A Maintenance Record UK Minitrix Mallard, Scotsman, etc Fowler 2F and Ivatt 2MT The 2-10-0 Workhorses Solid, Robust, Reliable 1967 Green BoBo Class 42 Mk 2 Class 42 Mk 3 Variations Service On Minitrix Models |
Classic UK Minitrix Models - Ten Warships Blue, Green, Red
In the years between 1970 and 1972, nine different variations on the Warship theme were introduced in colours of blue, green and maroon - some with part or full yellow ends (as shown below), some without, depending on the actual locomotive being depicted. During their lifetime, 3 different generations of the chassis and body were used as shown in the table below - entries in italics are exceptionally rare.
The model numbers - 2034,5 and 6 were assigned to models before German Trix acquired the company, and they were subsequently absorbed into the Trix system as 51 2034 00 etc. The same number was allocated to models of the same colour regardless of the name of the model - so for example the blue Druid, Eclipse and Zebra all had the same model number 2034 or 51 2034 00. The price lists refer to the models as simply 'Warship (green)' or 'Warship (blue)' - they never give the name - although some price lists that have been prepared by a shop may include the loco names from the stock that they hold. I have seen reference to another set of numbers - 2905, 2904 and 2906 being used in place of 2034, 2035 and 2036 respectively. But the technical sheets and catalogues that I have seen all seem to all use the numbers that I have shown in the table above, and I have yet to find any evidence that these were in use. Hornby Minitrix adopted one of the models as N206 in 1974. This was the Blue Hermes model with the Mark 2 chassis design. The articulated bogies remain from the previous variation, but the small lower circuit board below the motor is now supported by a plastic tray held in place by 4 long plastic clips. These later models are easily identified by turning the model over and observing the black plastic tray base. Earlier models had a shorter, solid metal casting in the base, fitted with a thin rectangle of sponge-like material - to catch excess oil from the motor bearings. It is entirely possible that in the early Hornby Minitrix era - 1973 onwards - that some old stock was sold. There was little difference in casual appearance between the Hornby blue Warship (Hermes) and the earlier blue Warship Eclipse. I have seen examples of blue Eclipse in a Hornby N206 box, but that doesn't mean that the Hornby box originally contained the Eclipse. It seems likely - what else could they do with the remaining stock of models of a blue Eclipse? Perhaps this is why the model name is never mentioned in early catalogues or price lists. The green Intrepid was introduced to the Hornby range in 1979. For this release, the green and the blue Hornby Warships had been completely re-designed with a new Mark 3 chassis without the articulated bogies and with a much sharper body casting. The motor was loaded from the side of the chassis rather than the top, and they were then assigned completely new numbers 51 2943 00 and 51 2942 00 for the new models of Intrepid and Hermes respectively. |
N206 Warship Class 42 Mk 2 Blue, Green, Red Class 42 Class 42 Repair and Maintenance or carefully disassmble Repair and gearing and some electrical info Pre 3rd generation Front and Rear Bogies Curing the Flicker and finish Technical Data Sheets Linked to Trix Site 2 Models | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Maintaining Classic UK Minitrix Locos |
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