Warbonnet

Following the massive demand and numerous requests, it's time we dropped our second run of Class 50s! In addition to the Accurascale Exclusives release featuring the celebrity pair 50007 (which carried 034 on one side) and 50049 in GBRf livery, which we revealed last Thursday, there are four main range locomotives covering the British Rail era of operations. This includes the often-requested Revised Network SouthEast livery and the much-loved “Laira Blue” livery, worn by some members of the class towards the end of their careers on the network. Such is the demand from modellers for their favourite Class 50s in OO gauge that we felt it best to announce this second run of these English Electric classics without delay. Decorated samples of each locomotive are already available, along with a list of enhancements based on feedback from the warmly received first production run. So, let's see what forms our main range! 50019 Ramillies – Laira Blue Named in April 1978 after the Revenge-class battleship that served from 1917–48, 50019 was one of the first six Class 50s to be refurbished in 1980, all being released in standard Rail Blue. It wasn’t until April 1984 that it returned to Doncaster for a large logo repaint, though this was quickly superseded by the colourful Network SouthEast scheme, applied at Laira just over two years later. In February 1989, it was transferred to the departmental DWCA pool. With its NSE livery now obsolete and looking tired, the Plymouth depot repainted it back to BR blue—albeit with a Rail Grey roof and black window surrounds. NSE-sized numbers were applied to the driver's cabside, with double arrows at the other end. The nameplates were retained in their high position and not returned to the centre of the bodyside. This scheme later became known as “Laira Blue” or “Departmental Blue”, and was also briefly applied to 50037 in 1990 and 50008 in 1991. Notably, Ramillies was the only one of the three to gain the DCE flash under the secondman’s window. 50019 was withdrawn with main generator damage in September 1990 while still wearing this paint job. Happily, it was sold to the Class 50 Locomotive Association in May the following year—becoming the second of its type to be preserved. After several years at Eridge on the Spa Valley Railway, it moved to its current home in Dereham on the Mid-Norfolk Railway in May 1998, where it became a key member of the operational fleet, even hauling freight on the 11-mile line. Since 2013, it has been undergoing an extensive overhaul and will return in its classic Laira Blue livery once completed. 50029 Renown – Revised NSE (Dark Blue with West of England Branding) Following the first-run release of 50017—one of the first pair of Class 50s to appear in the original Network SouthEast livery—calls for the later version of the scheme have grown increasingly loud. 50029 Renown was the last of 14 examples to gain the original NSE paint job (in June 1987), which it swapped for the revised darker blue variant in December 1989 at Laira Depot. Named in October 1978 and refurbished in May 1982, 50029 had no idea what colourful future awaited it after being released from Doncaster in the brash large logo livery. It was one of nine members of the class to receive two versions of the “toothpaste” scheme, while 50017 and 50048 received all three! By its final repaint, the look of the revised NSE scheme had become more consistent, with the BR double arrow replaced by the West of England route branding, in line with the new sector identity. Withdrawn in March 1992 with a seized power unit, 50029 was one of the last active members of the class, alongside 50046 Ajax and shortly before 50030 Repulse. Both 50029 and 50030 were later sold to Operation Collingwood—a charity aiming to return locomotives to the main line using modern components while training apprentices. Though the charity collapsed in 2002, the newly formed Renown Repulse Restoration Group secured both locomotives and moved them to Peak Rail at Rowsley. While they were quickly cosmetically restored, neither has yet operated in preservation. Once 50030’s rebuild is complete, 50029 will undergo another cosmetic overhaul while the society considers its future. 50035 Ark Royal – BR Blue Demonstrating the versatility of Accurascale’s Class 50 tooling suite is 50035 Ark Royal, one of just three Class 50s to gain plated headcode panels with sealed beam marker lights in the late 1970s. In January 1978, the 10-year-old locomotive became the first of the newly named “Warship” class to be honoured with nameplates, following the lifting of the embargo on new namings. Ark Royal was named at Plymouth Station by the captain of the Royal Navy flagship, with the BR double arrows relocated to accommodate the large ship’s crests above the nameplates. After several years in this condition and a stint at Old Oak Common, it was repainted in large logo blue at Doncaster in March 1981. A black-roofed variant followed, and in July 1986 it received the original NSE scheme—though not before running several turns in undercoat grey! 50035’s BR career ended in August 1990, and it became the first preserved Class 50 the following April, with the handover performed by NSE Director Chris Green. After restarting in 1992, Ark Royal entered preservation service at the Severn Valley Railway in 1996 and continues to operate there today in classic BR Blue. 50046 Ajax – Large Logo with Grey Roof Ajax, named after the Greek warrior and Leander-class frigate, is perhaps the most famous Class 50 to be scrapped, meeting its end at MC Metals in Glasgow in June 1992. It had donated its low-hour power unit to 50007 in December 1991, after Sir Edward Elgar was sidelined with a generator flashover. Laira-based 50046 had been repainted in large logo livery following refurbishment at Doncaster in 1983, later receiving a black roof at the depot due to the tendency of EE exhausts to quickly stain standard grey. A full repaint followed in May 1987, though red buffer beams were notably omitted. Though allocated to multiple sectors in its later years, 50046 was withdrawn in March 1992. Its legacy lives on—both cabs survive today, the No.1 end with owner Gary Hardings in Cornwall, and the No.2 end at the Plym Valley Railway in Devon. The Model Following the success of the first production run, we're proud to present the second run of its OO gauge Class 50s, driven by sustained customer demand. Improvements have been made based on modeller feedback, including revised packaging and resolution of issues with self-coloured plastic parts—spare parts from the first run remain available free of charge via our website. Specification highlights include: Highly detailed OO scale model, 1:76.2 scale Minimum radius: 438mm (2nd radius set-track) Die-cast metal chassis RP25-110 profile wheels, with options for P4/EM re-gauging Separate etched/plastic details (grabs, steps, wipers, etc.) Etched nameplates and crests (where applicable) Interchangeable printed headcodes, including preservation variants Detailed underframe with pipework and fittings Fully sprung buffers, fine pipework, and screw couplings Kinematic NEM couplers and mini-tension-locks Working radiator fan with speed control DCC Ready (21-pin MTX) or DCC Sound options Performance and Electronics: Five-pole motor with twin flywheels All-wheel drive and pick-up PowerPack capacitor for uninterrupted power Directional lighting, cab lights, driver’s desk lights Custom dual-speaker setup with Accurathrash bass (DCC Sound) Hall sensor for flange squeal (DCC Sound) Availability & Pricing All models are expected in stock by Q4 2026. To support modellers amid rising living costs, we have frozen pricing at the first-run rates: £189.99 (DC/DCC Ready) £299.99 (DCC Sound-fitted) Order exclusives and main range models at www.accurascale.com, or main range locomotives via Accurascale’s network of local stockists. Pre-order yours today for no money down, or spread the cost over up to 12 months at no extra cost using our partially plans direct! Browse the range and make your pre-orders below. Pre-Order Your Class 50 Here! View the full article

Our newly delivered Class 50s are now settling in on many layouts and in collections across the British outline 4mm scale community. We’ve received plenty of praise for their accurate shape, fine detailing, smooth performance, high-quality paint finish, realistic lighting, and other features such as sound and operational functions. However, it hasn’t been entirely perfect. One issue has been parts becoming detached during transit. We traced this back to the clamshell packaging design and are now working closely with the factory to improve drop-testing procedures for all future models. Additionally, we’re planning packaging improvements for Run 2. That said, it’s worth noting that none of the many samples we received suffered any damage in transit — not a single detached part. So, naturally we thought that the packaging was up to scratch. Sadly, we were wrong! While the packaging design can and will be improved, there’s another contributing factor — one that also has a visual impact: the unpainted multiple working sockets on the front of the locomotives. Throughout the development of any new model, we share all sample stages publicly — warts and all. The Class 50s were shown with fully painted multiple working sockets during the decoration and first production sample phases. These were signed off for production, and manufacturing proceeded based on that approval. When the finished locomotives arrived, we were surprised to find the multiple sockets were left unpainted — plain orange plastic rather than painted as specified. After extensive discussions with the factory, it was determined this was a simple human error: unpainted (self-coloured) parts were used instead of the correctly painted ones. While disappointing, these things can occasionally happen. Both we and the factory have now implemented additional checks to prevent this from recurring. The use of unpainted parts also led to a weaker bond between the sockets and the painted body of the locomotive, as painted parts typically adhere more securely. This contributed to more frequent detachment of these components. We understand that some modellers are unhappy with the self-coloured plastic sockets, so we’ve arranged for the factory to produce a new batch of fully painted replacements for customers to fit themselves. These will be available free of charge. To request them, simply click the link below and provide either your order number (if purchased directly) or proof of purchase (if bought through our retail network). Roll on Run 2 of the Class 50s, which will be revealed on Tuesday, July 8th! In the meantime, you can still order remaining stock from Batch 1 below. Order Your Painted Multiple Working Sockets Here! . View the full article

Our Class 50s have certainly struck a chord since arriving in stock a few weeks ago, with our latest English Electric delight being put to work on layouts across the UK and beyond, settling into traffic seamlessly. With so few units from Run 1 still available, we’ve been inundated with requests for details on Run 2. So—do we know what’s coming up? Of course we do! In fact, we already have decorated samples ready to show you. The full main range will be revealed next week, but first, we’re thrilled to unveil a rather special pairing as part of our Accurascale Exclusive release for Run 2: the GBRf pair! Check out their prototype history below: 50007 / 50034 Hercules / Furious – GB Railfreight Reunited with its original Hercules name at Washwood Heath in 2014—after being acquired by Boden Rail the previous year—50007 has become one of the busiest Class 50s in preservation. Originally retired by British Rail in March 1994 (for the second and final time), its first withdrawal came in July 1991. However, this was rescinded in 1992 so it could operate railtours. Initially sold to the Class 40 Appeal at the Midland Railway Centre, it retained its celebrity GW150 paint job and the still-controversial Sir Edward Elgar name, applied in February 1984. As part of the Neil Boden fleet—alongside 50017 and 50050—it returned to Network Rail metals in May 2014 in BR blue, which it had last worn before its refurbishment at Doncaster Works in February 1983. After two and a half years of occasional service with Colas Rail, it was sold to the 50 Alliance, a partnership between the Fifty Fund and Project Defiance. This acquisition gave the group a second operational main line locomotive, alongside 50049. 50049 Defiance – GB Railfreight Withdrawn in August 1991, 50049 was acquired in December of the same year by the Class 50 Society—later known as Project Defiance. It was restarted in preservation in May 1992. Still remembered for its Class 50/1 conversion, the locomotive was returned to its popular Railfreight General livery in August 1993. It was also formally twinned with its Royal Navy namesake at an event at Laira, receiving a crest above each nameplate—an upgrade from BR days, where it only wore one. In May 1994, it moved to the West Somerset Railway for a power unit lift and main generator repair. These were completed by October, and it ran its first preserved trains shortly after. In 2000, it returned to the main line in BR blue. A large logo repaint followed in 2004, and it was partnered with the Fifty Fund’s 50031 Hood, becoming a key representative of the class on the national network. This was cemented in 2006 when the pair were hired by Arriva Trains Wales for summer services between Cardiff and Fishguard Harbour, along with other specials and reliefs. Although the arrangement lasted just one year, Defiance has remained a regular on the main line ever since, primarily for railtours and stock transfers. Working with GB Railfreight Sealing a productive partnership with GB Railfreight, 50007 and 50049 were outshopped in the operator’s striking steel blue and orange livery in March 2019—a privatisation-era update that surprisingly suited the pair and echoed the much-loved large logo scheme. They were regularly rostered for GBRf staff charters and stock movements, in addition to their usual railtour duties. Initially, 50007 wore its Hercules plates on just one side, while the other (five-grille side) displayed the Warspite name from 50014. In 2022, this was replaced by a Furious nameplate from 50034 in memory of preservationist Paul Taylor, who passed away that year. Following the end of their five-year deal, both locomotives returned to Arlington Fleet Services at Eastleigh Works in August 2024, where they were repainted in large logo blue. They remain fully equipped for main line operation, with TPWS, OTMR, and GSM-R systems. The Model, Price And Availability Leading our second production run of our acclaimed Class 50s, the GBRf pair will be part of the Accurascale Exclusives range and available exclusively via our website. Each model will come in special presentation packaging with limited edition certification and features the same superb specification from Run 1, including: Our acclaimed “Accurathrash” sound system Working fan Stay-alive powerbank Automatic flange squeal sensors And much more! Delivery will coincide with the rest of Run 2 (which will be announced next week!) and is scheduled for Q4 2026. Pricing remains the same as Run 1: £189.99 (DC/DCC Ready) £299.99 (DCC Sound Fitted) Pre-order yours below! Pre-Order Your Class 50 Here! View the full article

It’s almost like our locos have become buses, given how regularly they’ve been arriving in recent weeks! After kicking off the year with batches of Class 31s, we then saw the arrival of our all-new Class 50, and now our Buckjumpers and Class 89s aren’t far behind. Also not far behind is our all-new Class 60, which will mark the fifth all-new tooled locomotive to arrive in stock from us in less than 12 months! We don’t think anyone has managed that rate of delivery in a long, long time. Launched just one year ago, the "Tugs" signified a change in our approach to releasing models—waiting until much later in development so customers have less time to wait for delivery. It’s a trend we’ve continued with our Hunslet Austerities and will maintain for non-collaborative projects (such as the Electrostar). So, where are we with our 60s? Well… they’re done! The production samples have been reviewed and approved by our team and are now en route to our warehouse from the factory. Our CAD developer and Project Manager, who is somewhat of an expert in Class 60s, having worked on the real locomotives, has faithfully captured the shape of these Brush brutes to a tee, using our now-standard laser scan as a base to ensure accurate shape and profile from every angle, as you can see from our CAD overlay on original 3D scan below! The Class 60's cab roof area is particularly tricky—it’s easy to make the shape appear too squat, which throws off the whole roof profile. Thankfully, we’ve avoided that pitfall. We've also nailed the crucial roof details such as the fine plates at the cab ends are there for all to see. Again, our CAD overlay on our 3D scan shows how we have correctly captured the shape of these beasts! Another challenge lies in the bogie area, with its plethora of pipework on the side frames. Our pre-production samples featured the twin tubing of the parking brake hydraulic lines, but they were incorrectly painted, making them look overscale. In the finished models, the lines are now correctly painted, consistent in diameter, and contribute to the 3D relief seen on the real locomotives’ bogies. We made a conscious effort to avoid flattened detailing or an inconsistent mix of moulded and separate parts when it came to representing a single piperun. When it comes to performance, our 60s match the rest of our diesel and electric range: they’re weighty! In fact, they’re our heaviest locomotive to date, weighing in at an incredible 820g. They give an O-gauge presence in a 00 model and will haul any prototype-length train you care to couple up. With the heft and presence of a kit-built model, few models will have the sheer on-track presence of an Accurascale Class 60! Naturally, this is paired with our usual spec: all-wheel drive and pickup for maximum pulling power, helical gearing for smooth operation and control, and our advanced electronics package including stay-alive capacitors, a full lighting suite, desk lights, radiator room lighting, and of course, full cab lighting—including the driver’s entrance corridor. Sound is another area where we aim to take our models to the next level, and the Tugs are no exception. Recorded on the mainline with a trailing load of over 2,000 tons, our sound set includes two distinct sound files depending on the era represented. One replicates the original startup sequence using the Woodward governor and ABB turbos. The second captures the later "Super 60" era, featuring Napier turbos and the Heinzmann governor. The Woodward system relied on building oil pressure from the crank sequence—requiring 100 psi—so it cranked longer. The Heinzmann, being electric, opens the fuel rack as soon as 100 rpm is reached, leading to a quicker reaction time and a cleaner-sounding startup. All of this comes through brilliantly with our Accurathrash sound setup. We’ll have a preview video for you very soon—stay tuned! Does the detail stop there? Absolutely not! Following in the footsteps of our recent Class 50, the Class 60 features under-bogie detailing, including representations of the traction motors. We’re also adding era-specific cab interior decoration and providing etched nameplates, arrows, and plaques (where appropriate) in the detail parts pack to give your loco that extra edge. Building on feedback from our Class 66, our Tugs come with fully detailed, replacement buffer beams included in the box. These feature a full plough representation—without cut-outs for NEM couplings—and are screw-in for added strength and peace of mind when using scale link couplings. We’ve also given attention to the “clean air room,” where our etched “Donaldson filters” really pop! A signature characteristic of the Class 60s is their large bodyside grilles, which gave rise to the nickname “doughnuts” as you could see right through them. True to life, you can also see through our models in this area. The grilles are made as a one-piece etch including the frame, ensuring the join is correctly positioned—on the frame, not inside it. Our production samples also reflect improvements over the first decorated versions. This includes scale-sized rivets around the windscreens, accurately replicating the M6 and M8 countersunk bolts (which scale down to 0.15–0.2mm diameter). We’ve also corrected the front lamp irons to their proper colour, and our tail light lenses are now suitably red! Our definitive Class 60 now nears the end of its journey from our factory and will begin landing with modellers and retailers from mid-late July. Excited? We certainly are! Keep an eye out for our sound preview and further delivery information in the coming weeks. Pre-order yours, from just £169.99 via the link below! Pre-Order Your Class 60 Here! View the full article

Our stunning little J67/J68/J69 "Buckjumpers" will be arriving in stock at our warehouse late next week! That means you'll finally be able to get your hands on this slice of Great Eastern magnificence from then onwards. But how do they sound? What functions will be available on the digital versions? Wonder no more — we've put together a short preview video for you below: We're very excited to announce the arrival of our second steam locomotive designed from the ground up by our team! This follows the addition of the former Hattons P Class and Andrew Barclay tanks to our range. With our charming Pannier Tanks and rugged Hunslet Austerities already in the works — and more coal-fired machinery in development — things are certainly getting steamy around here! But what steam subjects would you like to see us tackle next? Let us know in the "More Model Ideas" thread on RMWeb, in the comments section of the video above, or on our Facebook posts! In the meantime, we’ll be releasing some excess Buckjumper stock once pre-orders have been dispatched. You can join the notification list for the locomotive you're interested in by clicking the link below. Just select the loco and click the "Notify me if this item returns into stock" button to enter your email address. Browse The Buckjumper Range Here View the full article

Our Clayhood wagon announcement was very well received when we revealed it to the public back in January. Once again, Accurascale was proud to serve the Cornish modeller with another iconic model representing that idyllic part of the world, known for its truly charismatic railways. However, we did make a small error during the tooling process—something that some of our more observant followers were quick to point out: the pitch and height of the hood were not quite right. And they were absolutely right. We had surveyed a preserved wagon that had a newly fabricated frame for its tarp. However, this frame was lower than the specification these wagons operated with during their working careers on the network. We always commend preservation groups for the tireless work they do in keeping these important parts of our railway heritage alive, but shows that sometimes elements can change compared to in-service condition. That should never take away from their efforts though! So, what do we do? Ordinarily, the company accountants might step in and say that the tooling budget has been spent and that we must press on. After all, that’s what many other model companies would do, right? Thankfully, we’re not staffed by accountants. We are a team of passionate railway enthusiasts with experience across the model industry, the real railway, and deep involvement in the preservation scene. It has to be right—so there was only one thing to do: change it. And change it we have. A new tarp has been tooled to the correct size, as shown below, compared with the previously tooled hood: A Significant Difference! With the corrected hood now tooled and in place, production of the clayhoods is in full swing, and we remain on track for delivery in Quarter 4 of 2025. Priced at just £89.95 per triple pack—with rake bundle discounts available—you can build your mega Cornish rake at excellent value for money, especially considering the multiple running numbers across the range. Pre-order yours below, and don’t forget to check out our other Cornish-themed models, such as our Class 50s, CDAs, and Pannier Tanks, as we continue to support Cornish modelling. You never know — we might have more up our sleeve in the future! Pre-Order Your Clayhoods Here! View the full article

The next few months will see a flurry of brand-new locomotives arriving from our stable. Whether steam, diesel, or electric, we have a jam-packed schedule of arrivals ahead. Our brand-new Class 50s have just landed, and for steam fans, the J67/J68 and J69 Buckjumpers are only weeks away. Hot on their heels are the Class 89, Class 60, and our next run of Class 66s—plenty to be excited about, and plenty of hard work ahead. But what about the next steam locomotive following the Buckjumpers—our much-loved Pannier Tanks? When will they arrive? Previously, we discussed a potential delay to correct the dome and ensure it sits fully straight—an intricate tooling challenge that we’re pleased to say has been successfully overcome. However, we didn’t talk about another, perhaps even more dramatic update—one not visible to modellers until the body is removed for maintenance. The original chassis, designed by the factory, was somewhat of a wiring tangle—messy and less than ideal. This simply would not do. This was the first steam project we undertook with this factory, and to their credit, they took our feedback seriously. They head-hunted a dedicated designer and worked closely with our partners at ESU to simplify the wiring and circuitry. The result is a far cleaner, more streamlined design. By using the pogo-pin connections first introduced in our diesel models and relocating the stay-alive capacitors, we’ve created a much tidier chassis. Servicing is now significantly easier. Decoder fitting is also a breeze. We've followed the Buckjumper example by implementing a magnetic, removable smokebox door with a sliding mechanism—no need to remove the body! Speaker fitting was another priority, especially in such a compact loco. We wanted the Panniers to capture that iconic bark, and by fully utilising the tanks, we’ve managed to fit sugar cube speakers neatly and effectively. With these chassis improvements in place—and following another project that took longer than expected—our Panniers have experienced a slight delay. They are now scheduled to arrive in Q3 2025. We apologise for this short delay, but believe it’s essential to deliver the best possible model in both accuracy and functionality. Pre-order your Pannier today—limited stock remains through retailers, or register your interest on our cancellation list via the link below, in case one becomes available. Register Pannier Interest Here! View the full article

NIR HUNSLET PRODUCTION UPDATE! Hi everyone, Our NIR Hunslet locomotives are racing through production, with moulding and painting complete. Next up is printing of the various logos, chevrons etc before final assembly takes place, keeping us on schedule for our Q4 2025 delivery date! Pre-Order Yours Today: https://www.accurascale.com/collections/nir-101-dl-class-hunslet Cheers! Fran

Creating an accurate OO gauge diesel locomotive to run on HO track is a challenge for any manufacturer—and one we relish. Producing a model of an English Electric class machine is even tougher. Why? Well, aside from the beautiful and complex shapes and curves that our 1960s classics from the Vulcan Foundry present (which we capture precisely using our laser scanning techniques), there's one other styling cue that makes life even more difficult for manufacturers: the way the tops of the wheelsets are tucked under the body sides on locomotives like the Deltics, Class 37s, and Class 50s. This presents an engineering challenge, as the industry-accepted minimum radius for OO is radius 2. The bodyside hinders the rotation of the bogies due to the wheelsets making contact with the underside of the bodyside, thus restricting movement. So, what do we do? For the Class 37, we were able to engineer the model with scale-sized wheelsets in OO, as the bodyshell does not taper as dramatically as that of a Deltic or Class 50—no problems there! However, to maintain a prototypically accurate body shape for both our Class 55 and Class 50, we had to fit them with slightly smaller radius wheels as a compromise in OO gauge. This typically doesn't present an issue, as the tops of the wheels are usually hidden beneath the bodyside—except when viewed very closely. Taking feedback from our Deltic model, we understand that finescale modellers working in EM and P4 gauges generally use layouts with more generous curvature than in OO. As a result, we’ve developed a clever ride height solution that allows finescale modellers to fit scale-sized wheels while maintaining the correct ride height for the Class 50. Check out our videos below to learn how to change the wheelsets and adjust the ride height! While not a "drop-in" solution, EM and P4 modellers should have the requisite skill sets to handle the conversion without too much difficulty using our step-by-step guide. Ride Height Conversion Finescale Wheelset Conversion Thankfully, our other locomotives—such as Brush products like the Class 31, 60, 89, and 92, or indeed our EMD Class 66—do not present the same engineering challenges as English Electric's finest machines. However, we have always aimed to tackle the most difficult locomotives to produce in OO gauge and to engineer effective solutions for them. After all, we do love a challenge! Our finescale conversion kits are now available for pre-order and are due in stock in late July. Each kit includes wheels, lowering plates, and brake rigging for the adjustment. OO gauge fans can also get involved — we've included a kit compatible with OO gauge wheels! Please note that the required radius is quite large. We recommend these kits primarily for display purposes or for end-to-end layouts without curves — or with very, very generous curvature. However, it will give scale wheels and the correct relationship between the bogies and lower body that is impossible when trying to cater to R2 curves. Pre-order yours below and don't miss out on the last of the Class 50s, which are 98% sold out directly from Accurascale. Run 2 will be announced very shortly! Pre-Order Your Finescale Conversion Kits Here! View the full article

More good news! Our very lovely and pretty little Buckjumpers are now complete and on the way from the factory in China. With that news shared, let's take a closer look at them in all their finery! As you can see, these are looking very tasty indeed! You may note that each locomotive does not come with a coal load. Due to the shape of the bunkers, the variance in coal consistency and the detail within the bunkers, we have decided to omit a plastic simulated load as it would be too difficult to remove and also omit that lovely detail. We encourage modellers to add their own real coal loads to add that extra touch or realism. Not only that, but they're already well underway on their trip to this side of the world, and will be in our warehouse before the end of June. Keep an eye on any surplus stock being added to the website when they arrive by clicking the link below: Browse the J67/j68/j69 Buckjumper Range Here! View the full article

Okay folks, I think we can leave the politics element there. While it does impact our hobby in this instance for some (in this case our American residents) we do like to keep this place politics free to keep this as a haven away from such stresses of the world and focus on model railways, and our wonderful hobbies we use to escape such everyday grinds. From an official IRM point of view to our US customers, we advise to keep your pre orders with us and then assess as they come into stock and decide what your best course of action is. Remember too that they will be shipped from the UK, so that is where to keep an eye on when it comes to knowing what to expect. Cheers! Fran

Hi Noel, They were perfectly visible, and we have seen mixed orders for Accurascale UK and IRM models in one order. We have now also opened up IRM models to UK retail outlets like Rails of Sheffield, further spreading the gospel. Thanks, Fran

Well that's most disrespectful. Where did I call Americans stupid? I merely pointed out that they had little understanding of tariffs, which I found surprising. That doesn't make them stupid, just that they were ill informed or perhaps misled by their leaders. Please do not make assumptions based on your own outlook. I have spent a lot of time in America and admire a great many of American achievements and culture. Enough of your gaslighting please. The Chinese exporters will pay none of it, unless it's to the same Chinese company importing it at the other end. It will then be passed onto the end consumer pays it and it goes into the exchequer. If I sell you a locomotive tomorrow from here and you live in the US, the 23% VAT will be removed from your purchase price (as it always has been) and the 30% of tariff imposed by your government will be added, along with whatever other charges. It's as simple as that. We have no control over it. Still, 30% is better than what it was, thanks to the climb down in recent days.

A fantastic achievement by the SDMRC, and what amazing club rooms they established too. Really are a joy to visit. From an IRM perspective we are especially grateful to the club and Paul in particular for giving us a spot in their Blackrock show so we could advertise our idea of doing a CIE Ballast Hopper in OO gauge back in October 2015. Not many people knew us then, but we have since grown a bit.... Now here we are 10 years later as those little acorns grew, and we are looking forward to marking our 10th anniversary further with the club at the show!

Correct. What this whole experience has taught me is just how much Americans do not understand tariffs and how they work. It's nothing to do with companies, it's basically a tax imposed by Governments.