O, Look What's Back - New O Gauge 24.5 Ton Hopper Wagons

[Warbonnet]

It's been a while since we had anything to offer our O gauge fans, and the demand seems to be there for us to do more in 7mm judging by online comments and emails received since we first dipped our toes in the water a few years ago.

So, we have listened and decided to get back into the water! First up is the return of our O Gauge 24.5 Ton 'HOP 24'/HUO hopper wagons for an all new production run.

These humdrum hoppers provided the backbone of coal trains across the UK from their introduction in the 1950s until their withdrawal in the mid 1980s, when they were among the last unfitted wagons on BR.

They also represented the first foray into the O gauge world for us, being well received by modellers of 7mm outline and finding home on their most famous layouts, such as Pete Waterman's "Leamington Spa" and "Heaton Lodge Junction". It even won the Model Rail magazine "O Gauge Rolling Stock Model of the Decade" after its first release in 2019.

We have previously expressed an interest in doing more in O gauge, but this has been somewhat hampered by the recent global goings on over the past two years. However, as we move to safer ground globally, O gauge can now be investigated once again. So, to kick off the process we decided to bring this model back for a second production run following customer demand and a basis to build a further O gauge product line.

The model has also been enhanced, receiving two new buffer types newly tooled up to offer greater variety and prototypical accuracy among the fleet.

Once again eight all new running numbers are offered on these wagons, with seven in freight grey, and one in bauxite. Artwork is complete and decorated samples are due in April with delivery to modellers in Q3 2022. Price is £59.99/€69.95 per wagon, with 10% off when you buy two wagons or more direct via our website, offering unbeatable value for money. You can also order them via your local stockist. 

Pre-order yours direct here: https://accurascale.co.uk/collections/24-5t-huo-coal-hopper-o-gauge 

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[DJ Dangerous]

I see that these Hoppers are now on offer, and a smashing offer it is, 17% plus 10%, so I guess about 25% off overall!

Will the first Accurascale O Gauge loco be something that could have hauled these hoppers between the 1950's and the 1980's?

Extract from today's Accurascale email:

 

[DJ Dangerous]

Temporary problems with Accurascale shipping here, most likely due to that Royal Mail cyber mess a few months ago, so I was unable to make use of the offer.

However, I couldn't resist buying one from Hatton's at full price in order to see it with my own eyes, and it just arrived a few minutes ago.

Wow, what a wagon! The detail is out of this world. Not knocking OO Gauge models in any way, but O gauge offers a bigger canvas and Accurascale have made the most of it.

Nice weight to the wagon, too.

I don't know anything about O Gauge couplings but I assume that these couplings are a kind of industry standard.

Stunning wagon, and the size, it just looks so massive alongside a OO wagon!

 

[MOGUL]

Will there be a UTA Jinty on the way to haul that Giant wagon?

[DJ Dangerous]

I'm hoping for an O Gauge IRM A Class instead.

Please, Santa, I'll be good.

I mean, the design work is done, the trouble-shooting is done, the rate of sales per livery has been calculated, so just lash out four liveries with some transfers for numbering, day-glow panels, ST/IR hybrids etc.

IR livery, ST livery, un-rebuilt BT livery and that delightful lined green. €600 a pop, DCC ready, no speaker included, and happy days!

[DJ Dangerous]

Another one or two photos of the HUO's. These are something else.

 

[Georgeconna]

On 12/5/2023 at 4:36 PM, DJ Dangerous said:

Temporary problems with Accurascale shipping here, most likely due to that Royal Mail cyber mess a few months ago, so I was unable to make use of the offer.

However, I couldn't resist buying one from Hatton's at full price in order to see it with my own eyes, and it just arrived a few minutes ago.

Wow, what a wagon! The detail is out of this world. Not knocking OO Gauge models in any way, but O gauge offers a bigger canvas and Accurascale have made the most of it.

Nice weight to the wagon, too.

I don't know anything about O Gauge couplings but I assume that these couplings are a kind of industry standard.

Stunning wagon, and the size, it just looks so massive alongside a OO wagon!

 

Grey ones knocked down now along with some other bits n bobs

[DJ Dangerous]

5 hours ago, Georgeconna said:

Grey ones knocked down now along with some other bits n bobs

 

Excellent stuff. The sooner they sell out, the sooner we'll get O Gauge CIE Ballast Hoppers!

[DJ Dangerous]

These HUO's are on offer again. Absolutely savage price.

Ordered a few on Friday, and I'm on the fence about ordering another one or two today.

The Black Friday (thank you, Hatton's, O Gauge loco at OO Gauge pricing) Railfreight Class 56 will need to haul something, and these will fit the bill.

 

[DJ Dangerous]

Opened up some of the grey HUO's today and got them on display. Cracking wagons, but I think that we REALLY need an Irish wagon to run on that 32mm track!

 

 

[DJ Dangerous]

Does anybody else on the forum have any of the HUO's?