Model Railway News Roundup - Jan/ Feb 2019
Model Railway News Round-Up
Diesel & Electric Era railway modelling news and announcements from across January and February 2019.
Accurascale & Revolution announce Mk5 Coaches
In a joint project between Accurascale and Revolution Trains, the new CAF-built loco-hauled Mk.5 coaching stock is to be released in ready-to-run form in both N and OO. Excitingly, this will cover not only the frequently-requested TransPennine Express push-pull stock but also the Caledonian Sleeper overnight sets. The two companies will work together on the research and development of the models with Accurascale producing the 4mm coaches while Revolution tackles the 2mm versions.
A full range of vehicle types will be produced for each operator, this encompassing the sleeper, accessible sleeper, lounge car and seated/brake coach for the Caledonian Sleeper trains. Meanwhile, the fixed-formation TransPennine Express sets will feature the three standard class and one first class Mk.5s along with the distinctive Driving Standard vehicles. All of the differences between the two fleets will be faithfully recreated, including the slightly wider size of the sleeper stock. Design work on the models is already well underway with the specification set to include switchable lighting along with a very high level of external detail. The models are being produced with the full co-operation of CAF, leasing company Beacon Rail and their respective operators with on-site surveys backing up the drawings already provided.
Pricing and release details have yet to be finalised but it is anticipated that the Caledonian Sleeper Mk.5s will be released in a variety of box sets to allow train lengths to be tailored to requirements. Similarly, the TPE stock will be supplied as complete five-car sets. The first samples of the models are expected to be on show in the autumn.
For further details, visit: www.accurascale.co.uk or head to Revolution Trains for more on the 2mm scale versions: www.revolutiontrains.com
Class 92 also Announced by Accurascale
The specification will mirror Accurascale’s forthcoming Class 55 ‘Deltic’, including:
- Tungsten alloy chassis
- Extensive detail
- Motorised pantographs
- Loco-specific variations such as Dellner couplings
- DCC sound versions using the latest ESU Loksound V5 chip.
A batch of eleven Class 92s are to be released with all available to pre-order now, these being:
European Passenger Services two-tone grey
- 92003 Beethoven
- 92022 Charles Dickens with Railfreight Distribution lettering
- 92036 Bertolt Brecht with EWS yellow patch logos
- 92043 Debussy with Europorte 2 roundels
EWS maroon/gold
DB Schenker red
Caledonian Sleeper teal
GB Railfreight
For more on the Accurascale Class 92 visit: www.accurascale.co.uk
Pre-orders open for Cavalex BBA Steel Wagons
Following the success of its Redland/Lafarge PGA hopper released late last year, Cavalex Models has now opened the pre-order process for its next ready-to-run OO gauge wagon. This portrays the long-lived BBA steel wagon in its traditional form with side stanchions and is initially available in plain brown and Railfreight red/black. As before, a certain level of pre-orders needs to be obtained before the model can proceed to tooling with the price per wagon currently set at £40. After February 28th, the pre-order process will close but models will still be available to order at the full RRP of £45.
To place an order, visit the Cavalex Models website: www.cavalexmodels.com
Kernow Receives Painted JNA Wagon Samples
Announced at the Warley Show in November, Kernow Model Rail Centre has now received factory decorated samples of the two OO gauge JNA wagons that it is producing in conjunction with Revolution Trains. Under the arrangement, the Cornish retailer will be exclusively offering the current day box wagons in Mendip Rail grey and GB Railfreight blue, the latter having previously been seen in hand-painted form.
Delivery remains on course for late spring with four models available in each colour scheme. The pre-order price of £49.99 for a standard model or £57.99 for a version with a working tail light is still being maintained at present, as is the bulk buy of four wagons at £199.99.
Pre-orders can be placed at: www.kernowmodelrailcentre.com
Accurascale Cement Wagons in Production
The next two OO gauge wagons from Accurascale are both set to be released during March with production of the PCA and PCV ‘Cemflo’ cement wagons well underway in China. Taking the ‘Cemflos’ first, these are being produced in two forms, the first covering their 1960s and early 1970s appearance with Blue Circle Cement branding and ‘LA’ numbers. For this period, there are seven triple packs available to order (£69.95 each) along with a single individual wagon (£24.94). Meanwhile, covering the TOPS years from the mid 1970s to final withdrawal in 1988 are six triple packs and a single wagon at the same prices.
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More up-to-date are the French-built PCAs, which date from the first half of the 1980s and are still in service today. Covering the 1980s-early 1990s are five triple packs in Rugby Cement grey and four in dark grey with the logos of leasing company STS. For more recent years, there are six sets with Castle Cement lettering, these having various differences in sub-brandings. All 15 triple packs are priced £69.95 each.
All of the cement wagons can be ordered from www.accurascale.co.uk
Celebrity Tinsley Snowploughs Commissioned in OO
Working in conjunction with Footplate Models, ABC Workshops is now offering a limited edition pair of the Flangeway OO gauge ZZA independent snowploughs. Due for release in April, these depict the Tinsley pair of ADB965308 and ADB965309, which were repainted in Railfreight Distribution triple grey in the early 1990s and given the painted names of Snow King and Snow Queen respectively. In addition to the Sheffield depot, they also spent some time based at Buxton. Offered as a boxed pair and limited to 300 sets, the price is £80.
Dapol Confirms N Gauge Prototype HST Production
Production of the prototype HST set is to go ahead in N gauge with Dapol having received sufficient pre-orders to make the long-mooted project a viable proposition. This will see the two prototype power cars tooled up along with an accurate prototype Mk.3 to portray the first and second class vehicles. However, the new tooling will not extend to the two buffet cars, which will employ existing models re-liveried to match the rest of the set.
The models will only be available directly from Dapol with pre-orders still being accepted. The power cars are available in two forms, these covering their original look when numbered 41001 and 41002 or in their later 1980s departmental form with full yellow cabs when they carried ADB975812 and ADB975813. These twin packs are priced £150 each. Meanwhile, the Mk.3 coaches are spread across three packs, two of the sets featuring two first class and two second class vehicles with different numbers (£120 each) with a third pack containing the two buffets (£50).
Visit the Dapol website to place a pre-order www.dapol.co.uk
Railtec Releases TransPennine Class 68 Numbers
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Another useful 4mm scale release is a transfer sheet for detailing DMU and EMU cab interiors, this providing overhead line warning flashes printed in reverse so they can be applied to the inside of cab glazing along with non-multi ‘X’ coupling restriction signs and window blinds. Two versions of the sheet are available, one with the 1980s-90s red/white overhead warning flashes and the other with the post 1998 yellow/white versions, both sheets costing £3.90 each.
Finally, there are explosive warning labels for containers and wagons involved in Ministry of Defence traffic, such as VAA, VEA and VGA vans. In 2mm and 4mm, these cover the 1.1 to 1.4 categories (£4.50 each) while the 7mm sheet just has those for 1.2 (£4.50). All three sheets also feature respirator warning symbols.
For these and other new releases, visit: www.railtec-models.com
Bachmann Class 37 Sales Allow Charitable Donation
January 25th saw Bachmann Europe make a cheque presentation for £3,709.90p to the Leicestershire-based charity Loros, the donation coming from sales of Colas Rail-liveried 37099 Merl Evans 1947-2016, which was released in OO gauge last year. The loco was named in 2016 in memory of Bachmann’s head of research and development, who retired two years earlier, and is now a popular sight on the network, particularly on test train duties. The hospice charity provided care and support for Merl and his family during his final months. The cheque was presented by Merl’s widow, Maureen Evans to Adrian Walker, Senior Fundraiser & Community Lead at Loros, and were joined by Bachmann Europe’s Communications Manager, Richard Proudman, and Product Researcher, Steve Smith.
Read more about this story, here: www.bachmann.co.uk or to order your OO gauge model of 37099, visit: hattons.co.uk
All text in this article was created by Simon Bendall on behalf of Hattons Model Railways. All images are copyright of the companies of the models or products shown. Unauthorised use or reproduction of either the images or text in this article is strictly forbidden.
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