HM201: Heljan 'OO' gauge Class 47 project update

Heljan's all-new 'OO' gauge Class 47 is due to arrive in early 2024. We met with Heljan's Ben Jones in the Key Model World workshop to find out more and hear the final factory DCC sound fitted versions in action. Watch the video interview here and see more on Heljan's models online at Key Model World:
www.keymodelworld.com/heljan

[@FoodFestTelevision]

These look FANTASTIC, you've done a great job. Congratulations 👏✔

[@hymek7096]

I love the sound of the sulzer engine

[@anfieldroadlayoutintheloft5204]

good vid nice work thanks lee

[@ModelRailwaysUnlimited]

Hey great to see. The cab end looks different, I can't put my finger on it, more like Falcon????

[@lj03oem]

The immediate curve above the windscreens looks too sharp,never seen that shadow line before,may just be the lighting though and the air horn box looks too tall.Either way£389 and no rotating fans or tinted windscreens,i thought Bachmann were having a laugh,apparantly not.I'll stick with my new Bachmann ones.

[@WaltononTrent]

This still looks wrong, somehow. Is the cab front too tall? The RRPs certainly are!

[@TukayAway]

I think the cab windows are too small, really noticeable on the two tone green version. And the curves to the cab roofs seem off, air horn box too tall maybe?

[@WaltononTrent]

Yep, odd-looking things, and destined for a Rails 'Flash Sale' in the near future! My fleet of Bachmann 47s remains unchallenged.@@TukayAway

[@KellinoRail]

I think the sides of the cab curve in too much which makes the front of the cab look too narrow. It's a shame. It's a really hard loco to get right.

[@davetedd3633]

I'm sure the first Heljan 47's came out in 2001, not 2004. I still have a few from the first batch that haven't yet exploded! Looking forward to this all new model. Hopefully we'll soon see some more privatisation-era liveries.

[@gilbertporter4992]

And improved quality mechanisms.

[@alantraish3368]

When I see the small yellow panel two tone green one I will make my decision on Heljan or Bachmann. Neck & neck at the moment

[@Dangerous-Brian150]

Bachmann are streets ahead with their class 47 and for the cost of one of these new Heljan class 47s, what exactly are you getting which is going to smash the market? Nowt as far as I can see

[@DungeWoodRailway]

Loco looks good but the cost for the sound fitted version is unrealistic, not for me I'm afraid. 😮

[@rowdyperson6393]

Well said. I dont care how many they release with each model designs I shall not be paying £340 for any sound loco. This is where they and Bachmann try and push up the price of sound fitted models due to greed

[@BritishRail60062]

Nice model but I have just invested in a Bachmann Class 47. This one though doesn't look "fat" like the original ones did from the early 2000's. So I am happy to see this.

[@peterbradford5987]

Is it easy to install the decoder?

[@DeanPark]

£389 for a sound 47? Are you actually for real? That’s bachmann SFX money and they get a superior list of standard features. Inc rotating fans, deluxe glazing. Heljan… do you have a board on the office wall with prices on it and you just Chuck a dart at it to decide on the price?

[@ModelRailwaysUnlimited]

The price is actually insulting and smacks of elitism and pure greed

[@GarthDavies-cd5oh]

They remind me of the N gauge Farish model of the 80s being overly narrow at the cab ends.Its a pity as I was looking forward to these.

[@fatwalletboy2]

I used to love sound. Probably great as a tick over noise on a depot but on a roundy layout the sound starts to get annoying as it stays the same all the way round. I think sound shoul come away from locos and be a standalone system that can br faded in or outand hsve wagin and coach sounds adjustable to the number of axles etc

[@chrisbaines6931]

I have 2 sound fitted steam locos, I find the sounds more annoying than enhancing. I never bother with it now.

[@roberthill6216]

Is it just me or does something not look qquite right about the cab front?

[@DeanPark]

I can’t focus on the cab as all I see is £389 flashing in front of my eyes… unbelievably expensive.

[@Wessexshire]

Can’t quite place it, but the cabs look off…. Could be the lighting and the brightness of the paintwork, but….

[@PeggyDez]

It is completely off

[@north584]

I think this is a case of subconscious comparisons to bachmann. People are so used to seeing the Bachmann 47 they are subconsciously comparing Heljan to it and not realise. does it look like a 47? Yes Does it look like a good model? Yes

[@Wessexshire]

⁠@@north584I don’t agree, I’m not looking at it and comparing it to the bachmann model, which I do think as a side note captures the look of a 47 very well. I’m looking at it from the look of a real 47. The Heljan model, the cab windows look almost too big now I look at it. The older model, all be it, a bit too fat, looked good, they captured the look well.

[@Mike-kc8rl]

Bachmann has the 47 covered ! Let's hope this Heljan 47 isn't as duff as their last one?

[@matt2965]

Oh no, something is really not right with the cab front, are the windows not deep enough? Something isn’t right proportionally? There seems to be a flair out from the cab front to the bodyside under the engine room windows aswell. 😢

[@greatwestern93]

Looks like a good model... for 15 years ago maybe.Absolutely ridiculous RRP, you need industry leading innovations to even begin to justify that price tag.

[@grootsan]

Looks nice but has it all 12 wheels driven this time ? Oops I heard it already later in the video ......... the usual unprototypical unpowered centre axles by Heljan. At least they should have a spring to make good contact with the rail. I have a beautiful new Bachmann Class 47 DCC Sound, BR Blue Large Logo and all axles powered like always with Bachmann and runs flawlessly as well ............ So no need to swap to the Heljan 47, Sorry ........

[@sapphirejunction8993]

The loco looks good but just hope Heljan get the sound reproduction right with proper chassis development to accommodate proper sized speakers...obviously spoke to soon, iPhone speakers, just no Heljan. @9:57, is it me or does the Heljan 47 still look chubby or looks as though it has chubby cheeks???

[@PeggyDez]

Its still the wrong shape in many places

[@mikeuk4130]

too soon. Yes, it still looks too chubby and the head-on view looks wrong. Maybe it’s just the way the window surrounds are painted. These days, with all the top-quality and innovative competition around, things like this still shouldn’t be happening. It’s such a shame, because Heljan have brought out some great models over the last two decades, especially the earlier and less-successful small-batch diesels.

[@strobopug]

They look better than the "Tubby Duffs" they released first time around. I hope the paint finish is better than the later Tubby Duff I owned (bought after theud partially rectified the body width issue), because every straight line in the paint was fuzzy on mine - kinda like they'd use a length of felt to mask the lines...

[@kevvynolan8753]

Bachmann just need to do a Revised NSE liveried 47 and I'll be happy. The only decent thing about this loco is the Legomanbiffo soundfile.

[@kevvynolan8753]

Meaning the Bachmann new tool 47...

[@martinfinbow2120]

Almost £100 more than a sound fitted Cavalex class 56, is it a better model? Probably not. The Gaugemaster versions will no doubt be even more expensive.

[@MikeyJG]

how much?? Blimey

[@maverick1243]

Spent a fortune on the first Heljan 47s, most imploded and I never got a penny back. Never touched this company since and never will again.

[@gilbertporter4992]

Hopefully Rapido UK will do the 47 in OO gauge, as they did show an image of them measuring one.

[@azuma892]

The cab windows look too small, never seen this much yellow around them. Not acceptable in this day and age.

[@alanrobertson9790]

£212.46 for a DCC ready version at retail is pushing prices up again. Think I'll give it a pass. I have plenty of 47s from other manufacturers.

[@jamtart606]

Don't really understand the need for Heljan to bring out 47s again when their original batch suffered horribly from Mazak Rot... Can we please stop bringing out locos that have been done about a billion times please? I want to see more progress on Heljans 86/2s for a start...

[@PeggyDez]

And they still make it the wrong shape with so many other issues with accuracy

[@gavin37688]

£389 for a Duff sounding Duff..... are u having a tin bath heljan or what? Floating middle wheel too as to what you say get over bad track and up down helix's well Bachmann & Hornby do that just fine so whats your problem? and its impossible to scale down the detail from O Gauge to OO lol seriously? Its not N Gauge! And why does it still look over sized body wise also + the cab roofline doesn't look right neither does the front or window's? Were going backwards here tbf, out of everyone i've sent this video to not one of them is impressed in anything highlighted on this atall.... this is now an over priced hobby and like the real railway the enjoyment in this past time is fading fast cheers.

[@rowdyperson6393]

People can say what they like but I am not paying £340 for a sound fitted anything. I would rather go without which is why I am glad I purchased so many Bachmann 21 pin locos. You lot can carry on allowing Heljan to push up the price of models by purchasing them.. More fool you lot

[@Mariazellerbahn]

What a heap of junk. Bachmann's 47 is far better .... come to that, even the Lima model looked more convincing. Look at that oversized headcode panel and look at the undersized body width. From foisting upon us the "tubby duff", we now have the "skinny duff" .... and "duff" it is. Why do we need multiple manufacturers of the same locomotive type when each new offering is no better than previous attempts. If you buy this, you must be easily pleased.