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Class 14

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Class 20 EE Type 1

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Class 23 'Baby Deltic'

Class 24 Derby Type 2

Class 25 Derby Type 2

Class 26

Class 27

Class 28

Class 29

Class 30 Brush Type 2

Class 31 Brush Type 2

Class 33 BRCW Type 3

Class 35 'Hymek'

Class 37 EE Type 3

Class 40 EE Type 4

Class 41 'Warship'

Class 42 'Warship'

Class 43 'Warship'

Class 44 'Peak'

Class 45

Class 46

Class 47 Brush Type 4

Class 48 Brush Type 4

Class 50 EE Type 5

Class 52 'Western'

Class 53 'Falcon'

Class 55 'Deltic'

Class 56

Class 57

Class 58

Class 59

Class 60

Class 66

Class 67

Class 68

Class 70

The Heljan Class 14

The Class 14 has always been a popular prototype and various models have been, or are, still available.

My first attempt was with one of Dave Alexander's excellent white metal kits. It went together really easily and a good, smooth running model was produced. I still have this, but also bought one Hatton's Class 14's made by Heljan. This too is a very good model and has benefited from Hattons input over details, such as etched radiator fan grills!

The Dave Alexander version is numbered D9534 and the Hatton's/Heljan one D9500. Both are in the original two tone green. D9500 has a DCC decoder fitted.

The overall impression is good and it is one of Heljans better attempts. This being helped I think by Hattons input.

The Hattons/Heljan Class 14 suffered from very poor running on DCC with the Hornby Sapphire decoder fitted. The Sapphire was actually the decoder recommended by Hattons at the time. The running was jerky, especially at low speed and would sometimes stall for a brief moment. As such, I decided to investigate further by removing the decoder and going back to dc running. The Class 14 ran better, but not perfect. Closer inspection revealed poorly adjusted pick up contacts and what appeared to be black paint on the inside of the rims where the pick ups should make contact. Cleaning and adjusting of these issues transformed dc running. However, with the Sapphire decoder put back, there didn't seem to be any marked improvement. Heljan motors are quite heavy on start up current and I felt that maybe this initial high starting current was too much for the Sapphire. I purchased a TCS M1P-35 decoder, which although small, has a higher peak amperage rating. With this decoder installed, the Class 14 performs perfectly.

Fitting the DCC decoder is actually very fiddly needing the removal of the cab, front bulkhead and engine casing. Reference to one of the many YouTube videos might help here.

Various kits have been produced of the Class 14, the Dave Alexander one I've mentioned. Mercian models produced a kit. The Heljan version was released in 2009 with an upgraded model released in 2022.  I believe MTK also made a kit.