A massive price cut, but is it a bargain? Heljan Class 33

Another loco has received a supposed huge price slashing. I've taken one for the team and picked one up. Was it worth the time & money and can it be recommended to you - if you happen to be in the market for a Class 33 in the Fragonset livery, that is.

[@theSignallingGuy]

Cracking layout by the looks....away to look thru all the videos now😁

[@fairweathertrains3029]

The layout, such that it is, is in a constant state of fluidity and has been for nearly 3 years!! Thanks for watching

[@LyntreeTown20132]

Nice looking loco and runs well and even better a good price. I remember the Fragonset Livery on a few different Class locos. just came across your Channel subscribed and liked

[@fairweathertrains3029]

Thanks very much. And I do recommend this class 33.

[@petercole2092]

I have the green Heljan Class 33 got it for £99 early this year from Rails of Sheffield the loco runs fine . I don't think it's a bad price to be fair for what you are getting. TMC have extended their sale Rails are doing the same good for the customer but prices should not have gone so high in the first place that requires constant sales to move stock. I know price debate can go on and on but people can only spend so much £200+ loco take some justification to buy.

[@fairweathertrains3029]

I agree & these "bargains" are really only a return to the full price they used to be, or thereabouts. I am happy with this one, & as you say, a good runner.

[@railway187]

Beautiful livery 🤩 very interesting review 👍 New subscriber 🙋‍♂️

[@fairweathertrains3029]

Still going strong and a beauty too. Thanks for the sub

[@ukoutdoors3022]

I picked up 33202 21 pin BR blue pristine for well under a hundred quid. The drive train was extremely tight at first - I dont know if there was some foreign object stuck in it somewhere but it freed off suddenly by pushing the flywheel round by hand. Seems fine now it's had a bit of running. I am a bit of a sucker for these Heljan 33s and the 26s as well, but the detail interfering with the couplings is extremely annoying - I have no idea why they do that.

[@fairweathertrains3029]

Glad it worked out OK. These do run lovely. It feels "wrong & bad" to break off applied detailing, but perfectly OK to never fit separately supplied detailing. I'd rather it came in a bag!

[@timharrison2894]

Same for me. had to cut off the buffer detail at one end to facilitate train haulage. At the other end, had to take out the NEM pocket to keep the buffer detail in place.

[@fairweathertrains3029]

Yeah, that's not ideal really is it

[@paulc9588]

Like a lot of these 'bargains', the RRP is verging on the absurd which means retailers struggle to shift them. The heavily discounted price is more representative of what they should have been to start with. A very good buy for ~£100 but £200+ RRP is having a laugh.

[@fairweathertrains3029]

Yup, agree with you completely.

[@barryturner2916]

I also brought one at the 42% discount at Rails (33203) and as you said I also would not have paid over £200 for one. This will be my 12th Heljan class 33 over the years and I can recall paying a little over £60 new for them, inflation !!!!?

[@fairweathertrains3029]

Rampant capitalism! Definitely not a £200 loco but very nice just the same. Thanks for watching

[@paredding]

Similar here - bought 4x them from Hattons back in 2008-11 ranging between £47 and £60 each. Dont know if they have upgraded them in any way but as comments say - current RRPs are in lala land so even with price reductions, it's all still very expensive now.

[@barryturner2916]

@@paredding Hi, that's where I brought mine (back in the day lol).

[@StMaryChurchModelRailway]

Lovely loco, I have a couple myself. ATB Stuart

[@fairweathertrains3029]

I'm certainly happy with mine. Thanks for watching

[@ciaranburke3243]

Definitely a bargain lovely little loco not sure what 200 plus quid was about 😮👍

[@fairweathertrains3029]

£200 for just about any loco is a piss-take, unless it's Broadway or a quality Big Boy or something. Hopefully the price cutting will have to carry on when locos don't sell at silly RRPs. Thanks for watching

[@user-wo6qn3vf9n]

The next time you make a video don't have anything running couldn't hear what you were saying.

[@fairweathertrains3029]

Either that or I'll shout - thanks