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Warbonnet

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  1. We've not had many left over in stock of these at all, and were more or less made to match orders. Some more may come up when people who have pre-orders outstanding do not pay up, but we cant guarantee it. If you want them, now is the time to grab them!
  2. If you havent got yours yet email us with your order number, as all pre-orders are clear on the warehouse system. I was wondering why I hadn't seen any on Ballyercall.... I know there is an element of fun, but there is a lot of truth in this too. Look at how hard it is to buy NIR locos that Murphy Models has made over the years. This is HIGHLY LIKELY to be the only run of these we make... You have been warned (and same goes for the 800 too) You want sound investments? Well, look no further. Cheers! Fran
  3. Hi folks, Hunslets now back on sale: https://www.accurascale.com/collections/nir-101-dl-class-hunslet As you can see from above, you do not want to miss out on these! Cheers! Fran
  4. You Asked - We Delivered! Announcing our brand new run of Accurascale Class 37s - shaped entirely by the suggestions and feedback of our customers. From the earliest locomotives of the 1960s through to examples still running on today's network, this new range tells the full Class 37 story. Let's take a look at what's in store! A Very Special Accurascale Exclusive Our stand-out locomotive in the run is Accurascale Exclusive 37800 in Rail Operations Group blue - one of our most-requested Class 37s from the current scene, with one of the most complex and intricate liveries seen on the class to date. As an Accurascale Exclusive, we'll be including a certificate, and watch out for some eye-catching box artwork! Our New Main Range Class 37s Moving onto our main range, available both at Accurascale and your local stockist, the classy maroon of West Coast Railway Company features on 37516 Loch Laidon and in a refurbished Class 37/5 bodyshell with flush headcode panels and plated corridor connection doors. We welcome the return of the BR Engineers 'Dutch' livery, this time on a split-headcode box machine, 37106, representing one of many unrefurbished Class 37/0s operating in the 1990s and beyond. We jump back to the heady days of 1980s Cornwall with our very special rendition of 37185 in BR Blue livery, complete with the distinctive Cornish Railways 'lizard' logos of the period. The ideal companion to our recent Accurascale china 'clayhood' wagons! That's not all, either. Fans of classic BR Blue can also look forward to 37088 joining the range. Featuring split headcode boxes and original bufferbeam fairings, this striking locomotive is presented in plain BR Blue livery and is perfect for recreating railway scenes from the 1970s and 1980s. Finally, we're taking things right back to where it all began. Before they became the legendary Class 37s, they were English Electric Type 3s, representing the future of British Railways' modernisation plan. Built at English Electric's Vulcan Foundry in 1961, D6713 is presented as one of the original Stratford-allocated locomotives, finding its feet on the Eastern Region as steam gave way to diesel power. It's a fitting tribute to the dawn of the diesel age and the beginnings of one of Britain's most enduring locomotive classes. Don't forget, you can also order our previously announced Accurascale Exclusives alongside the main range models too! These include D6724 in mid-1960s condition, supporting the Heavy Tractor Group, BR Heritage Green 37403 Ben Cruachan supporting the Scottish Railway Preservation Society, and 37716 in modern DRS 'fade' livery, produced in partnership with Rainbow Railways. Due to arrive in Q2 2027, you can pre-order yours today to guarantee you don't miss out! Order from your favourite retailer or directly from Accurascale, with no deposit required! We've worked hard to keep prices the same as the current run - £189.95 (DC/DCC Ready) and £289.96 (DCC Sound fitted), and don't forget you'll also benefit from free UK delivery and collect Accurascale Reward Points that you can exchange for discounts on future purchases, such as decoders or ModelU crews! PRE ORDER YOUR CLASS 37s HERE Let's take a look at the new releases in detail... D6713 – BR Green Built at English Electric's Vulcan Foundry in March 1961, D6713 entered service at Stratford and quickly became a familiar sight on passenger, parcels and freight duties across East Anglia. Typical of the pioneering English Electric Type 3s, it worked prestigious services including the Harwich boat trains before later moving north. Renumbered 37013 under TOPS, it enjoyed a varied career before gaining Mainline Freight blue in 1996. Withdrawn following accident damage in 1999, it was scrapped in 2007. 37088 – BR Blue Originally delivered as D6788 in 1963, 37088 became a classic BR Blue-era Class 37, working passenger and freight services across the Eastern Region. Notable for retaining its split headcode boxes and original bufferbeam fairings longer than most classmates, it later moved to Scotland and South Wales before receiving General Grey and Dutch-style liveries. Withdrawn in 1998, it was scrapped in 2002. 37106 – Civil Engineer's Dutch Built in January 1963, 37106 spent much of its career on the Eastern Region before moving north of the border in the early 1990s. Repainted into striking Civil Engineer's Dutch livery in 1993, it became a regular performer on infrastructure, passenger and engineers' duties across Scotland. Later returning south for engineering work, it survived into the EWS era before withdrawal in 1999 and scrapping the following year. 37185 – BR Blue with Cornish Railways 'Wizzy' Logos One of the most distinctive Western Region Class 37s, 37185 carried the famous Cornish Railways 'Wizzy the Lizard' logos applied by local artist Vic Millington. Built by Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns in 1963, it became closely associated with Cornwall's china clay traffic and later enjoyed careers with Railfreight Distribution and Transrail. Its unique embellishments make it one of the most memorable BR Blue Class 37s. 37516 'Loch Laidon' – WCRC Built in 1962 as D6786, this Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns locomotive was rebuilt as Class 37/5 No. 37516 in 1987. After a long freight career, including service in Loadhaul colours, it joined West Coast Railways in 2009. Since then it has become a familiar sight on railtours, charter trains, RHTTs and infrastructure duties. Today, 'Loch Laidon' remains a key member of the Carnforth fleet. 37800 'Cassiopeia' – Rail Operations Group Blue - ACCURASCALE EXCLUSIVE One of the most striking modern Class 37s, 37800 carries Rail Operations Group's distinctive blue 'PCB' livery. Like 37716, it returned from Spanish exile in 2012 and was rebuilt for further service in Britain. Named Cassiopeia in 2018, it has become a familiar sight hauling stock transfers and locomotive movements across the network, earning a reputation as one of the most distinctive surviving Class 37s. The model will be supplied in named condition with etched nameplates included in the box. OUR SPECIAL PARTNERSHIP MODELS Alongside the main range, we've collaborated with some of our favourite preservation groups and retailers to produce some very special models, and these will arrive alongside the main range in Q2 2027. D6724 – BR Green with Small Yellow Panels ACCURASCALE EXCLUSIVE: SUPPORTING THE HEAVY TRACTOR GROUP Delivered from Vulcan Foundry in 1961, D6724 spent its early years at Stratford working passenger, freight and boat train duties across East Anglia. Later renumbered 37024, it eventually became Class 37/7 No. 37714 following refurbishment at Crewe in 1988. After careers with Railfreight, EWS and in Spain, it returned to the UK and today survives in preservation with the Heavy Tractor Group at the Great Central Railway. 37403 'Ben Cruachan' – 1990s BR Heritage Green ACCURASCALE EXCLUSIVE: SUPPORTING SCOTTISH RAILWAY PRESERVATION SOCIETY 37403 became one of Britain's most famous Class 37s when it was repainted into heritage BR green in 1994 to celebrate the centenary of the West Highland Line. Originally built as D6607 in 1965, it later became a Class 37/4 for ScotRail duties and worked extensively across Scotland. Preserved by the Scottish Railway Preservation Society, it returned to main line operation in 2016 and remains a firm enthusiast favourite. 37716 – DRS 'Fade' PRODUCED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH RAINBOW RAILWAYS 37716's story is one of remarkable survival. Exported to Spain in 2001 for high-speed railway construction work, it narrowly avoided scrapping before returning to Britain in 2012. Rebuilt for Direct Rail Services, it emerged in the eye-catching 'fade' livery and became a popular performer on nuclear, infrastructure, charter and test train duties. Stored in 2024, it remains operational under Swietelsky UK ownership. PRE ORDER YOUR CLASS 37s HERE View the full article
  5. Pushing against an open door here, John! I'll keep trying to persuade the lads... Cheers! Fran
  6. In the early days of IRM we were approached by several members of the public who laid down significant funds up front for these but have still to take delivery. So, if they ever do pop up offering their services again, you have been warned!
  7. Few steam locomotives can match the enduring appeal of the Great Western Railway's famous Pannier Tanks, and it's time to reveal our brand new run of these plucky little engines! We've listened closely to customer feedback and curated a carefully-balanced range of the most-requested and highly-anticipated liveries and variations - let's get started! What livery sits better on a GWR Pannier Tank than Great Western livery itself? Following popular demand, we've got the return of GWR 'Shirtbutton' and Great Western liveries - this time on new variants compared to the original run. We've also responded to the strong demand for a GWR war-time black edition of the pannier tank, seen here on No. 8751 - set to be one of our most sought-after in this run. Our new run of Accurascale GWR Pannier Tanks benefits from subtle refinements to the electrical pick-up system, further enhancing the smooth and reliable performance for which these models have become renowned. The range also showcases the remarkable variety found within the Pannier Tank family, combining multiple tooling variations with an exciting selection of new liveries and identities not featured in our first production run. Delivery is targeted for Q2 2027. We love to tell the full story of a locomotive class, and mention must be made to those that went on to find a new life in industrial usage after the end of mainline steam on Britain's railways. No. 3650 was one such survivor. Withdrawn from BR service in 1963, it was sold to Stephenson Clarke Ltd, a private colliery operator at Gwaun-cae-Gurwen in South Wales. Repainted into a striking blue livery, it enjoyed a successful industrial career before entering preservation at Didcot Railway Centre. We also welcome new examples in the ever-popular British Railways Early Crest and Late Crest plain black liveries, representing the true go-anywhere mixed-traffic locomotives that became a familiar sight across the Western Region during the 1950s and 1960s. Saving perhaps the most exciting for last, we're delighted to offer a brand new Accurascale Exclusive: preserved No. 9600 in lined BR Early Crest black, as seen operating on the UK main line in the 21st century. Following an extensive overhaul completed in 1999, No. 9600 became one of the famous 'Tyseley Panniers', certified for main line running at speeds of up to 45mph. A regular companion to our previous Accurascale Exclusive, London Transport-liveried L94, the pair became one of the most recognisable pannier combinations on the preservation scene. If you've already added L94 to your fleet, then 9600 is the perfect partner! You can buy No. 9600 exclusively from Accurascale. Meet the New Fleet in detail... 8764 Great Western Built at Swindon by the GWR on 10 October 1933 as part of Lot 282, 8764 was constructed with the new larger cab design of the 8750 class while still retaining earlier features such as the original water filler caps and the absence of bunker steps. While the steps and a top feed would be added later, the original fillers remained until withdrawal. New to Old Oak Common, it spent most of its career in the London area and later carried the lined black livery of the Paddington pilots. Reallocated to Barry (88C) in 1960, it remained there until withdrawal on 21 May 1962 after just over 28 years of service. 3608 GWR 'Shirtbutton' Completed at Swindon on 2 February 1939 as part of Lot 314, 3608 was new to Oxford shed. Another member of the 8750 variant, it featured the larger cab, bunker steps and later-pattern water fillers. However, it was built before top feed became standard and this was added later in its career. Spending much of its life based at Oxford, it was not reallocated until 1958 when it moved to Slough (81B). Subsequent transfers took it to Old Oak Common (81A) and finally Southall (81C), from where it was withdrawn in June 1965. 8751 GWR Wartime Black Built at Swindon in September 1933 as part of Lot 282, 8751 was the second locomotive constructed with the new larger cab design while still retaining early details such as the original tank fillers. By the time it appeared in GWR wartime black livery it had gained bunker steps, while a top feed was added around the same period. It continued in this condition well into BR service, receiving only a smokebox numberplate. New to Old Oak Common, it was transferred to Ebbw Junction (86A) in 1960 before withdrawal in 1962. 5753 BR Early Crest Built by the GWR at Swindon in April 1929, 5753 was one of 30 locomotives constructed as part of Lot 238. Like all Swindon-built 5700s, it carried cast iron numberplates painted in an off-yellow shade to represent brass. New to Old Oak Common, it soon moved to Southall where it spent the remainder of its working life until withdrawal on 14 September 1959. Some say that after withdrawal, 5753 went on to work on an island off the coast of Cumbria, but that's another story... 7774 BR Late Crest 7774 was the last of the 5700 pannier tanks built by the North British Locomotive Company. Works No. 24062 was completed in March 1931 and allocated new to Aberbeeg shed. Aside from visits to Swindon Works, it remained a South Wales locomotive throughout its career, seeing service at Newport Pill, Tredegar (86H), Aberbeeg (86K) and Ebbw Junction (86A). It was finally withdrawn in November 1959. 3650 Stephenson Clarke Ltd Built at Swindon in 1939 as part of Lot 325, 3650 was initially allocated to Tyseley depot in Birmingham, where it remained until a transfer to Wales in 1953 via a brief two-month stay at Bristol Bath Road (82A). Following withdrawal from Neath (87A) in September 1963, it avoided scrapping when it was sold to private colliery operator Stephenson Clarke Ltd at Gwaun-cae-Gurwen in South Wales. There it was painted blue with red "Stephenson Clarke" lettering on the tanks. After its industrial career ended, it was purchased by a member of the Great Western Society and moved to Hereford before eventually transferring to Didcot Railway Centre. More restoration work was required than initially anticipated, but after a lengthy overhaul it steamed again on 23 July 2008. Initially restored in Stephenson Clarke blue, it has since been repainted into GWR shirtbutton livery. Its last boiler ticket expired in 2016 and it is currently undergoing overhaul to return it to service. 9600 BR Lined Black (Preservation) – ACCURASCALE EXCLUSIVE 9600 was the first locomotive of Lot 352, completed at Swindon in February 1945. Appropriately, its first allocation was Swindon shed. It later moved to Bristol St Philip's Marsh (82B) in 1961 before transferring to South Wales. It was withdrawn from Ebbw Junction (86B) in September 1965 but enjoyed a second career after purchase by the National Coal Board, moving to Merthyr Vale Colliery where it worked until 1973. Purchased thereafter by 7029 Clun Castle Ltd, it moved to Tyseley in Birmingham, now home to Vintage Trains. The locomotive's overhaul was completed in 1999 and it was restored to an exceptionally high standard, becoming one of the famous "Tyseley Panniers" certified for main line operation at speeds of up to 45mph. Over two boiler tickets it worked extensively on the national network, both on charter trains and as a banking locomotive. It often appeared alongside L94, creating one of the most striking pannier pairings seen on the main line in preservation. Targeted to arrive in Q2 2027, you can pre-order yours today with no deposit down! Accurascale Exclusive No. 9600 can be ordered directly from Accurascale, while our main-range models are also available via your local stockist too. We've worked hard to keep prices the same as the first run - £139.99 (DC/DCC Ready) and £239.99 (DCC Sound fitted), and don't forget you'll also benefit from free UK delivery and collect Accurascale Reward Points that you can exchange for discounts on future purchases, such as decoders or ModelU crews! PRE-ORDER YOUR MODELS TODAY View the full article
  8. it's not in tooling yet.
  9. running beautifully on Barrow Street....
  10. In this video its quite visibly the coupling hook is sitting upwards and catching the pipes as a result. If you turned the coach upside down it would not occur. This will also sound harsh but the only thing hornby track is fit for is the bin. We recommend PECO track. If anyone is having an issue please email us at support@accurascale.com, preferably with a video clip showing us where the derailment is happening on your layout. Cheers! Fran
  11. Very well done on Bachmann for that. The recent upheaval I allude to is the closure of the Kader factory for making model trains (they now have to use independent factories like the rest of us) and their recent firing of their UK MD who has since stood trial in recent weeks for possessing indecent images of minors.
  12. Welcome to the 'AccuraBone'! We're delighted to announce that the next all-new locomotive in the Accurascale range is the mighty BREL Class 58 diesel in 'OO' gauge! Built to haul heavy coal trains on Britain's famous Merry-Go-Round circuits, the Class 58 embodied British Rail's vision for the future of freight. Combining a distinctive modular design with advanced engineering and electronics, these powerful locomotives were created to meet the demands of the 1980s and beyond. Affectionately nicknamed 'Bones' thanks to their distinctive narrow-bodied design and full-width cabs, the Class 58 burst onto the scene in 1983 as British Rail's next-generation heavy freight locomotive. Built to tackle the demanding coal flows between collieries and power stations, these hardworking machines soon became a familiar sight across Britain's industrial heartlands, hauling the trains that helped keep the nation's lights on. Continuing the 'Powering Britain' story that began with our popular HUO coal hopper range, the all-new Accurascale Class 58 is the perfect locomotive for recreating the heavy freight operations that defined the Railfreight era. In development for over three years here at Accurascale, this locomotive, designed entirely new from the ground-up, has been a labour of love for Project Manager Steve Purves. Watch our launch video below to learn more about the project and everything that makes up the brand new Accurascale Class 58: The Accurascale Class 58 faithfully captures the many variations found across the fleet, featuring a range of prototype-specific tooling differences and finely rendered details throughout. Beneath the bodywork, a powerful five-pole motor with twin flywheels, all-wheel drive, all-wheel pick-up and a built-in stay-alive system ensure exceptional performance. Completing the package are working radiator fans, a comprehensive lighting suite including cab and desk lights, and DCC-ready electronics designed for easy decoder installation. Our first production run showcases some of the Class 58's most iconic liveries, charting the story of the class from its introduction through to preservation. From the striking Railfreight Red Stripe livery carried when the fleet entered service, to the much-loved Railfreight Coal triple-grey scheme synonymous with Britain's heavy coal traffic, each model captures a defining era of freight operation. The journey continues into the privatisation era with both Mainline Grey and the eye-catching Mainline Blue livery, while a special highlight of the range is preserved locomotive 58023, depicted in its current condition as it continues its remarkable return to operational status. Scheduled to arrive in Q4 2027, you can pre-order yours today, exclusively from Accurascale, with no deposit down! Prices start at £169.99 (DC/DCC Ready) and £259.99 (DCC Sound fitted), and don't forget you'll also benefit from free UK delivery and collect Accurascale Reward Points that you can exchange for discounts on future purchases, such as decoders or ModelU crews! PRE-ORDER YOUR CLASS 58s TODAY EXCLUSIVELY FROM ACCURASCALE Why Direct Only? We wished to offer these locomotives through our retailer network, but due to the complexity of the Class 58 body, which requires three times the amount of body tooling compared to a traditional British outline diesel locomotive alone due to its narrow body shape and wide cabs, the price would’ve been circa £220 DC/DCC Ready and £320.00 DCC sound fitted. With the current economic conditions as they are, we simply could not ask you to pay out such significant outlays. So, we are offering a smaller run direct only to ensure modellers can save at least £50 per locomotive in this first run. Future runs may be offered to trade at higher RRPs should economic conditions improve. We've always been committed to the best possible value for your models, and that ethos simply cannot be changed. Our hobby needs to be fun, sustainable and affordable, and this is the cheapest price point we can offer these locomotives at for you to enjoy. Meet the new fleet of Accurascale Class 58s! 58016 - Railfreight Coal 58016 entered service during October 1984 and, although part of the first batch of 35 locomotives, differed in several subtle ways from the as-built 58001. Outshopped in Railfreight Red Stripe livery, it featured the revised cab side sheets, bodyside door handles and a moisture trap/filter on the air brake pipework. It was repainted into Triple Grey with Coal Sector branding in 1989 and had by then gained a wide exhaust silencer and NRN radio pods on the cab roof. In 1991, the familiar Toton cooling towers depot plaque was added to the secondman's side. During 1992, 58016 became notable for deputising on a Sprinter diagram between Cambridge and Birmingham with a motley collection of Mk2 coaches. Like many others in the fleet, Coal Sector branding later gave way to Mainline branding and the locomotive continued in Triple Grey until receiving a striking coat of EWS maroon and gold in 1996. 58016 was one of the final Class 58s to operate in Britain for EWS before withdrawal in August 2002. Selected for export to France with Fertis, it later returned to the UK and entered storage at Crewe Diesel Depot. It remained there until being purchased for preservation by the Class 58 Locomotive Group. Today, the locomotive resides at UKRL's depot in Leicester. 58017 - Mainline Freight Triple Grey Delivered from BREL Doncaster during October 1984, 58017 remained in its as-delivered condition until 1989 when it was repainted into Triple Grey with Coal Sector branding. It gained a Toton depot plaque but remained unnamed. In September 1993 it was named "Eastleigh Depot" and soon afterwards received Mainline branding. It remained in this condition right up until withdrawal and storage in April 1999. The locomotive subsequently became a parts donor for locomotives overhauled for export and was rather ironically scrapped by EMR at Eastleigh in January 2014. 58023 - Mainline Freight Blue - PRESERVED CONDITION Entering service in December 1984, 58023 was a typical mid-batch locomotive. Most reliability modifications had been incorporated, but it pre-dated the more substantial changes introduced with the second batch. Outshopped in Railfreight Red Stripe livery, it worked for several years before being displayed at the Welbeck Colliery Open Day on 25 June 1989 in freshly applied Triple Grey with Coal Sector branding. A locomotive that would remain unnamed for some time, it continued in this condition until receiving Mainline Freight's Aircraft Blue livery and the name "Peterborough Depot". It retained both name and livery until withdrawal in July 2001. Following many years in storage at the rear of Toton Depot, it was eventually dispatched to Ron Hull's scrapyard. A last-minute deal saved the locomotive from scrapping and it entered preservation under private ownership during 2016. Since then it has been restored to full working order and, from late 2024 onwards, has appeared at diesel galas around the country. During restoration it was renamed "Leicester Depot", reflecting its current home base. 58023 has effectively become the Class 58 for a new generation. As the only operational member of the class in Britain for more than two decades, it represents many enthusiasts' only opportunity to experience a working Class 58 in action. 58040 Railfreight Red Stripe 58040 was released to traffic on 16 March 1986. This locomotive is typical of the second batch of 15 Class 58s and featured many differences from the earlier 35. The engine room doors were now fitted with proper handles, cab ventilation had been improved through the addition of cab side vents, and the cab access handrails had changed to a full-height design. Underneath, the bogies had been revised to the new CP3A type with external sandboxes. 58040 was notable for carrying a wider exhaust silencer fitted with experimental round exhaust ports located at the opposite end to normal. As this was only a trial, they were later replaced by a standard wide silencer with conventional exhaust ports. Our model offers both options. The locomotive gained the name "Cottam Power Station" soon after construction, after the power station in North Nottinghamshire near Retford. The name remained with the locomotive until withdrawal. It was not the only adornment carried, as 58040 was also one of the few Class 58s to receive cast "Railfreight" plaques on the cab fronts. 58040 was repainted into Triple Grey during 1991 and carried Coal Sector branding until 1994, when Mainline branding took its place. It remained in this condition until withdrawal and storage. The locomotive was later reactivated and exported to France, where it worked for a number of years before finally being cut up at Alizay Depot in 2023. 58042 - Railfreight Coal 58042 was handed over to traffic during May 1986 and, like other members of the class, carried Railfreight Red Stripe livery from new. A typical second-batch Class 58, it ran with CP3A bogies and the wider exhaust silencer. It was named "Ironbridge Power Station" in September 1986 after the power station in Shropshire and also carried cast Railfreight plaques on its cab fronts. Repainted into Triple Grey with Coal Sector branding in 1991, it continued to work the Midlands MGR circuits but was also used on railtours, including workings into Kent. In 1995, the Coal Sector branding briefly gave way to Mainline logos before a full repaint into Mainline's Aircraft Blue livery. It retained its Ironbridge nameplates for a short period before being renamed "Petrolea", whose nameplates had previously migrated from 47374 to 37888 before finally finding a home on 58042. Following periods in and out of traffic, the locomotive was finally stored on 12 April 2002. After several years in storage, it was reactivated for export to France, where it worked before ultimately being cut up at Alizay in 2023. 58046 - Mainline Freight Blue 58046 was handed over to BR during October 1986. Nearing the end of the Class 58 build programme, it incorporated all of the later modifications from new. Initially unnamed, it received the name "Thoresby Colliery" on 7 July 1991 and was outshopped in gleaming Triple Grey with Coal Sector branding. The naming took place at the High Marnham Power Station open day, not far from the colliery after which it was named. Coal Sector branding was removed in 1994 and, during 1995, the locomotive emerged in Mainline Freight's Aircraft Blue livery. In September 1996 it was renamed "Asfordby Mine", becoming the only locomotive to carry the RJB Mining logo on its nameplates. It also worked the famous "Worksop Aberdonian" railtour alongside 58002. Unusually, no headboard was carried; instead, one cab on each locomotive displayed the tour title in vinyl on the cab front. These remained in place until withdrawal in September 2000. 58046 would be another locomotive to enjoy a second career in France before being disposed of at Alizay in 2023. Accurascale Class 58 Model Specification: Model details • Narrow, experimental (58040 only) or wide exhaust silencer • Bodysides with or without door handles • CP3 or CP3A bogie variations • Cabs with or without side air vents • Deep or shallow rear cab corner profiles • Three types of cab door handrail/baffle arrangement • Cab roofs with or without NRN radio pods • Era-correct cooler group designs visible behind bodyside grilles (three styles) • Windscreen washer fillers with or without protective guards General details • Fully detailed cab interior with full-depth floor and separate fittings • Separately fitted handrails and bogie pipework • CP3A bogies feature clear sandbox covers • Ribbed light lenses as per the prototype • Finely detailed bufferbeam equipment • Etched windscreen wipers and horn grilles • Optional bogie retaining wires for operation on tighter-radius curves • Separately fitted etched roof lifting eyes • Detailed traction motors fitted beneath the bogies Mechanical and electrical details • Powerful five-pole motor with twin flywheels providing all-wheel drive • All-wheel pick-up and integrated stay-alive system • Hall sensors on bogies for automatic flange squeal activation • Comprehensive lighting suite with independently controlled running, cab and desk lights • Twin motorised working radiator fans • Removable roof panel providing easy access to decoder and DC lighting switches PRE-ORDER YOUR CLASS 58s TODAY EXCLUSIVELY FROM ACCURASCALE View the full article
  13. I've been told by the Murphy family that the Mark 3 project will be completed and delivered. After that, we'll wait and see, but @WRENNEIREmay know more. The 071 project may be interesting and indeed tricky following recent Kader and Bachmann UK upheaval (they were made by Kader, who own Bach UK)
  14. If everyone committed to buying 2x of the Irish loco we could probably do it for a similar price…
  15. Hi folks, I can confirm that the Hunslets will begin shipping to customers later next week (w/c June 1st) along with the IRM Park Royal coaches. Order here: https://www.accurascale.ie/collections/nir-101-dl-class-hunslet Boom time for Irish outline! Cheers! Fran
  16. We’re delighted to unveil a true burst of colour joining the Accurascale range - the ODA wagon family! From humble beginnings as BR ‘Pipe’ wagons carrying steel lengths, the ODA evolved into one of the most versatile and distinctive wagons of the modern railway, finding work in everything from MoD and Speedlink traffic to engineers’ trains and departmental duties. Appearing in a wide variety of striking liveries throughout their careers, these hard-working wagons offer huge appeal for modellers of the 1980s through to privatisation and beyond. To discover the story behind this fascinating wagon family and what makes our models so special, watch our brand-new launch video below, as Accurascale Project Manager Paul Isles takes you through the range in detail. An Ode to the 'ODA' - the history of the 12t 'Pipe' We've modelled the ODA 'Pipe' family of wagons at all stages in their life. Paul Isles takes up the story on the humble open wagon that became one of BR's most useful wagons... In the early 1980s, British Rail’s decision to transfer its wagonload business to the air-braked network posed some considerable logistical problems for the Ministry of Defence. With many Ordnance Factory and Depot sidings featuring severe curves, the transit of the newer long wheelbase, air-braked vans and open wagons through these networks was problematic, and a solution needed to be found. The answer lay with a 1936 London & North Eastern Railway 12’ wheelbase design, to Diagram 127, for a 12 ton, 21’ 6”, five plank, ‘Pipe’ wagon, fitted with two drop doors either side of a removable stanchion. Following Nationalisation in 1948, British Railways had adopted this design for their own Pipe Wagons (along with a very similar ex-LMS design) and 300 wagons of this vacuum fitted, LNER clasp brake type were built at Darlington in 1949, under Lots 2046 and 2047, to Diagram 1/461. From 1955 onwards, BR combined the ex-LNER 1/461 and ex-LMS 1/460 diagrams into a new 1/462 diagram, creating wagons which were vacuum fitted from new (the ex-LMS 1/460 being unfitted from new). Out of 830 wagons built to this diagram, 630 were built with RCH long-linked braking, however, 200 were built with BR clasp brakes at Wolverton in 1961, under Lot 3335 and it was from this batch that the solution to the MoD’s requirements was found. Outside of their intended usage for pipe traffic, the drop sides of the Pipe wagons proved to be particularly useful for the loading of palletised loads; 50 wagons of Lot 3070 built at Wolverton were even introduced into traffic for the carrying of newsprint and as the original pipe traffic declined, more and more wagons were used for general merchandise loads. Under the Total Operations Processing System (TOPS) in the 1970s, the Pipes in capital stock were classified as SOV, while others were transferred to the Engineers Department. Having identified the SOVs as the ideal candidates for the MOD traffic, 50 wagons from Lot 3335 were selected and sent to BR’s Shildon wagon works for air brake conversion under Lot 4030. Conversion took place between March and May 1983 and resulted in the randomly selected wagons between B741754 and B741942 being renumbered for their new tasking. It was originally planned to renumber these as 466000 - 466049 in the Steel carrying series but to reflect the General Merchandise use intended, they left Shildon in the Open number series of 113000 to 113049, following on from the OCAs that had been numbered between 112000 and 112399. As well as the conversion to air braking, the suspension was also modified by Shildon, with UIC double-link FAT-19 suspension being fitted and with the work completed, the converted wagons were released to traffic with the new TOPS code of ODA, the fourth iteration of BR’s new Open air-braked family after the OAA, OBA and OCA, and liveried in the full new Railfreight livery of Carnival Red and Flint Grey. In conjunction with the VEA vans (ex-VanWides), the ODAs served their purpose with the MoD perfectly, being used to carry palletised and equipment loads in and around the depots, as well as being utilised over the wider rail network and the fleet of 50 wagons survived the gradual decline of the MoD traffic to which they had mostly been dedicated, and worked through to the end of the Speedlink wagonload period. Between 1991 and 1993, the ODAs were transferred into Departmental stock, becoming ZDAs under TOPS and found their place split between the Regional Railways and Intercity Infrastructure Pools, notably in the newly rebranded Satlink fleet. The introduction of air braked vehicles into this fleet meant materials could be moved swiftly around the UK by the Civil Engineers’ network on Civil Link services. A striking red and yellow striped livery was adopted, with Signal & Telecom branding and these colourful vehicles were seen across the Western and Midland regions on various high-profile re-signalling and Automatic Train Protection projects, carrying relay cabinets, concrete troughing and other concrete fabrications, palletised bricks and aggregate bags, along with scrap cabling and ducting. With Privatisation looming, the distinction between departmental and revenue fleets became blurred, with the ZDA fleet (now classified as ODA again) being first distributed through the passenger sectors in 1992, and then through the ‘shadow’ freight companies. In this period, the paint faded, planks rotted away and were replaced with scrap planking and any branding peeled away, or was roughly removed, and it was only when the 36 surviving vehicles of the ODA fleet passed into the private ownership of EWS and were once again put into revenue service, that any repaints were carried out, this time into the distinctive wine red and gold of EWS. Over the next five years or so, under the ownership of EWS, the wagons were stored and operated around the railway network, in places such as Eastleigh, Peterborough, Northampton, Rugby and Toton and very few of the ODAs survived to the end of the new millennium’s first decade. Those few that did were scattered around the country; single wagons used for storage of life expired trackside equipment, scrap ballast or simply just a home to the growing forest of Buddleia, the modern railway network’s favourite plant! But what of those 150 Pipe VBs/SOVs from Lot 3335 that were not converted to the ODAs? Some remained in capital stock use until they became life expired, used for General Merchandise loads across the network, while others were transferred to the Engineers’ Department, variously classified as ZDVs or ZRVs under TOPS. Other vehicles were fitted with through air pipes so that they could be used in traffic with air-braked stock, and classified as ZDW, whilst a number were transferred to various Royal Navy Armament Depots; being converted into a variety of flat bed wagons for specific logistical applications. Like the ODAs, some of the ZDVs and ZDWs found themselves transferred to the Satlink fleet from the late 1980s, on both the Midland and Western region projects. A large number of Pipe wagons had also been allocated to Project Mercury from the mid-1980s, including several Lot 3335 vehicles, as they proved particularly suited to transporting the concrete troughing required. From 1987 onwards, these wagons were repainted from their normal dreary Bauxite and Olive Green liveries into Mercury’s in-house style Light Blue livery, and many were fitted with through air-pipes and mesh canopies. As air-braked stock became more prevalent during the 1990s, vacuum fitted stock was phased out of traffic and the Pipe wagons were either scrapped, used for siding storage, or sold on to heritage railways. FEATURE LIST: Die-cast metal chassis and underframe, with ABS plastic body and separate metal/wire detailing components. Weight (without load) of 43g. Wheelbase of 48mm. Length over buffers of 99.6mm. 12.5mm diameter wheels, chemically blackened. Axles are 2mm diameter, 26mm long over pinpoints and set into brass bearings. Fitted brake rigging aligns with 00 gauge wheel centres. An additional set of brake rigging is supplied for fitting when using P4 finescale wheels, and additional attachment points have been provided for this purpose. Fully detailed die-cast underframe with all brake cylinders, axle guards, changeover equipment, handbrakes, air cylinders and suspension equipment applied separately. Factory fitted short tension lock fitted, set into a self-centring NEM pocket. Authentic livery, markings and numbering, accurate to the time periods modelled. Accessory bag contains adapter insert for use of longer tension locks, tie-down cleats and Instanter coupling chains. Order yours with no deposit down, for a Q1 2027 arrival, exclusively from Accurascale. Available as individual wagons from £29.99 each and triple packs for £79.98 each. You'll also be able to save 10% with our Accurascale Rake Bundle discounts when buying two or more packs in one go - benefit from free UK delivery for orders over £50, and collect Accurascale Reward Points that you can exchange for discounts on future orders too - more great reasons to shop with Accurascale! PRE ORDER YOUR MODELS TODAY View the full article
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  17. Hi Noel, Sure are, the ship rounded the cape the other day. Cheers! Fran
  18. I think the best thing to come out of this overall though, is the amount of Heljan that has sold for small to medium retailers, at their original asking price, because 1. everyone is talking about Heljan again, and noticing that some of it is indeed nice. 2. Punters who like to buy in person, now know that there is only a finite amount of stock left on retailers shelves, so they're grabbing it while they can, and the smaller retailers are getting shot of stock that has sat for a while, or are even seeing it go up in value. Makes the suggestion of shop stock getting bought back rather "dim witted!"
  19. Accurascale is delighted to welcome two new members to the team as the company continues to grow and expand its ambitious product development programme. Joining the business as Project Managers are John Cordrey and Scott Rhodes, both bringing a lifelong passion for railways, modelling, and preservation alongside valuable industry experience. Bringing Reproductions to Life – John Cordrey John joins Accurascale as Project Manager (Reproductions), where he will focus on evolving existing models and bringing them in line with the high standards of the Accurascale and Heljan ranges, as well as developing new identities for future releases. A railway enthusiast since childhood, John’s passion began in the 1980s with train sets gifted by family, quickly evolving into a lifelong interest in modelling and railway history. He has spent much of his modelling journey refining, repainting, and reimagining models into 1990s-era prototypes, while maintaining a wide appreciation for railways across all eras. His experience extends beyond the workbench, having volunteered on narrow gauge railways in North Wales and regularly visiting heritage lines across the UK and Europe. John said: “Joining Accurascale is a fantastic opportunity. The chance to work on such a wide range of existing and future models, and to help bring them up to the standard the brand is known for, is incredibly exciting. I’m really looking forward to what’s ahead.” A Dream Role in the Hobby – Scott Rhodes Also joining the team is Scott Rhodes, who steps into the role of Project Manager following his time at Oxford Diecast, where he worked as a Brand Developer. Scott brings with him a deep-rooted passion for railways that has shaped both his professional and personal life. A modeller across multiple scales and eras, his current focus lies in the early 1990s - a period he describes as full of character, change, and inspiration. Alongside modelling, Scott is actively involved in preservation work, volunteering at the National Tramway Museum and spending time at heritage railways including the Severn Valley Railway. Scott commented: “Joining Accurascale is genuinely a dream opportunity. Being part of a team that shares the same passion for the hobby is incredibly exciting. I can’t wait to help shape new projects and bring models to life that really resonate with fellow enthusiasts.” Driving Forward Accurascale’s Growth Accurascale Managing Director Stephen McCarron welcomed both appointments, highlighting the importance of continued growth and innovation within the company. He said: “We’re excited to welcome John and Scott to the team. Both bring not only strong professional experience, but a genuine lifelong enthusiasm for railways and modelling that fits perfectly with what Accurascale and Heljan is all about. As we continue to expand our range and push into new and exciting projects, having people of their calibre on board is a real boost. There are some immensely exciting developments ahead, and they will play a key role in helping us deliver them.” Looking Ahead With new talent joining an already passionate and growing team, Accurascale continues to strengthen its position at the forefront of model railway manufacturing. Customers can look forward to an exciting pipeline of projects ahead - delivered with the same attention to detail, innovation and enthusiasm that defines the brand. View the full article
  20. Well I can confirm that it did absolute wonders for the sales on heljan.com, as it really brought the news of Heljan going direct only to the masses, who then checked out the site an saw the prices on offer. Oh, and the reasons why. We were delighted with it, TBH. Cheers! Fran
  21. Few trains divide opinion quite like the Class 142 ‘Pacer’ - but their place in Britain’s railway story is undeniable. From rural branches to hard-worked commuter routes, these unmistakable railbuses became a true everyday icon - the true unsung heroes of the UK rail scene. Now, Accurascale brings them to life like never before with a brand new model that captures every ounce of their character, charm and individuality. Packed with cutting-edge features, exceptional detailing and smooth running performance, whether pottering along a quiet branch or strengthening a busy multiple-unit formation, the ‘Pacer’ delivers versatility in spades. With a wide range of liveries and authentic variations, this exciting new release offers something for every layout. Unsung Heroes: The 'Pacer' Story The Class 142 ‘Pacer’ DMUs were British Rail’s most successful take on the railbus concept, combining bus-based bodies with a simple chassis to create a low-cost solution for lightly used routes. Introduced in the mid-1980s after a series of prototypes, they quickly became a familiar sight across the North West, Yorkshire, Wales and the South West. Although early reliability issues affected performance, upgrades in the 1990s significantly improved their operation, allowing them to become dependable workhorses on both rural and commuter services. Passing through multiple operators after privatisation, they remained in service until 2020, and today many survive in preservation, valued as a distinctive and enduring part of Britain’s railway history. The Accurascale Class 142 DMU debuts in a curated selection of iconic liveries, ranging from original BR Provincial and the Western Region ‘Skipper’ chocolate and cream to the later Greater Manchester PTE and Northern Rail eras. With multiple running numbers available, we make it easy to assemble authentic paired sets or recreate specific regional allocations. Despite its compact wheelbase, this ‘Pacer’ boasts a heavyweight specification. The model features a finely detailed full interior, a smooth low-profile drive system, and a sophisticated electronics suite optimised for reliable performance. Magnetic BSI couplings provide seamless compatibility with upcoming Class 153 and 155 units, while the clever internal circuitry allows both vehicles to be operated via a single DCC decoder. The lighting suite is fully featured and independently controllable, offering directional headlights with day/night modes, a warm interior glow, and discrete cab illumination. To ensure the 'Pacer' performs as well as it looks, the model incorporates our acclaimed 'Stay-Alive' power pack. This guarantees smooth, flicker-free running and consistent performance, even across complex pointwork or demanding layouts. Our new Class 142 'Pacer' DMUs are due to arrive in Q1 2027, and you can pre-order yours today exclusively from Accurascale with no deposit down - reserve yours now to avoid missing out! They're as good value in model form as in real life - priced from £199.98 (DC/DCC Ready) and £299.99 (DCC Sound-fitted). You'll also benefit from free UK delivery and collect Accurascale Reward Points that you can exchange for discounts on future purchases. We've produced multiple running numbers for each livery, and they're the ideal companions for our forthcoming Class 153/Class 155 DMUs too! PRE-ORDER YOUR MODELS TODAY Meet the New Range We have recreated four iconic 'Pacer' liveries spanning the decades of the trains in our first run. Read here the detailed stories behind each livery and how they can fit into your layout. Greater Manchester PTE: Running numbers & destinations featured: 142003 (55544+55594) Crewe / Special 142008 (55549+55599) Bolton / Stockport 142012 (55553+55603) Manchester Victoria (via Oldham) / Blackburn The 1980s saw several paint schemes make the jump from bus to DMU as the Passenger Transport Executives (PTEs), later Authorities (PTAs), began to sanction repaints covering rolling stock they sponsored. One of the most attractive was the Greater Manchester Transport orange/brown/white that had been adopted in 1981 and this was applied to the first 14 ‘Pacers’ 142001-142014 which were delivered in 1985. Based out of Newton Heath depot and seen at both Piccadilly and Victoria, they worked all across the North West, including to Blackburn, Colne, Chester, Helsby, Liverpool Lime Street, Llandudno, New Mills / Rose Hill, Oldham, Ormskirk, Preston, Rochdale, Southport, Stalybridge and Wigan North Western, as well as longer distance journeys to Barrow-in-Furness and the Cumbrian coast, Blackpool North/South, Carlisle, Doncaster, Sheffield and York. 142012 represents the Class 142s in their as-delivered condition with original destination blind, while 142008 has the smaller blind assembly introduced on the second batch, revised heating arrangement with the extra ventilation grille on one side of the body and additional warning labelling for passengers. The third GMPTE-liveried ‘Pacer’ is preserved 142003 with revised double-leaf doors and chassis-mounted sanding equipment. BR Western Region 'Skipper' Running numbers & destinations featured: 142015 (55556+55606) Exeter St Davids / Paignton 142024 (55565+55615) Newcastle / Middlesborough The next 13 units, 142015-142027, were for use on branch lines in Devon and Cornwall. New to Plymouth Laira between September-December 1985 and branded as ‘Skippers’ they were delivered in a chocolate and cream scheme in a reverse of the Great Western coaching stock livery, appropriate considering the GW150 celebrations that had been taking place that same year. This was applied to the same format as later introduced on the Provincial ‘Pacers’ complete with the same white waist band. Entering service on routes including Barnstaple-Exeter-Exmouth, Liskeard-Looe, Newton Abbot-Paignton, Par-Newquay, Penzance-St Erth-St Ives, Plymouth-Gunnislake and Truro-Falmouth, their introduction was not a happy one. Despite the best efforts of newly-installed greasing equipment, they were found to be entirely unsuited to the South West with the tight curves and difficult gradients leading to excessive tyre wear and wheel noise on the long-wheelbase units. They were transferred north starting with 142017 in August 1987 and the ‘Skippers’ were no more after the last day of November with the fleet being split between Newton Heath and Neville Hill. However, it wasn’t long before the majority of the units were on the move again to Heaton to supplement the Alexander-Barclay built Class 143s. Of our releases, 142015 is as built and firmly set in the South West. With its Exeter St Davids / Paignton destinations it would have made a fine sight on the sea wall at Dawlish. Meanwhile, Tyne & Wear-based 142024 has the revised destination blind, extra bodyside vent and subtly different labelling. BR Provincial Blue Running numbers & destinations featured: 142077 (55727+55773) Hull / York 142096 (55746+55792) Preston / Liverpool Lime St The majority of the ‘Pacer’ fleet, 142028-142096, was delivered in the attractive Provincial two-tone blue and white livery and the new trains were split between Newton Heath (Manchester) and Neville Hill (Leeds). They could be found working similar diagrams to the GMPTE fleet in the North West, while on the other side of the Pennines they became common on local services in North and West Yorkshire and the West Riding. Destinations included Bradford, Cleethorpes, Doncaster, Goole, Halifax, Huddersfield, Hull, Ilkley, Knottingley, Leeds, Marsden, Scarborough, Scunthorpe, Selby, Sheffield, Skipton, Sleaford and York, as well as longer distance routes such as Leeds or York to Blackpool North / Lancaster / Manchester Victoria / Morecambe and even Scarborough to Holyhead! Both units in our first run are taken from the second batch of units, known as Class 142/1 with Newton Heath-based 142096 – the last built member of the class – in as delivered condition, while 142077 is in post 1994 condition with revised double-leaf doors. These are painted yellow as they originally were on the converted units. This unit also has the extra heating vent on the bodysides, revised door warning stickers and the NRN roof pod provided in an accessory pack. Northern Rail Running numbers & destinations featured: 142062 (55712+55758) Carlisle / Lancaster 142070 (55720+55766) Bishop Auckland / Saltburn Rounding off the first run of the Accurascale ‘Pacer’ fleet is a pair of Northern Rail units, once ubiquitous from the late 2000s almost anywhere between Chester / Sheffield and Carlisle / Newcastle. 79 members of the Serco-Abellio operated fleet carried the purple/blue/grey livery, although sadly none received promotional vinyls like several of the company’s Class 150, 156 and 158 DMUs. The Northern fleet was complicated by bringing together units that had been refurbished to different levels by various predecessors, including several different seating configurations. For the first run, we will be focussing on units that have retained their classic Leyland bus-style 2+3 seating. Ex-First North Western 142062, one of 12 sets to return to the South West in 2007, represents the first half of the Northern era. Based at Newton Heath it gained this livery in 2009 and was scrapped in at EMR Kingsbury in January 2020. 142070 was another of the FNW units to briefly see service in the Exeter area in 2007/8. Also repainted Northern in 2009, our model of this ‘Pacer’ wears the additional bicycle and disabled stickers applied to the hopper vents and other later warning labels. Both sets also feature the extra cab front louvre, plated roof heating vents, factory-installed NRN roof pods and sanding equipment. PRE-ORDER YOUR MODELS TODAY View the full article
  22. We’ve built close relationships with a number of preservation groups over the years, and they’ve been invaluable in helping us create our models. From giving us access to measure and scan real locomotives, to recording their sounds and experiencing these incredible machines up close—it’s something we never take for granted. That’s why we always look for ways to work with them whenever we can. Together—with your help—we raise funds to keep these expensive ladies running. We’re back again with another special Class 37, aiming to raise as much as possible to support the real locomotives we all love. You’ve already seen this with our recent SRPS announcement, and now we’re partnering with our friends at the Heavy Tractor Group once again. This time, we’re recreating 37714 in near-original condition as D6724, finished in 1960s condition BR Green with small yellow panels. Locomotive History Built at English Electric’s Vulcan Foundry in August 1961, D6724 was initially allocated to 31B March, before moving to 30A Stratford the following month. It became a dependable member of the depot for five years, working a wide range of duties including passenger services, the Manchester–Harwich ‘boat’ train, parcels, and freight. By the mid-1960s, now fitted with small yellow warning panels, newer locomotives began displacing Stratford’s fleet. D6724 returned to March in August 1966, before moving between depots for several years. In February 1974, it transferred to Thornaby and was renumbered 37024 under TOPS. A major collision in 1980 led to plated nose doors at both ends. Aside from a short loan to Cardiff Canton in 1981, it remained a steady Eastern Region locomotive until May 1987, when it moved north to Motherwell and Eastfield. In October 1988, following refurbishment at BREL Crewe, it re-emerged as 37714 in Railfreight Metals livery, becoming one of the Class 37/7 “Heavyweights”. It was later named Thornaby Depot in September 1992, although the nameplates were removed just five months later. After further service and overhaul work, it was stored in October 2000, but returned to action in May 2001, heading to Spain to help construct the AVE high-speed network—repained into a distinctive blue livery for its overseas duties. It returned to the UK in 2011 as one of just six survivors, joining Direct Rail Services. After a short spell in service, it was loaned to the Heavy Tractor Group in 2016, repainted into triple-grey with Metals branding, and today remains a core part of operations at the Great Central Railway. The Model and the Mission To reduce the financial and manpower burden on preservation groups, we now produce, fund, and retail these models on their behalf. We handle production costs, sales, packing, and distribution, allowing these groups to focus on maintaining and operating the real locomotives—work that is largely done by volunteers. Importantly, a portion of every sale goes directly back to these groups, helping to keep our railway heritage alive. You also get a high-quality model in presentation packaging, while the Heavy Tractor Group receives stock to sell at open days and events. Ordering Information Pre-orders are now open for D6724, with an estimated delivery of Q2 2027. You can order directly from Accurascale. This is the only Class 37 in this run to feature green livery with small yellow panels in 1960s condition, combined with a strong preservation fundraising focus—so demand is expected to be high. Pricing: £189.95 (DC/DCC Ready) £289.95 (DCC Sound fitted) You’ll also benefit from: Free UK delivery on orders over £50 Accurascale Reward Points for future discounts Access to extras like decoders and exclusive ModelU crews Pre-order now to support the Heavy Tractor Group, helping to keep 37714 and D6700 running, while also contributing to the restoration of 37108. PRE-ORDER YOUR D6724 HERE! View the full article
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  23. The covers are off - it’s time to reveal our latest run of award-winning Class 66 diesels! For almost 30 years, these heavy-haul heroes have powered Britain’s freight network, becoming true icons of the modern railway. Now, we’re celebrating their story in style, with a line-up of models spanning the class’s journey - from their earliest days right through to today’s striking, cutting-edge liveries. Star of the show is of course - DB Cargo's 66091 accurascale, our 'pet' locomotive - being named after us in July 2025, in kind recognition by DB Cargo UK of the extensive charity work undertaken by Accurascale to raise funds for Martin House Children's Hospice, alongside a number of other worthy causes. We're passionate in telling the story of the Class 66 from its earliest days, and here EWS' 66017 is recreated in the classic maroon & gold 'thunderflash' livery that burst onto the scene in 1998 as the 'GM invasion' truly started to breathe new life into the railfreight scene under then-EWS chief Ed Burkhardt. Bringing the story right up to date, the Freightliner fleet is represented with some truly striking liveries - including the eye-catching 60th Anniversary colour schemes, faithfully recreated on 66501 and 66601, each telling its own unique story in miniature. And then there’s the unforgettable ‘ONE’ livery carried by Freightliner’s 66587. Widely regarded as one of the most vibrant liveries ever applied to a Class 66, it’s a real head-turner - and a much-requested livery from our customers. Now, at last, there’s the chance to add this standout machine to your Accurascale fleet. We're also showcasing a range of enhancements on this Class 66 run for the first time - including a newly-tooled exhaust silencer with an improved roof profile, as well as handbrake linkages moulded in the 'off' position for the first time. The cab-front handrails benefit from etched middle brackets, there are roof-mounted Wi-Fi pods where appropriate, and our Freightliner locomotives now sport the latest plated-over upper door handle arrangement too. It all goes to show the care and attention from Accurascale in continuous development, pushing standards forward and giving you the very best models available today! Due to arrive in Q3 2027, you can pre-order yours today to guarantee you don't miss out! Order from your favourite retailer or directly from Accurascale, with no deposit required! We've worked hard to keep prices the same as the current run - £179.95 (DC/DCC Ready) and £279.95 (DCC Sound fitted), and don't forget you'll also benefit from free UK delivery and collect Accurascale Reward Points that you can exchange for discounts on future purchases, such as decoders or ModelU crews! PRE ORDER YOUR MODELS TODAY Deluxe Features PowerPack capacitor for uninterrupted power Customised Dual-Speaker Technology with large ‘Accurathrash’ Style Bass Speaker and smaller 'iphone' style cube for higher frequencies (on DCC Sound-fitted models only) Hall sensor for flange squeal effect (on DCC Sound-fitted models only) DCC Features DCC ready with PowerPack capacitor for uninterrupted power DCC ready [21-Pin MTX Socket] or factory-fitted with Original ESU LokSound 5 Decoder options High Performance Traction features Five-Pole motor with two flywheels Gearing arranged so locomotive can achieve minimum scale top speed of 75 mph (120kph) All wheel drive and all wheel pickup Fully detailed Lighting Pack features Directional lighting, DC and DCC Switchable Red and white marker lights with day/night options Separately switched cab lighting, auto/off on movement View the full article
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