Tag Archives: push pull sets

General, Kernow Models, Model News

Southern Railway / Region related model news 07/08/15

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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.

Production of the Adams O2, this image just shows the the level of detail and individual items being applied (picture courtesy and copyright Kernow model Centre)
Production of the Adams O2, this image just shows the the level of detail and individual items being applied (picture courtesy and copyright Kernow Model Centre)

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

The first Enginnering Prototype of the K1001 version of the Gate Stock (picture courtesy and copyright KMC)

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

The Dapol first livery sample of E6003

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…

General, Model News

Southern Railway / Region related model news update – further updated 12/06/2015

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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 from N to 0 gauge.

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.

Latest livery sample of the Kernow Models Centre O2 K2105 in SR post war black livery as No. 225

Firstly: livery samples of the mainland version of the Adams O2 have now been received, a number of corrections made and already second livery samples returned in the last week or so. Once all the variations are finally signed off then production can start, along with the Isle of Wight versions that were fully signed off a while ago now. Further information on the Kernow model Centre O2’s can be found here.

ex LSWR Gate Stock parts hot off of the injection moulding machines, can you guess what each part is?

Secondly: It had been kept reasonably quiet, that the although the CADs for the ex LSWR Gate Stock Pull Push sets were previously signed off, tooling has actually commenced and The Kernow Model Centre have now received photographs of the first off components from the tooling. These now require assembly and shipping to the UK for inspection. Further information on the Kernow Model Centre ex LSWR Gate Stock can be found here.

Lastly for now: I can also advise that work is also progressing in the background with updates and corrections to the CADs for the ex LSWR Dia 1541 10T road vans, first announced last September. So watch this space for further news.

Bachmann

The Bachmann livery sample for the SR PLV

The first livery samples for the Bachmann  four wheel luggage vans PLV/PMV and CCT’s first announced in March 2012  have now been received and all can be seen here on the Bachmann website. They are producing the following:
39-525 Southern PLV Passenger Luggage Van Southern Railway Green
39-526 Ex-Southern PMV Parcels & Miscellaneous Van BR Crimson
39-527 Ex-Southern PMV Parcels & Miscellaneous Van BR Green
39-528 Ex-Southern CCT Covered Carriage Truck BR Blue – Weathered

Graham Farish

The first of the original Merchant Navy Pacific models that I reviewed in my post here have now actually started to appear with the retailers.

Graham Farish N Class No. 31844

The N Class Mogul 2-6-0 first announced in March 2013 is now on its way,  with the review samples having been received by the model media so they should start to appear with retailers during July and August. Just like the Merchant Navy, I can vouch for the fact that it is an impressive looking model, especially for its size, and continues the increase in levels of detail for N Gauge Ready to Run models. A video of these models, but sadly not actually running, can be viewed on their website here.
The following four initial variations are being produced:
372-930 No. 868 in SR Olive Green
372-931 No. 31844 in BR Black Early Emblem
372-932 No. 31811 in BR Black Late Crest
372-933 No. 810 in SECR Grey

The livery samples for the Bogie Van B model have been signed off and the expected delivery of the of these models is currently due the end of August / September.

Dapol

Dapol cad of the 4mm ex LSWR style lattice post working signal

Dapol have via their Facebook page here (you do not have to be a member to access the page) Dapol have released CAD images of  the planned 4mm working signals in both SR Rail built and also ex LSWR  lattice post styles. [Edit:] Dapol have also advised 2mm version of these signals are planned.

At the start of last month they also announced a delay to the O Gauge Terrier due to the the level of electromagnetic emissions. A slight modification is now required to the production which will result in delay in the shipment of the initial SR green and LBSC versions towards the end of July, however the BR and Bodiam variants are now due to be delivered three to four weeks later.

I have also been informed that the CAD work on the first variants of  the N Gauge Schools class first announced in July 2012 have been completed, I had already provided some corrections and information to Dapol for these a while back so it is good to hear that they are progressing, but no news as yet when tooling might actually commence.

[Edit:] I have also been reminded that BR green liveried versions of the N gauge Maunsell coaches are due out next month and that Dapol have also now committed to bringing out a brake composite and four compartment brake third by Quarter 4 2015 and these are currently at CAD/CAM stage. This will make possible several prototypical set formations.

Hornby

[Further Edit 12/06/15] Hornby have today released a video via their Engine Shed blog post here from their development team that shows the first running sample of the Adams Radial. Keen eyes should also check out the coaches that the sample is hauling as I think the cat might have been let out of the bag on some other appropriate items  they have planned for release in 2016, that I was previously made aware of, but I wont say anymore until more formal information is released…so watch this space…

General, Kernow Models, Model News

A few new BR(s) related arrivals in the market

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This is just a quick update post to advise of a number of BR(s) model items in at the retailers this week.

Firstly, from  Hornby, after what seems like an age waiting, not one Pull Push set but two..both the A and B versions of the  R4534 ex Maunsell Pull-Push coach pack are now in stockists.  As I have previously advised the A version is numbered as set 616 whilst the B version appears as Set 603.

Hornby are charging more for the B version than the A version and many reputable  retailers, such as my friends at the Kernow Model Centre,  have kept the A price as originally offered and not sneaked it up to match the B version price. I am advised that the A version has already sold out at Hornby although a quick look at some retailers websites show a reasonable level of stock for both versions. My review of the first batch of Pull Push sets can be read here.

Also recently arrived is the R4536B Hornby Bogie Passenger Brake B Coach [sic] number S217S in BR (SR) Green livery. The correct Southern term for this item of rolling stock is Bogie Van B. My review of the first batch of Bogie Van B’s can be read here, and I am pleased to advise the slightly oversize ‘Guard’ lettering noted has now been corrected.

Both these items are excellent models and show what Hornby can achieve when at its best.

The other item of BR(s) interest to arrive, which like the above Pull Push Units are actually out of my own modelling timeframe, hence no pictures or a full review is the updated Class 33/0 from Heljan. When first released the original Heljan Class 33/0 was let down by a number of things including: an incorrect roof profile, poorly moulded roof grill, later style roof panel fixings and the bogie springs not being set in enough. This new version was only announced at Warley last year, following a fall out with Rail Exclusive Models whom had commissioned a new version. BR(S) green versions and more modern ‘Dutch’ engineers livery versions have now been released. The roof profile is indeed much improved as is the roof fan grill with a visible fan below and the bogie springs. The body side grill has changed from being moulded detail to a a possibly too coarse etching and on Dutch livery version some of the previous raised detail has been replaced with printed only and the loco numbers appear to be in the wrong font, so all in all some good points and some bad.

Kernow Models, Model News

Kernow Model Centre O2 progresses to tooling and other model news

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I am pleased to exclusively announce that the CAD drawings for the 6 versions of the Kernow Model Centre Adams 0-4-4T O2 class locomotives have now been signed off to enable tooling to commence.

Kernow Models K2105 No 225

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:

31-463   C Class 0-6-0 271 SECR Plain Green
31-464   C Class 0-6-0 593 Southern Railway Black Green Lining

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.

Model News

Bachmann E4 EP update and Hornby delivery news

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Further to my last post with the first Bachmann E4 class Engineering Prototype pictures I am now also able to post the following images that are copyright and courtesy of Andy York (clicking the images will enlarge).

These further images clearly show the fact that the smokebox door dart handles are indeed separately applied items, as this was not originally fully clear from the initial pictures.
Mention has been made of the size of the front wheel splashers being oversize, this is indeed the case, but like previous models such as the Bachmann 3F and 4F models, this is a compromise due to 00 gauge wheel standards and the depth of the flanges. Any other compromise such as reducing the wheel diameter will result in other issues such as buffer heights etc.
The whistle on this sample is also mounted on the cab roof this will be correct for the LBSC livery version but this was later moved to the boiler to meet the SR composite loading gauge post Grouping. I am sure that Bachmann will be reflecting this.
Engineering Prototypes by their nature are often an amalgam of some of the tooling options.

In other news, to coin a phrase, Hornby have released details of what will be hitting the shops in the next 6 to 8 weeks or so, so presumably are already on the high seas from China. The full list can be seen here, but for BR(s) modellers the items of interest are the following listed as being due before the end of February:
R4534A BR(s) Maunsell Converted Pull Push set No. 616
R4534B BR(s) Maunsell Converted Pull Push set No. (Edit: 03/02/14 Set Number 603)
R4536B  Bogie B van in BR Green

Exhibitions, Fisherton Sarum, Kernow Models, Talking Stock

Talking Stock #23 Pull Push set 734 ex LSWR Emigrant Stock

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The Southern Railway following on from its constituents made use of Pull Push sets across the network and this practice carried on well into British Railways Southern Region days. Other railways companies also made of such although they were often also known as autocoach, motor coach or push pull sets on these other railways. Originally many of the units were converted from either ex steam railmotors, following early pre grouping experiments  that found them to be inflexible and often under powered, and a mix of converted pre-grouping coaches.

Set 734 heads west past the shed at Fisherton Sarum

The main topic of this post are the nine Pull Push  sets converted from ex LSWR 46′ 6″ Emigrant corridor stock in 1942/3 that created sets 731 to 739. The sets comprised of a Driving Brake Third and a Composite and they retained their corridor connection between the two coaches. Although converted at the same time there were differences between the sets:  sets 731 to 4 were identical,  sets 735/7 had a slightly different Brake Third, sets 738/9 shared the same style Brake Third as sets 735/7 but with a different style of composite; confusing I know! The sets were widely travelled over all three sections of the Southern network and survived until 1959/1961.

Set 734 arrives at Ashland

My model of Set 734 that appears on Fisherton Sarum from time to time, and occasionally Hornby Magazine’s Ashland is a Northstar Models built set. Unfortunately Northstar Models that manufactured a number of limited ready to run ex LSWR coaches are no longer available. They were a Christmas present to myself a few years ago now.

Kernow Model Centre has commissioned the ex LSWR ‘Gate Stock’ Pull Sets numbers 363, 373/4 to be produced and hopefully these will make an appearance in early 2014, further details can be found here.

The Southern Region also created 20 Pull Push sets from late 1959 to mid 1960 as replacements for earlier Push Pull sets of SR and pre-grouping design. They consisted of two Maunsell vehicles, an ex-diagram 2403 BCK and an ex diagram 2005 SO.  These sets have now been produced by Hornby and my review can read here, they do not run on Fisherton Sarum as they outside my usual 1946 to 1949 modelling period.

Model News

Southern models perform well in Model of the Year polls

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Each year Model Rail magazine, RMweb and MREmag join forces to ask modellers to vote for their favourite models of the preceding 12 months. The results of the latest poll, are published today on both  RMweb and MREmag .

In another busy year for new British ready-to-run models in the three major scales, Bachmann Europe emerged as the clear winner, sweeping the board in ‘N’ gauge, winning all but one of the ‘00’ categories and scooping the overall Manufacturer of the Year award with almost 60% of the vote.

Southern Railway / Southern Region  models were top in many categories: Hornby claimed just one top prize – for its popular Maunsell pull-push coaches, whilst the Bachmann C Class 0-6-0 won the best ’00’ Steam outline model and their 25T SR ‘Pillbox’ brake vans won both the ’00’ and ‘N’ wagon categories.

Model Rail editor Ben Jones added: “Congratulations to all our winners. There are worthy victors in every category, but the quality of many models that didn’t win is testament to the high standards now being achieved by all our RTR manufacturers.”  The full list of Model of the Year 2012 awards winners is published in the Spring issue of MODEL RAIL magazine, on sale Thursday March 21st.

General, Model News

Hornby Announce additional Pull Push set due November

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In light of the demand for the recently released BR(s) Pull Push sets converted from Maunsell coaches Hornby have today announced the additional release of coach pack R4534A as Set 616 comprising of Driving Brake Composite number S6695S and Second Open number S1359S.  The coach pack should be available in November.
This is a sensible addition to the range and looks likely to have been pulled forward from next years catalogue to meet the obvious demand, so full marks to Hornby.  My review of the Pull Push sets can be read here. 

Set 616 was originally Central Section based but was transfered  to the Western Section during 1962.

A further addition to the 2012 range is R3159  a new M7 class number 30055. This is a long frame pull push fitted version and therefore suitable motive power for the Pull Push Sets. Unlike 30029 contained in the R3087 Train pack 30055 should have the dog clamp style smokebox door, and is illustrated as such on the packaging for the coach packs so hopefully it will be modelled correctly by Hornby.

General, Model News

Hornby BR(s) Pull Push images added to review post

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Just a quick post to advise that further to my review of the excellent Hornby models of the BR(s) Pull Push sets converted from Maunsell coaches I have now added my own images of Set 610 from the R4534 coach pack to my review post here.

As per my subsequent post regarding availability of these sets here  further deliveries to complete retailers outstanding pre-orders of R3087 and R4534 should be completed in July. I would  add that this does not mean that retailers whom have  either not got outstanding orders or ordered enough at the time will be able to order more of this batch as they may already be all accounted for.

Model News

Hornby Pull Push sets, rumours of demise have been exaggerated…

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Further to my review of the excellent Hornby BR(s) Pull Push set conversions last week, it would certainly appear that they have been popular. In many cases retailers have sold out and in some cases have not been able to even full fill pre-orders.
In some instances emails have been received from retailers advising that orders have been cancelled as the item is out of stock and production has been cancelled, which has raised a few eyebrows and in some instances hackles.
In response to this I have communicated with Simon Kohler, Sales and Marketing Director at Hornby who advises me that further stocks will be available in July, so I am happy to try here and put the record straight.
I assure those trying to get hold of them that they will be worth the wait!