Ixion Feature Article in 2015 BRM Annual

British Railway Modelling magazine has interviewed Ixion's UK Director Chris Klein for the 2015 BRM Annual. The whole issue is an excellent read, and you can get an insight into our company, and its history and plans. Buy a copy today!

This the cover you're looking for, and the contents page:

And this is your happy scribe with the magazine article, airmailed from the UK. We're on page 76!

New Hudswell Clarkes Arrive!

The new run of 7mm scale Hudswell Clarkes in Forest Green livery have arrived in the UK, and are on their way to shops that have pre-ordered them. They look wonderful - the factory has excelled themselves with the fit and finish. They also display the magnificent slow, smooth running of the originals. The loco also includes a brand-new fret of additional loco names, numbers and appropriate works plates for the cab side. 

Ixion's UK Director Chris Klein has taken this fantastic set of photos for you to enjoy. 
Please note - the coloured backgrounds to the fitted brass plates were applied by Chris to make them easier to see in the photo. Ordinary modeller's enamel paint is applied to the plates on the fret and, when dry, the fret is turned over and rubbed on fine emery paper to remove the paint on the raised lettering. You can see the fine abrasions on the bare brass; it works brilliantly.

The 20 locos slated for Australia are on a ship and will be arriving soon. Make sure you tell your local stockist that you want one put aside for you!

Could this be the perfect Christmas gift?..

New Hudswell Clarke livery sample

These photos show the latest Ixion decoration sample, just received from the factory. 
The painted parts are the main components of our 7mm scale Hudswell Clarke locomotive: cab, saddle tank, coal bunker and footplate. The parts are just loosely arranged together, and photographed outdoors on a beautiful NSW spring day. We have called this livery "Forest Green", and you can see that it follows the pattern of lining used on the maroon loco, replacing the original yellow with red. You can compare it with my Photoshopped mock-up in the post below, modified from a photo of the maroon HC. Not bad, if I do say so myself! The buffer beam colour looks pinkish in these photos, but is the correct 'signal red' in real life.

We think this is a most attractive livery, and we have approved these colours for manufacture. Production is now under way, and we expect that the finished models will be available for sale in both the UK and Australia before Christmas. The loco will be accompanied by a brand new etched brass fret, featuring all-new names, numbers and oval builder's plates. Also included, of course, will be our famous injection moulded steam loco tools, featuring the bucket with the working handle!

And just for fun, here is a miniature version of yours truly contemplating this delightful new Ixion model. The figure is created by using a 3D scanner to capture the likeness - thanks to the students in my Year 11 Digital Imaging class - which is then printed on a 3D printer. In this case, for you technically-minded folks, in standard resolution on an UP Plus 2 3D printer in white ABS plastic. The print's rough surface hasn't yet been cleaned up, but the likeness is remarkable. The wonders of technology!

32 Class tender - more information

We've had a flood of expressions of interest in the 32 Class - thanks, everyone. 
One correspondent asked "Were they really fitted with ex-50 Class tenders?" This was my wording in the original post, and is in error. The answer, as provided by James McInerney, noted modeller and Production Manager of the Australian Model Railway Magazine, is as follows:

Point of order on the blog post. The tenders fitted to the 32 Class aren’t “ex-50 Class standard goods bogie tender”. The correct name is “standard 3650 gallon bogie tender”. The 3650 gallon tenders were designed for, and built new, with the 32 class and were also later delivered with the 50 class (and some of the 53 class) and were later widespread throughout all the Standard Goods classes as tenders were moved around to suit operation requirements (modified, surplus 3650 gallon tenders were also fitted to the 27, some 30T and at least one 12 class locomotive).

Thanks, James! 

New Ixion NSWGR HO Loco Revealed - The low-frame 32 Class

The Directors of Ixion Model Railways are pleased to announce that their next model will be the New South Wales Government Railways 32 Class 4-6-0 tender locomotive in HO (1:87) scale. This model will represent the class in it's original low-frame (P Class) configuration. This variation has only previously been available ready-to-run in limited-run hand-built unpainted brass, and that was in the last century!

These locomotives were the universal workhorses of the NSWGR, working suburban, mainline and branchline passenger, goods and mixed trains. One low-frame member of the class has been preserved - 3265, pictured below in its preserved maroon livery.

The engines displayed many variations in their lifetime. The model will be paired with an ex-50 Class standard goods bogie tender. Whilst the computer-generated 3D drawings are still being finalised, we have asked the factory to look at the options of including both saturated and superheated versions, with both angled and curved running plates. Liveries are likely to include lined green, service black and the preserved maroon. More information will be available as we receive it from our factory. Delivery is expected sometime in the third or fourth quarter of 2015.

Your feedback would be welcomed. Email us at info@ixionmodels.com .

Phil Badger, Chris Klein and Lindsay O'Reilly

Directors,

Ixion Model Railways Ltd.

www.ixionmodels.com

Possible new run of brass 7mm Manning Wardle 0-4-0ST

Dear friends,

It never rains, but it pours...

In addition to last week’s announcements:

We are being pushed in the UK to do a second run of our Chinese hand-built brass, painted, RTR Manning Wardle 0-4-0ST, modelled on a standard 'H' Class. Our model is based on the famous local Australian example, NSWGR No.1021 "Cardiff".

At present the specs would be identical to the previous run, but in UNLINED BLACK only (no lined blue this time). The new expected retail price would be 460 UK pounds - $818 Aussie dollars at tonight’s exchange rate.

To see videos of this model in 12V DC and DCC form, go to Youtube and search for "Ixion Manning Wardle". The model as supplied is DC only, but can be converted to DCC by enthusiasts.

If you are interested in purchasing one of these models, can you please email admin@ixionmodels.com with a FIRM expression of interest. 

We will only commission the run if there is enough interest to fund the run, which is obviously paid for up front by us (but we’re not planning to ask for pre-payments. It’ll be cash on delivery for you.)

Cheers,

Lindsay O’Reilly

Ixion Model Railways Ltd.

Well, after a long hiatus when we had nothing new to report, we now have three major announcements. 
These have been communicated to the major model railway magazines in the UK and Australia, and posted by Chris on RM Web, but here they are on our official blog.

28 August, 2014

Ixion Model Railways foreshadows new models

Total sales of the 7mm scale Hudswell Clarke saddle tank now exceed 1300 units, and Ixion has now sold over 2850 O scale locomotives.

This success of our products has resulted in these commissioning of these three new models:

1. O Scale: A new production run of Hudswell Clarke locomotives

Ixion Model Railways Ltd is pleased to announce that we are now sold out of both green and maroon Hudswell Clarke tank locomotives.

To satisfy customer demand, we have commissioned a second, limited edition run of Hudswell Clarke locomotives in a new livery of forest green, lined in red and black. 

An artist’s impression of the livery is included below. These will be available from selected retailers in the UK and Australia, and online from the Ixion website. We hope to have these in stock for Christmas this year.

 2. An HO Scale Locomotive

Ixion is pleased to announce that our next new locomotive will be produced for the Australian HO scale (1:87) market.

With two of the Ixion directors being NSW modellers, this is a logical move into their home market with a familiar prototype.

It will be a New South Wales Government Railways (NSWGR) steam locomotive, never before available in injection-moulded ready-to-run form.

Produced in the same factory which has made the acclaimed and award-winning On30 Coffee Pot, and 7mm scale Hudswell Clarke and Fowler locomotives, it will follow Ixion's well-established standards of prototype fidelity and excellence of performance, and will be DCC and sound-ready.

The identity of this locomotive will be revealed when the first computer-aided design drawings are available in October this year. Delivery is anticipated for the third quarter of 2015.

 3. A new O Scale Locomotive

Ixion is also collaborating with another company (a new manufacturer, not an existing one) on the production of a ready-to-run 7mm scale standard gauge steam locomotive suitable for both the UK and Australian markets. 

More information about this model will be available soon - watch the Ixion website and blog for updates on all locomotives.

http://www.ixionmodels.com/

http://ixionmodels.blogspot.com.au/

Please direct any enquiries to info@ixionmodels.com

Phil Badger, Chris Klein and Lindsay O’Reilly

Directors,

Ixion Model Railways Ltd.