Warbonnet

When the mighty Bredin Class B1a 800 Maeḋḃ first emerged from Inchicore Works in April 1939, few could have predicted the visual legacy it would leave behind. At first glance, its overall grey livery seemed nothing out of the ordinary—after all, both the Great Southern & Western Railway (GSWR) and its successor, the Great Southern Railway (GSR), had long favoured an unlined mid-grey finish for their locomotives. Yet Maeḋḃ was no ordinary machine. As the new flagship 4-6-0 locomotive, representing the pinnacle of Irish steam design, Inchicore gave 800 the full Works’ Photographic Grey treatment—complete with delicate lining and highlighting. When the locomotive rolled out for its press photographs in that elegant, monochrome splendour, it immediately set a new aesthetic benchmark. This was not simply a prototype in grey; it was a vision of Irish locomotive pride. By the time of the official demonstration run on July 17, 1939, the photographic grey had given way to the newly adopted GSR green livery—a scheme that would go on to define not only Maeḋḃ and her two sisters but also their later service with Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ). Still, the striking appearance of the Works’ Photographic Grey remains iconic, representing the transition from industrial utility to refined presentation. Our new presentation model seeks to capture that original look as faithfully as possible. Every contour, every detail of the Photographic Grey has been carefully recreated. In keeping with the exclusivity and museum-grade craftsmanship of this extremely exclusive nature, the model includes alternative etched nameplates, cab plates, and tender plates for the unbuilt 803 and 804, which were rumoured to have carried the names Aífe (Aoife), Derdriu (Deirdre), and Gráinne. These names appear in the GSR tender lists, alongside two ‘spare’ numbers—83 and 84—suggesting that, at least on paper, the continuation of the class was once a real possibility. For enthusiasts of Irish railway heritage, we’ve also included separate headboards for the Enterprise service, paying tribute to one of the most distinguished duties ever undertaken by these locomotives. Each model will be presented in a hand-crafted wooden presentation box, befitting the prestige and historical importance of Maeḋḃ—the queen of Irish steam, remembered forever in that singular shade of grey. Each model will come with a exclusive edition certificate and will only be available via the Accurascale IRM website. Due to the exclusive nature and added features of this model, it is priced at £329.95/€367.95 for DC/DCC Ready and £429.95/€484.95 DCC sound fitted. Delivery will be with the rest of the 800 models which is on course for Q3 2026. Pre-order below! Pre-Order Your Grey GSR 800 Here! View the full article

Recently we promised and delivered an in-depth update on our Park Royal coaches, which are happily now motoring through the production process after a much longer than ideal development process. We promised the same on the ICR too at that time. As you are aware, it's been the long suffering and problem child project for us here at Accurascale IRM. We set a deadline of providing an update ahead of the annual Dublin model railway exhibition which takes place this weekend and we've been cutting it fine. However, the latest development model landed with us yesterday (Thursday)! So, the good news is we have it for the show. The bad news is that we've yet to test it properly, let alone take photographs of it for this update! However, more good news! We couldn't resist putting a sound decoder inside with a first draft of the sound project, so we have taken a short video which you will be able to see below! The model on display represents the latest step in what has been a long journey of development and refinement. Each version has brought us closer to a more seamless and realistic operation — and this latest one takes a major leap forward. Smarter Couplings, Smarter Control One of the most notable (and technically challenging) upgrades is the redesigned coupling system. These new couplings allow a single decoder to control the entire train, a feat that required a complete rethink of the system’s internal circuitry, and has never been done on a unit of this complexity anywhere before. After the factory producing the model felt that it could not be done with our long list of functionality demands off one decoder, we approached the foremost experts in all things DCC, ESU, to help us with the design. ESU themselves have described it as "the most complex project" they have ever worked on, and development took over 12 months to complete between designing, testing and troubleshooting the circuitry for the single decoder design. This was after almost two years of the factory attempting to make it work using their own electrical engineers. This new sample is the first ICR to carry this newly designed ESU circuitry for testing. This change brings two huge benefits: Customer cost savings – Previously, achieving full sound across the train meant purchasing multiple LokSound decoders. Now, a single decoder does it all. Otherwise the RRP would be almost double what it currently is. Hands-free operation – The need for a control wand has been completely removed, making the experience far more intuitive and immersive, just using your DCC controller for full functionality. Digital Communication at the Core With the huge number of lighting functions involved — interior lights, cab lights, dual-colour door lock lights, and more — we needed a smarter way to handle communication. The solution was a digital communication bus, transferring all the output data from the decoder through an integrated circuit (IC) and down just a few wires instead of a nest of complexity! This innovation allows every car in the train to “talk” to the central decoder seamlessly, keeping things tidy and efficient under the hood. This allows the technology to be more robust and reliable. A Peek Behind the Roof For those who love to see what’s going on beneath the surface, we’ll be highlighting the new couplings, providing views with the roof removed, and showcasing the intricately designed ESU PCB — the real brain behind this model’s intelligent operation. View the sample and hear the first draft of the sound file below! Please remember this is a first draft, on a test mule, and both will receive improvements before production. The ICR also offers additional complexity, needing to work in 3, 4 and 6 car formations, adding further layers of engineering complexity to the model from an electrical point of view. So, where does this leave the project? Frankly, we will not know until testing of this sample by us is complete. If it works as it should, then they will go straight into production and delivery will be mid next 2026. If not, it may take longer. It's not the news any of us wanted, but we would rather be honest with you. However, on even early testing as above, the signs are very positive that our ICR functions as it should, so we are getting confident that it's coming together and it will be with us sooner, rather than later. Our plan now is to test this after the Dublin show, and then we will film the model in a more thorough update, showing all the features and how it all works. This will have a more accurate timeline on delivery. We expect that video to go live before the end of November, so watch out for it! We once again thank you for your patience and understanding, and are happy to bring you positive news on our most ambitious model by far to date. With speakers in every car, a serious array of lighting configurations, a wealth of separately applied interior and exterior detail, and everything easily controllable on your DCC controller, our ICR promises to be a show stopping model and the pride of any fleet. We look forward to showing you more this weekend and in our forthcoming video in a couple of weeks. Fancy one? Pre-order yours today below: Pre-Order Your ICR Here! View the full article

Hi folks, We have all the elements there to make an 80 class a reality. It all depends on sales of the Hunlsets and these coaches though to convince us there is sales in bespoke NIR models. If you want to make the case, we need to see votes with wallets! Cheers! Fran

Hi folks, First of the weekends announcements is here! Cheers! Fran

Since we first announced our new NIR Hunslet locomotives, the most frequent question we’ve been asked is: “Will you do your Mark 2 coaches in original livery to go with the maroon ones?” Our answer has always been yes—and true to our word, here they are, in their classic maroon and blue finery. But we haven’t forgotten about our blue Hunslets either. Although we’ve produced them before, we’re bringing back the grey and blue livery too! History Built at Litchurch Lane, Derby, in 1970, eight examples were constructed for Northern Ireland Railways for its new Enterprise service between Belfast and Dublin. This landmark service featured a range of bespoke vehicles that were quite unlike anything then in operation in Ireland—or indeed on British Rail—despite being a derivative of a BR design. The eight Mk.2b coaches acquired by the newly formed Northern Ireland Railways (NIR) included several new types: one First Open (FO), two Brake Driving Trailer Seconds (BDTS), and a single Grill-Bar—the latter being the only purpose-built Mk.2 catering vehicle. The other four vehicles were designated SOs, although they were almost indistinguishable from BR TSOs. Delivered in NIR’s blue and maroon scheme and fitted with B4 bogies set to the Irish 5ft 3in track gauge, they initially worked in push-pull formation on the Belfast–Dublin Enterprise express service, powered by one of the three Hunslet DL Class 101 locomotives—or by pairs of them, either top-and-tailed or double-headed during the summer months. In 1978, the fleet—which now included five Mk.2c coaches purchased in 1972—was refurbished and repainted in a new silver-grey and blue livery. However, the increasingly unreliable Hunslets—despite sharing an engine and many mechanical and electrical components with the BR Class 20s—were replaced in 1980 with General Motors 111 Class locomotives. The lack of electric train supply on the new motive power required the addition of a generator coach to each Enterprise formation. In 1980, NIR acquired five ex-BR Mk.2b BFKs for conversion, along with an additional ten secondhand Mk.2b coaches and three Mk.2cs. The use of driving trailers on the Enterprise ended with the introduction of the 111s, and the trains reverted to being hauled as conventional coaching stock. With this extra stock, it became increasingly common to see Enterprise trains away from their usual cross-border route. Formations of three to five coaches were regularly used on Portadown/Lisburn–Belfast–Bangor and Belfast–Derry/Londonderry services, typically with a single Hunslet operating in push-pull mode. By the mid-1980s, several ex-BR coaches were rebuilt as open coaches, while others were converted to strengthen 80 Class DEMU sets or replace bomb-damaged vehicles. The Model Our Mark 2 coaches have been meticulously researched and designed, based on surveys of numerous surviving vehicles across Britain and Northern Ireland. Using original works drawings and even partial 3D scans, we’ve ensured the characteristic tumblehome and shape of the ends are as accurate as possible. The research extended to the interiors, with particular attention paid to the iconic winged headrests—each a separate part—that are such a defining feature of first- and second-class seating in early Mk.2s. This new production run of maroon/blue and light grey/blue cars introduce new "Mk.2c" versions that were not included in the first run, taken from the 1972 batch for NIR and the secondhand BR coaches acquired in the early 1980s. Incredibly there are four different roof vent styles across the 12 new coaches, the original Mk.2b 'dome' plus the large 'G', intermediate sized 'GM' and the classic Roe-Vac that were also seen on British Rail's own Mk.2c. This variation has been faithfully replicated on the model. We also correctly replicate the unique to NIR Mk.2c roof without the hatch seen on the British Rail coaches. In our first run of NIR coaches, we depicted Grille Car No. 547 in its modified format. We have now tooled the original version (with the differing window arrangement on one side) to accurately portray these coaches in their original livery. We’ll also be offering No. 547 in grey and blue livery, in its unmodified form as it appeared before the changes made in the early 1980s. The NIR examples presented a particular challenge, with numerous unique variations, a wider track gauge, and additional underframe and roof details depending on the vehicle type. We even tooled an Irish-gauge B5 bogie—used only once—which was fitted to the generator end of the BGV coaches to accommodate the additional weight. The bogies for the NIR coaches are also bespoke compared to the BR versions. The prototypically wider frame has been faithfully represented, allowing for 21mm fine-scale conversion. Common Features: Highly-detailed OO Gauge / 1:76.2 Scale Models on 16.5mm track Extremely fine exterior rivet detail on roof and coach ends Separately-applied etched metal and high-fidelity plastic parts, including handrails, brake/steam heat pipes, ETH cabling and sockets, footsteps, dummy drophead knuckle coupler, and roof vents Prism Free Glazing Pre-painted/printed Western Region destination boards and holders plus water filler covers provided for customer to install Fully-detailed underframe with numerous separate parts, pipe runs and accurate differences between versions The most accurate B4 and B5 bogies ever produced, with provision for re-gauging to EM or P4 (Irish 21mm) gauges Blackened RP25.110 profile wheel-sets with 14.4mm back-to-back measurements, and 26mm over pinpoints Different buffers for retracted and non-retracted positions Accurate interiors with characteristic 'winged' headrests, separate metal interior handrails on the brake and corridor vehicles and fully-detailed guard's compartment Full lighting package, including magnet 'wand' controlled interior lighting with 'Stay-Alive' capacitor in all coaches and directional lighting with DC or DCC control (Driving Trailer only) Minimum Radius 438mm (2nd Radius Set-track) Correct height NEM standard coupling sockets with mini tension lock couplers and kinematic close-coupling Unlike our first run, we will be selling coaches individually instead of triple packs. This allows to build the rake as long as you like, or indeed bolster your existing grey and blue rake! Each coach is priced at £74.95/€89.95, with the DCC ready driving car priced at £84.95/€97.95 each, with 10% off when you buy two, three or four coaches, and 15% off when you buy 5 or more in one transaction. Delivery is Q4 2026, giving your new Hunslet locomotives the perfect train to haul. Available direct only via the Accurascale website, you can pre-order yours today via the link below. This is very likely the only run of NIR Hunslet locomotives and coaches we will ever do, so do not miss out. You have been warned! Pre-Order Your NIR Mark 2 Coaches Here! View the full article

Hi everyone, As the village elders of this forum and the hobby may know, it's 10 years ago this very weekend since IRM first broke cover at the South Dublin Model Railway Show at Blackrock College. We were buoyed with a dream; to bring a detailed, accurate and Irish specific model railway wagon to market as good as any other Ready-to-Run manufacturer anywhere in the world could muster. We set out and dared to dream, with some banners and leaflets and a spot at the show very kindly provided to us at the last minute by @DartStation at the SDMRC Blackrock show. Soon our humble CIE ballast wagon was born, and with the support of many of you on this forum and beyond, IRM snowballed from a little acorn to a company with 20 full time employees today. We've come a long way, and that's thanks to your support and custom for our efforts. We've produced a multitude of wagons, coaches, locomotives and accessories in that 10 years, and there is more to come. Earlier this year, we said we would mark our 10 years with a very special announcement. We held a special evening at the Fry Model Railway in Malahide, where the first sample of our 800 class was unveiled. So, what else have we got planned to mark this milestone this weekend? Well, we have a new announcement on Thursday that will not be a surprise to many of you (and compliments our range quite well) at 11am, with samples available to view at the show this weekend. On Saturday morning as the doors open at the show, we will unveil another small new announcement, something very limited and very special indeed. Again, you will be able to see it in the flesh at the show. Dying to see our new Palvans, bubbles and unfitted H Vans? They will be there, along with decorated Hunslet locos, which are almost finished production at the factory. "But what about the 800s?" Well, if you come to the show you will see the first couple of decorated samples. They arrive on Thursday being specially completed for the show this weekend, so we wont have time to photograph them before the show to share online. Sorry. "Hold on, what about the Park Royals?" See the latest samples in the flesh as production motors on and is due to be stock in the new year. "Right, fine. But come on, what about these ICRs? It's taking forever." Yes, you have a point there. However, after much hard work behind the scenes, on the one project that techno wizards and lord of the DCC world ESU have said "is the most complex model we have ever worked on" a working sample will be on show too with a full update provided. It has more light shows than Las Vegas, and all off one decoder. It's rather special.... So, there will be lots to see and catch up on as we push on with providing the Irish outline model railway world with the latest and best models we can possibly produce, and are the envy of any market across the world. We can't wait to see you this weekend, please stop by and say hi. We won't be taking your money though, as we will no longer be retailing at shows. We will be there just to chat, answer your questions and shoot the breeze. Marks and Dave Bracken will have everything IRM you need on their stands if you have a few quid to spend. See you there!

Hi folks, Nope, they're in production at the moment. We are sure we are correct on our roof radius and it checks out against our measurements. Granted you may have a point about the X bracing on those ends. People can see them in the flesh this weekend at the show and make their minds up themselves. Cheers! Fran

Hi folks, More news coming from Accurascale/IRM later this week ahead of the show (including updates and yes, new announcements!) but just to let you know we WILL NOT be selling models at the show, and are just purely there for display and to provide you with the latest updates. If you are looking to buy some IRM goodies, please check in with Marks Models and Dave Bracken. See you at the weekend, and look out for further news on the forum throughout the week ahead! Cheers! Fran

Exciting news - our BR Maroon Mk1 Suburban Coaches have just arrived and are ready for dispatch! These beautifully detailed models capture the essence of Britain’s post-war railway era, when the Mk1 suburban fleet formed the backbone of local passenger services nationwide. With over 85% of the run already pre-sold, now’s the perfect time to secure yours and avoid missing out! Our models bring that history to life in miniature, complete with finely detailed interiors, flush glazing, realistic underframe equipment, and subtle variations between diagrams. Finished in the rich BR Maroon livery, they look right at home behind your favourite steam or early-diesel traction. With stock just in and demand already high, now’s the perfect time to complete your suburban rake. Each coach is priced at £74.95, with extra savings available through our ‘Rake Builder’ bundle offers - get 10% off when you buy 2-4 coaches, or enjoy a generous 15% off when you purchase 5 or more. Pre-order your maroon Mk1 Suburban coaches today! View the full article

Hi folks, Indeed, the cement bubbles arrived yesterday and we hope to start shipping the first orders today, for delivery next week! Cheers! Fran

Hi Paul, Many thanks. These were just updated paint samples to demonstrate the paint shades and consistency we requested. When it comes to shades of green, the green will be the same regardless of black or green ends. The example in your image above of the first coach is actually a D177 Mainline version, not a D176 suburban coach. When we get a full set of production samples around Christmas we will be able to showcase the full range, including differing doors between coaches. Cheers! Fran

We’re immensely proud to announce that the Accurascale Class 60 has been crowned ‘Best OO Gauge Locomotive’ at the 2025 Hornby Magazine Model Railway Awards! Voted for by the public, this recognition of our very own ‘Mountain Mover’ is a true honour. The Class 60 represents our commitment to pushing boundaries - combining innovation, authenticity, and sheer hauling power to deliver the most realistic and detailed model possible. We’re also delighted for Accurascale to have been named ‘Manufacturer of the Year’ at the same awards. A huge thank you to everyone who voted for us - your continued support drives everything we do, and we’re proud to keep raising the bar for model railway excellence. We have a range in stock available for immediate dispatch, and fast, free delivery - whether it's evoking the spirit of British Rail's '90s sectorisation era, through to the early days of rail privatisation, or today's 'Super 60s' - there's something for everyone. Showcasing innovations like our clear tension-lock coupler and packed with detail, the Accurascale Class 60 sets new standards in miniature. Features include illuminated cab dials and a working radiator room light, bringing operations to life. With powerful all-wheel drive and unmatched haulage capability, it can handle the heaviest trains with ease - earning its reputation as a true ‘Mountain Mover’ in miniature. We have a range of Class 60s in stock and ready to buy, from £169.99 (DC/DCC Ready) and £269.99 (DCC Sound Fitted), they represent unbeatable value for money in model form. Find out what all the fuss is about, and order yours below! Pre-Order Your Class 60 Here! View the full article

It's full steam ahead here at Accurascale, with many exciting releases on the high seas, from our latest locomotives, such as the Pannier tanks and our Class 66s, to the NER 20T and HYA Cut-down hoppers. The latest departure from our factories is the Maroon Mk1 57' Suburban coaching stock. A few weeks ago, the final production samples arrived for our approval before shipping, and we can confirm they're on their way! With so much detail crammed into the humble coaches, take a closer look at the finished models below. We think these have come out really well! Which is good as the shipment is due to arrive in the UK towards the end of October 2025! These have sold very well on pre-order, which means our remaining stock is running quite low. Grab yours while you still can via your local stockist, or below direct: Pre-Order Your Mk.1 Coaches Here! View the full article

Following the news on our FCA wagon project earlier this week, we’re pleased to share an update on another modern-era wagon currently passing through our works: our second run of cut-down HYA wagons! This release focuses heavily on the GBRf blue livery, which many of these converted wagons have received in recent years. We’re delighted to confirm that production has now finished, and we’ve signed off on the production samples ahead of shipment. Let’s take a look at the wagons themselves first. Looking handsome! For this run, we’ve switched the tail light–fitted wagons from battery power to track pick-up power—so no more fiddling with batteries! We’ve also improved the axles and bearings, resulting in much less rolling resistance compared with the first run. These wagons, including the Accurascale Exclusive pack featuring distinctive graffiti, are now complete at the factory and are about to ship, arriving in our warehouse in early December. Having sold tremendously well, we can confirm that remaining stock of these wagons is quite limited. We recommend placing your pre-order ASAP if you’d like some for your layout. Pre-order directly below, or via our trade network, to avoid disappointment! Pre-Order Your HYA Wagons Here! View the full article

Hi @DonderBlitzen, Shopify (who provide our website software) advised us last week that they will no longer offer the partially plug in, so sadly we cannot currently offer it as a payment option. We are currently looking into alternatives. Any existing partially plan will be honoured, so no need for anyone to worry, but we cannot offer new plans for new orders at this time. Cheers! Fran