A 7 1/4 inch gauge Class 14 "Teddy Bear", a finely detailed locomotive built from a Phoenix Locomotives kit which has seen little running from new. Built by a retired chartered engineer, his main interest is in building rather than running - once done and tested, it's time to move on to the next project (in his case, a kit-build "Stafford" which we delivered last week).
Regular readers may remember the fine 5 inch gauge Class 14 we had in some years ago (
there are pictures in the archive here). Built as one of a small batch, it was a stalled project to put the model into production. Phoenix latterly bought the design and further developed it, producing locomotives in both 5 and 7 1/4 inch gauge.
Driven by a pair of Parvalux motors, power is provided by a pair of 12V 80Ah batteries via one of the excellent iDrive controllers.
There is a speed sensitive sound card fitted, along with a large speaker "under the bonnet" which produces an authentic startup sequence and idling rumble at tickover.
The builder has provided a detailed set of notes on how the locomotive works, along with original electronics documentation, touchup paint and various small detailing parts yet to be fitted, including LED lamps.
A handsome-looking thing, the flycrank and coupling rods providing a good deal of dynamic interest when the thing is in motion, rather more than the usual "car battery in a plastic box"!
gauge |
7 1/4 inch |
length/inches |
53 |
width/inches |
13 |
height/inches |
20 |
weight/kg |
est 90 with batteries |