Warbonnet

Hi everyone, Half of the run is gone already. Thank you to everyone who has ordered so far! Grab yours here: https://irishrailwaymodels.com/collections/exclusive-irm-buses/products/cie-forklifts Some pallet loads to go with them: https://irishrailwaymodels.com/collections/loads/products/fertiliser-pallet-loads-6-pallets-of-fertiliser-bags Cheers! Fran

Hi everyone, A few more A Classes have been released back into stock as they were no longer required for warranty back up. Not many, so feel free to grab as soon as possible! https://irishrailwaymodels.com/collections/a-class-locomotive/availability_in-stock? Cheers! Fran

Our latest announcement sees us tackle the star of 'wish lists' across the land. The people movers of the 50s, 60s, and 70s. The unsung heroes of the Mark 1 family and of course, the perfect bedfellows for our forthcoming Class 31 locomotives. Welcome everyone, to the 56ft 11" Mark 1 suburban coaches, by Accurascale. The latest addition to our "Moving Britain" range of coaching stock! We've a much more in depth history file on the real Mark 1 Suburban coaches in our "History File" blog which you can read here. Almost 600 of these coaches were built by BR between 1954 and 1956 on the short 56ft 11" frame to provide suburban coaching stock across a variety of BR regions. Sampling a wealth of BR traction throughout their lifetime, from various types of tank engines on the Midland, to N7s, N2s, L1s, B1s and more on the Eastern Region, to most types of Type 2 diesels and more throughout their lifetimes. Of course, they were almost synonymous with Brush Type 2s on the Eastern Region, and when we decided to push ahead with our Class 31 models in OO/4mm, these classic coaches seemed very much the "no brainer" to compliment them. Debuting in the distinctive Carmine Red with black ends in 1954, it wasn't long before the transition to maroon touched these forgotten children of the Mark 1 family, without lining initially before some received these additional embellishments. From 1966 all over rail blue, including coach ends became de rigueur of the suburban fleet, mimicking non intercity DMUs of the day. This latter livery was particularly associated with the Eastern region, behind Brush Type 2s and Baby Deltics, and seen alongside Brush Type 4s and the mighty Class 55 Deltics (both of which could also be seen hauling these coaches on empty stock movements in the Kings Cross area. They last operated a service train in 1977. Our research odyssey for these distinctive members of the Mark 1 family saw us visit the North Norfolk Railway who very kindly facilitated us for two survey trips in late 2020 and mid 2021. Their assistance during development has been invaluable, so make sure you check them out when you're in the area. Full access to both the exterior and interior was granted. Of course, doing these coaches justice is the "Accurascale Way", we have gone to town on the full set of exterior and interior, not to mention covering all configurations of these coaches to allow you form a prototypical rake. One element we are particularly proud of, and one that was forthcoming in customer feedback across the industry, is granting access to the interior in an easier fashion to add passengers and further detail. This is essential considering the increasing detail being added to models. So, with that challenge on board, we have come up with a fully removable magnetic roof! Of course, with a removable roof you need a beautifully detailed interior, right? So, we have gone to town on the interior too, with full interior detail which matches each coach configuration, including etched metal luggage racks and full interior lighting. Because why not? Of course, the exterior is dripping with detail too, with separately applied door handles (and there are many of them!) as well as intricate underframe detail and of course beautiful, free rolling bogies! All six designations have been tooled and covered, five of which have different exteriors and interiors.. From about 1965, patches were added to the bottom of the bodies to rectify the effects of corrosion, so naturally we have also covered that repair for each type. We have also covered both ventilator spacings on the roof, all three types of ventilator and on the BT, we have catered for full height periscopes, half height periscopes and removed periscopes! We go that extra mile to give you that extra smile after all. As with all Accurascale models, the specification list is extensive: Scale length of 227.67mm over headstocks, width of 36mm across body at waist. Minimum Radius 438mm (2nd radius set-track). No visible moulding ejection marks or pips. Die-cast metal chassis with plastic body. Target weight minimum of 135g, to a maximum of 150g. Accurate BREL BR1 bogies, with separate detailing where appropriate. Wheels should be blackened RP25-110 profile for 00 gauge, set into blackened brass bearings. NEM standard coupling sockets, with mini-tension lock couplers with a kinematic close-coupling system. With no gangways, the distance between carriages should be as near to prototypical as possible for R2 curves. Body, interior and underframe are handed, therefore CAD should account for this with fitting being only possible in one axis. Scale width wire handrails, water pipes, passenger communication gear. Separately fitted door handles and lamp brackets. Headstock pipes and cabling included in accessory polybag for customer fitting. Fully detailed die-cast underframe with vacuum cylinders, battery boxes, dynamo and piping applied separately. To feature accurate ‘L’ shaped bracing struts on underframe. Easily removable roof, to allow access to interior for customer detailing. Accurate interior layouts, with detailed seating and luggage racks. (Decorated where appropriate) Interior bulkheads to feature picture frames, an important interior feature of this stock. Full guard’s compartment area detailing where appropriate, including use of etched metal detailing. Prism free flush glazing. Interior coach lighting with stay-alive capacitor, pick up from one bogie and a reed switch to control on/off via magnetic wand. Separately fitted roof vent types, set in correct locations. That's a lot of detail, but it matches our philosophy. After all, it doesn't cost extra to have the detail there, but it certainly adds value to the model you get for your money. We want to create the definitive of each model we produce, and these commuting stalwarts are the latest subjects to benefit from "The Accurascale Way". Want to see them in action? Then check out this launch video with our friends from Hornby Magazine. So, as you can see, we have (so very hastily/poorly assembled) first samples in hand, and are currently assessing them before feeding back to the factory. Improvements will be made in general fit and finish, areas such as brake lines and some underframe details require further finesse too. However, overall they are shaping up very nicely indeed. Multiple running numbers in both BR Carmine and BR Blue make up the first run, with runs in BR Maroon to follow later. Delivery is anticipated for Q3 2022 with decorated samples due later in the year. Prices for all this awesomeness is £64.95 per coach, with 10% off when you order two or more, as well as free postage and packaging across the UK. If you order two or more coaches direct from Accurascale, you can also select to pay a deposit and then the balance when the coaches arrive in stock, or easy installments over six months at no extra cost! These buttons will appear in your cart ahead of check out. You can also order them from your preferred local Accurascale stockist, now with over 130 outlets across the world and growing all the time! Browse the range and pre-order yours today by clicking here. View the full article

If they're rowing a boat through those waves they deserve everything they get! (sorry, couldn't resist) One such brainwave re taxation is to tax SUVs more as they take up more road space. Sounds silly TBH, and a tax by KM system will be a lot fairer.

British Railways’ creation of standard Mk1 non-gangway stock in 1954 was something of an enigma in comparison to the creation of the ‘standard’ Mk1 gangway design, especially considering that entirely adequate (and in some cases, superior) pre-nationalisation non-gangway stock, even as late as 1953, was still being produced. The Great Western Railway (GWR) had the Collett sets, the LMS had the Stanier sets and the London & North Eastern Railway (LNER) utilised not just Gresley and Thompson designs, but Quad-Art and Quinn-Art sets. Perhaps even more surprisingly two underframe lengths were used, 56’ 11“ and 63’ 5”, in a combination of six different designations; Composite (C), Composite Lavatory (CL), Third (T), Third Lavatory Open (TLO), Third Open (TO) and Brake Third (BT) (although the withdrawal of Third Class as a designation in favour of Second Class in 1956, led to the more commonly referred to designations of C, CL, S, SLO, SO and BS for the non-gangway stock). The longer 63’ 5” underframe non-gangway stock found favour with the Southern and Western regions, as the entry to their London termini was unrestricted, while the shorter 56’ 11” stock was ideally suited to the more constricted curves of the suburban termini in North London, Glasgow and Edinburgh, and it is this length of Mk1 stock that forms the subject of our newest coaching model release. A total of 596 of the short frame non-gangway vehicles were built by British Railways between 1954 and 1956, with construction taking place at BR’s Wolverton, Swindon, Doncaster, York and Derby works. The Brake Thirds and Thirds formed the vast majority of the stock built, being used across all of the BR regions and these were built to traditional designs of ‘suburban’ stock, along with the Composites and Third Opens, the former being supplied solely to the BR(M) and BR(W) regions and the latter to the BR(M), BR(W) and BR(Sc) regions. Compartments (or bays on ‘open’ designated vehicles) were designed to a nominal length of 6’ 3”, creating nine zones, but on the BR(E) region exclusive CL and TLO stock, the toilet compartments replaced a complete seating zone. In the composite vehicles, First Class compartments received an extra 3” of foot space, with the Third/Second Class compartments being stripped of 2” in length to compensate for this ‘luxury’, becoming the narrowest compartments in British Railways’ stock. First Class compartments had four-a-side seating with armrests; reduced to three-a-side with armrests in the Corridor Lavatory vehicles, while Third/Second Class compartments had continuous six-a-side seating, reduced to four-a-side continuous seating in the corridor Lavatory stock. A big feature of the non-gangway vehicle compartments were the six picture frames, three on one side, two on the other, that featured local regional scenes painted by an array of BR commissioned artists, along with a single mirror. By comparison, the open stock interiors featured two separated bays, arranged in a 3+2 seating arrangement, with six-a-side seating set against the bulkheads. Life for the Guards in the BT was never as comfortable as it was for their mainline colleagues; the Guard’s compartment being open, with no separate goods cage and just a small partition for housing the periscope to separate the Guard from the goods’ van. Externally, there were no major changes in design during the lifetime of the stock, but subtle differences in detail did arise, with different roof ventilator types and positions, end hand rail types, door hinges and vacuum piping arrangements at the coach ends all being observed, while the Western Region even went to the lengths of including small eyelets set into the coach ends to retain the coupling during slip coach operation; an operational use that had ceased to be practiced. From December 1963 onwards, roof periscopes were removed from the Guards’ compartments and the holes were plated over and in the same period, various longitudinal patches were welded to the bottom of the outer compartment panels to combat the spread of corrosion in that area particularly. The most obvious design difference related to the variance in ventilator spacing from the centreline that was associated with the 24 BR Derby built ‘Metrogauge’ Brake Second, Second and Open Second vehicles for the BR(M) Region that worked via the restricted bore tunnels from Kentish Town under St Pancras. To reduce the height from the rail and gain clearance under the tunnels, the ventilators were moved to 1’ 7” from the vehicles’ centreline and the Guard’s periscopes were slightly reduced in height, but this practice also seems to have spread to British Railways’ Doncaster Works as well, as all their non-gangway built vehicles featured wide roof ventilator spacing. From new in 1954, all non-gangway vehicles appeared in British Railways’ Carmine Red on the coach body, with black coach ends, but from 1956 BR Maroon was introduced, again with black coach ends; a livery that lasted until late 1966 when non-gangway stock began to appear in BR Rail Blue, with similarly coloured body ends. In the interim period, between 1959 and 1961, some of the non-gangway stock received lining to the maroon livery, a move led by the BR(M) Region in particular, although examples were noted across all regions, varying in body position between being directly under the window baseline, or by being shifted slightly lower on the body. In BR Departmental service, a number of ex-BT vehicles from BR(E) and BR(Sc) were converted to Freightliner Brake Vans during 1967, appearing in Freightliner Grey and of these, two vehicles were then converted to BTU Tool Vans, appearing in Engineers Yellow with black chevrons on the lower body. While the most familiar images of non-gangway stock date back to the matched rakes of identical BR Blue stock hauled by Class 31 locomotives out of Kings Cross on the former GNR lines, matched rakes were not always the case, especially at introduction in 1954. Marylebone’s Outer Suburban services, out to High Wycombe, Aylesbury, Brackley and even the 69 mile journey to Woodford, were formed as 6-sets with Gresley & Thompson carriages and initially only the Mk1 BTs were allocated into these sets as a replacement. Over at Kings Cross and Moorgate, the intensive Inner Suburban services out to Hatfield and Hertford were formed from two Quad-Art sets, which could not be split and so from the outset, Mk1 non-gangway 5-sets were formed, a formation of BS-S-S-S-BS that actually meant 150 fewer seats than the Quad-Art sets. For the BR(M) St.Pancras-Moorgate-St.Albans/Luton services, the branded Metrogauge reduced height 6-sets comprised of BT-T-TO-TO-T-BT were needed to negotiate the reduced height St.Pancras tunnel, as well as to cope with the intense curves. Improvements to all services were made through the late 1950s; a Second was introduced to the Marylebone service in 1956, and capacity was increased on the Kings Cross Inner Suburban services in the early 1960s by dropping a BS and substituting it for an S, resulting in S-S-BS-S-S and then S-S-S-BS-S-S formations. In the same period, the Dunstable Branch was featuring short BS-S 2-sets which could be doubled up at busier periods to cover capacity. Elsewhere, Kings Cross Outer Suburban/Secondary services extended out to Royston and Cambridge, as well as Peterborough, introducing the CL and SLO carriages in 6-sets comprised of SLO-BS-CL-CL-SLO-BS, or strengthened with the addition of an SLO, or CL, CL, or even CL, S, S to form 7-sets, 8-sets or even 9-sets. Later developments in the 1970s saw formations on the Outer Suburban sets altered to SLO-SLO-CL-BS-CL-SLO, but as withdrawals of non-gangway stock were hastened by the rapid influx of DMUs to suburban and rural routes, and stock was cascaded between regions, the formations fluctuated as stock was withdrawn from service and sent for scrap. In BR’s other regions, BR(W) and BR(Sc), the BT, T, TO and C stock was interspersed with Collet or Thompson stock as required, with both disposing of vehicles quite quickly as DMUs were introduced during the early 1960s. By the early 1970s, the only survivors were those vehicles assigned to the King’s Cross area workings, as the York Road and Hotel Curves could not accommodate longer framed stock such as the Derby Suburban units, and the Cravens DMUs which were used on off peak services, were deemed unsuitable for the busiest rush hour trains due to insufficient power, seating capacity and passenger movement characteristics. The final locomotive hauled services were due to be retired by November 1976, but work at Kings Cross’ station throat led to a stay of execution for 10 months, with the final working of locomotive hauled non-gangway stock taking place on Friday, September 30, 1977, with the 17:42 King’s Cross service to Royston formed as 7-set SLO, CL, BS, CL, SLO, S, S, with coaches 48009, 43003, 43359, 43043, 48006, 46108 and 46147. Check out our new range of 56ft 11' Mark 1 Suburban coaches by clicking here! View the full article

British Railways’ creation of standard Mk1 non-gangway stock in 1954 was something of an enigma in comparison to the creation of the ‘standard’ Mk1 gangway design, especially considering that entirely adequate (and in some cases, superior) pre-nationalisation non-gangway stock, even as late as 1953, was still being produced. The Great Western Railway (GWR) had the Collett sets, the LMS had the Stanier sets and the London & North Eastern Railway (LNER) utilised not just Gresley and Thompson designs, but Quad-Art and Quinn-Art sets. Perhaps even more surprisingly two underframe lengths were used, 56’ 11“ and 63’ 5”, in a combination of six different designations; Composite (C), Composite Lavatory (CL), Third (T), Third Lavatory Open (TLO), Third Open (TO) and Brake Third (BT) (although the withdrawal of Third Class as a designation in favour of Second Class in 1956, led to the more commonly referred to designations of C, CL, S, SLO, SO and BS for the non-gangway stock). The longer 63’ 5” underframe non-gangway stock found favour with the Southern and Western regions, as the entry to their London termini was unrestricted, while the shorter 56’ 11” stock was ideally suited to the more constricted curves of the suburban termini in North London, Glasgow and Edinburgh, and it is this length of Mk1 stock that forms the subject of our newest coaching model release. A total of 596 of the short frame non-gangway vehicles were built by British Railways between 1954 and 1956, with construction taking place at BR’s Wolverton, Swindon, Doncaster, York and Derby works. The Brake Thirds and Thirds formed the vast majority of the stock built, being used across all of the BR regions and these were built to traditional designs of ‘suburban’ stock, along with the Composites and Third Opens, the former being supplied solely to the BR(M) and BR(W) regions and the latter to the BR(M), BR(W) and BR(Sc) regions. Compartments (or bays on ‘open’ designated vehicles) were designed to a nominal length of 6’ 3”, creating nine zones, but on the BR(E) region exclusive CL and TLO stock, the toilet compartments replaced a complete seating zone. In the composite vehicles, First Class compartments received an extra 3” of foot space, with the Third/Second Class compartments being stripped of 2” in length to compensate for this ‘luxury’, becoming the narrowest compartments in British Railways’ stock. First Class compartments had four-a-side seating with armrests; reduced to three-a-side with armrests in the Corridor Lavatory vehicles, while Third/Second Class compartments had continuous six-a-side seating, reduced to four-a-side continuous seating in the corridor Lavatory stock. A big feature of the non-gangway vehicle compartments were the six picture frames, three on one side, two on the other, that featured local regional scenes painted by an array of BR commissioned artists, along with a single mirror. By comparison, the open stock interiors featured two separated bays, arranged in a 3+2 seating arrangement, with six-a-side seating set against the bulkheads. Life for the Guards in the BT was never as comfortable as it was for their mainline colleagues; the Guard’s compartment being open, with no separate goods cage and just a small partition for housing the periscope to separate the Guard from the goods’ van. Externally, there were no major changes in design during the lifetime of the stock, but subtle differences in detail did arise, with different roof ventilator types and positions, end hand rail types, door hinges and vacuum piping arrangements at the coach ends all being observed, while the Western Region even went to the lengths of including small eyelets set into the coach ends to retain the coupling during slip coach operation; an operational use that had ceased to be practiced. From December 1963 onwards, roof periscopes were removed from the Guards’ compartments and the holes were plated over and in the same period, various longitudinal patches were welded to the bottom of the outer compartment panels to combat the spread of corrosion in that area particularly. The most obvious design difference related to the variance in ventilator spacing from the centreline that was associated with the 24 BR Derby built ‘Metrogauge’ Brake Second, Second and Open Second vehicles for the BR(M) Region that worked via the restricted bore tunnels from Kentish Town under St Pancras. To reduce the height from the rail and gain clearance under the tunnels, the ventilators were moved to 1’ 7” from the vehicles’ centreline and the Guard’s periscopes were slightly reduced in height, but this practice also seems to have spread to British Railways’ Doncaster Works as well, as all their non-gangway built vehicles featured wide roof ventilator spacing. From new in 1954, all non-gangway vehicles appeared in British Railways’ Carmine Red on the coach body, with black coach ends, but from 1956 BR Maroon was introduced, again with black coach ends; a livery that lasted until late 1966 when non-gangway stock began to appear in BR Rail Blue, with similarly coloured body ends. In the interim period, between 1959 and 1961, some of the non-gangway stock received lining to the maroon livery, a move led by the BR(M) Region in particular, although examples were noted across all regions, varying in body position between being directly under the window baseline, or by being shifted slightly lower on the body. In BR Departmental service, a number of ex-BT vehicles from BR(E) and BR(Sc) were converted to Freightliner Brake Vans during 1967, appearing in Freightliner Grey and of these, two vehicles were then converted to BTU Tool Vans, appearing in Engineers Yellow with black chevrons on the lower body. While the most familiar images of non-gangway stock date back to the matched rakes of identical BR Blue stock hauled by Class 31 locomotives out of Kings Cross on the former GNR lines, matched rakes were not always the case, especially at introduction in 1954. Marylebone’s Outer Suburban services, out to High Wycombe, Aylesbury, Brackley and even the 69 mile journey to Woodford, were formed as 6-sets with Gresley & Thompson carriages and initially only the Mk1 BTs were allocated into these sets as a replacement. Over at Kings Cross and Moorgate, the intensive Inner Suburban services out to Hatfield and Hertford were formed from two Quad-Art sets, which could not be split and so from the outset, Mk1 non-gangway 5-sets were formed, a formation of BS-S-S-S-BS that actually meant 150 fewer seats than the Quad-Art sets. For the BR(M) St.Pancras-Moorgate-St.Albans/Luton services, the branded Metrogauge reduced height 6-sets comprised of BT-T-TO-TO-T-BT were needed to negotiate the reduced height St.Pancras tunnel, as well as to cope with the intense curves. Improvements to all services were made through the late 1950s; a Second was introduced to the Marylebone service in 1956, and capacity was increased on the Kings Cross Inner Suburban services in the early 1960s by dropping a BS and substituting it for an S, resulting in S-S-BS-S-S and then S-S-S-BS-S-S formations. In the same period, the Dunstable Branch was featuring short BS-S 2-sets which could be doubled up at busier periods to cover capacity. Elsewhere, Kings Cross Outer Suburban/Secondary services extended out to Royston and Cambridge, as well as Peterborough, introducing the CL and SLO carriages in 6-sets comprised of SLO-BS-CL-CL-SLO-BS, or strengthened with the addition of an SLO, or CL, CL, or even CL, S, S to form 7-sets, 8-sets or even 9-sets. Later developments in the 1970s saw formations on the Outer Suburban sets altered to SLO-SLO-CL-BS-CL-SLO, but as withdrawals of non-gangway stock were hastened by the rapid influx of DMUs to suburban and rural routes, and stock was cascaded between regions, the formations fluctuated as stock was withdrawn from service and sent for scrap. In BR’s other regions, BR(W) and BR(Sc), the BT, T, TO and C stock was interspersed with Collet or Thompson stock as required, with both disposing of vehicles quite quickly as DMUs were introduced during the early 1960s. By the early 1970s, the only survivors were those vehicles assigned to the King’s Cross area workings, as the York Road and Hotel Curves could not accommodate longer framed stock such as the Derby Suburban units, and the Cravens DMUs which were used on off peak services, were deemed unsuitable for the busiest rush hour trains due to insufficient power, seating capacity and passenger movement characteristics. The final locomotive hauled services were due to be retired by November 1976, but work at Kings Cross’ station throat led to a stay of execution for 10 months, with the final working of locomotive hauled non-gangway stock taking place on Friday, September 30, 1977, with the 17:42 King’s Cross service to Royston formed as 7-set SLO, CL, BS, CL, SLO, S, S, with coaches 48009, 43003, 43359, 43043, 48006, 46108 and 46147. Check out our new range of 56ft 11' Mark 1 Suburban coaches by clicking here! View the full article

Our latest announcement sees us tackle the star of 'wish lists' across the land. The people movers of the 50s, 60s, and 70s. The unsung heroes of the Mark 1 family and of course, the perfect bedfellows for our forthcoming Class 31 locomotives. Welcome everyone, to the 56ft 11" Mark 1 suburban coaches, by Accurascale. The latest addition to our "Moving Britain" range of coaching stock! We've a much more in depth history file on the real Mark 1 Suburban coaches in our "History File" blog which you can read here. Almost 600 of these coaches were built by BR between 1954 and 1956 on the short 57ft 11" frame to provide suburban coaching stock across a variety of BR regions. Sampling a wealth of BR traction throughout their lifetime, from various types of tank engines on the Midland, to N7s, N2s, L1s, B1s and more on the Eastern Region, to most types of Type 2 diesels and more throughout their lifetimes. Of course, they were almost synonymous with Brush Type 2s on the Eastern Region, and when we decided to push ahead with our Class 31 models in OO/4mm, these classic coaches seemed very much the "no brainer" to compliment them. Debuting in the distinctive Carmine Red with black ends in 1954, it wasn't long before the transition to maroon touched these forgotten children of the Mark 1 family, without lining initially before some received these additional embellishments. From 1966 all over rail blue, including coach ends became de rigueur of the suburban fleet, mimicking non intercity DMUs of the day. This latter livery was particularly associated with the Eastern region, behind Brush Type 2s and Baby Deltics, and seen alongside Brush Type 4s and the mighty Class 55 Deltics (both of which could also be seen hauling these coaches on empty stock movements in the Kings Cross area. They last operated a service train in 1977. Our research odyssey for these distinctive members of the Mark 1 family saw us visit the North Norfolk Railway who very kindly facilitated us for two survey trips in late 2020 and mid 2021. Their assistance during development has been invaluable, so make sure you check them out when you're in the area. Full access to both the exterior and interior was granted. Of course, doing these coaches justice is the "Accurascale Way", we have gone to town on the full set of exterior and interior, not to mention covering all configurations of these coaches to allow you form a prototypical rake. One element we are particularly proud of, and one that was forthcoming in customer feedback across the industry, is granting access to the interior in an easier fashion to add passengers and further detail. This is essential considering the increasing detail being added to models. So, with that challenge on board, we have come up with a fully removable magnetic roof! Of course, with a removable roof you need a beautifully detailed interior, right? So, we have gone to town on the interior too, with full interior detail which matches each coach configuration, including etched metal luggage racks and full interior lighting. Because why not? Of course, the exterior is dripping with detail too, with separately applied door handles (and there are many of them!) as well as intricate underframe detail and of course beautiful, free rolling bogies! All six designations have been tooled and covered, five of which have different exteriors and interiors.. From about 1965, patches were added to the bottom of the bodies to rectify the effects of corrosion, so naturally we have also covered that repair for each type. We have also covered both ventilator spacings on the roof, all three types of ventilator and on the BT, we have catered for full height periscopes, half height periscopes and removed periscopes! We go that extra mile to give you that extra smile after all. As with all Accurascale models, the specification list is extensive: Scale length of 227.67mm over headstocks, width of 36mm across body at waist. Minimum Radius 438mm (2nd radius set-track). No visible moulding ejection marks or pips. Die-cast metal chassis with plastic body. Target weight minimum of 135g, to a maximum of 150g. Accurate BREL BR1 bogies, with separate detailing where appropriate. Wheels should be blackened RP25-110 profile for 00 gauge, set into blackened brass bearings. NEM standard coupling sockets, with mini-tension lock couplers with a kinematic close-coupling system. With no gangways, the distance between carriages should be as near to prototypical as possible for R2 curves. Body, interior and underframe are handed, therefore CAD should account for this with fitting being only possible in one axis. Scale width wire handrails, water pipes, passenger communication gear. Separately fitted door handles and lamp brackets. Headstock pipes and cabling included in accessory polybag for customer fitting. Fully detailed die-cast underframe with vacuum cylinders, battery boxes, dynamo and piping applied separately. To feature accurate ‘L’ shaped bracing struts on underframe. Easily removable roof, to allow access to interior for customer detailing. Accurate interior layouts, with detailed seating and luggage racks. (Decorated where appropriate) Interior bulkheads to feature picture frames, an important interior feature of this stock. Full guard’s compartment area detailing where appropriate, including use of etched metal detailing. Prism free flush glazing. Interior coach lighting with stay-alive capacitor, pick up from one bogie and a reed switch to control on/off via magnetic wand. Separately fitted roof vent types, set in correct locations. That's a lot of detail, but it matches our philosophy. After all, it doesn't cost extra to have the detail there, but it certainly adds value to the model you get for your money. We want to create the definitive of each model we produce, and these commuting stalwarts are the latest subjects to benefit from "The Accurascale Way". Want to see them in action? Then check out this launch video with our friends from Hornby Magazine. So, as you can see, we have (so very hastily/poorly assembled) first samples in hand, and are currently assessing them before feeding back to the factory. Improvements will be made in general fit and finish, areas such as brake lines and some underframe details require further finesse too. However, overall they are shaping up very nicely indeed. Multiple running numbers in both BR Carmine and BR Blue make up the first run, with runs in BR Maroon to follow later. Delivery is anticipated for Q3 2023 with decorated samples due later in the year. Prices for all this awesomeness is £64.95 per coach, with 10% off when you order two or more, as well as free postage and packaging across the UK. If you order two or more coaches direct from Accurascale, you can also select to pay a deposit and then the balance when the coaches arrive in stock, or easy installments over six months at no extra cost! These buttons will appear in your cart ahead of check out. You can also order them from your preferred local Accurascale stockist, now with over 130 outlets across the world and growing all the time! Browse the range and pre-order yours today by clicking here. View the full article

Hi George, It appears you ordered the Mark 2s and Mags together in one order. This is why we advise pre-ordering different product lines separately. Drop us an email with your order number and we can split it for you so you only pay for the wagons now. Cheers! Fran

Hi everyone, Time for a lovely Friday surprise! The Magnesite wagons are done and on their way ahead of schedule! They are due to land in our warehouse on Monday week, where they will be then distributed to customers. Bagged your mags yet? Grab them here: https://irishrailwaymodels.com/collections/magnesite-wagons

Pretty much @Edo, palletisation began in the 1960s and of course CIE roundel lasted long after that. These ae a bit generic in tooling (we commissioned them from existing tooling) to add to scenes in Depots etc. Cheers! Fran

At this moment in time it is direct only. Cheers! Fran

We're upping our accessory game here at IRM, with the latest bit of added detail for your layouts in the form of a 1:76/OO scale twin pack of fork lift trucks, complete with CIE branding! Perfect for your goods yard, station, motive power depot, unloading point, bus garage and more, this twin pack features slight detail differences to give added variety to your layout. Priced at €12.95 for the twin pack, they will arrive in stock in mid June. Twin pack of CIE Forklifts. - Set of two 1:76/4mm/OO fork lift trucks in orange livery with CIE roundels - Posable forks for authentic depot, freight yard and station scenes - Open cab and cabbed for variety - Injection moulded plastic construction - Perfect to add realism to your freight yard, goods depot, station or depot scenes Pre-order yours by clicking here! View the full article

If you get to Warley this year I will make a plan....

Every chance!

Model railways are about those little extra bits of detail, right? One of the most important aspects have a crew for your locomotives. Locomotives need drivers after all. So, we have teamed up with the guys at Modelu to create a fully authentic, 3D scanned driver and second man for our locomotives, beginning with the Deltic! Earlier this year we scanned our subjects, who were to be immortalised in plastic forevermore. Dressing them in authentic BR attire for the occasion, including the standard issue rich tea biscuit. (We did begin with a Hobnob, but upon researching our biscuits discovered that they were not a thing before 1985, so we switched. That's the levels of authenticity we go to!) After scanning our crew is then 3D printed in colour to give modellers the perfect crew pairing in plastic which can be easily added to their new Deltic locomotives. Our first release sees the uniform which was standard issue from 1969 for BR drivers and we are currently working on a second pack to cater for drivers who would've driven the Deltics from their introduction until the changeover in the late 1960s. These packs will be made in the UK and available in stock in two weeks time for a price of £9.95 per pack of driver and secondman. Pre-ordering is now open on our website, so you can secure yours here. View the full article

Model railways are sometimes about those little extra bits of detail, right? One of the most important aspects have a crew for your locomotives. Locomotives need drivers, right? So, we have teamed up with the guys at Modelu to create a fully authentic, 3D scanned driver and second man for our locomotives, beginning with the Deltic! Earlier this year we scanned our subjects, who were to be immortalised in plastic forevermore. Dressing them in authentic BR attire for the occasion, including the standard issue rich tea biscuit. (We did begin with a hobnob, but upon researching our biscuits discovered that they were not a thing before 1985, so we switched. That's the levels of authenticity we go to!) After scanning our crew is then 3D printed in colour to give modellers the perfect crew pairing in plastic which can be easily added to their new Deltic locomotives. Our first release sees the uniform which was standard issue from 1969 for BR drivers and we are currently working on a second pack to cater for drivers who would've driven the Deltics from their introduction until the changeover in the late 1960s. These packs will be made in the UK and available in stock in two weeks time for a price of £9.95 per pack of driver and secondman. Pre-ordering is now open on our website, so you can secure yours here. View the full article

The As got similar tests, as does everything else!

Are you feeling stressed? Fed up with your current work situation and unable to relieve the pressure? Want to smash something about for a living? Well, why not get a job as our product packaging tester! Okay, we're not hiring. But, as you can see from this short video, we like to test our packaging to ensure our models reach you in tiptop condition. This involves repeated pummelling of the plastic shell as seen here, then the same in its card outer box, and finally repeated drop testing. Of course, your hobby can also be a great stress relief, so you could always leave the smashing to us, while you enjoy the contents of the packaging like these magnesite wagons. Order here: https://irishrailwaymodels.com/collections/magnesite-wagons 23350090_Magpackagetesting.mp4

Great news! The wait is almost over. Our hotly anticipated Class 55 Deltic locomotives are almost here and ready to enter traffic on your layout. Firstly, we want to thank you all for your continued support and indeed patience over the last 3.5 years since we first announced these English Electric beasts in 00/4mm scale. While we incurred some delays of our own making during development, (a tireless task to get things right) little did we know that a full on global pandemic was going to see the world shut down just over a year later. However, these things are sent to try us, and the ship carrying these beauties is now approaching the port! Current information regarding delivery is that the ship will dock at this weekend (28th/29th May). The containers will then be unloaded and transferred to the warehouse early next week. Following this there will be container breakdown, accepting into stock and QC checks. The final stages will then be picking, packing and posting several of thousand orders. As there are many, many pre-orders to fulfil we estimate it will take 7-10 working days to get them all out there (worst case scenario) and will be done in date order of fully paid up orders. So, you patience while we complete this (and we will go as fast as we can) will be much appreciated. With little stock left, we recommend that you get your name down for one sooner rather than later before they sell out. Place your order here to get your hands on our Deltics! View the full article

Great news! The wait is almost over. Our hotly anticipated Class 55 Deltic locomotives are almost here and ready to enter traffic on your layout. Firstly, we want to thank you all for your continued support and indeed patience over the last 3.5 years since we first announced these English Electric beasts in 00/4mm scale. While we incurred some delays of our own making during development, (a tireless task to get things right) little did we know that a full on global pandemic was going to see the world shut down just over a year later. However, these things are sent to try us, and the ship carrying these beauties is now approaching the port! Current information regarding delivery is that the boat will dock at this weekend (28th/29th May). The containers will then be unloaded and transferred to the warehouse early next week. Following this there will be container breakdown, accepting into stock and QC checks. The final stages will then be picking, packing and posting several of thousand orders. As there are many, many pre-orders to fulfil we estimate it will take 7-10 working days to get them all out there (worst case scenario) and will be done in date order of fully paid up orders. So, you patience while we complete this (and we will go as fast as we can) will be much appreciated. With little stock left, we recommend that you get your name down for one sooner rather than later before they sell out. Place your order here to get your hands on our Deltics! View the full article

Hi Sean, They are the same colour as the ballasts. Cheers! Fran

Morning everyone! Our magnesites are well into production, with final assembly under way. Check out some progress shots below! On schedule to be completed and in stock later this summer! Ordered yours yet? https://irishrailwaymodels.com/collections/magnesite-wagons Cheers! Fran

Hi everyone, Great news! We recently received decoration samples of the forthcoming magnesite wagons, our latest in our series of CIE built wagons in OO gauge. We have since approved them and production is almost complete, with a delivery of late summer pencilled in. In the meantime, check out the decorated samples below. Each triple packs is priced at €124.99, with a special edition single pack commemorating the very last train priced at €44.94, with 10% off when you buy two packs or more and free postage and packaging for orders to Ireland and the UK when you spend over €50/£50! Order yours right here: https://irishrailwaymodels.com/collections/magnesite-wagons Cheers! Fran

What is it about test trains we love so much? Is it the unusual formations? The modified vehicles? The rarity? Or, perhaps it's their eye catching, and even iconic liveries. It is likely all of the above, but when it comes to eye catching liveries, few can compete with the RTC red and blue scheme employed by the legendary Railway Technical Centre (RTC) at Derby. So, when planning out our first run of Mark 2B coaches, the RTC pair was identified and classified as an absolute "no brainer" for an Accurascale Exclusives release. Now we can revealed them in decorated form! History By the mid 1980s growing ‘Sprinterisation’ and electrification had allowed a cascade of newer air-conditioned stock onto secondary and relief services. For the Mk.2b fleet this meant further withdrawals, as well as the mass declassification of the corridor first (FK) vehicles. In 1987, two recently retired examples were transferred to the Mechanical & Electric Engineer at Derby for use as brake force runners, the pair being among the final members of the RTC fleet to gain the iconic red and blue research department colours. They also received “Test Service Vehicle” brandings at the left hand end of the coach and the famous “D of M & EE B.R.B. Technical Centre Derby” lettering at the right hand end of each side. A general increase in test train speeds had required the use of additional non-test coaches to assist in braking the various track evaluation and research formations and the newly renumbered ADB 977528 (ex-13484) and ADB 977529 (ex-13487) – both basically unchanged other than their exterior revamp – visited almost all corners of the network over the next few years. They were partnered with a range of evaluation vehicles, including ADB 975091 Mentor, ADB 975397 Test Car 2 and RDB 977469 Laboratory 5, and were most often found sandwiched in-between the RTC fleet of Class 47s, Nos. 47971-47976. In 1991 they lost the ‘D of M & EE B.R.B.’ part of their bodyside identification and soldiered on for another year or so before being replaced by other vehicles. Withdrawn around 1993, incredibly both still exist. ADB 977528 moved to Swanwick Junction (Midland Railway Centre) to become staff accommodation for the Class 20 Locomotive Society where it remains to this day, while ADB 977529 joined the North Downs Railway fleet before being sold to the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland (RPSI) who regauged it to 5’3” and returned it to railtour service in their dark green livery renumbered as the 181. The Accurascale Exclusives Model A perfect addition to our rapidly growing "Accurascale Exclusives" range of limited edition models available direct only via the Accurascale website, our RTC Mark 2B pair of coaches follow the same unbeatable museum quality and specification of our new Mark 2B range, including: 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 Fully-detailed underframe with numerous separate parts, pipe runs and accurate differences between versions The most accurate B4 bogies ever produced, with provision for re-gauging to EM or P4 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 Correct height NEM standard coupling sockets with mini tension lock couplers and kinematic close-coupling Easy conversion to alternate NEM compatible couplers Full lighting package, including magnet 'wand' controlled interior lighting 'Stay-Alive' capacitor in all coaches Free running track pickup These RTC coaches will be sold together as a twin set, strictly limited to 400 packs and delivered in special presentation packaging, complete with limited edition certificate. Delivery is slated for Q4 2022 along with the rest of the Mark 2B range and priced at £119.90. Due to the love for all things RTC early pre-ordering is advised. You can secure your pack with a £30 deposit by clicking here. View the full article

What is it about test trains we love so much? Is it the unusual formations? The modified vehicles? The rarity? Or, perhaps it's their eye catching, and even iconic liveries. It is likely all of the above, but when it comes to eye catching liveries, few can compete with the RTC red and blue scheme employed by the legendary Railway Technical Centre (RTC) at Derby. So, when planning out our first run of Mark 2B coaches, the RTC pair was identified and classified as an absolute "no brainer" for an Accurascale Exclusives release. Now we can revealed them in decorated form! History By the mid 1980s growing ‘Sprinterisation’ and electrification had allowed a cascade of newer air-conditioned stock onto secondary and relief services. For the Mk.2b fleet this meant further withdrawals, as well as the mass declassification of the corridor first (FK) vehicles. In 1987, two recently retired examples were transferred to the Mechanical & Electric Engineer at Derby for use as brake force runners, the pair being among the final members of the RTC fleet to gain the iconic red and blue research department colours. They also received “Test Service Vehicle” brandings at the left hand end of the coach and the famous “D of M & EE B.R.B. Technical Centre Derby” lettering at the right hand end of each side. A general increase in test train speeds had required the use of additional non-test coaches to assist in braking the various track evaluation and research formations and the newly renumbered ADB 977528 (ex-13484) and ADB 977529 (ex-13487) – both basically unchanged other than their exterior revamp – visited almost all corners of the network over the next few years. They were partnered with a range of evaluation vehicles, including ADB 975091 Mentor, ADB 975397 Test Car 2 and RDB 977469 Laboratory 5, and were most often found sandwiched in-between the RTC fleet of Class 47s, Nos. 47971-47976. In 1991 they lost the ‘D of M & EE B.R.B.’ part of their bodyside identification and soldiered on for another year or so before being replaced by other vehicles. Withdrawn around 1993, incredibly both still exist. ADB 977528 moved to Swanwick Junction (Midland Railway Centre) to become staff accommodation for the Class 20 Locomotive Society where it remains to this day, while ADB 977529 joined the North Downs Railway fleet before being sold to the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland (RPSI) who regauged it to 5’3” and returned it to railtour service in their dark green livery renumbered as the 181. The Accurascale Exclusives Model A perfect addition to our rapidly growing "Accurascale Exclusives" range of limited edition models available direct only via the Accurascale website, our RTC Mark 2B pair of coaches follow the same unbeatable museum quality and specification of our new Mark 2B range, including: 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 Fully-detailed underframe with numerous separate parts, pipe runs and accurate differences between versions The most accurate B4 bogies ever produced, with provision for re-gauging to EM or P4 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 Correct height NEM standard coupling sockets with mini tension lock couplers and kinematic close-coupling Easy conversion to alternate NEM compatible couplers Full lighting package, including magnet 'wand' controlled interior lighting 'Stay-Alive' capacitor in all coaches Free running track pickup These RTC coaches will be sold together as a twin set, strictly limited to 400 packs and delivered in special presentation packaging, complete with limited edition certificate. Delivery is slated for Q4 2022 along with the rest of the Mark 2B range and priced at £119.90. Due to the love for all things RTC early pre-ordering is advised. You can secure your pack with a £30 deposit by clicking here. View the full article