Posts Tagged ‘Bulleid coaches’

Hornby announce 2021 range including brand new Merchant Navys, catering vehicles and gangwayed luggage vans

Posted in Model News, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on January 5, 2021| 30 Comments »

Hornby have today announced their forthcoming range for 2021. The highlights from a Southern Railway perspective being new versions of the Merchant Navy’s with diecast bodies and Hornby Dublo branding, new Maunsell catering vehicles and a long awaited completely new tooled Ganywayed bogie luggage vans.

Locomotives

Although technically no new locomotive tooling for Southern modelers; however we see the introduction, following lasts years diecast models as part of the Centenary range, the introduction of two Merchant Navy Pacifics as limited editions (500 each)  under the Hornby Dublo brand. One of which is close to my heart being 35011 General Steam Navigation, as a Trustee and Director of the General Steam Navigation Locomotive Restoration Society that aims to restore her back to original condition with chain driven valve gear. To find out more about the project click here.
New liveries for the ex LBSC A1/A1X Terrier appear along with version of the Merchant Navy in the main range (although we are still awaiting a number of Merchant Navy versions  R3632 35024 in BR Blue announced in 2018 and R3649 35029 BR Green, R3716 35022 in BR Green and R3717 21C7 in SR Black from 2019 announcements).

  • R30005 – K&SER A1 class 0-6-0T No.3 “Bodiam” in K&ESR Blue livery as carried between May 1901 and the early 1930s. [Q3]
  • R30006 – BR 0-6-0T No. 32646 A1X class “Terrier” in BR unlined black with British Railways with no coal rails in SR sunshine lettering (as gained on the Isle of Wight when numbered W8) and new BR number in Gills Sans as she carried after returning from the Isle of Wight in August 1949 until approximately December 1951. [Q3]
  • R30008 – BR 0-6-0T No. 32640 A1X class “Terrier” in BR lined black and early crest and no coal rails as she was following a general repair at Eastleigh in March 1951 and subsequently working on the Hayling Island branch. [Q3]

  • R3866 – BR 4-6-2 No. 34051 “Sir Winston Churchill” Battle of Britain class with cut down tender in BR lined green with late emblem and speedometer fitted. As she ran from January 1960 and into preservation. Railway Museum collection. [Q1]
  • R3861 – BR BR 4-6-2 No. 35017 “Belgian Marine” Merchant Navy class in BR Green and early crest, no front fairing and black nameplate as she ran between March 1953 and being rebuilt in March 1957
  • R3970 – Hornby Dublo – BR 4-6-2 No. 35016 “Elders Fyffes” Merchant Navy Class in British Railways Malachite Green with Sunshine lettering as she carried between May 1949 and April 1950 (although at this time she retained the front fairings) – Die Cast body [Q3]
  • R3971 – Hornby Dublo – BR 4-6-2 No. 35011 “General Steam Navigation” Merchant Navy Class in BR Green early crest without front fairing as she carried between May 1953 and August 1957 –   Die Cast body [Q3]

Additional new tooled locomotives for 2021 include the LNER 2-8-2 P2 Class in both original and rebuilt form and a brand new BR 2-10-0 9F class. The A1 and A3 classes get an upgrade with die cast running plates. The only diesel or electric new tooling is a new industrial shunter in the form of the Ruston and Hornsby 88DS (the big brother to the previously released 48DS).  The BR Standard 6MT “Clan’s” also reappear.

Coaching Stock

2021 sees new tooling for both the Maunsell Diagram 2652 Dining Saloon Thirds and their conversions in July 1947 to  Third / Composite Dining Saloons to Diagram 2658.
The SR Gangwayed Bogie Luggage Van GBL (COR PMV as classified by BR), that has been regularly in the range since the days of Tri-ang has at long last been totally retooled to modern standards. These were introduced to Diagram 3099 built on ex LSWR 53’3″ chassis between 1929 and 1931. Thirty five were built to this diagram and most were withdrawn by 1960.
The BR MK1 range is also expanded with the addition of the Brake Corridor Composite (BCK) to Diagrams 171 and172 but not yet released in BR(s) Green.
We also see another set of the Bulleid 59ft ‘Shortie’ Coaches, see review here, in BR(s) green to make up set number 967 following repainting from crimson and cream in September 1957.

  • R40030 – SR Maunsell Third Class Dining saloon No. 7864 to Diagram 2652 in SR Lined Olive [Q4]
  • R40030A – SR Maunsell Third Class Dining saloon No. 7867 to Diagram 2652 in SR Lined Olive [Q4]
    [Edit 29/01/21] Hornby appear to have changed the running numbers of these to be their later Open Third guise, to be Nos. 1363 and 1366 respectively.

  • R40031 – BR(s) Maunsell Dining Saloon Third / Composite No. S7841S to Diagram 2658 in BR(s) Green. This coach is preserved on the Bluebell Railway. [Q4]
  • R40031A – BR(s) Maunsell Dining Saloon Third / Composite No. S7843S to Diagram 2658 in BR(s) Green [Q4]

  • R40029- BR(s) Maunsell Kitchen / Dining First No. S7998S to Diagram 2655 in BR Crimson and Cream livery [Q4]
  • R40029A – BR(s) Maunsell Kitchen / Dining First No. S7955S to Diagram 2651 in BR Crimson and Cream livery [Q4]
  • R40101 – BR(s) Maunsell Open Third No. S1338S to Diagram 2005 in BR(s) Green
  • R4888D – BR(s) Bulleid 59′ Diagram 2121 corridor brake 3rd  No. S2849S from Set 967 in BR(s) green livery [Q1]
  • R4888E – BR(s) Bulleid 59′ Diagram 2121 corridor brake 3rd  No. S2850S from Set 967 in BR(s) green livery [Q1]
  • R4886B – BR(s) Bulleid 59′ Diagram 2316 corridor composite No. S5713S from Set 967  in BR(s) green livery [Q1]

  • R400025 – BR(s) Mk1 Restaurant Buffet S1696 to Diagram 24 in BR(s) Green livery [Q3]
  • R60020 – SR GBL Gangwayed Bogie Luggage van No.2362 to Diagram 3099 in SR Olive Green livery [Q3]
  • R60020A – SR GBL Gangwayed Bogie Luggage van No.2471 to Diagram 3099 in SR Olive Green livery [Q3]
  • R60021 – BR COR PMV Gangwayed Bogie Luggage van No.S2477S to Diagram 3099 in BR Crimson livery [Q3]
  • R60057 – BR COR PMV Gangwayed Bogie Luggage van No.S2464S to Diagram 3099 in Pullman livery as used as Sir Winston Churchill’s funeral hearse on 30th January 1965 (see also R3866 above) [Q3]

Additional new tooling for coaches in the 2021 are a range of BR Mk4 coaches.

Generic Coaches

Hornby are also releasing a range of 4 and 6 wheel coaches and 4 wheel baggage brakes, that appear to be generally based on a number of LBSC Stroudley designs. These are going to go head to head with, and no doubt compared to,  the Hattons range of Genesis coaches they announced in October 2019 but are yet to arrive. They are being released in a number of livery options including 6 wheelers in SR lined olive, and 4 wheelers in LBSC and LSWR liveries. They are being offered with or without fitted lighting (lighting unit can be retro fitted to the non fitted versions. A number of the versions (GNR, BR Crimson and LNER) will be immediately available Q1.

Wagons

  • R6992 – SR 14T 6 wheel Milk tank wagon United Dairies No. 4430 a representation of a Diagram 3161 tanker.

No new wagon tooling has been announced for 2021.

Railroad range

The Railroad range sees what appears to be the ex Thomas tolling (as Hornby no longer have the rights to produce Thomas the tank engine products) modified sans face R30039 in a pseudo SECR livery number 326 (that would have been H class) perhaps they would have been better to produce it in LBSCR livery as one of the extended tank E2 class?).  The range also includes R3911 Class 71 electro-diesel as 73965 in GB Railfreight blue and orange livery.

Outstanding SR/BR(s)  items 

In addition to the four Merchant Navy pacifics the following iterms from previous announcements are still outstanding, and I do not have any available update, but are collated here for reference.

  • R3507TTS – BR 4-6-0 ‘30832’ Maunsell S15 Class, Urie style tender – BR Black early crest. [2017]
  • R3731 BR 0-4-0T No. 31177 H Class in BR lined black with early crest, pull push fitted. [2019]
  • R3732 – BR 4-6-0 ”Sir Walter Raleigh” No. 30852, Maunsell Lord Nelson Class in in BR Brunswick Green with early crest,  Lemaitre chimney, smoke deflectors and high sided tender. [2019]
  • R3733 – BR 4-6-0 ‘Robert Blake’ No. 30855 Maunsell Lord Nelson Class in BR Brunswick Green with late emblem,  Lemaitre chimney,  smoke deflectors and high sided tender. [2019]
  • R3763 – SR 0-4-4t H Class No. 1552 SR black, with non shaded lettering but shaded number. [2020]
  • R3862 – SR 4-6-0 Lord Nelson Class No. 864 ‘Sir Martin Frobisher’ SR Malachite Green. [2020]
  • R3863 – LSWR 4-4-0 T9 Class No. 120 in LSWR Green as preserved. [2020]

The full Hornby 2021 range can be found on the Hornby website here of the RMweb forum here and of course all items can be pre-ordered / purchased from our friends at the Kernow Model Rail Centre 

 

 

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Bachmann Bulleid coaches Engineering Prototypes arrive

Posted in Model News, tagged , , , , , , on December 23, 2020| 29 Comments »

To give us  Southern modellers some additional cheer just before this strangest of Christmas periods the first Engineering Prototypes (EP) of the much anticipated brand new range of Bulleid 64ft coaches have arrived.  I was privileged earlier this week to be able to assist the Bachmann development team with evaluating and reviewing the excellent EPs first hand.
I can honestly say they are exquisite, simply stunning and offer levels of detail and tooling variations that raise the already high bar for recent ready to run coaches and capture the Bulleid profile and style immediately you see them.

The tooling suite allows for a multitude of correct variations to suit the not only the coaches as introduced but modifications throughout their lifetime.  These include:

  • Window Ventilators: original 10 inch vents or later 15 inch vents (plus the corresponding toilet window ventilators – original horizontal-opening vents or later vertical-opening)
  • Bodysides: As-built or with later reinforcing strips added
  • Braking System: Original single vacuum cylinder or twin cylinder system
  • Battery Boxes: Multiple positions and Bulleid or BR Mk1 type
  • Dynamo: Bulleid or BR Mk1 type
  • Footboards and bogie footsteps: Multiple lengths and positions
  • Guard’s Handrails: Two or One / Short or Long
  • Water tanks: Long and short and central tanks
  • The correct style of end handrails / water tank filler pipes as appropriate

Bulleid Semi-Open Brake 3rd Diagram 2123 with10 in. window ventilators, bodyside reinforcing strips, two short guard’s handrails and Bulleid Dynamo & Battery Boxes. Tooling includes as originally built without the reinforcing strip

Bulleid Corridor Composite Diagram 2318 with 10 in. window ventilators and Bulleid Dynamo & Battery Boxes

Bulleid Brake Composite Diagram 2405 with 10 in. window ventilators, bodyside reinforcing strips, a single long guard’s handrail and Bulleid Dynamo & Battery Boxes

Bulleid Corridor Third Diagram 2019 with 15 in. window ventilators, bodyside reinforcing strips and BR Mk1 Dynamo & Battery Boxes

In addition to the variations each coach incorporates a superb level of detail including: separately fitted components, some etched,  such as: roof vents, lamp irons including the one as part of one of the end steps), etched underframe corner steps, toilet tank filler & overflow pipework  and the portrayal of a complete vacuum pipe-run between the sockets at each end of the vehicles.

The beautifully detailed SR 8ft steam bogies  incorporate free running electrical pickups (for future light bar fitting) and bearings, brake details and the correct footsteps as appropriate. The underframe gear is incredibly detailed with the different style of brake cylinders and brake pull rods.
Authentic interiors as we would expect are also included that will be clearly visible through wonderfully flush glazing that has been superbly achieved with next to no prismatic effect, and this also even applies to the characteristic Bulleid lozenged top lights above the door droplights.

The four body toolings in the initial release will include: Semi Open Brake Third (BTK) to Diagram 2123, Corridor Composite (CK) to Diagram 2318, Brake Composite (BCK) to Diagram 2405 and Corridor Third (TK) to Diagram 2019.

This will allow number of possible correct set combinations and liveries, with the potential for after the initial releases, versions to be released in the future in different livery and era specific detailing options.

The initial releases to make up correct sets are as follows:

  • 3 coach ‘L’ set 790 (BTK-CK-BTK) from range 770-793 with 10″ window vents in Southern Malachite introduced 1946
  • 5 coach ‘H’ set (BTK-TK-CK-TK-BTK) 847 from range 830 -849 with 15″ window vents in  BR Crimson and Cream introduced in 1950. These sets often also ran as 3 coach ‘L’ sets (often a winter formation) minus the two TKs’
  • 2 coach ‘R’ set (BTK-BCK) 69 from range 63 – 75 with 10″ window vents in BR Green livery with side strengthening ribs

The individual coach initial releases are as follows:

  • 34-725 Bulleid Semi-Open Brake Third Dia 2123 (10″ Vents) in Southern Railway Malachite Green No. 4341
  • 34-725A  Bulleid Semi-Open Brake Third Dia 2123 (10″ Vents) in Southern Railway Malachite Green No. 4342
  • 34-750 Bulleid Corridor Composite Dia 2318 (10″ Vents) in Southern Railway Malachite Green No. 5771
    34-725/725A/750 will make set 790
  • 34-775 Bulleid Corridor Third Dia 2019 (10″ Vents) in  Malachite Green but with BR “S” prefixes as delivered in late 1948, this coach is a ‘loose’ coach that would be added to strengthen sets. No. TBC from  range s1932 to s1936
  • 34-726  Bulleid Semi-Open Brake Third Dia 2123 (10″ Vents) in BR (SR) Green No. S4377S
  • 34-800  Bulleid Brake Composite Dia 2405 (10″ Vents) in BR (SR) Green No.S6706S
    34-726/800 will make set 69
  • 34-727 Bulleid Semi-Open Brake Third Dia 2123 (15″ Vents) in BR Crimson & Cream No. S4005S
  • 34-727A Bulleid Semi-Open Brake Third Dia 2123 (15″ Vents) in BR Crimson & Cream No. S4006S
  • 34-751 Bulleid Corridor Composite Dia 2318 (15″ Vents) in BR Crimson & Cream No. S5865S
  • 34-776 Bulleid Corridor Third Dia 2019 (15″ Vents) in BR Crimson & Cream No. S75S
  • 34-776A Bulleid Corridor Third  Dia 2019 (15″ Vents) in BR Crimson & Cream No. S76S
    34-727/727A/751/776/776A will make set 847

Due to the attention to detail already engineered into these models there are very few further amendments to the tooling necessary and we can now look forward to the fully decorated samples in due course. The range can also be found on the Bachmann website here and they can be Pre-Ordered from Kernow Model Rail Centre here.

One omission from the current range is the ‘Loose’ Brake Composite to Diagram 2406. These were used on West of England services and were dropped of at junction stations to provide a single through coach to various branch line destinations in the South West and so are important for anyone modelling such services.  These loose version differed from the Diagram 2405 by having the pair of lavatories in the centre of the coach between the 1st and 3rd class compartments rather then at the non brake end. The corresponding roof mounted water tank was therefore also in the centre of the coach.  I have discussed the requirement for such a Diagram, so they are aware of the potential demand.

The images are copyright and courtesy of Bachmann Europe plc.

I am certainly looking forward more than ever now for these to complete the development process and go into manufacture, as I know it will be well worth the wait.

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Bachmann and Graham Farish 2019 catalogues launched, a round up from an SR / BR(s) perspective [Updated]

Posted in Model News, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on January 14, 2019| 5 Comments »

The 2019 Bachmann Branchline and Graham Farish Catalogues were launched today at a trade event held in London. Alongside the announcement of a small number of new-tooling projects, mainly wagons in 00 and N gauges the 009 range increases with new tooling for the delightful and minuscule  Baguley-Drewry 70hp Diesel 0-4-0 shunter,  as used since the early 1980s by the Royal Naval Armaments Depot, along with 4 suitable wagons.
Although no new tooling specifically for SR / BR(s) modellers have been announced as many previously  announced models are still under development such as the 64ft Bulleid coaches, a host of new models utilising existing tooling were unveiled.

Bachmann Europe advised that with a changing retail climate and increased competition across multiple sectors, 2018 proved to be a challenging, but ultimately still a successful year for Bachmann Europe, culminating in the release of several key products during the final quarter. These of course included the lovely 00 scale ex LBSC H1 and H2 4-4-2 Atlantics.  Bachmann Europe also stated that despite the closure of one of the production facilities operated by their parent company, Kader,  the new facilities in China (Gaobu) that were in the process of being commissioned during 2018, are now fully operational with staffing levels and output continuing to rise.

Bachmann Branchlines 00 Gauge

The only new 00 gauge tooling is that of the HKA bogie hopper wagon seen on the current network since 1995 and these will be released three livery variants, with plug in buffers to be adaptable between inner and outer wagons within rakes.

  • 38-036 HKA Bogie Hopper ‘National Power’ – weathered
  • 38-037 HKA Bogie Hopper ‘National Power’ (De-Branded) – weathered
  • 38-038 HKA Bogie Hopper DB Schenker

The new livery releases base on existing tolling of SR / BR(s) interest are as follows:

  • 31-460A SE&CR C Class 583 SE&CR Lined Green (Original)
  • 32-956 BR Standard 4MT with BR1B Tender 76066 BR Lined Black (Late Crest) – weathered
  • 31-520SF Class 159 3-Car DMU 159013 BR Network SouthEast (Revised) – SOUND FITTED
  • 31-236A Class 205 DEMU 1121 BR (SR) Green (Small Yellow Panels) – weathered
  • 31-238A Class 205 DEMU 1122 BR Blue – weathered
  • 31-239A Class 205 DEMU 205001 BR Network SouthEast (Revised) – weathered
  • 31-381 Class 416 2-EPB 2-Car EMU 6262 BR Blue & Grey – weathered
  • 31-426C Class 411 4-CEP 4-Car EMU 7122 BR (SR) Green (Small Yellow Panels)
  • 31-427C Class 411 4-CEP 4-Car EMU 7106 BR Blue & Grey – weathered
  • 31-265A Class 419 MLV S68002 BR (SR) Green
  • 31-267A Class 419 MLV S68008 BR Blue & Green

Coaches

  • 39-604 SE&CR 60ft Birdcage Brake Composite Lavatory SE&CR Wellington Brown
  • 39-614 SE&CR 60ft Birdcage Composite Lavatory SE&CR Wellington Brown
  • 39-624 SE&CR 60ft Birdcage Brake Third SE&CR Wellington Brown
  • 39-526A SR PMV Parcels & Miscellaneous Van BR Crimson

Wagons

  • 37-935 3 Plank Wagon SR Brown
  • 38-081C SR 12T 2+2 Planked Ventilated Van BR Grey (Early) – weathered
  • 38-082D SR 12T 2+2 Planked Ventilated Van BR Bauxite (Early) – weathered
  • 38-076D SR 12T Plywood Ventilated Van BR Bauxite (Early)
  • 38-401B SR 25T ‘Pill Box’ Brake Van Left-Hand Duckets BR Grey (Early) – weathered
  • 38-077 SR 12T Plywood Ventilated Van BR Bauxite (Late) – weathered
  • 38-402B SR 25T ‘Pill Box’ Brake Van Right-Hand Duckets BR Bauxite (Early) – weathered

and in 009

  • 391-032 Baldwin 10-12-D Tank E763 ‘Sid’ SR Maunsell Green
  • 393-030 Bogie Covered Goods Wagon SR Insulated

Graham Farish N Gauge

New tooling in the Graham Farish range includes the WD 40T ‘Parrot’ bogie wagon in WD department and LMS grey liveries and also, as per in  00, the HKA bogie hopper wagon in the three livery versions.  The British Railways Class 5 MT 4-6-0 has been upgraded to include for the fitting of Sound with options of a fully sound fitted version or just a factory fitted speaker. The sound upgrade has also been applied to the Class 14, Class 60, Class 101 DMU and Class 150 DMU.

  • 372-727A BR Standard 5MT with BR1B Tender 73109 BR Lined Black (Early Emblem)
  • 372-728SF BR Standard 5MT with BR1 Tender 73049 BR Lined Green (Late Crest) – SOUND FITTED
  • 372-729 BR Standard 5MT with BR1 Tender 73050 BR Lined Black (Late Crest) – weathered

The new livery releases base on existing tolling of SR / BR(s) interest are as follows:

  • 372-936 SE&CR N Class 1860 SR Black (Sunshine)
  • 371-606 Class 42 ‘Warship’ D820 ‘Grenville’ BR Green (Late Crest)
  • 371-600B Class 42 ‘Warship’ D809 ‘Champion’ BR Maroon (Small Yellow Panels)
  • 371-601B Class 42 ‘Warship’ 812 ‘The Royal Naval Reserve 1859-1959’ BR Blue
  • 371-680 Class 220 4-Car DEMU 220018 ‘Dorset Voyager’ Virgin Trains (Revised)

Coaches

  • 374-418 SR PLV Passenger Luggage Van SR Maunsell Green
  • 374-011C BR Mk1 TSO Tourist Second Open BR (SR) Green
  • 374-010E BR Mk1 TSO Tourist Second Open BR Crimson & Cream
  • 374-815A BR Mk1 FO First Open BR Crimson & Cream
  • 374-160A BR Mk1 FK First Corridor BR Crimson & Cream
  • 374-632A SR Bogie B Luggage Van BR Blue – weathered
  • 374-419 SR CCT Covered Carriage Truck BR Departmental Olive Green

Wagons

  • 377-875A SR 25T ‘Queen Mary’ Brake Van SR Brown
  • 377-852A SR 25T ‘Pill Box’ Brake Van BR Grey (Early)
  • 377-876A SR 25T ‘Queen Mary’ Brake Van BR Bauxite (Late)
  • 377-878 SR 25T ‘Queen Mary’ Brake Van BR Departmental Olive Green

Work in progress

In the Drawing Office

  • Bulleid Coaches (00)
  • Class 410 / 4Bep (00)
  • Class 450 (N)
  • Class 319 (N)

Engineering Samples

  • Class 414 / 2Hap (00) [Due Q4]
  • Class 117 (00) [Due Q4]

Artwork (and due to be in production this year)

  • Class 159 (00) [Due Q4]
  • Ransomes & Rapier 45T Steam Crane (00) [Due Q3]
  • ex SECR C CLass 0-6-0 (N) [Due Q2]
  • ex SECR Birdcage coaches (N) [Due Q1]

The full range can be found on  the Bachmann website here. Many will consider this appearing to be a lean year for Bachmann Europe especially when compared to the 2019 range announcement made by Hornby last week, however with much work in progress from previous announcements still to appear this is perhaps hardly surprising and sensible especially in light of the factory upheaval experienced during 2018.

 

 

 

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Bachmann and Graham Farish mid term work in progress update from an SR and BR(s) perspective

Posted in Model News, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 4, 2018| 2 Comments »

As has been the case in previous years the team at Bachmann have provided the media, and Bachamnn Collectors Club members, with a mid-term update on work in progress across all the many stages of the manufacturing process from: research, Drawing office CAD, Tool room, Engineering Prototypes samples, livery artwork, production and being shipped. This post is a quick summary of the status of those models of a Southern Railway / British Railways Southern Region flavour. Although some items have been a long time coming, what can be seen is that catch up / progress is being made. Click on  the linked text to get more information on the details of each item from my post on the original announcement.

Bachmann 00

The EP1 of the 2HAP EMU. Picture copyright and courtesy of Bachmann.

The long-awaited ex LBSC H2 Class 4-4-2 Atlantic is very imminent, being released in two versions No. 2421 ‘South Foreland’ SR Olive Green and No. 32424 ‘Beachy Head’ BR Black Early livery. I have been fortunate to have a review sample in my possession and will be posting a review in the next week or so, watch this space.  Being produced alongside the H2 Class is the earlier H1 Class version initially as No. 39 ‘La France’ in LBSCR livery, which is also being shipped.

Within the drawing room are the many permutations, 5 types, of the Bulleid coaches along with the 4BEP (Class 410) EMU.

A front end close up of the 2HAP EP1. Picture copyright and courtesy A York

The 2HAP (Class 414) EMU is at the first Engineering Prototype (EP1) stage and as from the accompanying pictures is looking the part.  Three livery versions will initially be released being: BR green livery, BR blue & grey livery and Network South East livery. At the second Engineering Prototype stage is the 158/159 DMU with with the  3 car 159 Class to be released as No. 159013 in Network South East livery.

Graham Farish N

Recently shipped have been the four versions of the Bulleid coaches in BR(s) malachite green that together, BTK – TK – CK- BTK, create four coach set s84.

The lovely ex SECR Birdcage coaches, already released in 00, scaled down for N gauge and being released in SECR Wellington Brown, Southern Railway Olive Green and BR Crimson liveries are now approved for production.

The Class 450 and Class 319 EMUs are in the drawing office, whilst the 3 versions of the ex SECR C Class 0-6-0 as No. 271 SECR plain green livery,  No. 1256 Southern Railway Black livery and No. 31227 in BR Black livery with early emblem along with the Class 170 2 Car DMU No. in 170308 in South West Trains livery are at the artwork approval stage.

I hope you find this round up interesting and as stated above watch this space for a forthcoming review of the ex LBSC H2 Class 4-4-2 Atlantic.

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Talking Stock #27 4mm Bulleid coaches – new R-T-R on the way?

Posted in Fisherton Sarum, General, Talking Stock, tagged , , , , , , , , , on January 10, 2014| 6 Comments »

The topic of Bulleid coaches has come to the fore again via a number of mediums. Firstly; the new Graham Farish Bulleid coaches in 2mm N gauge have hit the shops, a good review of them by Nigel Burkin can be found on the Model Railways Live website here. Secondly; current Model Rail magazine editor Ben Jones included a bit of crystal ball gazing in his editorial within the magazines Winter issue No. 191 mentioning that an upgrade of the now long in the tooth Bachmann 4mm Bulleid coaches as a possibility for being announced this year, on the basis of the additional research having been carried out for the all new Graham Farish versions.

The original Bachmann 4mm  Bulleid coaches  were first introduced back in 1993 and were before the level of detail on the subsequently introduced BR Mk1 coaches such as close coupling, flush glazing, separate water tank filer pipes / end handrails and finer underframe detail, it does leaves the Bulleid range slightly lacking.  Further information on these models can be found on the page I wrote on the Southern Email Group website here.

Both the new Graham Farish and old Bachmann Bulleid coaches are based on the BR 1950’s built versions reflecting the type of underframe detail and the most obvious feature of the BR Built examples the 15″ deep window vents as opposed to the Southern Built versions with 10″ deep vents.

My modelling time frame of 1946 to 1949  therefore excludes the Bachmann versions so I have had to look elsewhere for the coaches in my fleet.

Coach coach multidoor set no. 984

3  coach multidoor set no. 984

First up is 3 coach set no. 984 comprising of Bulleid 63ft Multidoor stock (i.e. a door for each compartment)  first introduced in early 1946 built from the now unfortunately unavailable Southern Pride kits. This type of kit comprises of a pre printed colour overlay on a clear shell giving a near flush glaze effect. I have two of these three coach rakes although I do feel their version of malachite to be slightly on the bright green side of the spectrum. Although the Bulleid kits are no longer available from Southern Pride they are still a valuable source of coach detailing parts.

2 coach set no.63

2 coach set no.63

Following on from the multidoor stock, later in 1946, Bulleid introduced a new design layout with compartments no longer having individual doors and access being via the corridors and vestibules . These as explained above had 10″ deep ventilators which easily identifies them from the later BR built versions. Illustrated left is 2 coach set no.63,  built from Southern Railway Group’s Phoenix (ex BSL) range of aluminum bodied kits, comprising of Semi open brake 3rd No. 4371 (kit reference SC50) and Brake Composite No. 6700 (SC51)

3 Coach set no. 771

3 Coach set no. 771

My Set no. 771 also built from SRG Phoenix kits comprises of Semi open brake 3rd No. 4303 (SC50), Corridor Composite No. 5752 (SC52) and Semi open brake 3rd No. 4304 (SC50) This is usually coupled to Set 63 when on Fisherton Sarum. Like the prototype I use buckeye couplings between my coaches in their rakes and screw couplings at the outer ends.

I confess to having built these some years ago now and they do still lack some further detailing such as door hinges and handles etc. that some day I will go back to and fit, but as when running on Fisherton Sarum they are viewed from the 6th away it does not get noticed (I now await the first person to make a comment at the next about it…). There are a few other variants of Bulleid coaches and some of these will be the subject of further posts as I have one of Bulleid’s first 3 coach multidoor sets on the workbench that were built on Maunsell style 59ft underframes.

I can not say at this point if Bachmann will update their 4mm Bulleid coaches or not but If they do my guess is that they will still, as per the Graham Farish range, be the later 1950 BR built versions.

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Bachmann announce new models for 2012/13

Posted in Model News, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on March 13, 2012| 5 Comments »

At the now annual trade model and hobby show held today Bachmann / Farish announced their plan for new models to be produced over the next 18 months.

In 00 there are no new Southern related locomotives (although four new steam locomotives from other areas and a DMU will be produced), however they will be producing a range of the four wheel 10T luggage / parcels vans (PLV / PMV / CCT)

The N gauge Farish range will see new tooling for the Original style Bulleid Merchant Navy Pacifics (Initial 3 versions will be of Third series MN’s with 6000 gallon tenders, in BR Blue and Brunswick with both Early and Late crests) and a brand new range of Bulleid coaches (BR built 15″ Ventilator versions) and includes a BSK, SK, SO and CK. The four wheel luggage van CCT will also be produced in N gauge.

Full details of all the announcements other than those of Southern interest above can be found on RMweb here.

As I am overseas at the moment I will post additional information in due course, so watch this space!

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