Office of Steam Forum for Model & Toy Steam Gas & Hot Air Engines

Builds, Repairs, Show Your Machines! => Live Steam Locomotives => Topic started by: Hero on March 31, 2019, 08:07:14 am

Title: Re: Accucraft
Post by: Hero on July 05, 2019, 12:02:46 pm
https://www.grsuk.com/shop/Superior-0-6-2T-Manual-AC70-040-M14107

Chris Cairns

Yikes! I'm feeling light-headed!
Title: Re: Accucraft
Post by: Chris Cairns on July 05, 2019, 10:23:28 am
https://www.grsuk.com/shop/Superior-0-6-2T-Manual-AC70-040-M14107

Chris Cairns
Title: Re: Accucraft
Post by: Hero on June 13, 2019, 02:48:23 pm
I was, of course, being facetious. I would never spend that much money (add 1/3 for conversion to Canadian dollars!).

And mine has the 32mm trailing truck....
Title: Re: Accucraft
Post by: Chris Cairns on June 13, 2019, 08:32:12 am
That's a lot of money for a loco that has clearly been run several times & has the battle scars to prove it. Obviously a loco that has been returned. The 32mm gauge trailing truck wheelset is virtually impossible to obtain. I could not find one (same style) for a pre-owned Leader - fortunately the trader later visited the original owner & found the unused 32mm wheelset.

Chris Cairns
Title: Re: Accucraft
Post by: Hero on June 07, 2019, 01:16:44 pm
While supplies last...
https://www.accucraftestore.com/product-page/1-19-superior-0-6-2t-live-steam-open-box
 :)

Gee, mine's red. Do you suppose I need a green one to go with it?
Title: Re: Accucraft
Post by: jerseysteam on June 07, 2019, 12:36:41 pm
While supplies last...
https://www.accucraftestore.com/product-page/1-19-superior-0-6-2t-live-steam-open-box
 :)
Title: Re: Accucraft
Post by: Hero on May 22, 2019, 07:26:20 am
Thanks for the information, Chris. It explains why I've never seen another one of these.
Title: Re: Accucraft
Post by: Chris Cairns on May 21, 2019, 01:35:01 pm
Just realised we had previously discussed this on the other forum.

Accucraft locos are made in batches from China. I'm told that Accucraft UK could have a batch of 100 made, originally allowing for a few non-runners in a batch (reliability appears to be improving). So it is likely that the Superior was only available in one batch. Certainly I've seen around 4 available for sale on the Facebook Garden Railway Trading Group in the last year or so.

The Leader was eventually offered at a reduced price to clear out their remaining stock.

I suppose unless you are modelling the Bowaters/SKLR railway or Whipsnade Zoo Railway, maybe it is harder to accept Superior as a generic loco as the more popular Accucraft UK locos (Caradoc, Edrig & Ragleth, etc.)?

I'm trying to work my way through my expanding loco roster to ensure more of them get used more frequently, so my Superior 'Smasher' is getting close for another outing. It will be getting the 'Smasher' name plates mounted & I'll have another look at the tender draw bar & R/C harness to see if I can improve the running characteristics (it derailed on a problematic set of points & descending curve on a friend's layout, which has also caught out a few more locos with pony/trailing trucks).

Chris Cairns
Title: Re: Accucraft
Post by: Hero on May 15, 2019, 08:38:11 pm
Thanks for the information, Chris. There don't seem to be many of those Superiors out there, though, do there?
Title: Re: Accucraft
Post by: Chris Cairns on May 13, 2019, 02:01:05 pm
It was reviewed by Tag Gorton in Garden Rail 95 July 2002. Sadly that's before the digital archive started (137 Jan 2006).

http://magazineexchange.co.uk/cw/garden-rail-magazine-july-2002-issue.html

Last time I see it for sale in the traders adverts in Garen Rail is July 2007.

I have one for which I understand I'm the 4th owner. The original owner converted it by attaching a Roundhouse Fowler tender, losing the cab back, extending the sliding roof rearwards & radio controlled. The next owner had problems with the 40 MHz radio control, resulting in the loco crashing not once but twice into a rake of scratch built wagons, turning them into a collection of parts again. It gained the nickname 'Smasher' after that event & the next owner had some 'Smasher' name plates made for it. I subsequently bought it but have yet to fit the 'Smasher' name plates.

If your's does not have a air control collar on the burner I can recommend fitting one (a free upgrade from Accucraft UK), and similarly if it does not have a No.5 gas jet fitted (has the number 5 stamped on it) I can recommend fitting one of those (available from Accucraft UK & dealers at cost). Both of these help improve what can be an unstable burner (You've probably seen used Accucraft's for sale with smoke box door paint burned off), although the Superior does have a longer boiler than other locos like Edrig/Caradoc/etc.

Chris Cairns
Title: Re: Accucraft
Post by: Hero on April 20, 2019, 06:27:39 pm
Too many sheds around here already--and all full! My best bet will be to find some G-scale track.
Title: Re: Accucraft
Post by: Nick on April 20, 2019, 09:29:39 am
Can't quite fit it into my basement....

Build a shed?  ;)
Title: Re: Accucraft
Post by: jkbixby on April 20, 2019, 08:55:56 am

Nice looking engine but don't know much about Accucraft's offerings in general - you need to put some track down and enjoy your engine.
Title: Re: Accucraft
Post by: Hero on April 20, 2019, 08:36:24 am
The model appears quite capable and certainly attractive.

I like the real engine a bit better though!

Can't quite fit it into my basement....
Title: Re: Accucraft
Post by: Stoker on April 04, 2019, 04:16:44 pm
The model appears quite capable and certainly attractive.

I like the real engine a bit better though!
Title: Re: Accucraft
Post by: Hero on March 31, 2019, 02:05:11 pm
Interesting. Thanks.
Title: Re: Accucraft
Post by: jerseysteam on March 31, 2019, 01:38:41 pm
The link Jon posted is dated May 2011, so I'm assuming it's roughly that vintage. Also some Youtube videos from around that time:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMawa7OViIA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlDlCpF468A

Also:
https://www.gscalecentral.net/threads/accucraft-superior-new-purchase.23139/

and the real thing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YV0mdnOSfs
Title: Re: Accucraft
Post by: Hero on March 31, 2019, 12:38:35 pm
What era? How old is thiis thing, anyway?
Title: Re: Accucraft
Post by: jerseysteam on March 31, 2019, 12:37:04 pm
Nice looking. I have a DC loco from that era and the build quality is much better than recent Accucraft offerings (both steam and DC) that I've spent time with.
Title: Re: Accucraft
Post by: Hero on March 31, 2019, 12:19:12 pm
Thanks, Jon. I have done quite a bit of poking around, but the Superior is seldom mentioned. I somehow get the impression that it wasn't produced for long and that there aren't very many of them.

Perhaps someone here will have more information for me....
Title: Re: Accucraft
Post by: Jon Cameron on March 31, 2019, 11:22:35 am
All I can offer is the blurb of accucraft. Though I'm sure if you do some digging, there will be some reviews online.
https://www.accucraft.uk.com/products/superior-live-steam-0-6-2t/
Title: Re: Accucraft
Post by: Hero on March 31, 2019, 09:10:48 am
Well, you've repeated everything I know.😊

What I don't know is age, availability, value, number built, reliability, behavioural quirks, that kind of stuff. There seems to be very little about them on the Internet.
Title: Re: Accucraft
Post by: Jon Cameron on March 31, 2019, 08:34:48 am
What is it your needing to know? It's an accucraft superior 16mm scale loco, if memory serves it is gauge adjustable between 32mm and 45mm gauge
Title: Accucraft
Post by: Hero on March 31, 2019, 08:07:14 am
Came across this a while ago, in its original box and fitted with radio control. Everything seems to work, but I have no track to run it on.

Does anyone know anything about these locos?

[attachimg=2]