, based on the Rover P4 100, but with no roof for wet days!!
Hi Jenny what is the make up of those mk1s? It seems you have 3 restaurant vehicles in the drake's centre. You have a nice layout going on there. Your review and Sam's Trains are an interesting comparison. I dont like these locomotives personally the 2 views in reviewing has been very interesting.
You showed that off nicely, it's certainly superbly finished and a testament to English Electric's engineering prowess. The paint finish is exceptional. Shame attention to detail failed on the "Electic" misspelling, (someone must be kicking themselves for missing). The front steps look totally out of place - colour and angle of fitting - are they as original?
Sadly for me it sounds like a vacuum cleaner which I've had enough of!! (personal to me of course), so know its the basic loco for me, as a special treat maybe! Stephen
The guard irons are the wrong way around on the front bogie!
I know exactly what you mean about painted plastic vs. painted metal: there IS a particular look metal has. I agree that this model's paint LOOKS like painted metal, somehow.
That sounds bloody brilliant!!!! Aren't they making gas turbine locos now as well?
Just watched Sam's review - he didn't do the sound effects - you did - interesting - did you have trouble with front bogie like Sam did??? 🙂🚂🚂🚂
You don't tell us the price but give it a value score. At a smidgeon under £200 it must be one of the most expensive British outline models ever. But yes it looks superb and for a lot of people the price will be worth it. I wonder how many they've made.
I notice that you kept saying 'these' when talking about the loco. It was a one off locomotive,!
Looks very handsome Jen !
That is a fantastic model and unfortunately i never saw it in the skin but I so remember it in my Ian Allan ABC's of my trainspotting days,,,,,,another item to add to the growing wishlist lol
I don't have a big enough layout for this. Otherwise a must have
I have a small loco shed/shunting yard model and it runs perfectly well in the confined spaces..
"English Electic Vulcan Foundry", hmm.
Mine is the DCC ready version, fitted with a random chip I had sitting on my desk.
My major issue with this loco is its lighting. A red cab light? surely should be warm white. The lights behind the headcode discs and the tails on the tender are fine, working in only the forward direction. But those lights below the headcode discs are permanently lit, which creates an issue if you want to store the loco in a depot, shut down. And they shouldn't be white, because that would confuse signallers at night because they would interfere with the lamp codes. So my reckoning is that they should've been red directional tail lamps for reverse running, as per all the 3d renders I've seen of the loco.
So until those lower front lights have a fix available, this locomotive is stabled out of sight on an unpowered piece of track. Not something I want to do with a £195 locomotive...
See Sam's trains review of this loco, looks like his usual run of luck struck again ! LOL
He has a very basic layout he's built on carpet. Not very realistic curves so that's why it derailed. He did fix it though.
Yes, but that reflects a potential design flaw, no matter it's bad luck or not.
@@Matt19matt19 True. But that's also one of his strengths in reviewing. It shows up weak spots in a loco design that a top notch circuit with 6 foot radius curves will never find.
@@BRMRailway No one who spends a couple of hundred quid on a model will run it on track laid on a carpeted floor. That’s for very young children with a basic Thomas the Tank engine. A serious modeller who will willingly pay that kind of money will have a layout on a baseboard well clear of the floor.
@@juleshathaway3894 yeah I know. Locos and carpet a pretty bad idea. I'd certainly not entertain it. But as a reviewing platform it is quite good that its worse than any serious modeller will use, hence you can take the result and judge for yourself on the risk level for your own railway. Me, I'm still building my SM32 garden line, so snails, leaves, dirt and possibly worst of all, slugs, are my gotchas.
British Leyland tried a gas turbine in a bus rather than a car or lorry. A lot of people wouldn’t buy such modern technology for a road vehicle.
I actually saw the real thing.
PLEASE PLEASE FOR the love of God or pussy cats for that matter USE SOMETHING SOFT to place the models on when you a bashing them about whilst taking them out of the package. The GT3 is NOT you model as far as I know it was kindly sent for you to review!