Warbonnet

Good evening folks! Just going to leave this here.... More news tomorrow, so keep an eye out! Cheers! Fran

Some of the light programming needs a fine tune. but that's the easy bit!

Hi everyone, LET THERE BE LIGHT, AND SOUND! Pushing model railway electronics to places they have never been to before, our forthcoming ICRs are a world leader when it comes to OO gauge railcars. With fully independent lighting for interior, exterior, destination, door locking lights and more, all off one decoder, it has pushed our friends at ESU LLC - LokSound to the absolute limit. Here is a preview of our station arrival and departure sequence as the doors open and close, with a sneaky preview of the sound, which has a speaker in every car, too! A full preview of the sound, and update on production will follow later this month! Pre-order yours here: https://www.accurascale.com/collections/railcar-class-22000-icr-1 Cheers! Fran

We wanted to provide a quick update on the latest production run of our Class 37. While we aimed to complete production before the Chinese New Year factory shutdown, the project has narrowly missed this deadline. At the end of the day, we want these to be right and of the best quality, rather than rushed and not to the standards we demand. So, we rather when the factory takes its time and the added care that goes with it! However, we are pleased to report that the first production samples have now been received and are currently being carefully assessed by our Production Team. As a result, delivery of the Class 37 range is now scheduled for late April. We would also like to apologise for some confusion caused on our status update page. This was due to user error on our part, where the delivery date for the Class 37 models was mistakenly mixed up with that of the Class 31s. We’re sorry for any misunderstanding this may have caused. The late April delivery will include: All main range Class 37 models Limited edition commission models from SRPS Limited edition models from Key ModelWorld / Hornby Magazine Accurascale Exclusive models Some running numbers remain available to pre-order via your local retailer or directly through Accurascale, while stocks last. We would like to thank all customers for their continued patience. These models are shaping up to be something special and we firmly believe they will be well worth the wait. And finally, keep an eye out very soon for a sound demonstration video of the Class 37/9 — coming shortly! Pre-Order Your Class 37 Direct Here! View the full article

Hi everyone, NIR HUNSLET SOUND PREVIEW We have a big update on our funky NIR Hunslet locomotives coming later this week! In the meantime, here's a demonstration of the DCC sound file in these pocket rockets! Warning - it's LOUD! Making use of ESU LLC - LokSound 5 decoder, and their latest speaker technology, you really experience that English Electric whistle! Pre-order yours here: https://www.accurascale.com/collections/nir-101-dl-class-hunslet Cheers! Fran

It is probably fair to say that the Genesis coach project was one model range from the Hattons stable which may not, at first glance, fit with the Accurascale ethos. However, with the tooling suite now under the ownership and investment of Accurascale, and being produced in a new, dedicated factory, the future for the Genesis range is very bright indeed and is now benefiting from a new approach: “The Accurascale Way”. So the question has to be: how will an Accurascale-produced Genesis model fit into the range, and what shape will any future investment in the tooling take? The answer lies in research. Just because model features are generic does not mean that the decoration or train compositions have to be. Our aim, will be to provide realistic rakes of rolling stock in liveries that are as correct in detail as possible in 4mm scale, and to push the boundaries of what is achievable with decoration. Feel this post is a bit "TLDR"? Then let the dulcet tones of our Project Manager Paul Isles explain it in our video below! The Challenge The process of saving a tooling suite and transferring it to a different factory for manufacture presents its own challenges, not least potential damage to the tools and compatibility with that factory’s injection equipment. The process begins with identifying all the parts, making test shots and creating new metal components to replace those that do not come with the tools. Some degree of fettling will be required to improve fit and eradicate ejection scars, while other parts may need complete replacement. The First Upgrades The first run of a transferred tooling will always, by necessity, be one of consolidation, but we have still added a few modifications from previous iterations. The lighting has been modified so that it is now a permanent feature rather than optional, with lights being track-powered (not DCC-controlled) and switchable by magnetic wand. We have also added stay-alive to the lighting PCB to improve performance over uneven or dirty track sections. A new body style has been added to the 6w stock, with the Full Brake now featuring centrally placed duckets rather than offset ones, to reflect a wider range of prototype Full Brake body styles. The First Range So, having set the scene for this range of 4w and 6w coaches under the new Accurascale Genesis branding, let us take you through the history of the various liveries and rake compositions in this new run. GREAT EASTERN RAILWAY – 4w COACHES On 6 February 1919, the Great Eastern Railway’s Locomotive Superintendent, Albert Hill, presented his report on replacing varnish as a coach finish with paint, his preferred colour being Crimson Lake. With Board approval, this was implemented by April 1919. Body sides and ends, along with solebars and headstocks, were painted Crimson Lake, with all running gear below solebar level being black. Mansell wheel centres were painted either Crimson Lake or black. Roofs were painted white or off-white, along with all roof furniture; however, the section of roof between the lower rain strip and the eaves was painted mid-grey. Body mouldings were picked out in cream or primrose lining, and a new serifed lettering style was adopted, along with smaller class numerals on door panels where possible. Being suburban stock, these carriages did not carry the GER armorial device, but First and Second Class vehicles were denoted by broad colour bands beneath the eaves: chrome yellow for First Class and French blue for Second. All trains for the GER’s new suburban timetable of the period, the “Jazz” services, were made up of 16 vehicles, and we have chosen to represent vehicles from the Enfield Sets for this release. To enable short trains to be run, the 16-car rake was split between the 10th and 11th vehicles, creating 10-car and 6-car portions. The sets were lettered at each end, with “EE” for the 10-car portion and “E” for the 6-car portion, with an additional letter A, B, C, etc. denoting the individual set. Initially, Enfield Sets were split as 12-car and 4-car portions, but this was soon abandoned in favour of the 10/6 split. The running order was: 3rd Brake, 3rd, 3rd, 3rd, 3rd, 3rd, 2nd, 2nd, 2nd, 2nd, 1st, 2nd, 2nd, 1st, 3rd, 3rd Brake. The portions were divided between the 2nd Class coaches for the 12/4 split and between the 2nd and 1st for the 10/6 split. Packs A and C form the early 4-car portion, with Pack B adding the two vehicles required for the later 6-car portion. METROPOLITAN RAILWAY – 4w COACHES To provide stock for the new extension to Aylesbury, the Metropolitan Railway ordered 32 four-wheel carriages from Cravens, which entered service in 1892. Intended to serve both Aylesbury and Chesham, the eight-car rake was split into two four-car sets, each comprising a 2nd Brake, 1st, 3rd and 3rd Brake. The two sets were divided between the 3rd Brake and 2nd Brake. All eight sets ran in the timetable until 1905, when they were sold to the Weston, Clevedon & Portishead Railway and the Nidd Valley Railway, with the remainder retained by the Metropolitan as reserve stock. The general finish was varnished teak bodies, with solebars and headstocks painted to match and running gear below solebar level painted black. On First Class vehicles, the upper section of the body above the waistline was white under varnish, resulting in a creamy finish. Mansell wheel centres were also painted to match. Roofs and roof furniture were painted white or off-white. Body mouldings were generally picked out in gold or straw yellow, apart from the First Class upper panels, which were outlined in light blue with an even thinner vermilion lining. Where possible, carriage lettering and numbering were arranged symmetrically, with class markings centred on the doors. The Metropolitan armorial device was placed either beneath the vehicle number or centrally beneath the company legend if that appeared on a waist panel. CAMBRIAN RAILWAYS – 6w COACHES Centred on Oswestry, the Cambrian Railway operated only 230 miles of standard-gauge track but covered a very wide area, encompassing central and coastal Wales and including associated narrow-gauge lines such as the Vale of Rheidol, Welshpool & Llanfair, Corris, Ffestiniog and Talyllyn Railways. Between 1883 and 1909, the standard Cambrian coach livery was bronze green on the lower panels, coach ends (apart from brake ends, which were vermilion until at least 1911 and possibly until 1915) and upper body beading. The waist and upper panels were white under varnish, giving a creamy tone. Solebars were black, with all running gear below also black. Mansell wheel centres were an unusual red-brown colour. Panel lining was gold with black edging, with ultra-thin vermilion lining introduced later. The Cambrian armorial device appeared twice on each side of the 6w stock, with company legend, class numerals and coach numbers in gold sans-serif characters, blocked in dark blue, light blue and white. LONDON NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY – 6w COACHES For the LNER, we have moved away from passenger use to represent alternative applications of inherited 6w stock after Grouping. The Scotsman newspaper was first published in Edinburgh on 25 January 1817, but railway distribution did not become widespread until stamp duty on newspapers and advertising was abolished in 1855. The proprietors of The Scotsman entered into an arrangement with the Scottish railway companies, agreeing to pay carriage fees themselves, thereby creating a railway distribution monopoly. Circulation increased rapidly, reaching around 40,000 copies per day by the early 1870s. This growth led to the introduction of dedicated early-morning newspaper express services in partnership with the North British Railway, using special vans to convey papers from Edinburgh at 04:00 to Glasgow for onward distribution. By 1899, a further service to Hawick was introduced, connecting with the 06:00 Riccarton passenger train and allowing early delivery to towns such as Hexham, Langholm, Carlisle and Newcastle. These services ran for over 70 years, with little operational change, until the mid-1940s. Bundles were loaded at Waverley into twelve dedicated vans in Scotsman livery. Packers sorted parcels en route, throwing them onto platforms at intermediate stations as the train slowed to around 10 mph. Under the LNER, the vans were repainted from NBR Coach Lake into painted teak body colour, with ends black after 1925. Solebars and wheel centres were also teak-finished, with running gear black. Panel lining followed standard LNER practice in primrose yellow. The Scotsman heraldic banner appeared on both sides, with thistle emblems at each end. For our second LNER offering, we move to the 1930s and the growth of leisure travel. In 1933, ten former Great Northern 6w coaches were converted into Camping Coaches and located at branch line sites. Three compartments became kitchen and living space, with two converted into bedrooms, accessed externally via the running board. Toilet facilities relied on station amenities. The scheme proved popular, with 129 bookings in the first season at £2 10s per coach per week, on condition that guests travelled by rail. By 1938, 118 coaches were in use across England and Scotland. In 1935, the original teak finish was replaced with green and cream Tourist Train Set livery, and “Camping” was replaced by a CC prefix to the coach number. Touring Camping Coaches were also introduced, moving between locations with their occupants aboard. LONDON MIDLAND SCOTTISH RAILWAY – 6w COACHES Our final offering covers the use of 6w vans as Mail Bag, Parcel Tender and Stowage Vans in LMS Travelling Post Office trains of the 1930s. Like locomotive tenders, these vans carried unsorted mail and parcels collected en route. Originating largely from Scottish and north-western areas, many were inherited from Midland and Highland Railway designs and retained their distinctive offset gangways. Following Grouping, the LMS replaced time-expired stock on a one-for-one basis, resulting in a wide variety of diagram types. Interiors were generally spartan, though some included cupboards, lavatories and ovens. Two Stanier designs were exceptions; one of these, Diagram 1867, lacked interior fittings and a gangway connection, and forms the basis for our model in this run. Price and Availability With the range now at decoration stage, it is our aim to commence production after Chinese New Year next month, giving a delivery date of Q4 2026. Even with our upgrades, particularly around the PCB and new tooling for the Full Brake, you can still obtain excellent value with our Genesis coaches. With twin packs offered and including our 10% and 15% bundle deals, you can acquire these models from just £33.99 per coach. Delivery is scheduled for Q4 2026. As with the majority of our ex-Hattons models, to offer maximum value we are making these direct-only models via our website. The Future In time, we will add new body, roof and interior types to the tooling suite to cover a greater range of coach builds, and we will be making the most of the scale 28’ 4w and 32’ 6w underframes over the coming months. In due course, we may even add more prototypical stock that utilises these underframe lengths. It may also influence, or be influenced by, our future steam locomotive model output. Pre-order the first run today via the link below! Pre-Order Your Genesis Coaches Here! As with all our projects, many third parties have contributed to the research, particularly for liveries. We would like to thank Keith Crombie, Allan Rodgers and the North British Railway Study Group, along with Ian MacCormac, Adrian Marks and the Great Eastern Railway Society, for their invaluable assistance in ensuring the liveries represented are as accurate to the prototype as possible. View the full article

Hi Tom, Many thanks for that. My query was merely about the A Class v Class 89. I wasn't calling the rest of your points out, as I felt they were measured and a lot of them made sense, but I will go through your points to give you a point of view from our side and put some industry experience into the mix. Re the Class 89 v A Class. I was surprised a one off electric loco outsold our most common diesel. Electrics are hard to sell in themselves, and are not as popular in the UK as diesels and steam (which is sad as I am personally a fan of electric locos!). As @NIRCLASS80 states its a one off in 3 basic liveries. But still, there wasnt much in it. The original run of MM 141s beat both, but that was a time when there was nothing else available in Irish outline RTR and we all bought them in droves, myself included. I accept my tone was downbeat, but it came from a place of honesty. But I did say "less offerings" rather than "no offerings". I think it also needs to be remembered that a new locomotive project to deliver is circa half a million euro in costs. A railcar is almost twice that. It's scary numbers we have to deal with, be brave with and be sure it's the right decision to make. We get it wrong, we could end up losing our homes, we are a business after all. Regarding the 141 second run, I have been informed of the size of the production run, and it was quite low. As I said previously, we also saw 201s in said sweet spot hang around on shelves for a few years before our wagons arrived. Another one for the context of the sweetspot; We recently produced IR and IE Mark 2 coaches. We thought they'd fly; next level detail, orange and black icons, interior lighting etc etc. They were slow. The NIR Mark 2s outsold them. There is nothing guaranteed in this business as we have found out. H Vans and Palvans for your mixed goods trains can also be seen as "sweet spot", have sold okay, but wont break too many records. Our Park Royals are pretty much sold out in many running numbers, but again, the run is a third of the size of the MM Craven first run. Again, points to a market that has changed. This is not anyone's fault, I am not calling you or anyone else out (as I said, your response was measured and you made good points), it was just offering a hint of reality of where we find the market right now. Regarding the Hunslets and the 800s, as I have hinted, one has done quite well, the other is not as well, but both are tiny runs, less than half of the A class in both cases. We knew this, they're priced accordingly, there will likely ever be one run. One makes sense as a dip into proper, quality, accurate Irish steam, and has many fans beyond our shores, the other offers the perfect locomotive to go with our NIR Mark 2s in every livery, and even some of our freight in fert wagons and bubbles as well as 42ft flats. They operated for over 20 years and were an everyday sight in Dublin for well over 10 years. A C would sell better, of course, and we will do the C, but what comes beyond that that is a "dead cert?" It's also hard to park the Hunslets and sell something else for the following reasons; The people who ordered them expect them to be delivered by a certain date, as in very soon. We have already spent significant money on tooling it, so we need to get that money back in through sales. Pausing it, and starting an AEC railcar from scratch would need a significant amount of money spent on it to tool, and we would have to spend circa 800k to deliver it before getting money back in through sales in approx 3 years time! It's not how this industry works sadly. Also, the Hunslets are finished production (more news there soon!) so it's moot, but the point stands. You cant just drop something you've spent a significant amount of money on, promised to customers and start something else which would need even more investment. We deliver a model, we sell it, collect the money, and roll it into the next model. The Hunslets make more sense over an 80 class as they're cheaper to make, cheaper for customers to buy, compliment our range of models (and we like to do a range that has joined up thinking) and people buy more locos than units. It is the buying pattern we see in the UK, and here with the ICR. Someone may buy 5 A Classes or 141s, but only 1 or 2 units, as an example. I hope the above responses are taken as clarification on my comments and also just giving the viewpoint as a manufacturer. As I said, your input and suggestions have been well thought out and welcome, and in some cases make sense, and in others, don't quite work out. We do appreciate the support you have given us down the years through buying our models, and that is the most fundamental thing. Hi Noel, The A Classes were sold through Irelands biggest model retailer, along with other traders like the late Chris Dyer and Dave Bracken. We were happy with the sales performance of the A and would certainly take their sales now. The Class 89 was even split between us and rails, and as per the comments above, is a niche electric class of one, compared to a 40 year career of Irelands largest Diesel class with many more liveries. A Class 37 or 50 outselling the A? Every day of the week I would expect it. The 89? I was blown away tbh and did not expect it. Show's we should've charged more for the Metrovicks in hindsight. Cheers! Fran

Our new production run of our beautiful Class 31s is just a few weeks away from landing in our warehouse! However, we already have the next production run lined up to follow it, due to the incredible demand for our Brush Type 2s. The main production range will be revealed in the coming weeks, but we thought we would unveil our “Accurascale Exclusive” model from this run first — a true triple grey era celebrity! Welcome to 31160 “Phoenix”! 31160 History By the launch of the iconic Roundel-designed Railfreight scheme in October 1987, around 30 Class 31s were allocated to the FGWC pool at Tinsley for Speedlink wagonload services. However, with the fleet only recently refurbished at Doncaster Works and Railfreight Distribution looking to standardise on Class 37 and 47 motive power, there was no hurry to repaint them in the new image. Following serious fire damage to 31160, the South Yorkshire depot resurrected and outshopped the Brush machine in November 1989 with a full repaint into the new scheme, complete with RfD markings, making it instantly unique. Typically for Tinsley, the makeover was wildly different from any of the other Railfreight repaints undertaken around the same time for the Coal, Construction, and Petroleum sectors. This included large TOPS numbers, a distinctive style of black window surrounds, and the positioning of the body break line between the two shades of grey. This was all finished off with red bufferbeams. Its one-off appearance was compounded just a few days later when the former D5578 was given the unofficial — but very appropriate — name Phoenix, painted over the squadron symbol with a representation of the mythical bird surrounded by flames. Sadly, within a year Tinsley’s Class 31 fleet had been transferred away, and 31160 was stripped back to its basic triple grey scheme for a new life in the Crewe Diesel departmental pool. It was eventually stored unserviceable in March 1996 and was scrapped at Wigan CRDC in June 1999. The Model Despite its short lifespan in typical Tinsley condition, the livery on this locomotive became iconic and a firm favourite among enthusiasts of the day. We felt it must be celebrated, and as a result have brought this legend back in model form. As per our well-established, industry-leading standards for fidelity, specification, and value, our Class 31 features our full suite of lighting arrangements, a wealth of detail, excellent sound specification for sound-fitted models, and accurate detailing specific to the prototype being modelled. It also includes a working rotating fan, flange squeal hall sensors for automatic digital sound functionality on curves, ESU Loksound DCC decoders in sound fitted models, a wealth of separately applied parts, and an accurate rendition of this legendary BR livery using the correct colour codes from the BR Corporate Style Handbook. All of this is complemented by special presentation packaging and a certificate as part of any “Accurascale Exclusive” release. Pricing starts from £184.95 for the DC/DCC-ready variant and £284.95 for the DCC Sound locomotive, matching our current pricing structure. Delivery is slated for Q1 2027, with production commencing in late Spring. Pre-order yours direct by clicking the link below for no money down, or use our flexible payment options to pay in instalments at no extra cost between now and delivery. Pre-Order Your Accurascale Exclusive Class 31160 Here! View the full article

Hi @Ironroad, Just wondering why you think it's not an "apples to apples" comparison? On the wider topic.... There is an inconvenient truth in all this; there is another manufacturer of Irish outline, one who does not comment publicly (and I can appreciate and understand why), and his most recent release (granted a rerun) is still very freely available. I talked to one trader and he told me that "I still have heaps of them, they're not moving". These locos are of course right in the "sweet spot" of what many would consider to be the prime market for Irish outline, Ready-to-run models. They have sold at a premium for years on EBay and the likes. You cannot have a layout from 1962 to 2009 anywhere in the country without them. The same company had other, larger locos, sitting on shelves for years. I remember one day, said man nearly kissed me when he paid us a visit in our first premises in Crumlin, thanking us for producing all the wagons which sold out his locos in the shops. Again, the big ticket diesel locos we all love and know, and now want more of. Maybe the last rerun has given pause for thought about these reruns and their viability as the market has slowed for him too? So, with that evidence, I have to say I refute the "you made the wrong thing" charge. I do think it's a market issue in itself. However, I don't apportion blame on anyone, and indeed thank every single one of you who has supported us in the past, does so now, and will do in the future. It's just how the market is right now. That's life. IRM has been since day one, an open and "chatty" manufacturer, born out of the spirit of this forum, and therefore, a feeling of "we're all in this together". I was merely mentioning aloud how the current market feels, and what peoples thoughts are on it. There has been some really good, interesting feedback and thought, and I must say I credit many of the contributions on here having a firm knowledge of the industry, even though you are not working in it every day. It's impressive. We really didnt want the model pile up of 3-4 big ticket items coming in one year, but we are where we are, and sometimes things just go that way. It certainly was not some sort of "emotional blackmail" to buy stuff you don't want, as was mentioned in some quarters. To be honest I found such reactions really disappointing, and surprising. Perhaps we should not be as open and as chatty as before about the industry and "this side of the fence" going forwards for not wanting to cause offence in the future, and inadvertently place unrealistic expectations on any of our fans or customers. I guess I myself have learnt a lesson there. Anyway, thank you to everyone, we always appreciate the support, and look forward to bringing you seriously impressive models you will love in the future, both near and longer term. Cheers! Fran

You’re right, @Sea Breezer. Please accept my apologies, it’s been a long and busy week and I meant no offence. My point was referring to @BosKonay saying that they do need to stand on their feet a bit more, and while the price of €130 is nearer what they should be price wise, they are still subsidised in the grand ball that is IRM and Accurascale. It just shows what a bargain the rest of the Bulleid range truly was. I also appreciate the support that you and our customer base as a whole offer IRM with your wallets. We feel obligated to make the very best models we can to give you best value for your hard earned, and truly enjoy your down time and escapism in this wonderful hobby. Long may it all continue! All the best, Fran

it appears the point is just getting missed now and what essentially is a strawman argument has come up, despite @BosKonayoffering context. Thanks to everyone for their feedback and thoughts. Cheers! Fran

in fairness you are also comparing two different products, which on the face of it, both have the name "Bulleid", but one was a relatively simple open wagon, and the other is a van with many more parts and complexity of assembly. They may sound the same, but they are not the same. If we did a new run of opens, and put the price up to 130 euro, you would then have a case. Either way, we have basically under-priced most our output to the Irish market, made possible by the subsidy coming from our UK operations. The coaches above are cheaper, when they should be more expensive, same for the wagons and A Class. When the 141 came out they were 125 euro in marks, while a Brit Bachmann UK diesel was 85 euro. Our A Class was the same price as our Class 37. In both cases both models were made in the same factory by the same people, but we did not charge a premium/tax for the Irish variant. Good business sense would've been to do so. Bemoaning Irish model prices now (notwithstanding pressures of cost of living, which are completely justified and understandable as Graham did and made a great point about last night) is a bit silly, TBH. They're unbelievably niche, always made to minimum order quantities as that's that's stretching to the size of the market. Compare the price and standard to Continental HO of similar standard, and you can see how they're under-priced. The solution? Everyone try get someone interested in Irish outline! Cheers! Fran

Hi @Mol_PMB, Where did I say we would stop? Or where did I say we would "turn our backs" on the market? We are IRM, we're not going to turn our backs on it. I said that it's quite likely that the output of Irish models will drastically reduce if we see the current sales trend across the hobby continue for Irish outline models. It's not only us who have seen this as I said in my previous post. We have always been open and honest about the market, and talked about it among our customers here since our inception. Indeed, we feel it's what has made us different, and put us apart from everyone else. We have always been supported by the community, and we will forever be grateful. I think our openness has been appreciated, and it's not a "threat" to customers. It's just honesty of where the market is right now. However, it's a business, we have mortgages to pay, mouths to feed. A locomotive project alone is over half a million pounds of investment. We have to consider moves carefully. If we can't sell Irish shaped ones anymore to break even (which is about what the IRM projects do) then we cant put our business, and our employees at risk. Future IRM projects will happen, just it's very possible they will be a lot less frequent than they are currently. As for reruns of Irish stuff, on popular things like A Classes, container flats etc, it's somewhat likely, but I can't ever see a rerun of Hunslets, 800s, etc. It's why they're all available now, so miss them, you miss out. If they don't sell, we can't fund the next IRM project. One has done rather well, the other could do with some help, but we're hopeful both will wash their face. I hope this provides some clarity. I must say some of the responses have been very well thought out and show really good understanding of the industry and hobby. We really appreciate that. Cheers! Fran

Cheers George, and you bring up an interesting point to be honest that must be shared with the wider community. It's a tough one to face, but with the amount of Irish goodies that have come out, particularly in the last 5 years, what is an absolutely tiny market is likely full to the brim now with models. We can see a big slow down in purchases, which despite the economy being in somewhat decent order, is understandable. The sad reality is that there is likely to be less and less offerings in Irish outline as a result if the trend is a continuous one. We have a lot to deliver this year, have paid out a huge amount of money to tool it over a British outline model (okay, Mark 2s are part of a wider accurascale range, but the other goodies we have coming are uniquely Irish) which would make us a much larger return on investment and be a much smaller risk. So, if it sells, great. But if everyone is full up, then our output will likely severely restrict going forwards. It's a harsh reality, and we hope there are still enough customers out there to enjoy these, but if there isn't we will need to cut cloth accordingly. Talking to some traders recently has also yielded similar feedback. As we say, if it's what you want, grab it. With the NIR stuff, if you want to see an 80 Class in the future, the decision to tool one is entirely dependent on the sales of the Hunslets and these coaches. We even have the sound recorded for it, but the tooling bill is huge! We'll do it if people can vote with their wallets on these first. Cheers! Fran

Just before Christmas, we teased one of the decorated samples for our forthcoming maroon-and-blue liveried NIR Mark 2s, to perfectly complement the NIR Hunslets as they debuted on the Enterprise in the early 1970s. We had hoped to have these samples in time for the Dublin Model Railway Exhibition last October, but sadly they got lost in that vortex that is the courier system! Thankfully, they showed up recently, and now we are able to show the range, including the newly tooled grille car. Feast your eyes below! We're delighted with the paint shades and finish of these coaches, particularly the aluminium finish on the window framing and the newly tooled earlier style of grille car. They really look the business with our NIR Hunslets, giving you licence to recreate the 1970s edition of the Enterprise between Belfast and Dublin, featuring all-new stock which boasts charisma that has been unmatched ever since. We're delighted to report that the Hunslet locomotives are almost in full production, and we will have more news on their delivery very soon. The coaches remain on schedule too, and are due in the fourth quarter of 2026. This is likely to be our only run of the coaches in this livery, and indeed the Hunslets. So, if you want them, now is the time to order. Don't miss out — because when they're gone, they're gone. Pre-Order Your NIR Coaches Here! View the full article

It’s an exciting time for Irish modellers, as we have THREE brand-new models arriving over the coming months! The CIE Palvans, the last of the wagons in our Bulleid Chassis project, are now complete and have left the factory—narrowly ahead of the Park Royal coaches and NIR Hunslet locomotives, which are also in the final stages of production. We’ll have updates on the Park Royals and Hunslets soon, but today we’re concentrating on the Palvans, which have now been signed off from these production samples. Following feedback from modellers on the IRM forum, we were able to make adjustments to the wagon ends to make them more prototypically accurate. This is a great testament to our factory, who were able to implement the tooling changes so quickly, and to our followers, who were able to spot the issue. These wagons are now on the high seas and are due in stock in early March! Pre-order yours today via the link below, with excellent bundle deals available when you buy multiple packs! Pre-Order Your IRM CIE Palvans Here! View the full article

Our CFMF PCA bulk cement wagon in 4mm must be one of the most popular wagons in our now extensive range of rolling stock among modellers. Known to our longest-standing followers from our early days, the PCA wagon was one of our earliest hits and has been almost continuously in our range ever since. However, many who have come to know us more recently will likely have missed out on the liveries from the first run, which have not been repeated - until now, and with something new added too! We’re bringing back the PCAs in their as-delivered STS grey livery from 1982, now with the addition of the “Sulfecrete” branding on the walkways, along with the “Rugby Cement” rake, again synonymous with the Southern Region in the 1980s. Built by CFMF of France for wagon leasing company STS, the 50 PCA bulk cement wagons of the PC017B design diagram began entering service in 1982. Numbered STS10600–STS10651, 15 members of the fleet were hired to Rugby Cement for use on workings from Halling Cement Works in Kent to Greenford, Southampton, and possibly Bow Goods and Tilbury Riverside. Meanwhile, other examples were leased to Blue Circle for use on a number of workings across the network. A further batch of 15 wagons were manufactured in 1985 by another French firm, Fauvet-Girel. Numbered STS74030–STS74044 and assigned design diagram PC017C, these vehicles received Rugby Cement livery and replaced the wagons from the previous batch that had been leased to that company. As with previous generations of our PCA, our model features spectacular detail, a museum-quality finish, and - in the case of the STS grey models - new running numbers, with fine underframe detail and finely etched steps and walkways where applicable. Also, just like the first run of the PCAs back in 2018, these packs will be priced at just £69.98 per triple pack, with our usual bundle rake deals, and available only direct from our website. How about that for price-busting, incredible value? Not only that, but they are also eligible for our famous bundle rake deals, with 10% off when you buy two to four packs, and 15% off five packs or more! With these discounts and inflation taken into account, they’re even better value than ever before! Oh, and don’t forget free UK postage and packaging on all orders over £50, plus 3% cashback through loyalty points against a future purchase via our website! The PCAs are perfect for block trains (Rugby Cement and STS grey) or for mixing into Speedlink trains in STS grey livery. They offer great operational flexibility and are a must for any 1980s modeller. Pre-order yours today for Q1 2027 delivery below! Pre-Order Your PCA Wagons Here! View the full article

It's that time of year again, as we prepare to say farewell to 2025, which marked 200 years of the railway, and we saw our own little piece of Accurascale transcend onto the real railway, we look back at our year and see what we achieved. There have been some landmark milestones, including producing and delivering our 100,000th model locomotive! Not bad for a young company. Indeed, so many things happened this year that we simply cannot fit everything into this update. However, there are some gems in here, so crack out the selection box, get the kettle boiled, and check out some of our highlights for 2025, before getting a sneak peek into 2026! Our Biggest Year of Delivery Yet! 2025 saw us deliver the most diverse range of locomotives we have managed to date — by far! Not only did we finally see the delivery of our Class 89 in OO gauge with our partners at Rails of Sheffield, but we also managed to deliver a locomotive on time in our O gauge Ruston 88DS, move mountains with our award-winning Class 60, and “hoover” up some plaudits with our Class 50s. We further showed the modelling world that we’re not just about diesel and electric traction with delivery of our sweet little GER Buckjumpers and handsome GWR/BR Pannier Tanks. Coaches were not forgotten either, with us ending the long wait modellers had endured for Mk2c coaches — a wait of over 50 years. On top of that, we once again showed our class-leading love for rolling stock, delivering newly tooled HTO/HTV BR 21-ton hopper wagons, our iconic “clayhood” wagons and their earlier incarnations, as well as our long-awaited NER coal hoppers. On the IRM side, we saw the arrival of the Bulleid “H-Vans” in fitted and unfitted guises, and a collaboration with our friends at Heljan to produce the “Sligo Oil” tanks, with the additional bracing tooled at our request. This, of course, does not include the continuing delivery of the Class 31, not to mention new runs of the Class 66, IRM Cement Bubbles, Andrew Barclay and P Class tank engines, bogie ICI hoppers, and more throughout the year. On the wagon front, despite the delivery of these newly tooled wagons and announcements of new wagons such as the IRM Palvan (now on the high seas), we feel that we have slacked somewhat over the past year on rolling stock. So much so, that we have two newly tooled Accurascale OO gauge wagons ready, with EPs in hand, to announce and deliver next year. Two more are in tooling now and nearly finished, and we also have some other wagons joining the range which will be revealed in early 2026. Oh — and there are two coach announcements lined up too. One is a new addition to the range, and the other is something everyone is expecting. Exciting! And newly tooled powered models (locomotives and units, etc.) in 2026? Further clues on that front come later on in this round-up, so read on! Newly Tooled Model Announcements Electro-Star of the Show 2025 was the year that saw the first Accurascale EMU announcement, as we once again teamed up with the lovely people at Rails of Sheffield to bring you the Electrostar family — beginning with the 375 and 377 in Run 1, with 379s, 387s, etc. to follow in Run 2. What is the specification? All of it. If we’re going to do units, then we’re doing it properly — just like our wagons, coaches, and locomotives. The Electrostar will feature a specification that has not been seen in any UK RTR unit model yet and will set a new benchmark. It will also demonstrate how we will tackle future units — and yes, we are working on several at the moment. Accura-Gronk Is Unveiled Every range should have a shunter, and we took on board the sheer volume of requests we receive at shows, via email and on social media, to begin work on a family built around the Class 08 — the signature shunter on the UK network for almost 70 years. Breaking new ground was essential, considering the excellent models already available. As well as adding our lighting suites, stay-alives, excellent sound, and fine detail, we were also able to take our Gronk into new territory by offering variants such as the Class 10 and the cut-down Class 08/9s for the first time in ready-to-run format. Future runs will explore other directions we take our locos in, and of course, some bread-and-butter 08s will always feature in the range. Shoe-Box Sleeper Awakens We love being able to offer complete ranges of trains for modellers. What use are certain wagons or coaches if there are no quality locomotives to pull them — and vice versa? It takes time, but this has always been a philosophy for us. One of our earliest pieces of synergy was producing the Caledonian Mk5 sleeper coaches and the Class 92s required to haul them. Now, to complete the Caledonian Sleeper set, we have unveiled the Class 73/9 locomotives, offering modellers the chance to recreate those shorter formations, as well as the GB Railfreight variants. Speaking of range synergy — do we have something that will go with the GB Class 73/9s? You may just find out for yourself in 2026… The Green Goddesses of Ireland Our fourth and final new powered model announcement of 2025 was actually our first of the year, consisting of the largest steam locomotives to run in Ireland: the B1a 800 Class 4-6-0s. To mark IRM’s 10th anniversary, we decided we needed a very special, Irish-designed and built subject, and the 800s fit the bill perfectly. We held a very special and exclusive event at the Fry Model Railway Museum in Malahide, Dublin, to unveil the model alongside the scratch-built masterpiece created by Cyril Fry and the original nameplates on the museum wall. IRM Palvans 2025 saw the announcement of the final model to round off “Project Bulleid”, as we unveiled our Palvan range on the famous triangulated chassis. Soon after unveiling the decorated samples, an eagle-eyed modeller spotted an error with the end vents being too small. Despite production being underway, our factory pulled out all the stops and retooled the parts to correct the error. We will forever be thankful to both our factory partner and the modeller who spotted it, allowing us to deliver a correct model rather than a flawed one. These are now on the high seas and will arrive in 2026! We Raise Cash for Brilliant Charities! We love what we do — making high-quality model trains for modellers to enjoy running on their layouts, personalising on their workbenches, exhibiting at shows, collecting, and displaying. However, we always feel we can do more for those less fortunate than ourselves, or to support the preservation of the real trains our models are based on. That’s why we run our charity initiatives. To be honest, what we do is the easy bit. We offer a model, take the money, and donate it to a worthy cause. These campaigns would be absolutely useless without your help — and you do that by digging deep and buying the models. So all we can say is thank you to everyone who bought 66190 this year in support of Martin House Children’s Hospice. Raising £10,000 for this very special charity is entirely down to your generosity. People like the staff and volunteers at Martin House are the real heroes in our society. What they do for our most vulnerable children is nothing short of amazing. Yes, you get a lovely model to remind you that you did “your bit”, but there are countless other things you could spend your money on. Choosing to support a cause in this way means the world to us and our charity partners. Thank you so much. Thank you also to everyone supporting our charity drives in 2026 with pre-orders for 60074 for the Teenage Cancer Trust, 92029 again for Martin House, and the restoration of Wilbert. All three models will be delivered in 2026, and will take our total charity donations since last year to £65,000. Look out for a couple more charity-exclusive models to be announced in 2026! We Design a Livery for the Real Railway Accurascale began leaving its mark on the real railway this year with a couple of memorable events during the summer. Having been fantastically assisted on our award-winning Class 60 model by our friends at DC Rail, the conversation came up about doing a special livery for their next Class 60 due into traffic. Always keen to help, and thanks to the Cappagh Group, DC Rail, and UKRL, we were able to work on designing an actual livery for their next 60 to be outshopped from Loughborough. 60099 is a special Class 60 in the DC Rail story, being the first to receive a “Super 60” overhaul outside of DB and Toton. As a result, 60099 will lead our next production run of Class 60s, and we have the exclusive rights to replicate the livery in miniature. Look out for delivery of the model as part of our "Accurascale Exclusives" range towards the end of next year. DB Cargo UK Names a Locomotive After Us! It’s time for an obligatory "Father Ted" reference: “July 19th - On this day: Galway liberated from Indians Marathon becomes Snickers Ah ha Ted, Ice Age ends DB Cargo names 66 091 ‘accurascale’” Like Ted, Dougal, and Jack, we took a wee holiday on July 19th to the Midland Railway Centre as guests of the railway and DB Cargo UK as part of their Rail 200 event. At the event, our friend Pete Waterman unveiled the nameplate in the pouring rain after our Marketing Director accidentally kicked the microphone out of his hand as he was about to address the crowd — who had assembled diligently despite the poor weather. It replicated another great comedy moment, this time from Laurel and Hardy. Still, not even Fran’s clumsiness could take away from this milestone in our young history — something we are immensely proud of. Look out for a model announcement of 66 091 (along with more 66s) and a competition based around it in 2026. All we will say is: photographers, get your cameras ready! Two New Additions to the 'A' Team We were delighted to grow our Accurascale family by two new members this year, both familiar faces in the model railway scene. Stuart Brown joined us from the National Railway Museum and is now part of our Customer Service and Experience team. Stuart’s in-depth knowledge of model railways, as well as the history of real railways, is a huge benefit as we grow our support team and explore new projects. Also joining us is James Makin as our Customer Experience and Online Marketing Manager. You may know James from his numerous weathering tutorials for our "Let's Get Involved" series on our website, as well as from exhibiting his layout "Wells Green TMD" and his active involvement in his local model railway club. Both James and Stuart have already made a big impact, and we will be looking to expand our team even further in 2026 — so look out for opportunities being advertised in the new year! We've Won a Few Awards Once again, your support has seen us perform well in the annual awards run by Model Rail, British Railway Modelling, and Hornby Magazines in 2025. You voted for the following models to win these prizes: Class 31 Model Rail Diesel/Electric Locomotive of the Year (OO Gauge) BRMA Diesel/Electric Locomotive of the Year (OO Gauge) Class 60 Hornby Magazine Locomotive of the Year (OO Gauge) SR Banana Vans BRMA 00 Gauge Wagon of the Year Innovation of the Year Accurascale Lifetime Warranty (BRMA) On top of that, we won OO Gauge Manufacturer of the Year across all three awards, as well as overall Manufacturer of the Year. A sincere thank you from all of us at Accurascale to everyone who voted for us. These awards are a reflection that you value what we do, how we do it, and at the right price! We hope to be in your thoughts again in 2026. Accurascale On Tour We covered many a show, both large and small, across the UK and Ireland throughout 2025. From Glasgow to Dublin and Birmingham twice, to NIOG and Stafford and everyone was nice! There are too many to mention really, but thank you to everyone who came to see us, and here are some photos from our trips on the circuit! Look out for us again in 2026 at Model Rail Scotland, Model World Live, GETS and other shows which we will advertise in due course! We also may have a little event ourselves, something a little bit different. So, keep an eye out for that too... In Memoriam While 2025 was a brilliant year for us with so many new model deliveries, it was also our saddest year to date, as we lost two brilliant people who helped us from the very beginning. Andy York March 2025 brought the devastating news that Andy York, creator of RMWeb, BRM Maestro, and former Accurascale product photographer, passed away after a short illness. Andy created one of the strongest communities in the hobby through RMWeb. He championed the hobby and supported all the younger manufacturers like us and allowed our voices be heard. RMWeb was an invaluable platform for us early on, and Andy gave us fair hearing, publicity, advice, and support. A great hole has been left in the hobby since Andy’s passing. We plan to introduce a model as a tribute to him in the future, perhaps in late 2026 or 2027. Personally, it’s still hard to visit RMWeb some days, but we will endeavour to be more active there in 2026 to help customers once again. Mike Romans In mid-December, we lost another dear friend to Accurascale — Mike Romans, who also supported many of our projects. Known to us as "One Take Mike", he was instrumental in our GWR/BR 78xx Manor locomotives and assisted with other GWR subjects like the new Pannier Tanks and Siphon Gs. Why "One Take Mike"? When launching the Manor, Mike secured us full access to Cookham at Didcot. Despite us being relatively unknown at the time, he backed us to ensure we were supported. During a launch video for Hornby Magazine, Fran lacked the detailed subject knowledge to speak confidently on camera, so Mike stepped in — and delivered the entire segment flawlessly in one take. Ever since, we’ve referred to him as "One Take Mike". Mike will also be attributed to using our models in the future. News on that will be forthcoming, but our thoughts remain with the York and Romans families. May they both rest in peace. Looking Ahead to 2026 We’ve reached the end of an action-packed review of 2025, which has been our biggest year yet. We would like to thank all our customers, supporters, and team for a fantastic year, and wish you all a very happy New Year. What will 2026 bring? Along with all-new wagons and coaches promised, and following a relatively quiet year for new tooling announcements in 2025, 2026 could be a bumper 12 months of announcements. We could see as many as half a dozen newly tooled powered announcements — perhaps even more. That does not include new runs of your favourite Accurascale models! This is on top of deliveries of Class 31s, 37s, NIR Hunslets, 800s, ICRs, Hunslet Austerity Tanks, Class 50s, 60s, 92s, Manors and more! So start speculating, start saving, start salivating — and we will see you in the new year! Want something now? Click on the link below to browse our range of in stock locomotives, wagons and accessories! Browse The In Stock Range Here! View the full article

We’re delighted to report that our GSR / CIE 800 class has now reached the decoration stage, and we’ve been taking a close look at the latest samples. We just had to share them with you all! This stage is all about fine-tuning — confirming what’s working well and making sure anything that needs improvement is picked up early, before we move towards production. Overall, the models are in very good shape, but there are a few areas we've identified where refinement is needed. This is all part of the production process! To improve overall fit and consistency, we’ll be adjusting the painting process so that parts are painted as sub-assemblies rather than as individual components. This should result in cleaner joins and a more robust final assembly. Along similar lines, the fit of the handrails will be improved so they sit more naturally on the finished models. We’ve also noted that the running gear is currently a little too loose for our liking. This will be tightened up to give a more accurate and solid feel. In performance testing, the motor and gearbox behave exactly as intended in most situations, but when hauling a very heavy load — around ten bogie coaches — there is a small drop in performance. We’re targeting roughly a ten per cent improvement here to fully meet our specification. On the decoration side, the cab and tender etched plates were fitted to these samples in error. On the production models, cab side and tender numbers and crests will be tampo printed as intended, with separate etched plates supplied in the accessory bag where applicable. We’ve also identified a few areas where paint coverage and accuracy can be improved, and the quality of the boiler lining will be further refined to give a crisper finish. Our Project Manager is looking afresh at historical evidence and the livery carried by 801 on ACC-1302/ACC-1310 during its single chimney period of 1954 - 1961, when the tender was devoid of its ‘Flying Snail’. This may lead to the lining being removed completely. A couple of detail points have also been flagged. The orientation of the drain cocks is incorrect on several samples, which has been noted and will be corrected. In addition, metal parts such as axle ends and wheel pickups have not yet received chemical blackening — this will be applied to improve realism. The tender’s rear NEM pocket also needs a little fettling to increase the range of movement, and the bright tension lock couplings will be replaced with black or dark grey versions. We may also supply alternative transparent ABS couplings, which is still to be confirmed. Just as importantly, there’s a lot of positive news to report. The decoration samples have met, and in some areas exceeded, the original artwork specifications, with colour matching in particular proving to be spot on. Each model has also been fitted with the correct variations of chimney, smokebox, and smokebox door — something that isn’t always guaranteed at this stage, but very welcome to see. From a running perspective, aside from the slight loss of performance under very heavy loading, the motor performs to specification and the gearing is exactly where it should be. The transition from a slow crawl through to express speeds is smooth and convincing. Initial generic DCC and sound testing has also gone exactly as expected, allowing us to move confidently towards the development of the fully tuned DCC and sound-fitted versions. All of this feedback has now gone back to the factory, and we’ll be keeping a close eye on the next stage as these refinements are implemented. We’re very encouraged by how the 800 class is shaping up and look forward to sharing further updates as the project continues. We're still on track at this moment to meet our expected delivery date of Q3 2026. Just look at this detail and quality, on a model of a locomotive designed and built in Ireland. All of this replicated in miniature for the first time in high quality, ready-to-run format, and possibly never to be repeated. PRE-ORDER YOUR 800 CLASS HERE! View the full article

If you’re keeping an eye on our upcoming releases, then our NIR Hunslet locomotives are certainly in the minds of fans of all things 5ft 3'. Due to land around now, there has been a very slight delay, but the good news is that they're about to depart the factory in China. We have Production Samples in hand but with our Christmas rush we've yet to take proper photographs of them, so look forward to seeing the final results in January! You might notice that the project took a little longer than expected. That’s because extra time was needed to refine the sound project. But trust us—it’s worth the wait. The attention to detail and the quality of the audio really make these models stand out, capturing that distinctive English Electric whistle which echoed along the Great Northern Main Line for so many years. The factory has been incredibly busy lately, handling multiple projects at once. If you’ve been following our activity, you’ve probably noticed how packed it is with new releases right now. This makes the extra care they are taking even more reassuring—you know they’re focused on quality rather than rushing things out. After the Hunslets they will begin on the Mark 2 coaches too, so you can expect a lovely matching train with matching paint shades hammering around your layout. When you finally get your hands on a NIR Hunslet, you’ll see why it’s such a must-have. It's highly unlikely a Ready-to-Run Hunslet will ever be available again, and we highly doubt a second run will ever happy, so now is your chance to grab one. Pre-order below for a Q1 2026 delivery. Pre-order Your NIR Hunslet Here! View the full article

What is the most requested rerun from our entire range? Yes — it’s our glorious Caledonian Sleeper Mark 5 coaches. It seems plenty of people missed out the first time around, when we launched our very first coach range a few years ago. We’ve been asked repeatedly in comment sections, at shows, and via email for their return. We’ve teased relentlessly that they would make their comeback “soon”. We even announced a new run of our Class 92, followed by an all-new Class 73/9 locomotive, to keep speculation about their return alive. Well, the time has come, and we are delighted to announce that the Mark 5 Caledonian Sleeper coaches are back! Available in single-car packs for the first time, our latest production run features all-new coach numbers, allowing you to bolster existing coach packs or even build a second train. This also enables every permutation of train formation — be it a 16-car Highlander or Lowlander set behind a Class 92, or a smaller train destined for the Highlands, perfect for our new Class 73/9. As per run 1, they feature a fabulous specification in line with all our coaching stock: Highly-detailed 1:76.2 scale on 16.5mm track Separately applied etched metal and high fidelity plastic detail parts Prism Free Glazing Fully detailed Under-frame Fully detailed and painted / printed accurate interiors Wand-control Interior lighting on DC and DCC with Stay-Alive Capacitor bank RP25-110 wheels OO wheels Fully sprung buffers where applicable Extra fine factory-fitted pipework Museum quality finish including painted wheel faces and axles in brass bearings to alleviate rolling resistance. Minimum Radius 438mm (2nd Radius Set-track) Mirroring run 1, this production run of Mark 5 Sleeper coaches will be available direct only via the Accurascale website, priced from just £59.45 per coach (subject to bundle deals). Discounts of 10% are available when purchasing 2, 3, or 4 coaches, and 15% when buying 5 or more — representing unbeatable value for these beautiful coaches. Delivery is slated for Q1 2027, with production commencing following the completion of our Mark 2 coaches next year. We’ll also have more news on our Mark 5a coaches in the new year — so watch this space! Pre-Order Your Caledonian Sleeper Coaches Here! View the full article

We wanted to share a quick update on the new production run of the Class 37 and explain where things currently stand. The good news is that the factory is working flat out and is presently reporting that the models should ship in the coming days subject to the usual final checks and approvals. that would see them arriving with us in Q1, 2026. So why the delay? In short, it’s come down to getting things right. The decoration has taken a little longer than expected as we’ve worked through the culmination of all the information that’s out there, making sure the finished models really capture the subtle differences they should. Alongside that, there have been a few tweaks to the updated PCB, which also needed time to be properly tested and signed off. It’s also worth remembering just how ambitious this project is. The Class 37 tooling is believed to be the most complex and extensive locomotive tooling suite anywhere in the world, simply because of the huge range of detail variations we’re covering within a single class. That level of complexity inevitably adds time during production. Our 37s are always massively in demand too, and are absolutely massive production runs, each and every time. We are so thankful for this of course, but also it takes longer to make them so we can satisfy demand. We know waiting is never ideal, and we really appreciate your patience. We’re confident, though, that the extra time will show in the finished models, and we’re looking forward to getting them into your hands as soon as possible. As always, we’ll keep you posted with further updates as things progress, and in the new year unveil the production samples of these highly anticipated beasts! Pre-Order Your Class 37 Here! View the full article

Hi folks, We're a little behind on our update which will now come next week, but here is something for the weekend.... Honestly, you DO NOT want to miss out on these! Cheers! Fran

It's been a locomotive long associated with, with it being mooted as a possible commission as we began our journey as a fully fledged British outline model railway manufacturer. That sadly did not work out, but it seemed a real shame to leave the research and an exclusive agreement with GB Railfreight to produce the locomotives in 00 gauge to gather dust on the shelf. This is especially so when it fits into our range so seamlessly, you all want to see it in model form, and it fills a significant gap in ready-to-run current outline locomotives. So, let's get to it, and welcome the Wabtec/GBRf Class 73/9 locomotives to the Accurascale Exclusives range! The Class 73/9: A Modern Hybrid Force Watch Our Launch Video The Class 73/9 subclass consists of 13 rebuilt Class 73 locomotives originally constructed in the 1960s. These rebuilds were split into two groups based on their new power units: MTU Engines (11 locomotives): Converted by GBRf and Wabtec at the former Brush works (Loughborough) starting in 2015. These form the bulk of the modern fleet and are the focus of our Class 73/9 model. Cummins Engines (2 locomotives): Converted by RVEL in Derby for Network Rail. These differ significantly from the MTU fleet and are currently treated as a separate entity due to their variation and uncertain future. (Sorry, but we are not doing these!) A Brief Look Back: The Original Class 73 The Class 73 started life with a unique mission. It could draw power from the Southern Region’s 750V DC third-rail network or use its onboard English Electric 4SRKT diesel engine. Unfortunately, early power unit development meant the diesel engine generated only 600 hp—less than half the power available from the third rail. This meant the '73s primarily relied on "the juice," using diesel only for non-electrified areas like yards and engineering work. Construction was split between BR’s Eastleigh Works (Class 73/0) and English Electric's Vulcan Foundry (Class 73/1). They were built to the narrow Hastings Gauge, making them invaluable across the network. By the 2000s, the remaining fleet was showing its age, with power units having lost significant horsepower. The choice was clear: replace them entirely or invest in a full re-engineering project. The latter was chosen to maintain the locomotive's crucial "grandfather rights" on the network, avoiding the costly and lengthy certification of new rail vehicles. The Repower Project: Creating a "Half-HST" The repower and re-engineering project was undertaken by Wabtec at Loughborough, led by Bob Tiller of GBRf. Tiller, who previously led the successful HST repower, chose the same successful strategy for the 73. The ageing English Electric unit was replaced with a new MTU 8V4000R43L engine capable of a massive 1600 hp, coupled with a new AC alternator. This power profile effectively earned the 73/9 the nickname of a "half-HST." Key Visual and Mechanical Changes: Cooling Upgrade: The new engine required extensive cooling. The most visible change is the addition of large bodyside grilles on both sides of the locomotive, along with new vents and fans along the cantrail. Weight Management: The MTU engine was 3 tonnes lighter than the original, necessitating the fitting of additional ballast within the body to maintain the required weight for traction and braking. Total Overhaul: The project involved more than just an engine swap. The entire locomotive was stripped down, with only the bogies, drawgear, and bodyshell being retained and subject to a "nut and bolt" overhaul. Power Supply: Crucially, the increased output of the new diesel engine now allows the locomotive to supply train power (ETH) while still providing traction current.. Advanced Startup: For reliability, the traditional traction batteries were replaced by a CAPOS (CApacitor POwer Storage) system for starting the power unit. This system also incorporates a pre-heater to reduce engine wear. Phase 1 vs. Phase 2: A Subclass Within a Subclass While all MTU 73/9s come from the same drawing board, they quickly split into two visually distinct groups based on their primary operator and duties. Phase 1 Locomotives (The Southern Fleet) Feature Description Operator/Livery GBRf House Colours (Southern England-based) Primary Use Network Rail Test Trains, Transit Moves, Rail Head Treatment Trains (RHTT) Front End Details Retain the characteristic original Class 73 face with high-level air pipes, blanked centre window, rubbing plate, and buckeye coupler. Updates New BMAC LED lights, AAR multiple working socket, and recent addition of brackets for Network Rail monitoring equipment. Service Entry 2015-2016 Phase 2 Locomotives (The Caledonian Sleeper Fleet) Feature Description Operator/Livery Caledonian Sleeper Teal Primary Use Operating sleeper services in Scotland where overhead wires are absent. Initial Front End Retained rubbing plate and buckeye coupling for Mk2/Mk3 stock. Fitted with a new fabricated single-piece snowplough. High-level pipes removed for a "tidied up" appearance. Key Roof/Cab Changes Aerial, air conditioning module fitted above each cab corridor, and snow covers on the roof horns. Fuel Capacity Upgrade The air receiver was replaced to install a large, extended capacity fuel tank after the original capacity proved insufficient for long-distance diesel-only operation. The Mk5 Coach Conversion The arrival of the new Mk5 Caledonian Sleeper coaches necessitated further changes to the Phase 2 fleet: The buckeye coupler was replaced with a Dellner, requiring the removal of the centre section of the large snowplough. The rubbing plate was removed. The centre cab window was opened and fitted with toughened glass and a dedicated wiper. More recently, the third-rail shoes were removed, along with bogie flash guards, and two bodyside windows were replaced with grilles. Despite their dedicated home ranges, both Phase 1 and Phase 2 locomotives occasionally venture far afield to cover maintenance or service needs, proving the continued utility and flexibility of this thoroughly modernised bi-mode workhorse. Meet The Range 73962 – GBRf, Early This locomotive started life as E6032 and entered service in May 1966. Under TOPS renumbering it became 73125, and later 73204 when allocated to the Gatwick Express fleet. 73962 was unveiled to the public (almost) at the Wabtec/Brush open day in August 2014, carrying a unique all-over GBRf blue livery. It was named Dick Mabbutt in a ceremony held in memory of respected Brush engineer Richard Mabbutt, who passed away unexpectedly in 2013 after 40 years of service. Our model recreates 73962 as it first entered service with GBRf, adorned with full Europorte branding. 73963 – GBRf, Early 73963 provides the perfect partner to 73962 as one of the original three rebuilt locomotives to enter traffic in 2014/2015. It began life as E6030, also in May 1966, becoming 73123 under TOPS and later 73206 as part of the Gatwick Express fleet. After conversion at Wabtec/Brush it was named Janice, the name previously carried by 73204 (73962) before rebuilding. Our model covers 73963 shortly after introduction, complete with full Europorte branding. 73961 – GBRf, Current 73961 was the first 73/9 to enter traffic during 2014. The former E6026 / 73120 / 73209 underwent test running at the Great Central Railway in Leicestershire in 2014, pairing with a variety of interesting traction. Although its paintwork weathered well, by 2024 it was looking distinctly work-worn and became the first 73/9 to re-enter the paint shop—this time at Eastleigh—where it received the slightly darker shade of GBRf blue currently in use. Our model represents the locomotive in present-day condition, including the cab-front bracket for NR equipment. 73965 – GBRf, Current 73965 entered GBRf service in 2015 alongside 73964. Completed alongside some of the Phase Two locomotives, it features several paint differences from the first three rebuilds, most noticeably on the grilles and the area above the cab windows. Originally unnamed, it was later given the name Des O’Brien in memory of a GBRf colleague who passed away from cancer. Notably, the naming took place at the same time—and on the opposite end of the train—as that of former Accurascale Exclusive 66769 Paul Taylor. Our model represents the locomotive in its current condition with nameplates, early “Brush” blue paint, cab-front bracket, and current GBRf branding. 73967 – Caledonian Sleeper, Early This locomotive is one of two 73/9s that began life as JA-type Class 73s—although all traces of the JA specification were removed during rebuilding. E6006 was built at Eastleigh in November 1962 and later renumbered 73006 under TOPS. It was rebuilt at Brush/Wabtec during 2015 and entered Caledonian Sleeper traffic the same year. Our model represents 73967 as first adapted to work with the new Mk5 coaches, featuring the drop-head Dellner coupler and two-part snowploughs, while still retaining its third-rail equipment. 73968 – Caledonian Sleeper, Early Partnering 73967 for the early Mk5 period is 73968. This locomotive was introduced as one of the first JB-type Class 73s in October 1965 as E6009, later becoming 73103. Our model represents 73968 in its initial Mk5-ready condition, equipped with a drop-head Dellner coupler and two-part snowploughs, while still retaining third-rail equipment. 73966 – Caledonian Sleeper, Current Our current-day lineup includes 73966, the first of the Caledonian Sleeper 73/9s to be converted. Built in August 1962 at Eastleigh as E6005, it was the other ex-JA rebuilt machine, later becoming 73005 under TOPS. Our model depicts 73966 in its present condition, featuring the drop-head Dellner, removal of third-rail equipment, and replacement of the bodyside windows with grilles. 73970 – Caledonian Sleeper, Current The current-condition partner to 73966 is 73970. Converted from JB-type E6023 / 73117, built in March 1966 at the Vulcan Foundry, it entered Caledonian Sleeper service in 2016. On 24 May 2024, at a ceremony at the Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway, it became the only named Caledonian Sleeper 73/9 when it received the name W. S. Sellar in memory of a founding member of the SRPS—a name previously carried by 37175 before its sale from preservation to Colas Rail. Our model depicts 73970 in its current condition with drop-head Dellner, third-rail equipment removed, bodyside grille modifications, and nameplates. A Tooling Hungry Model One of the significant characteristics of the Class 73/9 is the sheer amount of modifications over an original Class 73, and not to mention the variations between class members. While this sets up the sort of research challenge we relish, it also does mean that the tooling cost for this model is significant to say the least, as we move to cover all the versions of the Wabtec/GBRf class members. This means that it is not a cheap model to produce due to the amount of tooling required! However, price is a conscious consideration as ever here at Accurascale, and in order to give you the museum quality model of the 73/9 at the most reasonable price-point possible, we can confirm that this new locomotive will be the latest addition to our "Accurascale Exclusives" range of models, available only direct via our website. This helps keep the cost affordable for modellers! We also love to add value to our offerings, and our famous bundle deals will be offered on these locomotives as they're famous for running in pairs. So, how about this for prices: DC/DCC Ready single locomotive: £179.99 DCC Sound Fitted: £279.99 Buy 2 locomotives, get 10% off! Amazing value, and that's before we mention free UK postage and packaging, our 3% cashback as loyalty bonus points and our lifetime warranty! So, what are you waiting for? Place your pre-order below for a Q4 2026 delivery! Need to sleep on it? Or "need some sleepers to go with one?" Well, keep an eye out for an announcement in the coming days which may suit your needs.... Browse The Class 73/9 Range And Pre-Order Here! View the full article

More to follow this week, folks….