Warbonnet

As teased last week with our Accurascale Exclusive model of "Lydham Manor" in Great Western lined livery, our Manors are back! We’re delighted to reveal the main range of our Manor locomotives, comprising four new models and featuring some much-requested names that were not included in our first run. Let’s take a look at what’s coming up, along with a glimpse into their operational histories. 7819 Hinton Manor BR Lined Green (late crest) The last Manor to be outshopped from Swindon in lined green (February 1960), following a decade in plain black, No. 7819 Hinton Manor spent its entire career in Wales. It later became a stalwart of the former Cambrian lines during the British Railways period. In its final five years of service, before withdrawal in November 1965, it was allocated to Oswestry, Aberystwyth, and Shrewsbury. A popular choice to haul the Cambrian Coast Express, it was kept in particularly fine condition. In August 1963, it was one of five Manors prepared to immaculate condition for Royal Train duties ahead of the visit of HM The Queen and HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, to Aberdovey. The following month it was further decorated with white-painted embellishments, including buffer heads, lamp irons, and smokebox door strapping. Fortunately, No. 7819 was one of eight members of the class to survive a trip to the scrapyard, being rescued from Woodham Brothers, Barry Island, in January 1973. Restored to action in 1977 on the Severn Valley Railway, it returned to the main line in 1985 for the Great Western 150 celebrations, later starring in British Rail’s Cardigan Bay Express services in 1987. It last steamed in 1994 and is now a static exhibit at Highley on the SVR. 7822 Foxcote Manor BR Lined Green (late crest) The most requested number/livery combination for our second run, No. 7822 Foxcote Manor was the second of the British Railways 78XX locomotives built, entering service at Oswestry in December 1950. It received lined green exactly seven years later, following a short stint in plain black at Chester, before spending most of its career on the Cambrian lines at Oswestry, Machynlleth, and Shrewsbury. Another member of the famed Royal Train quintet prepared under Oswestry shed foreman A.E. Swannick in August 1963, it regularly hauled the Cambrian Coast Express to and from Aberystwyth, as well as undertaking passenger, parcels, milk, and freight duties. Withdrawn in November 1965 during the major cull of the class, it was one of ten Manors to go that year, leaving only two in traffic. Happily, it was saved by the Foxcote Manor Society in January 1975 after nearly a decade at Barry scrapyard. Following a decade at Oswestry, restoration was completed at the Llangollen Railway, with the locomotive returning to traffic in April 1988. Withdrawn from service again in August 2023, it is now at Tyseley undergoing a major overhaul. 7825 Lechlade Manor BR Lined Black (early crest) Named after a Victorian country house in Gloucestershire near the Oxfordshire border, No. 7825 Lechlade Manor is presented in its original delivery scheme: the infamous lined black “Riddles’ Revenge” livery. This nickname reflected the irony of a Great Western-designed locomotive wearing a scheme inspired by the London & North Western Railway. Yet the lined black suited the elegantly proportioned 78XXs well and is, in some circles, regarded more highly than the later lined green. Unlike our first-run release, No. 7820 Dinmore Manor, which carried red-backed plates, No. 7825 is depicted with the more common black-backed name and number plates. Completed at Swindon in December 1950, its first allocation was Croes Newydd, Wrexham. It was the last Manor to remain in lined black, repainted only in April 1956 following a heavy general overhaul at Carmarthen. After two years at Neyland (1961–63), it spent its final months at Reading before being withdrawn in May 1964, after just 13 and a half years and around 450,000 miles of service. Sent to Birds of Risca for scrapping, it was dismantled just three months later in August 1964, with no chance of preservation. 7828 Odney Manor BR Lined Green (late crest) Another Manor that spent its BR career exclusively in Wales, No. 7828 Odney Manor is unusual in being one of two named after houses that never actually existed. While No. 7808 Cookham Manor was named after a historic estate, the supposed Odney Manor in Berkshire was in fact known as Lullebrook Manor. Entering traffic at Neath in December 1950, No. 7828 soon transferred to Shrewsbury. In December 1951, it lost its lined black for plain black following overhaul at Wolverhampton, but in July 1956 it became the very first Manor to receive lined green – a livery reminiscent of the GWR’s classic pre-war style. Later allocated to Croes Newydd and Aberystwyth, it returned to Shrewsbury in January 1965 for its final ten months before withdrawal that October. Rescued from Barry scrapyard in 1981, it was restored on the Gloucestershire–Warwickshire Railway and steamed again in 1987. Transferred to the West Somerset Railway in 1995, it briefly carried the name Norton Manor (2011–18) in honour of 40 Commando at Norton Fitzwarren. Now restored to its original name, and paired with newly rebuilt Churchward tender T2061, it continues to operate in lined green as a regular performer on the WSR. The Model Building on the success of our first run of Manor locomotives—our very first steam-outline models—we’ve listened closely to feedback from modellers and implemented further improvements. One key upgrade is the redesigned speaker system on sound-fitted versions. With a completely re-engineered sound chamber, performance and clarity are now better than ever. Delivery of the Manors will commence in Q4 2026, priced at £189.99 (DC/DCC Ready) and £289.99 (DCC Sound fitted). Pre-order your Manor directly via the link below, or through your local stockist. Pre-Order Your Manor Here! View the full article

What’s the model we’re most asked about at shows when it comes to reruns? Is it the Class 37? No. Is it the Deltics? Again, no! It’s actually the Caledonian Sleepers (more on those very soon!)—but just behind them, it’s our much-loved 78xx Manors! We’re delighted to confirm that they’re back! Our main range of Manors will be revealed next week, but first we can announce our latest “Accurascale Exclusives” model, available only direct from our website: 7827 Lydham Manor in Great Western lined livery! Locomotive History Described as the ‘flagship’ of the Dartmouth Steam Railway, ‘Manor’ 4-6-0 No. 7827 Lydham Manor was one of five members of the class to be prepared to work the Royal Train and associated empty stock duties in August 1963 as well as being the first of the ex-Barry Island 78XXs to return to steam, having only been preceded by No. 7808 Cookham Manor, which was sold to preservationists in full working order. Withdrawn in October 1965, it was just the fifth locomotive to leave Woodham Brothers’ scrapyard in South Wales. On 13 June 1970 it was moved to Newton Abbot for restoration, hauled first by Class 37 No. 6879 and then ‘Warship’ No. 856 Trojan. The British Railways-built Manor returned to steam in March 1973, making its first solo runs on the Dartmouth’s newly acquired Torbay Steam Railway (later renamed the DSR) between Paignton and Kingswear on 27 April 1973. Despite being delivered almost two years after the Great Western Railway was nationalised, No. 7827 entered preservation in the iconic pre-1934 fully lined green livery with “GREAT WESTERN” on the tender—despite the class never officially carrying this scheme. The pre-war batch had been turned out in plain green with no lining and the ‘shirtbutton’ monogram. Nevertheless, the sight delighted hundreds of thousands of holidaymakers who enjoyed haulage behind the locomotive for four decades, until it was repainted into its as-delivered lined black in 2011. Withdrawn again in 2020, it underwent a lengthy overhaul at Churston and triumphantly returned to service in 2024, resplendent in lined British Railways green as the pride of the DSR fleet. The Model Building on the success of our first run of these wonderful locomotives—our very first steam-outline models—we’ve listened closely to feedback from modellers and made further improvements. One key upgrade is the redesigned speaker system on sound-fitted versions. Thanks to a completely reengineered sound chamber, performance and clarity are now better than ever. As with all Accurascale Exclusive releases, 7827 will come with special presentation packaging and certificate. Price: £189.99 (DC/DCC Ready) or £289.99 (DCC Sound fitted) Arrival: Q4 2026 Limited production run You can pre-order today with no deposit until arrival in stock, or spread the cost over up to 12 months using our part-payment service—at no extra cost! Pre-Order Your Lydham Manor Here! View the full article

Hi folks, The unfitted H Vans have arrived and pre-orders are being prepared as we speak. Meanwhile the rest of the stock is now available to buy here: https://www.accurascale.com/en-ie/collections/irm-wagons?filter.p.m.Freight.Type=Van These were everywhere, so you really do need some! Cheers! Fran

After the massive excitement over our first run of Class 60s arriving in stock, followed by the unveiling of the exclusive models that will feature in run 2, including our charity fundraiser for Teenage Cancer Trust, we are delighted to show the four main range models which complete run 2! There are some workaday locos in there to compliment your working fleets, including the one triple grey variant missing from run 1, along with another one-off livery on 60074! Yes, that's right! We are doing two 60074s in this production run! Check out all the main range below! 60019 The nineteenth Class 60 completed was made available for collection on 19th October 1990 (along with sister locomotive 60018). However, 60019 was only the third loco allocated to general traffic, as numbers 60001–60016 were used for testing, commissioning, and training. Carrying Construction sector decals and the name “Wild Boar Fell,” the locomotive moved south to work from Hither Green Depot in southeast London. In 1995, it came under the control of Mainline Freight and had its Construction sector markings replaced with the “wheels” logo of Mainline, though it retained the triple-grey colours of BR Railfreight. When all the Class 60s passed to the new EW&S Railway company, the livery was still undecided. This is why 60022 was outshopped in undercoat. 60019 followed shortly afterwards, by which time the now-familiar maroon and gold house colours had been chosen, albeit not fully refined. As the first Class 60 to carry EW&S livery, it displayed some unique features compared with later repaints—such as gold-coloured cab vents, a split-height cantrail, and a lower reflective strip that wrapped around the ends—making it an interesting subject for modellers. In 2003, it was renamed “Pathfinder Tours” to commemorate the railtour operator’s 30th anniversary. Still in full EW&S livery, albeit increasingly workworn, it remained in service until 2011 when 60019 was selected for the DB Schenker “Super 60” programme. Emerging on 20th July 2012 in Traffic Red DB Schenker livery, it later gained its third name, “Port of Grimsby and Immingham.” During 2017, following the transition from DB Schenker to DB Cargo, the “Schenker” part of the logo was removed from the bodyside. The locomotive continued to work almost until the end of DB’s Class 60 operations but was stored at Toton in 2023, where it remains today. 60047 On 4th March 1991, the latest pair of Class 60s were collected from Brush Traction in Loughborough. Originally allocated to the coal sector, 60047 carried the name “Robert Owen”, after the Welsh textile manufacturer, philanthropist, and founder of the co-operative movement. The locomotive was initially based at Stewarts Lane in Battersea, London. When the BR sectors gave way to the shadow franchises, 60047 became part of the Transrail fleet. It didn’t remain in Transrail condition for long, as it was an early recipient of the maroon and gold EW&S livery in 1996. 60047 stayed in this condition until it was placed into secure storage at Crewe Diesel Depot in 2010. A requirement for more heavy freight locomotives saw Colas Rail purchase the locomotive in 2014. It was restored at Toton and outshopped in the striking yellow and orange house colours of Colas Railfreight. In 2018, the fleet of ten Colas 60s was transferred to GBRf, who began a programme of repaints to bring the locomotives in line with the rest of their fleet. Those awaiting repaint had their “Colas” branding removed but retained the word “Railfreight” on the bodysides. Currently, 60047 is one of the last Class 60s still running in this condition for GBRf. 60051 On 22nd March 1991, another pair of Class 60s was made ready for collection, including 60051, which carried Petroleum sector decals. The locomotive was named after the Scottish scientist “Mary Somerville.” Initially based at Cardiff Canton Depot in South Wales, 60051 was unusual in that it kept its Petroleum sector markings right through the shadow franchise period. It was later painted directly into the second variation of EWS livery in 1997. An early casualty, 60051 was stored at Toton in April 2010, where it remains to this day. 60074 60074 was outshopped from Brush Works in Loughborough on 29th October 1991. Following convention, the factory applied the nameplates from new, and in this case it carried the name “Braeriach,” after the third-highest mountain in the British Isles. Allocated to the Trainload Coal sector, denoted by the black and yellow diamonds logo on its bodyside, the locomotive was assigned to Toton Depot. However, it never carried the Cooling Towers depot plaque; instead, its allocation was shown under the driver’s window as a small sticker. Under the shadow franchises, 60074 became part of the Mainline fleet, retaining its triple-grey livery but with the Mainline logo replacing the previous sector design. This guise lasted right through the EWS era until 2005, when the EWS “beasties” sticker was applied to its now-tatty triple-grey bodyside. As part of a charity partnership between DB Schenker (then the owner) and the Teenage Cancer Trust, 60074 was selected for repainting into a striking light-blue livery, with details on the underframe and buffers picked out in white. On 1st March 2009, at the National Railway Museum in York, the locomotive was unveiled in its new colours by actor Chris Chittell and named “Teenage Spirit.” In 2011, 60074 was chosen for refurbishment under the “Super 60” programme and re-emerged in January 2012 in a refreshed light-blue livery. Notably, this version included body-coloured window frames. Sadly, in September 2014, the blue livery gave way to the DB Schenker house colours of Traffic Red with a grey band and roof, along with DB Schenker branding on the bodysides. At this time, the nameplates were removed for safekeeping. In 2018, the DB Schenker branding was simplified to just “DB Cargo.” This lasted until 2020, when 60074 received another special livery: an all-over grey with “Puma Energy” branding and the new name “Luke.” Following the full storage of DB Cargo’s Class 60 fleet, 60074 remains in warm storage at Toton, awaiting the next chapter in its operational life. The Full Range, Price And Availability With our four main-range locomotives—alongside our charity fundraising special and the Key Model World/Hornby Magazine limited edition—we’re offering a comprehensive selection of locomotives, including variants not seen for many years. Adding our undercoat "ghost" livery, Puma Energy edition, and the special DCR/Cappagh livery designed in-house, we’re also introducing Class 60 versions that have never before been available in model form. As with our exclusives announced last week, the main range price remains frozen from Run 1: starting at just £169.95 for DC/DCC-ready models and £269.95 for DCC Sound variants. All models are scheduled for release in Q4 2026. Pre-order your main-range locomotive directly through our website or via your local stockist. You can browse the full range and pre-order using the link below—with no upfront payment—or spread the cost through instalments at no extra charge. Not found what you’re looking for, or don’t want to wait that long? Run 1 Class 60s are in stock now—click here to browse available locomotives! Browse Class 60 Run 2 and Pre-Order Here! View the full article

Now, what have we here? Did we forget to paint our latest Class 60 exclusive? What’s going on, Accurascale?? Well, no, we didn’t. But we did want to bring you something different with our latest Accurascale Exclusive – something never before done in model form. Yesterday, we revealed 60099 in its new DC Railfreight livery, and today we present 60022 in its undercoat livery – just as it appeared while EWS were still deciding which livery to adopt for their new operation. Loco History (Prototype pics - Douglas Johnson) On 7th December 1990, 60022 was collected from the Brush Electrical Machines works in Loughborough and took its first steps onto BR metals. Named “Ingleborough” after the Yorkshire Dales mountain, it carried Trainload Freight Metals sector branding. Although it never received a depot plaque, it was allocated to Thornaby depot in the North East of England. During the transition from the shadow franchise era to EWS ownership, 60022 became unique in its class by being outshopped in primer and entering traffic in this unfinished state. This was because the final EWS livery had not yet been decided, but the locomotive was urgently needed for service. It featured primer-grey bodysides, a few black-painted details, numbers and warning flashes – and nothing more! 60022 thus joined a very small club of “ghost” locomotives across Classes 37, 56, 58, and 60. Whilst some of these “ghost locos” were quickly repainted into the maroon and gold EWS livery, 60022 remained in its distinctive state for around 14 months. It skipped the original EW&S branding entirely, instead later receiving the EWS lettering and the famous “three beasties” logo on the cab side. This lasted until 12th December 2009, when the locomotive was stored at Toton with major engine faults. There it remained until June 2022, when it was finally “roaded” out of Toton and returned to its birthplace – the former Brush Traction works, now operated by UK Rail Leasing. 60022 was subsequently acquired as part of the spares pool for the DCR/Cappagh fleet of Class 60s, and today it still stands alongside the former No. 25 shop, awaiting the next chapter in its story. The Model The “ghost” livery was seen on a handful of diesel locomotives around the early privatisation period, but it has never been offered before as a ready-to-run model. With 60022 surviving in this striking condition for over a year, it was the perfect candidate to debut the livery in model form! The undercoat scheme really emphasises the heft and crispness of our Class 60 tooling, making its fine detail stand out all the more. It’s also ideal for customisation projects such as weathering. As part of our Accurascale Exclusives range, 60022 will come in special presentation packaging – with a little something rather “Helter Skelter” about its collectability. Priced from just £169.99, these very special locomotives will arrive in stock alongside the rest of Run 2 in Q4 2026. Pre-order yours below – exclusively direct from Accurascale – and keep an eye out for the main range announcements next week! Pre-Order Your Ghost Class 60 Here! View the full article

With our first production run of the Class 60 now delivered—and stock levels dwindling fast—we have already turned our attention to Run 2 to satisfy demand for our “Mountain Movers!”. Following last week’s launch of our latest charity fundraising model, 60074 for Teenage Cancer Trust at Making Tracks, and the limited edition 60040 Territorial Army Centenary with Hornby Magazine, focus now shifts to the first of two all-new “Accurascale Exclusive” models. And what better choice than a livery we designed for the real railway? Click Here, to see how we worked with DC Rail Freight to develop this striking new livery, and read on to see a detailed history of 60099. 60099 History 1992 proved a turbulent year for the introduction of the Class 60. As the final locomotives were being assembled at Brush Traction, Loughborough, modifications and lessons learned from earlier builds were still being implemented. Their entry into service was far from smooth, with British Rail Trainload Freight pushing a punishing delivery schedule. Late deliveries ultimately led to British Rail lodging a claim for liquidated damages, with the final four locomotives unofficially impounded by Brush until settlement. 60099 was completed in 1992 but not handed over to BR until 15 December that year—almost 12 months late. It entered traffic in Railfreight triple grey with construction sector markings, carrying the name Ben More Assynt. Initially allocated to Toton TMD in Nottinghamshire, 60099 worked stone trains across the UK. During shadow privatisation it became part of the Mainline fleet, losing its construction markings in favour of the Mainline “wheels” logo. This lasted a decade until replaced by EWS “beasties” logos, which adorned its now-aged triple grey paintwork. Reallocated to Thornaby depot, 60099 hauled a wide variety of freight across northern England. Its next chapter saw it selected as one of two “test bed” locomotives for DB Schenker’s “Super 60” overhaul programme. While 60011 underwent electrical upgrades, 60099 received mechanical modifications. It was never a full “Super 60”, but the most notable change came when DB Schenker painted it in a bold Tata Steel livery: full silver bodysides with a red lower band. When freshly applied, it looked spectacular. However, by Christmas 2015, 60099 was placed into storage and would not work for DB again. Fortunes changed in 2022 when DC Rail Freight acquired 60099 as part of a deal for several Class 60s. Hauled by DCR stalwart 60029, it was moved from Toton to UK Rail Leasing’s Leicester site for storage and assessment. Considered one of the better locomotives in the batch, 60099 was called to the UKRL workshops (in the former Brush Traction buildings) in April 2024 for overhaul. Now, 60099 emerges as the newest member of the Class 60 fleet, wearing a distinctive livery co-developed by Accurascale, DC Rail Freight, and Cappagh. Significantly, it is the first Class 60 to undergo a heavy overhaul away from Toton. UKRL deserves commendation for the outstanding quality of the work—returning another “mountain mover” to the rails. The Model Working closely with DCR, Cappagh, and UKRL, we contributed to the final stages of 60099’s return to service. We designed its livery to highlight the locomotive’s historic overhaul away from Toton, blending DC Rail Freight and Cappagh house colours with the classic BR Railfreight livery as devised by Roundel design. This nods to the heritage of the Class 60 while celebrating a new beginning. Complete with distinctive cab ends and a depot plaque, 60099 looks resplendent in its new guise. As a thank you, DC Rail Freight has granted Accurascale exclusive rights to produce this livery on 60099—a gesture we deeply appreciate. Soon to depart Loughborough for testing and a return to mainline service, 60099 will make an imposing sight on the real railway, while our model will deliver the same impact on layouts nationwide. Supplied in special presentation packaging, as with all Accurascale Exclusives, this release is set to be something truly special. Pre-order now via the link below, with no deposit required or through monthly instalments between now and delivery in Q4 2026. Priced from just £169.99, it proves once again that Accurascale offers realistic models at realistic prices—unavailable anywhere else. Pre-Order Your Class 60099 Right Here! View the full article

We spend much of our working week replicating liveries from the real railways on our artwork. Meticulous attention to detail and research is undertaken to get the colours, lettering and positioning correct on the model to give you the best possible replica in miniature. However, recently something different happened. We actually got the chance to design a livery for the real railway! Thanks to the Cappagh Group, DC Rail and UKRL, we were able to work on designing an actual livery for their next 60 to be outshopped from Loughborough. 60099 is a special 60 in the DC Rail story, so it needed a special suit to wear. Our Class 60 Project Manager, Steve Purves, takes up the story on the role we got to play in creating a special 60! Take it away, Steve! "It has always been clear to me that the rebirth of 60099 would mark an important milestone, not only for DCR but also for the engineering resource at UKRL and for the class 60 story as a whole. This project has produced essentially the first class 60 "super" exam away from those undertaken by DB Schenker over 10 years ago. "Our class 60 project owes a debt of gratitude to both DCR and UKRL for accommodating us at each an every stage, from 3D scan to Launch video, our 60 wouldn't be what it is today without their help. "A conversation with David Fletcher over 60099's new livery led to an offer of help from us, in short, we could rapidly mock up livery ideas to help visualise this bold new look, and, working with David, he and I batted ideas back and forth like some kind of email tennis! "What started out as a traditional DCR Grey locomotive with a few embellishments such as the depot plaque, the design evolved over a matter of weeks to blend both identifies of DCR and the Cappagh group. "Some highlights were added, the bodyside stripe to separate the colours and the "trainload freight" style cab ends as a nod to their heritage and we reached something that we could all agree "looked right". "Amid much secrecy, the design was approved and the only piece of the puzzle missing was a complete 60099 to put it on! "It has been my absolute pleasure to work with the paintshop team at UKRL to see something I had sketched on our Accurascale class 60 line drawings appear on a full size locomotive and testament to the accuracy of the model that they have transposed exactly without issue! Its also very humbling for me as a lifelong fan of class 60 to play an albeit tiny role in their next chapter. "Our model artwork of 60099 was submitted to the factory many months ago and as a result we are extremely proud to show off the model which the real thing copied!" Our friends at Cappagh group have been brilliant in helping us create the ultimate Class 60 in 4mm scale, and their Head of Rail, David Fletcher tells the story of how our input came about: "The reinstatement of Class 60 no. 60099 is a significant moment for DCRail as we increase the fleet of locomotives to meet growing customer demand for our bulk freight services. "We thought it would be appropriate to mark the occasion with a standout livery for what we expect will the first of several additional Class 60 locomotives to join the operational fleet. "We were very pleased to work with Accurascale on the development of the livery and, in particular, we would like to thank Steve Purves for his enthusiasm to produce the finished result. "We felt it was important that the livery recognised the cooperation and relationship between DCRail and the wider Cappagh Group to provide integrated supply chain solutions to the construction Industry. "Alongside looking to the future, we also wanted to recognise the significance of the reinstatement works taking place at UKRL Loughborough, where the locomotive was built by Brush. We have also incorporated some features from the original livery such as works plates, diamond crests, and cab window surrounds in black. "We hope both the prototype and it's 4mm replica prove to be very popular and standout wherever they are seen. Thank you to Steve and the team at Accurascale for all your assistance." As a special thank you from Cappagh Group, they have given us the exclusive rights to make 60099 in this Accurascale designed livery! Each locomotive will come in special presentation packaging as part of the Accurascale Exclusives range, and is only available direct via our website! Pre-order your 60099 for delivery in Q4 2026 from just £169.99 via the link below! Pre-Order 60099 Here! View the full article

Hi Bob, There will in the coming weeks. It's been a most painful process but headway has finally been made. Apologies to everyone waiting on this, but we are working hard to deliver what will be a top drawer model not seen in OO gauge before when it comes to tech. Thanks, Fran

It's not, but it doesn't get unveiled until we sell some more ICRs, Hunslets and 800s first! they pay for each other which pays for the C....

Hi Tom, We can certainly do that. If you email us with your order numbers we can help you out there. Thanks, Fran

We would like to inform you of an important change affecting shipments to the United States. First and foremost, we fully understand that the current tariff situation with the U.S. remains fluid and subject to change. We want our U.S.-based customers to continue enjoying our models, and we encourage you to place and maintain pre-orders regardless of the current landscape. When your model comes into stock, you can assess the prevailing tariff conditions at that time and cancel your order if necessary. For those who are not aware, the US government has suspended the ‘De Minimis’ tariff exemptions which covered many goods entering the US valued below $800 USD. We do not collect any applicable taxes and tariffs when you place orders with us direct, and we do not intend to change this. Taxes and tariffs remain your responsibility to pay, and the shipper will contact you to collect these costs prior to delivery. In the meantime, we have an important update regarding future shipping procedures: Effective August 29, 2025, USPS will require all international shipments entering its network to have U.S. customs duties prepaid. Unfortunately, this new regulation places a significant administrative burden on both our team and our warehouse provider. As a result, we will no longer be able to offer shipping via Royal Mail or FedEx International Connect (FIC), as both rely on the USPS network for final delivery. Going forward, we will continue to ship to the United States using DHL and FedEx Express on a Delivered Duty Unpaid (DDU) basis. These carriers are equipped to manage customs clearance and will collect any applicable import duties directly from the recipient upon delivery. Please note that these courier services are more expensive than Royal Mail. Therefore, shortly before your pre-ordered item arrives at our warehouse, we will contact you to confirm whether you would like to: Proceed with shipping via DHL or FedEx at an additional cost; or Cancel your order for a full refund. We understand that this situation may be frustrating and truly appreciate your patience and understanding. While this change may be inconvenient, we believe it is in our customers’ best interest to wait for further updates, as regulatory decisions may still evolve in the coming months. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact our customer service team. View the full article

Every year, we set out to support a wonderful cause through the world of model trains—with you, the modeller and our valued customer—at the heart of it all. Together, we’ve raised thousands of pounds for both railway preservation projects and other charitable causes that provide essential services to people across the UK, all through our special edition models. In the past, we’ve raised funds for Prostate Cancer UK, The Samaritans, and soon for Martin House Children’s Hospice, thanks to special edition models of our Class 66. Now, it's time to choose another locomotive from our range, link it with a worthy charity, and raise even more for another fantastic cause: Teenage Cancer Trust. So, without further ado, we’re proud to unveil our charity locomotive for 2026: 60074 in Teenage Cancer Trust/DB Schenker livery! The Charity Teenage Cancer Trust is the only UK charity dedicated to providing specialised nursing care and support for young people aged 13–24 who are diagnosed with cancer—and for their loved ones. They deliver the sensitive, personalised care these young people need during the most challenging time of their lives, helping them to get through cancer, rebuild their lives, and shape their futures. Once again, we extend a sincere thank you to the Railnuts team and Pete Waterman, who hosted the launch of this charity model on their layout at Chester Cathedral! Check out the video below. The Real Locomotive 60074 was outshopped from Brush Works in Loughborough on 29th October 1991. As was customary for the Class 60s, it received its nameplates from new. 60074 was named Braeriach, after the third-highest mountain in the British Isles. Initially, it was allocated to the Trainload Coal sector, indicated by the black and yellow diamonds logo on its bodyside. Though allocated to Toton depot, it never carried the cooling towers depot plaque; instead, a small sticker under the driver’s window displayed the allocation. During the shadow franchises, 60074 became part of the Mainline fleet, retaining its triple grey livery with the Mainline logo replacing the previous sector branding. This look persisted into the EWS era, until 2005, when an EWS “Beasties” sticker was applied to the now-worn triple grey bodyside. In a 2009 charity partnership between DB Schenker (the owners at the time) and Teenage Cancer Trust, 60074 was repainted in an eye-catching light blue livery, with underframe and buffer details picked out in white. It was unveiled on 1st March 2009 at the National Railway Museum in York by actor Chris Chittell, and renamed Teenage Spirit. In 2011, it was selected for refurbishment under the “Super 60” programme and re-emerged in early 2012 with a refreshed version of the blue livery—this time featuring body-coloured window frames. This is the version we’ve chosen to replicate with our model. Sadly, in September 2014, 60074 returned to the paint shop. The iconic blue gave way to DB Schenker’s Traffic Red livery, with a grey band and roof, and the Teenage Spirit nameplate was removed and stored for safekeeping. In 2018, the DB Schenker branding was replaced with the simpler “DB” logo of DB Cargo, before being repainted once more in 2020 into a striking all-over grey livery featuring PUMA Energy branding and renamed Luke. Following the withdrawal of the DB Cargo Class 60s, 60074 now remains in warm storage at Toton, awaiting its next operational chapter. The Model Building on the success of our first production run of the all-new Class 60, 60074 marks the second announcement from our upcoming second run—arriving in late 2026. It will feature the same unrivalled specification as the current release and will be available to pre-order on our website at the same great price—£169.99 (DC/DCC Ready) and £269.99 (DCC Sound Fitted)—thanks to our price freeze! As with all our charity exclusives, it will come with special presentation packaging, certificates, and—most importantly—raise vital funds for charity. Our goal is to raise a minimum of £10,000, but with your support and this spectacular model, we’re confident we can go even further. So, what do you think? Fancy adding one of our mountain movers to your collection and supporting a brilliant cause at the same time? Pre-order yours below and show your support for the Teenage Cancer Trust! Pre-order Your Charity Class 60 Here! View the full article

The conveyor belt of new models continues at Accurascale! In recent months, we’ve been flat out with deliveries of the all-new Class 31, Class 50, our J67/68/69 ‘Buckjumper’ steam locomotives, Class 60 and Class 89. Phew! But what about existing models in their next production cycle — like the Class 66? Well, there's good news there too! We've just received production samples for review ahead of delivery. We’re delighted to report that this latest batch of locomotives matches the quality, robustness, and solidity of our first production run of “sheds.” The factory has absolutely nailed the paint finishes, and the tooling enhancements for our former Euro Sheds are looking very impressive indeed! With just a few minor tweaks requested, the factory is now well underway in perfecting the ultimate Class 66 in OO gauge. Once complete, they’ll be packed and shipped to the UK. We anticipate they will ship in early September and arrive at our warehouse by late October. This run includes our limited edition model for Hornby Magazine — 66794 — as well as our Accurascale Exclusive of 66793, and our charity fundraising model of 66190 "Martin House Children's Hospice." With your help, we aim to raise £10,000 through sales of this special model! You can pre-order your Class 66 via your local Accurascale stockist or directly using the link below. Be warned — some running numbers have already sold out, and others are getting close! Pre-Order Your Class 66 Here! View the full article

Email in from Murphy Models to his retailers includes this. Just passing on info.

1. Paddy Murphy has told me. We have an employee in Hong Kong who is helping him with his enquiries. 2. The 141s were made in a different factory and were delivered before this carry on emerged. It will of course affect any new Murphy Models projects going forwards as you can no longer perhaps trust the factory and have to move CAD, or tools. Having done this ourselves I can assure you it's an unbelievable pain in the bollocks which costs you money, time and deferred earnings. 3. This stinks to high heaven sadly and is a question of morals as well as legality.