LATEST ON HUB SETS DISTRIBUTION: 

 

Distribution of the HUB sets is almost complete. If you have not received your order by the 1st of February please contact the Eureka Office. As distribution has progressed it is has become evident that stocks of additional cars will disappear very quickly and are not expected to last much past February.   Pre-orders indicated that demand would split fairly evenly between orders for five and seven cars and the order quantity for additional cars was set accordingly. However, since distribution commenced the experience has been that those who purchased five car sets are coming back for additional cars and this trend is quickly exhausting stocks of additional cars.

 

Since receiving the HUBs two errors in the decoration have become evident. One was made by Eureka and one was down to the factory. Eureka's error concerns the Tuscan and Russet livery where the Russet has been carried across the door on the carriage side. On the prototype the door was all red.
The factory error concerns the set number on the end of each terminal car. All sets are correctly identified on the box and the appropriately numbered carriages are present in each set. However, all terminal cars are numbered set "117".   Apologies from Eureka and the factory for these mistakes.
In the Candy sets the factory has also replaced one of the cars in each set with an RBH.
Finally, the wheel sets used on the HUB sets are a new design and use a press fitted split axle design. Some sets may need the back-to-back setting to be adjusted. Eureka is putting together an outline on how to check this setting and make any adjustments necessary. When it is ready it will appear on this blog.

LATEST ON HUB SETS DISTRIBUTION:

Distribution of the HUB has now reached the 65% mark and an "end of January" completion of distribution is the target.  We are continuing to contact modellers to varify order and address details so if you have not received your order and wish to ring to confirm your details please feel free to do so.

 

Sometimes errors creep into the production process and the above photo illustrates one of these in relation to the HUB sets. If one looks closely, it can be seen that the marker lights on  the head end  car are on and if they could be seen, the rear end car marker lights are off which is the reverse of what should be the case.
This is caused by the factory installing the pick-up wiring in reverse which under DC operation causes the above effect. The solution is simple and involves reversing the pick-up wiring in each of the head and rear end terminal cars. An outline of how this can be done can be found at the following web site:

http://members.optusnet.com.au/nswmn/HUBMod.htm

The solution involves the application of some soldering skills. Anyone having difficulties in this area should contact the Eureka office.

LATEST ON HUB SETS DISTRIBUTION:

Distribution of the HUB sets is well under way with 50% of orders now dispatched. At this rate distribtution should be complete before the end of January.  We are ringing many modellers to varify order and address details so if you have not received your order and wish to ring to confirm your details please feel free to do so.

Window Glass in the HUB Sets:

There has been some discussion on the colouring of the window glass in the HUB sets with a suggestion that green tinted glass was used in the car windows.
Eureka was aware of this debate prior to the decision on the window glass colour to be used in the models and investigated the issue thoroughly before the decision to use clear windows was taken.
Since delivery of the model commenced this discussion has again flared up and so, to be doubly sure Eureka has again checked the facts in relation to the colour of the window glass used in the prototype sets.
This time, an ex-CME who managed Carriage Works for fifteen years was approached for a comment on the issue. He stated quite definitely that the HUB sets were issued to service with clear glass windows. The windows consisted of a double pane of glass with a gap between the two panes.  A system utilising gel crystals was used to remove any moisture that got into the gap bewteen the glass panes. These crystals had to be replaced each time a car came in for a service and the window panes were never replaced with other than panes of clear glass.
To further re-inforce the clear glass argument it was pointed out that the technology for tinting glass did not become widely available for another twenty years after the introduction of the HUB sets and the first order for tinted glass by the NSW Railways was for use on the Interurbans.
It may well be that in service the windows on the Hub cars appeared to have a green hue but this was not due to any tinting of the glass.
The real discussion now should be over what may have caused the appearance of any green hue in the windows on the cars when they were in service.