At this weekend’s London Festival of Railway Modelling, Dapol announced new production batches of their ex LSWR Adams B4 0-4-0 tanks and Class 73 Electro-Diesels both in 00 gauge.
Adams B4
‘Guernsey’ from the second batch shunts on Canute Road Quay , the newly announced sister ‘Jersey’ is likely to be in this condition‘Caen’ and my already renamed ‘Trouville’ show off their Southampton Docks brown livery on Canute Road Quay
The Dapol ex LSWR B4 class 0-4-0t were first announced back in March 2014 and the first versions arrived in June 2018., with a second batch with further livery and detail variants including the first appearance of the Drummond Boiler fitted and one of the 5 off Drummond K14 versions, arriving during 2020.
This third batch includes seven new versions, to the same technical specification as the previous batches, (exact livery versions or artwork have not yet been released) as follows:
4S-018-005 B4 0-4-0T BR Late Crest 30096, as carried between c1959 and December 1963
4S-018-012 B4 0-4-0T Lined Dark Green Jersey 91 [sic Dapol have the number incorrect as she was 81] , as she carried between November 1893 and circa 1920/1 when she gained a more enclosed cab.
4S-018-013 B4 0-4-0T LSWR Dark Green 82, K14 type with Drummond Boiler, as her condition between April 1907 and February 1924 when she gained SR Goods lined black livery.
4S-018-014 B4 0-4-0T Trouville Brown 89, as carried from approx 1923 to April 1935 if no rear cab number or April 1935 to February 1950 if the number is painted on the cab rear.
4S-018-015 B4 0-4-0T Southern Black lined 99, as she carried between January 1926 and January 1936.
4S-018-016 B4 0-4-0T Black ‘Corrall Queen’ nameplate and 30096 smokebox door number plate as she ran between December 1963 and December 1972 when she was owned by P.D.Fuels Ltd of Dibles Wharf.
4S-018-017 B4 0-4-0T Dorset Green 99, after sale in February 1949 to Stewarts & Lloyds Ltd (Bilson Staffordshire) and being scrapped by August 1958.
The livery artwork is under preparation and the finished models are not expected to be available until Q3 2023.
Class 73
E6012 JB type73002 a JA type, note the slightly different side windows73136 in Intercity Executive livery
Also announced are a new batch of seven Class 73 Electro-Diesel liveries, and sees the return of BR Blue livery models that have not featured in the line up since the model run was released in November 2015.
The first six of the eventual class of 49 were built by BR at their Eastleigh works in 1962 and were designated Type JA. The remaining locomotives, with a higher power output and top speed increased from 80 to 90mph. were built by English Electric at Vulcan Foundry at Newton Le Willows between 1965 and 1967 and were designated type JB.
4D-006-015 Class 73 JB Electric Blue E6012 Small Yellow Panel
4D-006-016 Class 73 JB Early Blue SYP & Double Arrow Logo E6031
4D-006-018 Class 73 JB BR Blue FYP 73120
4D-006-017 Class 73 JA BR Blue FYP 73002
4D-006-020 Class 73 JB Intercity Executive 73136
4D-006-019 Class 73 JB Large Logo BR Blue 73126
4D-006-021 Class 73 JB GB Railfreight Battle of Britain 73109
Dapol advise that the decorated samples, with the same technical specification as previous batches, are under review and feedback is being provided to the factory to correct a small number of minor issues. The models are expected to be available towards the end of the year.
Two new books recently published and provided to me by my friends at Strathwood Publishing are Southern Lament – Bulleid’s Light Pacifics and Southern Electrics Scrapbook Volume II. These wide landscape format books contain 208 and 176 pages respectively often with multiple black and white photographs per page along with well researched and informative captions.
The first book, Southern Lament – Bulleid’s Light Pacifics features each of the 110 Bulleid Light Pacifics in turn covering them in both original and where relevant rebuilt form. The photographs are from a number of sources such as: Colour Rail,Rail photoprints and the Transport Treasury so will not be new to many of us, there are also a number of photographs from other sources such as Strathwood‘s own library, that are not so familiar and many that I have not seen before. They are all nicely reproduced and at a good size afforded by the wide landscape format.
By covering each locomotive in turn and including images from different periods of their working life it provides a great reference for railway historians and modellers alike.
It was good to see the number of detail variations and differences in liveries included and well highlighted within the captions. The differences in liveries and lettering styles around the time of nationalisation is a particular interest of mine and gives further food for thought for some future models. I particularly liked the image of 34036 having been renumbered but still in malachite but with a large early British Railways emblem on the tender one of only four to have that particular combination. I certainly recommend this book to any Bulleid enthusiast.
The second book Southern Electrics Scrapbook Volume II is another new selection of excellent photographs to compliment all of the previous volumes detailing the Southern Region’s fleet of EMUs, Different chapters cover topics such as: Blue is the colour, Kent Coast electrics inside and out, Snow worries, Passing the box, Everyday service, Towards push & pull on the Bournemouth line, and Specials.
As with the Southern Lament book some of the photographs being from sources such as: Colour Rail, Brian Stephenson and Anistr.com might be familiar to some however a large number are from other collections and were certainly new to me.
All the photographs include informative and detailed captions from David Brown the renowned author on all matters Southern Electric.
Obviously the majority of the photographs cover the variety of Electric Multiple units ranging from the: 1940 Waterloo and City stock, early variety of 4-Subs, 2-Nols, 2-Hals , 2-Bils, 4-Cors, 6-Pan, 6-Pul and Brighton Belles through to the BR built MK1 based units. The book doesn’t forget the locomotive scene either with classes 71, 73 and, of particular interest to me at the moment, the Bulleid Raworth booster electric locomotives.
Not all the images actually include an EMU or locomotive but include the infrastructure of the time and along with many of the photographs allowing the eye to be drawn away from the main subject the combination of details and entire scenes within the photographs will assist modellers of the period and give or take a few years as well.
Both these Strathwood Publishing books are well worth a read regardless of your particular direct interest as they include a variety of information and inspiration across a wide range of areas.
Heljan have this week announced that now in development is for release in 2022 is a ready-to-run 0 gauge model of English Electric’s pioneering Class 73 – their first electric locomotive in this scale.
Designed to operate on both third-rail electric and diesel power in non-electrified areas such as yards and depots, the Class 73s lived a relatively mundane life until they were thrust into the limelight when the new ‘Gatwick Express’ operation started in 1984. Over the years, the class has worked everything from express passenger to newspaper and mail, freight and engineering trains. The advent of Sectorisation in the mid-1980s saw the standard BR blue livery replaced by a rainbow of liveries, a trend that continues today.
Class 73 in GB Railfreight livery
Despite a steady decline in the 1990s, these hugely versatile locomotives have seen a revival in the 21st century and continue to play a vital role hauling engineering and test trains for GB Railfreight and Network Rail on the 750V DC third-rail network and beyond. Now seen over a much wider area than in BR days, the ‘EDs’ have gained a cult following and 13 locomotives have even been rebuilt with more powerful diesel engines and modern electronics transforming them into 1,600hp go-anywhere machines.
Heljan’s all-new model is being designed to offer a range of authentic detail variations covering the entire career of the production batch built in 1965-67, many of which are still active on the main line network and heritage railways. These will include locomotives with or without high intensity headlights and NRN radio aerials, radio pods and optional fibreglass arc shields fitted to the bogies from the mid-1980s onwards.
Ten versions have been selected, covering a broad cross-section of BR, Sectorisation and Privatisation era liveries from 1965 to the present day – see below for more information. They are also currently examining options for models with factory-fitted DCC sound, details of which will be confirmed separately. The likely Price for DCC Ready models will be £625.00.
7300: BR Blue E6008 (small yellow panels/grey solebar) WEATHERED
7306: Revised Network SouthEast 73126 Kent & East Sussex Railway
7308: EW&S red/gold 73128
7309: Network Rail yellow 73212
7310: GB Railfreight blue/orange 73107 Tracy
Standard features will include sprung buffers, wire handrails, fine etched grilles, separately fitted buffing plates, SR 27-way multiple working cables and hoses, windscreen wipers, sandpipes, bogie and bufferbeam details. CAD work is currently in progress. It will also feature their proven high-performance twin motor/flywheel chassis with all-wheel drive and pick-up, separately switchable cab, headcode and engine room lights, an ESU XL pin decoder interface and provision for DCC sound.
KMS Railtech have announced that they are in talks with Accurascale to produce the Class 73/9 locomotive in 4mm OO Gauge.
They are currently in the initial stages of the project and at this point are encouraging expressions of interest. If there is sufficient demand they would open up the project for pre-orders and delivery of the model would be expected 18 months later.
Pricing is expected to be £179.99 for DCC Ready and £269.99 for DCC Sound.
They are looking to initially provide two running numbers of each of the following liveries:
Caledonian Sleeper
GBRf
Network Rail
Proposed Specification:
Highly detailed OO/1:76.2 scale model
Heavy die-cast metal chassis
Separately applied etched metal and high fidelity plastic detail parts, including grab handles, aerials, steps, wipers, nameplates, crests and more
Scale width wire handrails
Full underbody tank detail with brackets and pipework
Bogies feature separate footsteps, brake cylinders, speed recorder, end brake rigging and very fine brake chain
Brake blocks on trucks (bogies) in line with wheels (can be moved for EM/P4 gauges)
RP25-110 profile OO gauge wheels
Fully sprung metal buffers, extra-fine factory-installed pipework and screw couplings
Correct height mini-tension-lock couplers with NEM socket as well as a fully detailed bufferbeam
Provided DCC ready [21Pin MTC Socket]
Every model includes PowerPack / Backup Power Capacitor Bank for up to ten seconds of power free running, flicker free lighting and continuous sound
Minimum Radius 438mm (2nd Radius Set-track)
DCC Sound Versions include:
ESU LokSound V5 DCC Chip
Customised Dual-Speaker Technology with:
Large EM2 Style Bass Speaker
Smaller ‘smartphone’ style cube for higher frequencies
High Performance traction, to include:
High-quality five-pole motor with two flywheels
Helical gears for maximum performance and slow speed running
DCC ready with PowerPack Super-capacitor for uninterrupted power and super low speed running
All wheel drive and all wheel pickup
Fully detailed Lighting Pack, including:
Directional lighting on DC and DCC
Fully functional Headlights per prototype
WIPAC light clusters with day and night-time settings
Separately switched cab lighting and illuminated, details driver’s console, auto off on movement
Switchable red tail lights
Accurascale’s Director of Product Development & Commissions, Patrick Conboy, said: “We are delighted to be working alongside KMS Railtech to produce the Class 73/9 in OO gauge. KMS are a young company with tremendous drive and ambition, and that is reflected in their decision to commission a high-spec model of these fantastic locomotives. The Class 73/9 dovetails nicely with our forthcoming Caledonian Sleeper Mk5 coaches, and together they will provide modellers with the means to recreate some of the most iconic present-day passenger services on Britain’s railway network.”
Last weekend saw the annual Warley National Model railway Exhibition at the NEC, this post rounds up the news from a Southern / BR(s) perspective. As duplication seems to be the order of the day I have also duplicated part of the post title from one I have used before. It is usual for some manufacturers to use the event to make announcements of new items or showcase updates to new products under development. This year was no exception although Hornby make the unusual step of announcing part of their intended plans for 2015 at the show.
Many thanks to those of you who read this blog for popping by the Shortley Bridge and Felton Cement Works layout on the Hornby Magazine stand, where I was playing trains all weekend, and saying hello it was good to see you.
Hornby
In making the unusual step of a pre-announcement announcement of their 2015 range Hornby are going head to head with two previously announced SR / BR(s) models from other manufacturers. This is likely to be due to the fact that they have been working on the development of these models for some time now, Simon Kohler discusses such duplication in his interesting blog on the Hornby website here (posted just before the Warley show). Some people may ask why manufacturers can not simply talk to each other to avoid such duplication but this of course would fall foul of anti competition laws.
Image copyright and courtesy A York
First up is the ex LSWR Adams Radial 4-4-2T, that was announced earlier this moth by Oxford Rail. Hornby had an Engineering Prototype on display they also had on display extracts from CAD drawings that show their intent to produce variations of Chimney and Boilers (Adams vrs Drummond) and also frame lengths, images of these can be found on the Hornby website here along with details of other non SR related items. Hornby advise that this model should be available late 2015. This particular prototype has finished high in recent wish list polls, hence the interest. I was also assisting another potential manufacturer of this model but this has now been sensibly replaced with another model instead, albeit non SR related, once the intent of the other parties was discovered.
In addition to the above announcements that also had livery samples of the ex LSWR Drummond 700 Class 0-6-0’s on display.
Hornby will be announcing the full details of their 2015 range on the 17th December and I will bring you a round up all the specific SR and BR(s) information to you at the same time, having been briefed along with the rest of the model railway media at Margate a week before.
Bachmann
Image copyright and courtesy A York
On the Bachmann stand were livery samples of their ex LBSC E4 on display in both Maunsell Pre 1931 lined olive green and also BR black versions.
The exhibition also saw for the first time the, only just arrived, Engineering Prototype of the Southern Passenger Luggage vans PLV/PMV’s.
An initial image, a better one will be uploaded in due course
I am now also able to confirm that only one tooling [*update 28/11/14 below] for these vans is being introduced to despite their catalogue and website that mixing the terms PLV/PMV and CCT they are not producing a Southern Van U (BR designation CCT) with the end opening doors. Further information about these vans and the various can be found on my Talking Stock #6 post SR Luggage Vans which is based on the kits that this RTR version will now also kind of duplicate.
Graham Farish
No new SR related news to be had as they were showing the same first off Engineering samples of the N class and original style third series Merchant Navy Bulleid pacific that we have seen before, this does not of course mean that no further progress has been made behind the scenes.
Model Rail Magazine
Model Rail Magazine announced a further two livery versions of their USTC/SR USA 0-6-0T model commissioned via Bachmann, in the form of: MR105 N0. 300 ‘Major-General Frank S. Ross’ in Longmoor Military Railway blue and MR106 No. DS233 in department black with post 1956 BR emblem, these and the previously announced models can be pre-ordered here although Model Rail advise that If you want a ‘USA tank’ you need to be quick placing your pre-order as one livery has already sold out and others are nearly all sold. Away from the show I have been privileged to have assisted in the reviewing of the CADs for these models and they are now very close to going for tooling.
Dapol
Dapol had on display various model samples for models first announced back in 2012 :
In N gauge, livery samples of their Maunsell coaches in SR Olive Green along with the Van C.
In 4mm scale they had the latest Engineering prototypes of both versions of the Class 73 Electro Diesel (73/0 – JA and 73/1 – JB). It appears that the 73/0 variant might be available first, even though to date they have only announced 73/1 versions!
For 0 Gauge modellers the first liveried sample of the Terrier was on display in Brighton livery.
Heljan
On their stand in addition to livery samples of the 05 Class diesel shunter (one of the prototypes of course was outposted on the Isle of Wight for quite some time) they had the kit of parts that will make up their 009 ready to run Lynton and Barnstaple 2-6-2 Exe, Tor and Yeo locomotives.
Comet Models
Following the untimely passing of proprietor and friend Geoff Brewin, in September, his family are pleased to announce that the entire extensive range of locomotive chassis, coach kits and detailing items has now been successfully sold to Andrew Hartshorne of Wizard Models (and Model Signal Engineering), welcome news indeed. The transfer is planned to take place over the weekend of the 5th – 7th December inclusive, and Andrew hopes to open for trade of Comet items on Monday December 8th.
So all in all a very busy Warley show, with many announcements made, including those of interest to modellers of other railways. I am sure some will have ongoing ramifications within the model railway world, including no doubt some conspiracy theories, interesting times ahead I feel…
[*update 28/11/14]
I have now received a further clarification from Bachmann with respect to the tooling being produced for the PLV/PMV and they have advised the following:
The first engineering samples of the forthcoming Bachmann Branchline Southern Utility Vans were displayed at the 2014 Warley Show. Two bodies have been tooled for these models which cover the Southern PMV which have one vent at each end (item Nos. 39-525, 39-526 & 39-527); whilst the second tooling portrays a CCT vehicle which has been converted to a PMV, this is evident from the sealed end doors with four vents at each end (item No. 39-528). An image of such a vehicle can be found at http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/srcct/h1552e6d6#h1552e6d6. The image used in the 2014 Bachmann Branchline catalogue for item No. 39-528 incorrectly shows a standard PMV. I trust this clarifies the situation.
Thanks to Bachmann for the clarification over and above what I was informed by them at Warley.
Whilst this running sample is substantially more complete detail wise than the first samples there are still a number of details to be added and this running sample, does not yet represent the finished models, although it is pretty much the Kernow Model Centre K2105 variant representing number 225 (the finished model will be in Southern Black with Bulleid sunshine lettering) as fitted with Pull Push gear.
The left hand side of the running sample.
It is good to see we are getting tantalisingly close, the next steps will be a few minor tweaks / corrections before moving onto livery samples.
Although the video quality is slightly questionable Kernow have posted this video showing the running sample doing what a running should be doing i.e. running…
Latest deliveries from Bachmann with a Southern flavour include a couple of livery variants of the Wainwright C Class 0-6-0: 31-464 number 593 in Southern Railway Black livery with Green Lining and also 31-464 number 271 in simplified SECR lined green.
Also about to hit the shops from Dapol in 7mm is the first of the SR 25t Pill Box Brake Vans. This first variant is the even planked Right Hand ducket version and was first tooled before Richard Webster started at Dapol. Whilst Richard was able to retool a couple of areas, e.g. the roof profile, of this model there are still a number of errors that will be corrected on later variants.
As regular readers of this blog will know I have been assisting the Kernow Model Centre with the development of these Adams O2 models and it’s nice to report this bit of good news. As originally announced back in July 2012 some might question the time taken to get this far and indeed this has
Kernow Models O2 K2101 W24 Calbourne
been longer than anticipated for a number of reasons; however what I can say is that the time taken has been worth it to get all the variants correct to a high standard of detail.
Work is still continuing with the Kernow Model Centre Gate Stock Pull Push Sets with a further set of CAD drawings recently received but these still require a few more minor amendments before we will be happy to sign these off for tooling. I am pleased to also confirm that the tolling will allow for the later characteristic steel panelling modification that was applied to set 373 in its later life.
In other 4mm 00 news…
Bachmann have now added images of the painted samples of the latest version of the ex SECR Wainright 0-6-0 C Class locomotives, click on the links below for the image, both are now shown as being available in July / August this year:
Dapol has advised that work is still progressing on their Class 73 Electro Diesels with JA version (class 73/0) nearly released for tooling whilst final corrections for the JB version (Class 73/1) are taking place.
In 2mm N Gauge news…
Dapol have also now received a further set of CADs for their Maunsell 4-4-0 Schools V Class for checking whilst the previously signed off Bulleid Light Pacifics have been held from tooling to allow for further corrections to the CADs to take place.
In 7mm 0 Gauge news…
The Dapol ex LBSC A1/A1x ‘Terrier’ is towards the end CAD development stage and is being developed in such away to allow for the variations within the A1 and A1x classes to be correctly produced. I have been providing additional information to the Dapol development team with respect to the 25T ‘Pill box’ brake vans and they should be receiving livery samples in due course.
Dapol today announced that they will be producing the Class 73 Electro-Diesel in ’00’ Gauge. This will be a totally new model and will be laser scanned for accuracy, the specifications includes having see through etched main bodyside and roof grills, Sprung buffers, NEM coupler pockets and a host of other details.
The tooling is being produced to allow for ‘JA’ variants at a later date.
Four models are available in the initial release.
4D010001 Dapol Class 73 Electro-Diesel Locomotive 73 102 in ‘Intercity’ Livery
4D010002 Dapol Class 73 Electro-Diesel Locomotive 73 105 in Large Logo BR Blue
4D010003 Dapol Class 73 Electro-Diesel Locomotive 73 124 in BR Blue
4D010004 Dapol Class 73 Electro-Diesel Locomotive 73 135 in BR Blue
In addition to the above versions the Kernow Model Centre have announced their own commissioned version of 73 212 in Network Rail Livery. Each model is limited to just 250 pieces and will come with a numbered certificate of authenticity.
Share this:
The model railway world and mainly Southern Railway meanderings of Graham 'Muz' Muspratt
