My new friend! - Accucraft Lilly Belle has arrived

Fletch · **Posted:** Mon Oct 24, 2005 1:33 am

A huge thanks to Michael C, and Carolwood!
My Accucraft Lilly Belle has arrived in perfect condition, and has had her first adventure out on the rails.
Photos dont do any justice to the quality of this model, it is an extraordinary work of art, the detail and faithfulness to CP prototypes is evident. Man this is a thing of beauty!
I had been saving for the live steam 4-4-0, but upon hearing that these models will soon run out, I decided to get off my back-side and act, also I had some dud LGB stuff sitting around unused, so I sold them and bought this!

Talk about a smooth running loco..wow!

I had her out this afternoon, hauling 4 bachmann SPC coaches on my outdoor RR.

Here are some pics:
[img]http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/DavidFletcher/Belle-1.jpg[/img]

I'll leave most of the photos here as links so the page download wont be too long.

[img]http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/DavidFletcher/Belle-2.jpg[/img]

[url=http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/DavidFletcher/Belle-3.jpg]http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/DavidFletcher/Belle-3.jpg[/url]

[url=http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/DavidFletcher/Belle-4.jpg]http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/DavidFletcher/Belle-4.jpg[/url]

[img]http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/DavidFletcher/Belle-5.jpg[/img]

[img]http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/DavidFletcher/Belle-6.jpg[/img]

[url=http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/DavidFletcher/Belle-7.jpg]http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/DavidFletcher/Belle-7.jpg[/url]

[img]http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/DavidFletcher/Belle-8.jpg[/img]

[url=http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/DavidFletcher/Belle-9.jpg]http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/DavidFletcher/Belle-9.jpg[/url]

[img]http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/DavidFletcher/Belle-10.jpg[/img]

[url=http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/DavidFletcher/Belle-11.jpg]http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/DavidFletcher/Belle-11.jpg[/url]

[url=http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/DavidFletcher/Belle-12.jpg]http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/DavidFletcher/Belle-12.jpg[/url]

[url=http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/DavidFletcher/Belle-13.jpg]http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/DavidFletcher/Belle-13.jpg[/url]

[url=http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/DavidFletcher/Belle-14.jpg]http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/DavidFletcher/Belle-14.jpg[/url]

Michael, I cant thank you enough, this is sure to be one of my most treasured model.

Enjoy the pics chaps,
Fletch.

Steve · **Posted:** Mon Oct 24, 2005 10:38 am

The other day I got to take an up-close look at the Hartland Lilly Belle and the Accucraft Lilly Belle side by side. While the Hartland does look nice, the Accucraft is much more detailed. A beautiful model! It looks great in your pictures, too!

StartedByAMouse · **Posted:** Mon Oct 24, 2005 11:27 am

Wow! What a layout! Thanks for sharing.

Matt

Locoboy5150 · **Posted:** Mon Oct 24, 2005 12:17 pm

Gorgeous - thanks for sharing!

I remember when the Accucraft electric Lilly Belle came out right after I bought my Hartland Lilly Belle. I was disappointed that I had bought the "inferior" version of the 4-4-0...until I saw the price of the Accucraft model. It is beautiful, no question about that, but that's just *way* out of my price range.

I'll just have to admire the Accucraft models from afar. :laugh:

Is that your first live steam large scale model? If so, what do you think about live steam operation compared to electric?

Steve DeGaetano · **Posted:** Mon Oct 24, 2005 12:24 pm

Locoby, I *think* Fletch's model CP 173 is electric. If I remember correctly, they didn't get enough orders for a live steam version.

Is this right?

CP173 · **Joined:** Sun Jul 18, 2004 2:06 am **Posts:** 1648

That's right, Steve, that CP173 is electric. However, we are taking orders for a live steam version now. We will have a prototype in early 2006, and expect delivery by Christmas of that year.

This new model will actually be closer to the C. K. Holliday than the Lilly Belle, but we will offer it in that livery so as to help get to the 25 unit minimum. There's more information about it on the Carolwood site.

The Accucraft model is a very good performer, but I had no idea it could run upside down! :;):

motorcarman · **Posted:** Mon Oct 24, 2005 3:16 pm

Fletch,
What a beautiful Layout. Those bridges are incredible. How much track do you have?

Fletch · **Posted:** Mon Oct 24, 2005 4:13 pm

Chaps,
she's a real smooth electric runner. Very sure footed, and nicely geared down. She's no race horse, which is the way these locos ran..they were not fast. The Iive steam Accucraft I have is their Mogul.

This sort of thing is out of my price range too, but I made a decision, sold a bunch of rolling stock on e-bay that had sat inside boxes for a number of years, and managed to come up with the cash..it was kinda a swap. You'd be surprised how much you have invested in individual items that well exceeds the value of any one brass model. The hard part is parting with so much for just one loco. BUT Lilly Belle is that sort of model. we'll see C-16s, and K-27s etc for years to come, we wont see another one of these.

My layout has a little over 200ft of rail in a broad loop around the backyard. 1/3 is at ground level, 2/3 is raised up anywhere between 2ft and 5ft above natural ground level (the block slopes downhill, and the line remains level).

I have the Hartland Lilly Belle too, it is H-L-Ws best 4-4-0 to date by a long way..while she doesn't have the lines of the real Lilly Belle, it is still a gorgious model, and I wouldn't part with either of them!

Its raining today...so I'll have to wait to run the loco again!

David.

CustomFabricatorsFreak · **Posted:** Mon Oct 24, 2005 5:10 pm

COOL!

train man · **Posted:** Mon Oct 24, 2005 6:23 pm

Wow wow wow very very cool what a nice looking locomotive that must be the best looking 4-4-0 model I'v ever seen

My new friend! - Accucraft Lilly Belle has arrived

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