At the BRM / Warners / MRC London Festival of Model Railways this weekend Kernow Model Rail Centre have on display for the first time a full livery samples of the Bulleid diesels 10201/2&3.  The post also provides very first images of the Bachmann ex SECR Birdcage sets crimson livery sample unveiled at the show for the very first time. I also provide an update on other Southern / Southern Region related RTR work in progress and model news. This follows the recent release of the excellent Hornby original Merchant Navy pacifics, in SR malachite, the BR livery version are due soon, as reviewed in my post here. We look forward to their H class 0-4-4T arriving later in the year as well as tooling is well advanced and livery artwork specifications completed.

Kernow Model Rail Centre – Bulled 1C0-C01 Diesels 10201/2 & 3

Although announced some time ago, the necessary research for the production of the CADS for these diesels with their complex multiple curved exterior shape has taken much longer than planned. During last year additional information came to light that has assisted greatly with development progress.

I have fortunate to have been party to progress that has been made during the last few months; firstly, with various sets of CADs, initial Engineering Prototypes and now the livery sample versions on public display for the first time this weekend.
By way of a recap four versions are being produced:

K2701 Number 10201 in BR Black livery with early emblem.
K2701 Number 10202 in BR Black livery with early emblem.
K2703 Number 10203 in BR Black livery with early emblem.
K2704 Number 10203 in BR Green livery with late crest.

The purpose of the livery samples are of course to check the application and livery details, so being the first such samples there are a few known corrections to be made before these can go to production, such as confirming the colour shades, adding lining and changing to the correct late emblem and no interconnecting doors on the K2704 version. These models are fitted with now standard arrangement, for similar diesel and electric models of a centrally mounted motor driving each bogie via drive shafts and a gear tower.

[update 31/03/17] The  Kernow Model Rail Centre have further advised “The factory very kindly decorated this first sample from their own research, rather than supplying the model in unfinished grey. They also provided a sample of the version with a corridor connection that we were not intending to produce in the initial batch, having speculatively decided to tool this in case we wanted it! This again they supplied painted from their own research. Unfortunately the paint finish was incorrect and the running numbers applied were not correct for the tooling combination.”

Kernow Model Rail Centre – SR Gate Stock Pull Push sets and 4-TC Units

After what appears to have a bit of a long and frustrating wait, for potentially a number of reasons, the first livery samples of the Gate Stock Pull/Push sets have been finally received, via DJ Models, by the Kernow Model Rail Centre. Four livery versions are being produced, namely:

K1001 Set 374 SR Lined Olive http://www.kernowmod…-Set-number-374
K1002 Set 373 SR Malachite http://www.kernowmod…-Set-number-373
K1003 Set 363 BR lined Crimson http://www.kernowmod…-Set-number-363
K1004 Set 373 BR Green (plated) http://www.kernowmod…-Set-number-373

There are a number of slight corrections already identified to be made, including the size and weight of the set numbers, running number and Southern sizes and positioning, the droplight colour on the olive green set and handrail colours etc.
Yes it is known that in the pictures left the bodies on these samples have been assembled on the chassis the wrong way around and swapped between driving and trailer cars, hence the steps not lining up with the gated entrances, and has since been corrected.

The purpose of these samples is to confirm the liveries (and a small number of corrections made to the body tooling since the last Engineering Prototype) and no further tooling changes are proposed. It is good at last to see further progress made and hopefully once the livery amendments can be made production slots can be allocated.

Livery samples have also been received from Bachmann for the 4-TC units, also known as class 491 and later class 438, commissioned by The Kernow Model Rail Centre that were first announced in June last year.

Initially six liveries will be produced:

32-640Z Bachmann Class 491 4-TC Unit number 416 in BR Blue livery with small yellow warning panels and etched BR logos
32-641Z Bachmann Class 491 4-TC unit number 404 in BR Blue and Grey livery
32-642Z Bachmann Class 438 4-TC unit number 8022 in BR Blue and Grey livery with Network SouthEast branding
32-643Z Bachmann Class 438 4-TC unit number 8023 in Network SouthEast livery
32-644Z Bachmann Class 438 4-TC unit number 410 in BR Blue livery with half yellow ends Premier Charter with etched BR logos
32-646Z Bachmann Class 438 unit number 8007 in BR Research red and blue livery

Bachmann ex SECR Birdcage sets first look at livery sample and other Work in Progress

Bachmann in 00 gauge have a number of SR related developments as work in progress at the moment. The highlight at the show was the first appearance of the first livery sample pf the ex SECR Birdcage sets.

The ex SECR Birdcage coaching stock, are at livery sample stage. Three livery versions have been announced namely: SECR Dark Lake,
SR Olive Green and BR crimson.
Bachmann having now received and showing the BR crimson version so far, with the other slightly more complex liveries to follow soon. The expected delivery dates are currently September / October.

The ex LBSR H2 class 4-4-2, is awaiting livery samples and expected delivery dates are currently November / December
The Class 450 4 Car EMUs are at livery sample stage and expected delivery dates are currently August/September

No further news on the progress, other than being at the R&D stage, of the Class 414 2-HAP or Class 410 4-BEP EMUs, or the Ransoms and Rapier 45T steam cranes at the moment.

In N gauge the Graham Farish C Class 0-6-0 announced earlier this year is in the R& D stage along with the Class 319 EMU whilst the SECR Birdcage coaches are in the drawing office.

Dapol put N Gauge models in abeyance including Bulleid Light Pacifics

Dapol have have announced, that due to: “effects of the decision to leave the EU last June continue, particularly on the devaluation of Sterling and the increase in the general feeling of uncertainty as the actual leave date looms. These effects coupled with the continued inflationary pressures being experienced in China means that the decision to invest in projects and develop new lines is becoming increasingly difficult. Not only is the unit cost of models rising at an alarming rate but the cost of the tooling is also escalating.” They went on to say: “Unfortunately, some previously announced and mooted projects will have to be put on abeyance until the economic conditions become more favourable. This is particularly, but not exclusively the case in N gauge were the small size of the market, the relatively high cost of manufacture and natural cap on retail prices means that returns are least favourable. Projects such as the Class 50, Class 59, prototype HST, Battle of Britain and others are being delayed as result of this.”

Dapol have confirmed that the N Gauge 4 compartment Brake Third and the Brake Composite are still to be released in the Summer and will not be impacted by the recent announcement.
I personally feel we might have to read between the lines a little on this, for example on what abeyance / delayed actually means…

[update 26/03/17] I can confirm that this not affect the  00 gauge ex LSWR B4, announced back in 2014, as this is in tooling and the had some of the first test pieces on display.