There seem to be two types of reviews: 1.) Shiny and wonderful - if supplied to the reviewer, or 2.) all pimply and troublesome as found by those who had to purchase one over the counter, (or by mail). Thanks for the honesty.
Hi Richard. Wow didn't know about this loco. Front looks a bit like the standard tube stock. Great bit of research Richard, shame you had the few problems with it. Thanks for the great vlog buddy. Thumbs up thumped 👍 ....Pete....
The "Leader" class was intended to be built in Large quantity ! As a "Powerful Modern Tank Engine", to replace virtually all the "Motley" collection of inherited small, and often underpowered if not already ancient, collection the Southern Railway had inherited from its predecessors. (The SE&CR, LB&SCR, and the L&SWR). The "Leader" unfortunately by its then rather revolutionary design, was going to need a lot of development time. Particularly in regard to the unusual "Sleeve Valves" being used. Time that was not available as British Railways had been formed, and had no interest in "new steam technology". ALL the BR Standard steam designs it must be noted were "bog standard" outside two cylinder designs. With the sole exception of the "one off" 3 Cylinder Duke of Gloucester, itself an attempt by a "Faction" within BR, to press for use of the then newly designed British Caprotti valve gear !
TECHNICAL ISSUES WITH LOCO CHIPS ! Indeed the increasing issues I see on numerous exhibition layouts with DCC fitted models all points to problems with "poor quality loco Chips". The fundamental technical reason being that you cannot fit a proper "Rectifier" (they are to big) into the space of a "chip". Hence the manufacturers use an electrical shortcut known as "Four Diodes in a Quadrant", to change the incoming 16v AC to proportionally controlled 12v DC for the benefit of the locomotives Motor. But herein lies a problem. Using this method means the "DC" is NOT pure "DC" it is simply "Half Wave AC" (Half the wave of the 50Hz AC supply). A a result good quality motors as now generally found in modern models do NOT like this type of supply, which leads to increased heating in the motor. Which then leads to increasing jerkiness. Further cheap "chips" also only seem to use a dozen electrical "steps" for the increase or decrease in the 12v supply to the motor. Further increasing the likelihood of increasing jerkiness. Better quality chips use "24" steps meaning smaller step changes in the voltage to the motor, making such models "smoother" ! A traditional quality 12v DC (Direct Current) controller uses a simple swiper across many dozens of the traditional "copper windings" to increase or decrease the voltage to the Loco. Which explains why many troublesome locomotive models I've repaired for various modellers. Reveal when the chip is removed and they are then run on traditional 12v DC. That all their jitteriness vanishes, and they run perfectly smoothly to exhibition layout requirements. Hence such models usually require a new, better quality Loco chip, to solve their issues, unless the motor has already been damaged by repeated "overheating" ! Happy Modelling 😀
Hi, your video seemed a fair review of this model from what I have seen from other folks on here. It is definately a bit of a niche model this one, as I believe even the real thing didn't really do that much work before they gave up on it. I liked that you had done some homework, reading the book, before doing this review. I heard someone criticizing the model for the Bullied wheels having the holes all the way through, but you had proof in your book that the model is correct..............So take a bow for doing it right...................Nice video, all the best Dave.............Oh, I'm still not getting one, not my type of loco, but a great history behind it all the same.
The wheels are wrong. Their should be a web in the main holes with a much smaller hole in the middle. Take a good look at your book and it will become obvious. Poor research I'm afraid. All Bullied wheels are the same so look at a West Country or Q.
A definitively unique design. Seems a bit of a roller coaster... cool model and unique, but some sketchy bits to it! I am sure you'll get it in to top form!
Unfortunately mine had two loose driving wheels. having pushed them back on the axles only for them to come loose and off during running. The plastic drain drive boxes clip on and off with two sprues, they fall off loose. The model has clearly never been factory tested. Its not reliable enough to run, having spent so much money on a dcc sound version, disappointing.
I received mine a few days ago and already it has become one of my favourite models, while some waited 4 years for it I probably waited at most 2 years and I placed my order for one when KR had partnered with Rails of Sheffields, onto my model I am pleased to report that I have had no issues at all, it has been flawless so far and performance which mine is currently DC has been excellent, to be honest I am wishing I went with sound but thankfully some places do have a sound decoder available now so can look at it in the future, when it comes to the model though I think KR have captured it really well, I am aware of some of the inaccuracies and just so people know I’m being fair here some do bug me like the lack of red buffer beam but when it comes to the model overall it really does look good, first off it looks like the photos that are available online, KR have managed to capture the unique and strange appearance of this loco and for me it when placed on a piece of track it has a real presence about it, will have to get myself so:of those Leader Books because your point on the wheels did surprise me, I have seen so many saying that they are wrong but you so far are the only one to say they are correct plus another loco that has the BFB wheels where they are completely see through is the bulleid booster electric. Looked great running with the birdcage coaches, I do have some southern coaches but they are bachmann bulleid coaches so I do want to look for some older style southern coaches for mine, I do find that odd though that it’s test trains were made up of older style coaches but I’m guessing they just used what was available to them. Great video showing this, will be interesting what KR announce in the future but they will have me as a customer if it interest me because currently the locos I have had from them have been very good.
@davidstrains4910 I think I'm going to take back what I said about the wheels, a few pictures in the book show 36001 under construction and 36002 in storage, both showing a better angle of the wheels and confirms KRs inaccuracy. The larger pear-shaped gaps should be half filled in with a small circular hole, the Q1 being a good reference again as they had the same driver diameter at 5ft 1in.
It's had some bad reviews elsewhere but mine performs well - handles 11 coaches with ease on my layout and ran perfectly on the club layout the other Thursday. My only problem were the couplings which links were very floppy so I replaced them with Hornby ones.
I received mine yesterday. Couple of things not quite right. I opened the box to find part of the clam shell in pieces! Fortunately there doesn’t seem to be any damage to the model!👍 Coupling on no two end seems to be pointing to the track, making it misaligned with coupling height on a coach. Might mean that I would not be able to use the auto uncoupling mode in the chip! I found that there was some deformity of the plate that the nem pocket is screwed to! Not solved this one yet! One of the cab steps had come off too! Which I have glued back on. Maybe this was damaged from the clam shell breaking? Did you find that there is no brake rigging bars underneath the loco? Usually they are provided for us to fit ourselves? Most disappointing. Lastly I have what I think is a much older version of the book you have? Leader, and Southern Experimental Steam, by Kevin Robertson! £3 from the book stool on Minehead Station! Thanks for the video and review!!👏👏
Couplings as supplied are 3 link instanters. Std SR 3 shackle screw couplings are reqd. The colour shot was from the late S C Townroe who was Eastleigh shed master at the time. His extensive collection of colour images rests with colour rail. Tis a good model of prototype . Am very content with mine it runs fine.(DC). Needs a good run in, tho. Wheels are easy to rectify if ur fussed just copy the BFB wheels of a Bullied pacific. Whistle is middle C std Bulleid. No probs with KR models very helpful & prompt with couple of issues I’ve had. Will inquire about brake pull rods, but again easy to rectify & doesn’t bother me too much. Need to blank off red lamps & headcode lamps not in use. Std oil lamp with red shade was used when running L/E. Hope this helps, have fun!! As an aside the 12”- ft example on its last run when no one of note was around worked a 480Ton train up an incline at 70mph developing 2,000 hp. 36002 was days away from first steaming & was free of defects arising from 36001 & they say would have been more of a sound proposition. But sadly not to be. What really nailed it was the boiler having to be off centre which would not have been necessary with oil firing. Bulleid regretted not having the later power bogie design of the turf burner which were successful units. What might have been?
A thorough review, well researched and presented, indeed a credit to you. Some perplexing issues which you seemed to manage, but really not good quality control from KR, however, what an impressive looker with the silver livery. If I were to get one I would go for an BR/SR Green version, after all with a model railway we able to play with history. Of Bulleid's other quirky designs like the Q1(very successful) and the 4DD EMU (sort of worked, but not widely used, and a KR model due 2nd Qtr 2025), the Leader must rate as the quirkiest, put aside the actual design which was problematic in many areas, look from a crew perspective, a report found "measurements in the fireman's cab showed temperatures could reach 120 °F (50 °C) earning the locomotive the nickname of The Chinese Laundry due to the heat and humidity", ASLEF even considered boycotting the loco because there was only a single door (mostly kept open) to the Fireman's cab meaning if the engine went over on that side there would be no way out for the fireman". drivers also had issues with the internal design. However, notwithstanding all this, what a brilliant innovative engineer Bulleid was. Certainly a model that will 'fire' up clubroom chats. ..Drew
The "Fireman's" issues were something that could have bee cured without any problem whatsoever. Testing & Development time for the "Leader" had run out, BR had been formed & "Riddles" (the new BR Chief ME & EE) himself an ex LMS man, was imbued with simplicity. So a range of "Bog Standard" outside 2 cylinder types for BR were his way forward. Disagreement within by a "Faction" was the only reason for the oddball one off 3 Cylinder Duke of Gloucester, itself an attempt to get the then recently Patented "British Caprotti" valve gear onto an express passenger design. This gear having been taken forward by L.T. Daniels, (operating as a private company) but also another ex LMS man.
@@drewsmodelrailwayworld4856 Garratts were certainly NOT an option, as they are a totally unsuitable design for the Job at hand. Which was to deal with ALL the secondary passenger and local passenger traffic. The Garratts principle design advantage, was to spread weight by having many wheels (with a large gap between). To enable it to haul heavy slow moving freight trains over poorly laid light track (often 40-50lb a yard rail), in the Colonies. Which is also why the design was perfect in allowing a large Diameter, but short boiler, most suited to this type of work. In the process halving the number of trains per day, previously necessary. Which is exactly where the vast majority of ALL Garratts were sent. The Welsh Highland Railways current use of ex South African Garratts, being a good example. As the 1ft 11.5 inch gauge WHR track was not designed for locos as heavy as those Garratts. But their weight spreading design makes it possible to utilise them. And most importantly allows much bigger trains, than ever used to run on the WHR. The Government was of course involved in this move, as the problems of Beddgelert Gorge getting "gridlocked" with tourist cars every summer, had to be solved. PS. I'm an ex BR Railway Mechanical Engineer, who started my Railway career as the "Shed Master" of a fleet of steam locos. And I've just retired as the CME of a European Railway Museum.
@@drewsmodelrailwayworld4856 Indeed that's the point many "contemporary" publications even in the "Reference Book" category are today pure bunk, sadly.
@@railwaymechanicalengineer4587 By contemporaneous I was referring to contemporary to the time the Leader was a project as per the references I included- Sources: Day-Lewis (1964), The Leader locomotive, and the Sunday Dispatch, 18 January 1953 (61yrs ago) and (72 years ago) respectively, hardly " publications even in the "Reference Book" category are TODAY pure bunk, sadly", this has been an interesting exchange and informative on many levels, regretfully I think we have exhausted the possibility of further discourse, and again I thank you. ...Drew
Certainly an interesting model, an e-mail shot to KR should give some CV tweak information. Plenty loud enough with some strange looks and quirks, nice one.
No, the only colour photograph ever taken of this loco does show red buffer beams when it wore the early crest, however, in this lined grey livery B&W photographs show the buffer beam to be the same tone as the bogies which leads me to believe it is correct in black.
@HenryKelsall Purchased from Matthew Cousins (said artist of the print) while at a model train show in Stevenage. I haven't been in some time, but he had a shop with his prints in a wagon at Horsted Keynes station on The Bluebell Railway
@@TheSpanishInquisition Thanks for the reply mate. I might have to see if he has any contact details, as I would love to get my hands on one of them. Ironically I was at Bluebell twice in 2024 yet somehow missed his store if it was still there!
A well balanced review, a few points, the wheels are the incorrect pattern, there is an image in the book where the tear drop is filled with a small circular cut out towards the bottom. (I see you have now spotted this) I have spoken with the factory regarding packaging, it looks like a transit issue, however I am also not impressed with the foam packaging. The lining is ok, but the red is too think, numbers wrong font, and wrong colour infill. Rivets used, overscale, and wrong type on the front. The water treatment tank is also not in the right place, and a few other details missing... And yes the sound is a bit of a mess as are the DCC command sheet... but hey it's KR models The sound is just generic nothing special. The book you have is the older addition, there is a newer revised copy with some more information in. But research being the key word, they did none. I have approximately 25 things to change on this model, short of repainting it completely which I might do, but need to commission transfers to do so. Originally it was intended the locomotive to be an order of 30, which were to be named after well.. Leaders.
BFB - WHEN IS A HOLE NOT A HOLE ! BFB (Bulleid Firth Brown) "Boxpok" similar type wheels. Just check "BFB" wheels on Wikipedia. This will confirm from the close up picture provided, that the models wheels as you have shown viewers are NOT correct. There are only small circular holes in BFB wheels, along with "oval" type RECESSES. The "Leaders" wheels were just the same as other Locos including Q1's & Bulleid Pacifics, as the wheels inherent design is its strength !
I've looked at loads of pictures of these wheels and when they were being built, the through hole was really small, |'m guessing only a couple of inches diameter. But a picture taken after Leader had bust its axle shows the hole to be bigger, nothing like KR models have made mind you. I'm wondering if they were drilled out at some point to reduce the wheel's weight? The Leader book I have says nothing about them.
@@TIMMEH19991 If that is the case, & I've never seen this, or found any such evidence myself. The likely explanation would be to reduce "Unsprung Mass". Further as these locos had to have an axle load of less than 17 tons, to allow them onto most branches, then that would also be a possibility. However drilling holes in the mainframes, as occurred with the Merchant Navy class, is a much more advantageous way of lightening the total loco weight.
@ It could be the angle of the photograph I suppose that made it look bigger, but either way its nothing like how its been modelled. I wonder why they made such a glaring mistake?
@@TIMMEH19991RM Web's comments on the new KR Models Leader Quote "Cheap & Cheerful" & "It looks about right so that will do" Unquote !!! Another qualified reviewer goes through the many visual errors step by step. And the most common complaints refer to the wheels, which "Fall off". My impression: KR Models are a disaster zone ! Steer well clear. Maybe if they survive they might improve their current "junk status" products in a few years !
Hi. Richard. Overall, it was an excellent review. I like your approach. It was a shame I couldn't hear you while sound was running on the locomotive. Perhaps a dji mic might help. Regards. Steve
Hi Richard, This model is not for me it looks like some one had a spare London tube train carrage and just placed it over a perfectly good steam engine but with out inovation we would still be in the dark ages would we not so thanks for showing us this and all the info as for another video on it how did it work with the driver up front was there a fireman in the body keeping it fueled that must have been hot work!!!!or something else?. Cheers Robert.
Yes, driver up front and fireman in a central cabin. While the usual missinfo purely states it was hot as sin, the actual issue was humidity. On the same day, a Merchant Navys footplate temp was recorded and only found a few degrees F hotter. Early statements from Bulleid indicated that the fireman was also meant to be up front as well and a number of design choices and statements from the Southern Rail board indicate the initial fuel of choice to be oil rather than coal. In the end, coal was chosen as it was available everywhere on the route which then lead to the need for the fireman in the central cabin.
Absolutely no attraction to me but interested in seeing the model. Two things stick out to me. Why no red buffer beams and why in earth can't the fireman's door be posed open because it sure had to be in real life
There seem to be two types of reviews: 1.) Shiny and wonderful - if supplied to the reviewer, or 2.) all pimply and troublesome as found by those who had to purchase one over the counter, (or by mail). Thanks for the honesty.
Hi Richard.
Wow didn't know about this loco.
Front looks a bit like the standard tube stock.
Great bit of research Richard, shame you had the few problems with it.
Thanks for the great vlog buddy.
Thumbs up thumped 👍
....Pete....
The "Leader" class was intended to be built in Large quantity ! As a "Powerful Modern Tank Engine", to replace virtually all the "Motley" collection of inherited small, and often underpowered if not already ancient, collection the Southern Railway had inherited from its predecessors. (The SE&CR, LB&SCR, and the L&SWR). The "Leader" unfortunately by its then rather revolutionary design, was going to need a lot of development time. Particularly in regard to the unusual "Sleeve Valves" being used. Time that was not available as British Railways had been formed, and had no interest in "new steam technology". ALL the BR Standard steam designs it must be noted were "bog standard" outside two cylinder designs. With the sole exception of the "one off" 3 Cylinder Duke of Gloucester, itself an attempt by a "Faction" within BR, to press for use of the then newly designed British Caprotti valve gear !
If i had got a model with the issues you had and how much it cost . I would have sent it back .
Hello Richard,
Nice model despite a few niggles and hopefully the DCC running will improve when you change the CV settings.
All the best.
TECHNICAL ISSUES WITH LOCO CHIPS !
Indeed the increasing issues I see on numerous exhibition layouts with DCC fitted models all points to problems with "poor quality loco Chips". The fundamental technical reason being that you cannot fit a proper "Rectifier" (they are to big) into the space of a "chip". Hence the manufacturers use an electrical shortcut known as "Four Diodes in a Quadrant", to change the incoming 16v AC to proportionally controlled 12v DC for the benefit of the locomotives Motor. But herein lies a problem. Using this method means the "DC" is NOT pure "DC" it is simply "Half Wave AC" (Half the wave of the 50Hz AC supply). A a result good quality motors as now generally found in modern models do NOT like this type of supply, which leads to increased heating in the motor. Which then leads to increasing jerkiness. Further cheap "chips" also only seem to use a dozen electrical "steps" for the increase or decrease in the 12v supply to the motor. Further increasing the likelihood of increasing jerkiness. Better quality chips use "24" steps meaning smaller step changes in the voltage to the motor, making such models "smoother" !
A traditional quality 12v DC (Direct Current) controller uses a simple swiper across many dozens of the traditional "copper windings" to increase or decrease the voltage to the Loco. Which explains why many troublesome locomotive models I've repaired for various modellers. Reveal when the chip is removed and they are then run on traditional 12v DC. That all their jitteriness vanishes, and they run perfectly smoothly to exhibition layout requirements. Hence such models usually require a new, better quality Loco chip, to solve their issues, unless the motor has already been damaged by repeated "overheating" !
Happy Modelling 😀
Hi, your video seemed a fair review of this model from what I have seen from other folks on here. It is definately a bit of a niche model this one, as I believe even the real thing didn't really do that much work before they gave up on it. I liked that you had done some homework, reading the book, before doing this review. I heard someone criticizing the model for the Bullied wheels having the holes all the way through, but you had proof in your book that the model is correct..............So take a bow for doing it right...................Nice video, all the best Dave.............Oh, I'm still not getting one, not my type of loco, but a great history behind it all the same.
The wheels are wrong. Their should be a web in the main holes with a much smaller hole in the middle. Take a good look at your book and it will become obvious. Poor research I'm afraid. All Bullied wheels are the same so look at a West Country or Q.
A definitively unique design. Seems a bit of a roller coaster... cool model and unique, but some sketchy bits to it! I am sure you'll get it in to top form!
Leader has always fascinated me. A truly innovative idea, even though it was ultimately a failure.
Perhaps one could say the same about this model?
Unfortunately mine had two loose driving wheels. having pushed them back on the axles only for them to come loose and off during running. The plastic drain drive boxes clip on and off with two sprues, they fall off loose. The model has clearly never been factory tested. Its not reliable enough to run, having spent so much money on a dcc sound version, disappointing.
I received mine a few days ago and already it has become one of my favourite models, while some waited 4 years for it I probably waited at most 2 years and I placed my order for one when KR had partnered with Rails of Sheffields, onto my model I am pleased to report that I have had no issues at all, it has been flawless so far and performance which mine is currently DC has been excellent, to be honest I am wishing I went with sound but thankfully some places do have a sound decoder available now so can look at it in the future, when it comes to the model though I think KR have captured it really well, I am aware of some of the inaccuracies and just so people know I’m being fair here some do bug me like the lack of red buffer beam but when it comes to the model overall it really does look good, first off it looks like the photos that are available online, KR have managed to capture the unique and strange appearance of this loco and for me it when placed on a piece of track it has a real presence about it, will have to get myself so:of those Leader Books because your point on the wheels did surprise me, I have seen so many saying that they are wrong but you so far are the only one to say they are correct plus another loco that has the BFB wheels where they are completely see through is the bulleid booster electric.
Looked great running with the birdcage coaches, I do have some southern coaches but they are bachmann bulleid coaches so I do want to look for some older style southern coaches for mine, I do find that odd though that it’s test trains were made up of older style coaches but I’m guessing they just used what was available to them.
Great video showing this, will be interesting what KR announce in the future but they will have me as a customer if it interest me because currently the locos I have had from them have been very good.
@davidstrains4910 I think I'm going to take back what I said about the wheels, a few pictures in the book show 36001 under construction and 36002 in storage, both showing a better angle of the wheels and confirms KRs inaccuracy. The larger pear-shaped gaps should be half filled in with a small circular hole, the Q1 being a good reference again as they had the same driver diameter at 5ft 1in.
It's had some bad reviews elsewhere but mine performs well - handles 11 coaches with ease on my layout and ran perfectly on the club layout the other Thursday. My only problem were the couplings which links were very floppy so I replaced them with Hornby ones.
I received mine yesterday. Couple of things not quite right.
I opened the box to find part of the clam shell in pieces! Fortunately there doesn’t seem to be any damage to the model!👍 Coupling on no two end seems to be pointing to the track, making it misaligned with coupling height on a coach. Might mean that I would not be able to use the auto uncoupling mode in the chip! I found that there was some deformity of the plate that the nem pocket is screwed to! Not solved this one yet!
One of the cab steps had come off too! Which I have glued back on. Maybe this was damaged from the clam shell breaking?
Did you find that there is no brake rigging bars underneath the loco? Usually they are provided for us to fit ourselves? Most disappointing.
Lastly I have what I think is a much older version of the book you have? Leader, and Southern Experimental Steam, by Kevin Robertson!
£3 from the book stool on Minehead Station!
Thanks for the video and review!!👏👏
Couplings as supplied are 3 link instanters.
Std SR 3 shackle screw couplings are reqd.
The colour shot was from the late S C Townroe who was Eastleigh shed master at the time. His extensive collection of colour images rests with colour rail.
Tis a good model of prototype . Am very content with mine it runs fine.(DC). Needs a good run in, tho.
Wheels are easy to rectify if ur fussed just copy the BFB wheels of a Bullied pacific.
Whistle is middle C std Bulleid.
No probs with KR models very helpful & prompt with couple of issues I’ve had.
Will inquire about brake pull rods, but again easy to rectify & doesn’t bother me too much.
Need to blank off red lamps & headcode lamps not in use.
Std oil lamp with red shade was used when running L/E.
Hope this helps, have fun!!
As an aside the 12”- ft example on its last run when no one of note was around worked a 480Ton train up an incline at 70mph developing 2,000 hp.
36002 was days away from first steaming & was free of defects arising from 36001 & they say would have been more of
a sound proposition. But sadly not to be.
What really nailed it was the boiler having to be off centre which would not have been necessary with oil firing. Bulleid regretted not having the later power bogie design of the turf burner which were successful units.
What might have been?
A thorough review, well researched and presented, indeed a credit to you. Some perplexing issues which you seemed to manage, but really not good quality control from KR, however, what an impressive looker with the silver livery. If I were to get one I would go for an BR/SR Green version, after all with a model railway we able to play with history. Of Bulleid's other quirky designs like the Q1(very successful) and the 4DD EMU (sort of worked, but not widely used, and a KR model due 2nd Qtr 2025), the Leader must rate as the quirkiest, put aside the actual design which was problematic in many areas, look from a crew perspective, a report found "measurements in the fireman's cab showed temperatures could reach 120 °F (50 °C) earning the locomotive the nickname of The Chinese Laundry due to the heat and humidity", ASLEF even considered boycotting the loco because there was only a single door (mostly kept open) to the Fireman's cab meaning if the engine went over on that side there would be no way out for the fireman". drivers also had issues with the internal design. However, notwithstanding all this, what a brilliant innovative engineer Bulleid was. Certainly a model that will 'fire' up clubroom chats. ..Drew
The "Fireman's" issues were something that could have bee cured without any problem whatsoever. Testing & Development time for the "Leader" had run out, BR had been formed & "Riddles" (the new BR Chief ME & EE) himself an ex LMS man, was imbued with simplicity. So a range of "Bog Standard" outside 2 cylinder types for BR were his way forward. Disagreement within by a "Faction" was the only reason for the oddball one off 3 Cylinder Duke of Gloucester, itself an attempt to get the then recently Patented "British Caprotti" valve gear onto an express passenger design. This gear having been taken forward by L.T. Daniels, (operating as a private company) but also another ex LMS man.
@@drewsmodelrailwayworld4856 Garratts were certainly NOT an option, as they are a totally unsuitable design for the Job at hand. Which was to deal with ALL the secondary passenger and local passenger traffic. The Garratts principle design advantage, was to spread weight by having many wheels (with a large gap between). To enable it to haul heavy slow moving freight trains over poorly laid light track (often 40-50lb a yard rail), in the Colonies. Which is also why the design was perfect in allowing a large Diameter, but short boiler, most suited to this type of work. In the process halving the number of trains per day, previously necessary. Which is exactly where the vast majority of ALL Garratts were sent.
The Welsh Highland Railways current use of ex South African Garratts, being a good example. As the 1ft 11.5 inch gauge WHR track was not designed for locos as heavy as those Garratts. But their weight spreading design makes it possible to utilise them. And most importantly allows much bigger trains, than ever used to run on the WHR. The Government was of course involved in this move, as the problems of Beddgelert Gorge getting "gridlocked" with tourist cars every summer, had to be solved.
PS. I'm an ex BR Railway Mechanical Engineer, who started my Railway career as the "Shed Master" of a fleet of steam locos. And I've just retired as the CME of a European Railway Museum.
@@drewsmodelrailwayworld4856 Indeed that's the point many "contemporary" publications even in the "Reference Book" category are today pure bunk, sadly.
@@railwaymechanicalengineer4587 By contemporaneous I was referring to contemporary to the time the Leader was a project as per the references I included- Sources: Day-Lewis (1964), The Leader locomotive, and the Sunday Dispatch, 18 January 1953 (61yrs ago) and (72 years ago) respectively, hardly " publications even in the "Reference Book" category are TODAY pure bunk, sadly", this has been an interesting exchange and informative on many levels, regretfully I think we have exhausted the possibility of further discourse, and again I thank you. ...Drew
Certainly an interesting model, an e-mail shot to KR should give some CV tweak information. Plenty loud enough with some strange looks and quirks, nice one.
I have their Fell loco( no problems) but just cant decide on this. If it had red buffer beams at some point id like to see that there. Nice review
Great video. Are you going to paint the buffer beam red as in the photo ?
No, the only colour photograph ever taken of this loco does show red buffer beams when it wore the early crest, however, in this lined grey livery B&W photographs show the buffer beam to be the same tone as the bogies which leads me to believe it is correct in black.
The film stock used to photograph locos in photographic grey was generally orthochromatic. Not sensitive to red, it shows up as black.
Great review! I had mine turn up last week, thankfully no issues...side note, where did you get that brilliant print/poster from? Looks amazing!
@HenryKelsall Purchased from Matthew Cousins (said artist of the print) while at a model train show in Stevenage. I haven't been in some time, but he had a shop with his prints in a wagon at Horsted Keynes station on The Bluebell Railway
@@TheSpanishInquisition Thanks for the reply mate. I might have to see if he has any contact details, as I would love to get my hands on one of them. Ironically I was at Bluebell twice in 2024 yet somehow missed his store if it was still there!
nice video im looking at getting the Bellerophon
A well balanced review, a few points, the wheels are the incorrect pattern, there is an image in the book where the tear drop is filled with a small circular cut out towards the bottom. (I see you have now spotted this)
I have spoken with the factory regarding packaging, it looks like a transit issue, however I am also not impressed with the foam packaging.
The lining is ok, but the red is too think, numbers wrong font, and wrong colour infill.
Rivets used, overscale, and wrong type on the front.
The water treatment tank is also not in the right place, and a few other details missing...
And yes the sound is a bit of a mess as are the DCC command sheet... but hey it's KR models
The sound is just generic nothing special.
The book you have is the older addition, there is a newer revised copy with some more information in.
But research being the key word, they did none.
I have approximately 25 things to change on this model, short of repainting it completely which I might do, but need to commission transfers to do so.
Originally it was intended the locomotive to be an order of 30, which were to be named after well.. Leaders.
BFB - WHEN IS A HOLE NOT A HOLE !
BFB (Bulleid Firth Brown) "Boxpok" similar type wheels. Just check "BFB" wheels on Wikipedia. This will confirm from the close up picture provided, that the models wheels as you have shown viewers are NOT correct. There are only small circular holes in BFB wheels, along with "oval" type RECESSES. The "Leaders" wheels were just the same as other Locos including Q1's & Bulleid Pacifics, as the wheels inherent design is its strength !
@railwaymechanicalengineer4587 yes, I've made note of my idiocy in the description of the video already
I've looked at loads of pictures of these wheels and when they were being built, the through hole was really small, |'m guessing only a couple of inches diameter. But a picture taken after Leader had bust its axle shows the hole to be bigger, nothing like KR models have made mind you. I'm wondering if they were drilled out at some point to reduce the wheel's weight? The Leader book I have says nothing about them.
@@TIMMEH19991 If that is the case, & I've never seen this, or found any such evidence myself. The likely explanation would be to reduce "Unsprung Mass". Further as these locos had to have an axle load of less than 17 tons, to allow them onto most branches, then that would also be a possibility. However drilling holes in the mainframes, as occurred with the Merchant Navy class, is a much more advantageous way of lightening the total loco weight.
@ It could be the angle of the photograph I suppose that made it look bigger, but either way its nothing like how its been modelled. I wonder why they made such a glaring mistake?
@@TIMMEH19991RM Web's comments on the new KR Models Leader Quote "Cheap & Cheerful" & "It looks about right so that will do" Unquote !!! Another qualified reviewer goes through the many visual errors step by step. And the most common complaints refer to the wheels, which "Fall off". My impression: KR Models are a disaster zone ! Steer well clear. Maybe if they survive they might improve their current "junk status" products in a few years !
Hi. Richard. Overall, it was an excellent review. I like your approach. It was a shame I couldn't hear you while sound was running on the locomotive. Perhaps a dji mic might help. Regards. Steve
Hi Richard,
This model is not for me it looks like some one had a spare London tube train carrage and just placed it over a perfectly good steam engine but with out inovation we would still be in the dark ages would we not so thanks for showing us this and all the info as for another video on it how did it work with the driver up front was there a fireman in the body keeping it fueled that must have been hot work!!!!or something else?.
Cheers Robert.
Yes, driver up front and fireman in a central cabin. While the usual missinfo purely states it was hot as sin, the actual issue was humidity. On the same day, a Merchant Navys footplate temp was recorded and only found a few degrees F hotter. Early statements from Bulleid indicated that the fireman was also meant to be up front as well and a number of design choices and statements from the Southern Rail board indicate the initial fuel of choice to be oil rather than coal. In the end, coal was chosen as it was available everywhere on the route which then lead to the need for the fireman in the central cabin.
hi had to return my train would not work at all
Ah you have the wobbly wheel as did Sam's Trains
mine had bits missing off the front, replacement was no better, sending back for a refund
So pleased I cancelled my order
KR Models got stiffed by a Chinese factory, I think. You need someone there on the ground to make sure of quality.
Absolutely no attraction to me but interested in seeing the model. Two things stick out to me. Why no red buffer beams and why in earth can't the fireman's door be posed open because it sure had to be in real life