IRM Latest! H Van Heaven - Unfitted H Vans Next For Accurascale IRM!

[flange lubricator]

1 hour ago, Past-Avenue said:

Thanks for all your information and I'm working on a 30 ton at the moment and we'll go from there. 

As leslie10646 said above I don't want to step on anyone's toes and I'll do my best to get the van as accurate as possible. 

Thanks to @jhb171achill ,Mayner and leslie10646 just to name a few of the helpful people on here with a welt of knowledge to help us produce model's with great accuracy and detail. 

Any pictures or information you can give me would be greatly appreciated. 

Thanks 

Enda 

Great news Enda here is a nice picture from the O’Dea collection of some new “out of the box “ 30ton Vans at inchicore note the massive J hangers on them .                              

   https://catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtl

Edited May 24 by flange lubricator

[Mol_PMB]

21 minutes ago, flange lubricator said:

The fitted vans had a plate or spacer fitted  between the buffers and body to slightly extend them this was possibly done because they had instantor couplings fitted to reduce the distance between the wagons to avoid them banging against each other especially when running with passenger trains . 

Agreed. The green ones also had the instanter couplings replaced with screw couplings. 

I think this was the main justification for the different livery; it would have made them more suitable for coupling in passenger trains. If there was only one fitted H van, like in the image below by Roger Joanes, then the screw couplings from the adjacent vehicles could have been used, but if there were several H vans then having the vans fitted with screw coupling would have been much better. See Ernie's photo at the bottom of the page, with a long tail of fitted vans behind the passenger and mail coaches.

Screw couplings are a few inches longer than normal ones and extended buffers are normally fitted to vehicles with screw couplings (for example, when BR retro-fitted vac brakes and screw couplings to many of its goods vans, they also fitted longer buffers).

 

Most of the GNR fitted vans also had screw couplings and spacers behind the buffers as can be seen in these IRRS photos:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/53509081588

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/53500778071

And in this one by Ernie, though it's a bit distant:

Though this one seems to be an exception:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/54257197990

 

[Mol_PMB]

Here are some of Ernie's photos on Flickr showing 'normal' (not green) fitted H vans, with just plain 3-link couplings, not even an instanter.

On the other hand, this one has instanter couplings. And of course the green ones had screw couplings. Seems like there were plenty of variations!

 

[flange lubricator]

31 minutes ago, Mol_PMB said:

Here are some of Ernie's photos on Flickr showing 'normal' (not green) fitted H vans, with just plain 3-link couplings, not even an instanter.

On the other hand, this one has instanter couplings. And of course the green ones had screw couplings. Seems like there were plenty of variations!

 

The last picture is an instantor coupling and some of the others are too head on to tell

[west_clare_wanderer]

9 hours ago, Mol_PMB said:

That is a wonderful photo. Crying out to be modelled!

 

10 hours ago, Mol_PMB said:

And in this one by Ernie, though it's a bit distant:

 

What type of van is that first one on the left?  The colours in this are simply superb. The muted weathered tones are so subtle. Nothing - from track, to loco and rolling stock, from the grass to the sky, even the background buildings - stands out in a garish manner. As a whole composition, capturing the time, it is stunning. 

 

Edited May 25 by west_clare_wanderer

[Mol_PMB]

17 minutes ago, west_clare_wanderer said:

That is a wonderful photo. Crying out to be modelled!

 

 

What type of van is that first one on the left?  The colours in this are simply superb. The muted weathered tones are so subtle. Nothing - from track, to loco and rolling stock, from the grass to the sky, even the background buildings - stands out in a garish manner. As a whole composition, capturing the time, it is stunning. 

 

The one on the left is an ex-GNR vac fitted van. The GNR van design evolved over the years with increased tonnage capacity and size, and only a small proportion were vac fitted. The later 1920s design was published as an Irish RCH standard, and they were also produced for the MGWR and GSWR/GSR with some variations. I have been collating data on these and maybe I should start a dedicated thread. Leslie used to make a kit for the GNR ones but I'm not sure wheher these are still available.

The GNR used the Briitsh Railways painting approach for its wagons: grey = unfitted and red-brown = fitted. Hence the appearance of a red-brown van pre-1970. Different to CIE where everything was grey, and later everything was brown, regardless of brakes. 

A couple more pics of the vac-fitted later version from Ernie - I have collated many more...

And from Brian Flannigan on Flickr, a GSR version (unfitted):

 

[west_clare_wanderer]

On 25/5/2025 at 8:12 AM, Mol_PMB said:

The one on the left is an ex-GNR vac fitted van. The GNR van design evolved over the years with increased tonnage capacity and size, and only a small proportion were vac fitted. The later 1920s design was published as an Irish RCH standard, and they were also produced for the MGWR and GSWR/GSR with some variations. I have been collating data on these and maybe I should start a dedicated thread. Leslie used to make a kit for the GNR ones but I'm not sure wheher these are still available.

 

Thank you Mol. You're an absolute gent!

[DJ Dangerous]

Unfitted H Vans showing as expected very soon, according to the Project Status page.

Sadly I couldn’t budget for any of these this year, with so many other orders to pay off, but they look like they’ll be a magnificent model.

 

 

Edited August 28 by DJ Dangerous
Spelling

[Mol_PMB]

I've just slightly scared myself that when my 6 arrive, I'll have a total of 23 Irish goods vans!

14 of those are from IRM, 2 are a mix of IRM and Parkside, 4 from Provincial Wagons kits, 2 from JM Design kits, and 1 modified from a Parkside kit. I'm not done yet as I still have several more designs that I want to add to the fleet.

 

[DJ Dangerous]

45 minutes ago, Mol_PMB said:

I've just slightly scared myself that when my 6 arrive, I'll have a total of 23 Irish goods vans!

14 of those are from IRM, 2 are a mix of IRM and Parkside, 4 from Provincial Wagons kits, 2 from JM Design kits, and 1 modified from a Parkside kit. I'm not done yet as I still have several more designs that I want to add to the fleet.

 

And no SDMRC unfitted???

[Mol_PMB]

5 minutes ago, DJ Dangerous said:

And no SDMRC unfitted???

No, I decided that the 6 unfitted H vans I'd ordered before that was announced were enough! There's no point me getting one as a collector's item because regauging it would destroy its value. I'll modify the 6 normal ones I've bought, and renumber/repaint some of them.

[jhb171achill]

1 hour ago, Mol_PMB said:

I've just slightly scared myself that when my 6 arrive, I'll have a total of 23 Irish goods vans!

14 of those are from IRM, 2 are a mix of IRM and Parkside, 4 from Provincial Wagons kits, 2 from JM Design kits, and 1 modified from a Parkside kit. I'm not done yet as I still have several more designs that I want to add to the fleet.

 

That’ll be some fleet, Mol!

I’ve probably about 40 wagons at this stage…… dunno where I can keep them!

[DJ Dangerous]

Unfitted H Vans have just arrived according to the Project Updates page!

 

 

[Sean]

Will some of these still be made available for sale?

 

I never got around to the pre order 

[DJ Dangerous]

1 hour ago, Sean said:

Will some of these still be made available for sale?

 

I never got around to the pre order 

They usually put the remainder on sale after dispatching pre-orders, plus Mark’s Models and Rails of Sheffield will probably stock them.

[StevieB]

13 hours ago, DJ Dangerous said:

They usually put the remainder on sale after dispatching pre-orders, plus Mark’s Models and Rails of Sheffield will probably stock them.

Yup, both Mark’s Models and Rails of Sheffield have them to order.

Stephen

Edited Wednesday at 07:59 by StevieB
Misspelling

[Sean]

hmm no worries so 

[Warbonnet]

Hi folks,

The unfitted H Vans have arrived and pre-orders are being prepared as we speak.

Meanwhile the rest of the stock is now available to buy here: https://www.accurascale.com/en-ie/collections/irm-wagons?filter.p.m.Freight.Type=Van

These were everywhere, so you really do need some!

Cheers!

Fran 

[DJ Dangerous]

On 3/9/2025 at 12:22 PM, Warbonnet said:

Hi folks,

The unfitted H Vans have arrived and pre-orders are being prepared as we speak.

Meanwhile the rest of the stock is now available to buy here: https://www.accurascale.com/en-ie/collections/irm-wagons?filter.p.m.Freight.Type=Van

These were everywhere, so you really do need some!

Cheers!

Fran 

 

What's the actual Euro pricing of the triple packs, including Irish VAT?

The A/S site (not logged in to my account)  says £109,96 GBP including VAT, which is around €125 - €130 EURO.

This changes to €101,59 EURO INCLUDING VAT ("impuestos incluidos" for me) upon clicking the curency change icon hidden right down the bottom of the page, while still not logged in.

Somebody up in Ireland has confirmed to me that they're seeing the same price, €101,59 EUR, while logged in, so it's not a Spain / Canary Islands issue.

Mark's Models don't yet have them listed.

Rails of Sheffield say £109,96 including VAT (not logged in to my account), which again is about €125-€130EURO.

The original announcement says £109,95 GBP:

 

On 2/5/2025 at 11:00 AM, Warbonnet said:

Due in Q3 2025, these models are already nearing production completion at our factory. Priced at £109.95 per triple pack, and 10% off when you buy two or more packs, you can order them below direct, or via your local Accurascale/IRM stockist.

 

Is the A/S website glitching out for EURO, showing the ex-VAT price as the VAT price?

Or is the advertised price of £109,95 an error, and €101,59 EURO is the correct VAT price?

Screenshots attached for reference.

 

[BosKonay]

3 hours ago, DJ Dangerous said:

 

What's the actual Euro pricing of the triple packs, including Irish VAT?

The A/S site (not logged in to my account)  says £109,96 GBP including VAT, which is around €125 - €130 EURO.

This changes to €101,59 EURO INCLUDING VAT ("impuestos incluidos" for me) upon clicking the curency change icon hidden right down the bottom of the page, while still not logged in.

Somebody up in Ireland has confirmed to me that they're seeing the same price, €101,59 EUR, while logged in, so it's not a Spain / Canary Islands issue.

Mark's Models don't yet have them listed.

Rails of Sheffield say £109,96 including VAT (not logged in to my account), which again is about €125-€130EURO.

The original announcement says £109,95 GBP:

 

 

Is the A/S website glitching out for EURO, showing the ex-VAT price as the VAT price?

Or is the advertised price of £109,95 an error, and €101,59 EURO is the correct VAT price?

Screenshots attached for reference.

 

Should be all sorted out now 

[Ironroad]

1 hour ago, BosKonay said:

Should be all sorted out now 

Wow, 130.95 euro for a three pack. 

In effect a 31% increase on the price of the fitted version I'm stunned.

[murphaph]

14 minutes ago, Ironroad said:

Wow, 130.95 euro for a three pack. 

In effect a 31% increase on the price of the fitted version I'm stunned.

Are you sure? I paid €87.02 ex VAT for the fitted ones and €101.59 ex VAT for these ones. I make that a 16.7% increase ex VAT. 

[BosKonay]

What price change? All the bulleid range was launched at €124.95 / £109.95 

All that’s happened in the mean time is the euro has devalued a little against the GBP so that £109.95 is now about a fiver more in euro. No actual price change and still exceptional value, especially when you can get 10% off with two packs and 15% for five or more dropping g the price to just £ 31.15 / € 36.80ish per wagon. Thats before loyalty points on top. 

[Mol_PMB]

I was just trying to compare the prices of my various orders but it's complicated by different currencies, taxes, rake discounts and applying vouchers.

However, my first orders of Bulleid wagons placed in November 2024 each cost £63 for a 3-pack. No discounts, no shipping charge, no extra tax. I have a feeling that I did well on the VAT on my early IRM orders shipped from Ireland to the UK... But even adding 20% VAT that's only £75.60.

Anyway, my six are on their way to me now and I look forward to them. 

 

Edit: on reflection, I may have bought some of these when IRM were having a discount sale. Maybe that accounts for the difference? 

Edited Thursday at 20:51 by Mol_PMB
marked in text

[murphaph]

Oh yeah, my two invoices apply the rake discount differently. In the invoice for the fitted ones it seems to have been "taken at source" from the unit price, so the rake discount appears nowhere on the invoice at all. That's why they appear 16% cheaper than this current run, where the rake discount is only applied after the subtotal line. I get it now. 

[Ironroad]

Leave aside loyalty points etc.

On a like for like basis the retail price of a three pack of Fitted H vans was 99.99 euro, and today the basic price of a single three pack of Unfitted H vans is advertised as 130.95 euro and that is a 31% increase.on the full retail price. 

While the price of the fitted version is no longer recorded on the Accurascale i website, the full retail price is still recorded on the Mark's website.

 

 

Edited Thursday at 20:12 by Ironroad

[BosKonay]

27 minutes ago, Ironroad said:

Leave aside loyalty points etc.

On a like for like basis the retail price of a three pack of Fitted H vans was 99.99 euro, and today the basic price of a single three pack of Unfitted H vans is advertised as 130.95 euro and that is a 31% increase.on the full retail price. 

While the price of the fitted version is no longer recorded on the Accurascale i website, the full retail price is still recorded on the Mark's website.

 

 

Fwiw the rrp was always €124.95 for the triple pack. Any difference to that was a systems failure in not charging the Vat ( or correct if you are outside the EU obviously) 

€40 a wagon for a niche like ours is rediculous value when you compare the UK equivalents. 

[Sea Breezer]

17 minutes ago, BosKonay said:

Fwiw the rrp was always €124.95 for the triple pack. Any difference to that was a systems failure in not charging the Vat ( or correct if you are outside the EU obviously) 

€40 a wagon for a niche like ours is rediculous value when you compare the UK equivalents. 

 

For this run of Unfitted H Vans yes, price was always advertised as £109.95 ~ (€130)

The rest of the Bulleid range however..

 

€89.95 per pack is the price I paid for all of the above. Usually further reduced with bulk discount, which is of course much appreciated.

[DJ Dangerous]

The whole range was €90 including Irish VAT per triple pack, and the unfitted are €125 including Irish VAT per triple pack.

Forget about loyalty points and bundle discounts. They’re the base prices.

That’s why I couldn’t justify them this time. The extra €10 odd per wagon adds up.

Big thanks to @Sea Breezer for the reference screenshots in that last post.

[Noel]

Only spotted this now. Good news, as I’ve amassed a large collection 2 axle stock over the past 7 years (resprays, kit bashes, PW kits, dapol resprays, Bachmann resprays, recent irm fitted wagons), my order may not be for 40 wagons as it might have been 7 years ago. But I’ll have to have some of these as they like the open bulleid were the main rollin stock on Ireland’s railways for over half a century, and helped distribute produce and fuel to every shop in Ireland at one time. Interesting the formations possible with mixed stock fitted and unfitted, brake van operation, etc.

[Mol_PMB]

I'm delighted to say mine have arrived, and make a nice contrast to the fitted vans I have already. Seen here with the E:

Why are there only two unfitted vans in the photo? Well the third one in the pack I opened didn't fit on the track!

Close inspection of the wheelsets showed that one of them was set to the wrong back-to-back, sufficiently wide that it wouldn't fit between the 16.5mm gauge rails. See image below:

It doesn't bother me - these wheels will be coming off anyway as part of the re-gauging process, and will be replaced with finer profile ones set to 21mm gauge. 

But it might be a problem for others. The wrongly positioned wheel is the non-insulated one - these are a very tight fit on the axle and hard to shift, especially without damaging the pinpoint axles. I bought a small wheel press and made some custom tooling to fit it, for extracting these wheels. The average modeller wouldn't have that. 

I hope this is an isolated problem - I have checked my other pack of wagons, and it appears that I've only got one duff wheelset.

 

[murphaph]

How many of those green H vans were there? Looks the part!

[Mol_PMB]

8 minutes ago, murphaph said:

How many of those green H vans were there? Looks the part!

It depends who you believe! Some sources say 100, others say only a handful. The truth is somewhere in between - I reckon there were at least a dozen. They had extended buffers (as does my model) and screw couplings. 

The black ones (as per my other repainted one in the pic) may have been even scarcer, but there were definitely 2 as they appear in colour photos.

[Mol_PMB]

The sun just came out briefly so I took a trio of vans out for a photo. These are all modified and repainted IRM fitted H vans (previous batch) and are based on photos of the real thing, as linked in the Green H vans thread:

Although I have finished the prototype palvan in plain grey, at least three of these were painted green too, becoming grey later.