Ideas and Help - The Powerline GJX Grain wagon
This page is about the new Powerline GJX grain wagon.
This is a model of the Victorian GJX grain wagon that was one of 100 in a initial batch. Made from aluminium these wagons are still in service today. The variant I purchased was in the silver colours with the large VR logo. At the moment what was available was VR small logo, VR large logo, and VR large logo with weathering. I am told more colours will come in future batchs
Both Powerline and Auscision Models have produced these wagons, with Auscision's being mailed out en mass at the time of writing. Powerline had a surprise shipment thst were delivered to Trainworld, and I were a very lucky recipiant. I even press-ganged two friends to buy 3 each. I bought 5. Also today I took delivery by post of two packs of the Auscision Frieght Australia with large logo and modern peumatic opening top loaders, and one undecorated and similar modern pack. So I had a sort of ideal first impression.
I must stress however that this is a weird and unfair comparison. Why? Well the version I compare are not exact, I hope to see the Auscision's version. So I'm not comparing to prototype or each other. You will find on this page photos of both, for I intend to concentrate on the Powerline version.
The Powerline version comes in the normal red & black box secured in a foam insert. As purchased the wagons do not come with couplers at all. It does give you the coverplate and screws to mount a coupler.
On opening I have found the wagons largely complete, one wagon had the handbrake lever loose, easily glued back together. I found the bogies were not free rolling, like the flatwagons they will need a washer added. This may affect the coupler you wish to fit. As I write this I have not tried to fit couplers. I'll state I were told that no 5's should fit, and underset coupler may work best - I'll update this later on when I do a coupler fitting.
The other item I found of concern was the walkways on top, were, basically warped. gluing them may not work.
That is all for now. I'll report back in a day or two (other things to do)
David Head
Initial impression At the moment the Auscision Models product had the edge on Powerline.
However I think you should add some of these to your fleet so you get a decent variation in wagons. How often you we want to get our
wagons similar but how many want some slight variants.
Perhaps at the moment I think the Auscision models are in a different category, they are truly Ready to Run. The Powerline are cheaper and built to a slightly different standard.
SEE part 2 below
Part 2 :
Another member had the older versions so a better comparison was made. Apart from the walkway issue the Auscision had the edge, but not as bad as compared to my modern versions.
When I find time (probably on the weekend) I'll be fiddling with the bogies, fitting couplers.
