Today’s post is an update / catch up on the status of a few Southern Railway / Region related models that are in progress with a number of the Ready to Run manufacturers / commissioners.
Kernow Model Centre
Regular readers of my blog will know that I have been assisting the Kernow Model Centre with their Southern related commissions and I pleased to be able to report progress on a number of fronts.
Firstly: Production of the Adams O2 Steam Locomotives has now started and the first models will be leaving China in a couple of weeks time. This does mean that the pre-order special offer price has now ended, but they are still taking orders for these models.
It should be noted that the amount of manual labour to assemble these highly-detailed models is very high and this is why the models will take a couple of months to actually produce. It is worth just considering that for a moment – a production line at the factory will be fully-occupied producing the O2 models for three months straight. Imagine that for every hour of every day, you will be inserting tiny pipes into the pull-push gear for months on end! To give a further taste of this there are some images and videos can be viewed on the Kernow Model Centre website here.
The anticipated delivery dates for each version have been advised as follows:
K2101 Number 24 “Calbourne” BR Black early emblem – Expected around October 2015
K2102 Number 16 “Ventnor” BR Black late crest- Expected around November 2015
K2103 Number 30182 BR Black early emblem pull-push fitted – Expected around October 2015)
K2104 Number 30225 BR Black late crest – Expected around December 2015
K2105 Number 225 Southern Black with Bulleid Sunshine lettering pull-push fitted – On board Hyundai Victory, due into Southampton around 15th September 2015
K2106 Number 30193 BR Black early emblem – Expected around September 2015
K2107 Number 207 Southern Maunsell Green pull-push fitted – Expected around December 2015
Secondly: the first off tooling samples for the ex LSWR Gate Stock pull push sets have arrived in the UK and a few tweaks are being made before they can be signed off for production.
Four versions of the 1914 Stock will be available: –
K1001 Set number 374 in SR Lined Maunsell Green livery
K1002 Set number 373 in SR unlined Malachite Green livery
K1003 Set number 363 in BR Crimson livery
K1004 Set number 373 in BR (SR) Green livery
Further information on the Kernow Model Centre ex LSWR Gate Stock can be found here.
Graham Farish
The Graham Farish N Gauge SR Bogie Van B models are about to hit the retailers. The following initial versions will be available:
374-630 SR 50′ Bogie B Luggage Van Southern Green
374-631 SR 50′ Bogie B Luggage Van BR (SR) Green
374-632 SR 50′ Bogie B Luggage Van BR Blue
Dapol
Dapol have released images of the first livery samples of their 00 Class 73 diesel electric locomotives. There are still a few things to correct, including a spurious high intensity headlight on the BR blue version along with some number sizes and positions, but they advise these have been noted and will be corrected.
Hornby
I am able to advise that work is continuing apace on the development of a number of SR / BR(s) models. I have been privileged to have been assisting the design team with some of the initial design work on the Bulleid Original Air Smoothed Merchant Navy locomotives that will be part of the 2016 range announced here and I can tease you that the CADS are looking great so far!
Hornby have also released footage of the first running sample of their Class 71 3rd rail electric locomotive here.
Hornby have also published an interesting Engine Shed blog post ‘A researcher’s tale’ by Paul Isles about the lot of the Hornby researcher. I was pleasantly surprised to get a name check by Paul, whom I can confirm is very passionate about his role and also a pleasure to assist on a number of fronts…
This sort of info is most useful, but I respectfully suggest that the opportunity is taken to add some extra details*, personal opinions maybe, so that it reads less like a straight regurgitation of a press release. I read Kernow’s newsletter about ten minutes ago.
Nothing confidential or sensitive, but expanding on the basics in the Kernow message. These things will sell like hot cakes, so what possible plans for limited re-runs, what other numbers, stuff like that?
Mike, I understand your point of view but I have to respect the confidentially of the suppliers and manufacturers that I assist when I am party to other and sometimes commercially sensitive information. Also not the readers of my blog receive the newsletter you refer to.
Dear Graham
Thanks for all this information which is much appreciated. Regarding the picture of the JA class 73, the cab numbers look as if they are from the later blue era. It would be a pity if the first thing that I had to do is replace the numbers with the condensed typeface style. Is there anything you can do with Dapol before the model is released?
Hi Bob
I noted the same issue and have sent a number of comments on all the livery samples to my contact at Dapol so fingers crossed…