Major New Announcement: Accurascale Acquires Heljan

[Colin R]

Me thinks there may have been a lot of coffee drinking going on in other emporiums today. Rails have slashed the price of Hornby TT, with a 47 now costing less than a ton.

All I need to do is wait for them to reduce the price of the TT 0-6-0 chassis to something a bit more reasonable, and the credit card might take a bashing.   

[GSR 800]

29 minutes ago, Colin R said:

Me thinks there may have been a lot of coffee drinking going on in other emporiums today. Rails have slashed the price of Hornby TT, with a 47 now costing less than a ton.

All I need to do is wait for them to reduce the price of the TT 0-6-0 chassis to something a bit more reasonable, and the credit card might take a bashing.   

Are they not doing exactly what's so problematic with the market in the first place 

[Colin R]

1 hour ago, skinner75 said:

Here's a vid I watched this morning, where he goes through Heljan's 2025 balance sheet - interesting reading

https://youtu.be/g7x_B6LssYU?si=WGRoBCH5-l7S9XXv

You all need to watch this vid, well put together, it's about time the model railway world had its punk moment in time and was shaken up good on you Accurascale

[Colin R]

7 minutes ago, GSR 800 said:

Are they not doing exactly what's so problematic with the market in the first place 

I agree that TT/120 could be made much more popular. I think Germany is one of the largest areas of RTR 120 at the moment. I read (it may have been on that other site, RMweb) that take-up on the newish Hornby TT/120 stock has been much slower than was predicted.

I think it is only now that they have started to shift a 0-6-0T good train set to get people interested in the scale gauge. I am still convinced that there is still potential in this scale/gauge.

Now, before I wash my mouth out with soap, what about TT/120 Irish broad gauge on 16.5 track?       

[Broithe]

22 minutes ago, Colin R said:

You all need to watch this vid, well put together, it's about time the model railway world had its punk moment in time and was shaken up good on you Accurascale

Captain Sensible is, of course, still active in the punk and railway worlds.

 

[irishmail]

1 hour ago, Colin R said:

Me thinks there may have been a lot of coffee drinking going on in other emporiums today. Rails have slashed the price of Hornby TT, with a 47 now costing less than a ton.

All I need to do is wait for them to reduce the price of the TT 0-6-0 chassis to something a bit more reasonable, and the credit card might take a bashing.   

The TT stuff has been on offer with Rails for a while now, the EWS 37 being the most recent addition.  The GW HST is a good price which I already have. .  

[Flying Snail]

18 hours ago, Colin R said:

... it's about time the model railway world had its punk moment in time and was shaken up good on you Accurascale

Captain Sensible is a good call ... but this is what popped into my head when I saw Colin's comment. I could well believe that this track got cranked up to 11 over at Accuracale Towers over the last few days!

Edited March 31 by Flying Snail
punk-tuation !!!

[DiveController]

I haven’t had much time to read through the thread, but just a quick post to say that I was surprised when I received an email in Dutch from Heljan last week. As I began to read I quickly  relished it was Danish and had to get out the old Google Translate,  

Anyway, Accurascale’s version of the email arrived sometime later, so could have saved myself that trouble. Since Heljan produces some continental (non-Danish), to that end they could do worse than some Dutch stock particularly NS VIRM EMUs  

[GSR 800]

7 hours ago, Colin R said:

I agree that TT/120 could be made much more popular. I think Germany is one of the largest areas of RTR 120 at the moment. I read (it may have been on that other site, RMweb) that take-up on the newish Hornby TT/120 stock has been much slower than was predicted.

I think it is only now that they have started to shift a 0-6-0T good train set to get people interested in the scale gauge. I am still convinced that there is still potential in this scale/gauge.

Now, before I wash my mouth out with soap, what about TT/120 Irish broad gauge on 16.5 track?       

If Irish TT120 was available I'd buy the lot. It's a great scale, especially considering space, while not being as finicky as N scale. I wonder what Accurascale's stance on TT is.

Hornby do have quite a good 0-4-0 branch line good train set in TT, but it definitely does need some kind of 'boost' to get it up and running.

[Mayner]

12 hours ago, Colin R said:

Now, before I wash my mouth out with soap, what about TT/120 Irish broad gauge on 16.5 track?       

I don't know if anyone has modeled the Irish Broad Gauge in either 3mm (British TT) or  TT/120

During the Brian McCann modelled the CDJR in 3mm on N gauge track with a model of Inver station and village which may have appeared on the Irish exhibition circuit during the 2000s.  Brians main interest appears to have been modelling buildings and structures, he built an N gauge Waterford Line layout which featured a model of Bagnallstown station, the Blackwater and Suir Viaducts which appeared on the exhibition circuit during the late 70s followed by a OO gauge layout during the 80s-90s with a village scene featuring buildings from towns and villages in the South East.

I guess the big question facing someone modelling the Irish Broad Gauge in TT is whether they select TT/120 and adapt a prototypical gauge of 13.33mm or British TT on 16.5mm track. 

Would modelling the Irish Broad gauge in TT/120 to a gauge of 13.3 actually worth the bother to the average modeller?

The visual narrow gauge effect of modelling the Irish Broad Gauge to a gauge 6" narrower than the prototype are far less significant than the 12+" narrower in British TT or OO.

Those modelling the Irish Broad gauge to TT/120 would need to essentially adapt/develop a new track gauge developed from TT/120 standards. Those adapting British TT (scale) with proprietary OO faced with using a track that the correct gauge but an incorrect larger scale distorting the proportions of the model railway.

While a manufacturer/comissioner might potentially considering producing Irish outline locos & stock to TT/120, producing the models to British TT may have a potentially dampening effect on demand from TT/120 who might like an Irish outline train to the same scale as their existing British or Continental outline collections.

 

 

[Horsetan]

5 hours ago, Mayner said:

I don't know if anyone has modeled the Irish Broad Gauge in either 3mm (British TT) or  TT/120

During the Brian McCann modelled the CDJR in 3mm on N gauge track with a model of Inver station and village which may have appeared on the Irish exhibition circuit during the 2000s.  Brians main interest appears to have been modelling buildings and structures, he built an N gauge Waterford Line layout which featured a model of Bagnallstown station, the Blackwater and Suir Viaducts which appeared on the exhibition circuit during the late 70s followed by a OO gauge layout during the 80s-90s with a village scene featuring buildings from towns and villages in the South East.

I guess the big question facing someone modelling the Irish Broad Gauge in TT is whether they select TT/120 and adapt a prototypical gauge of 13.33mm or British TT on 16.5mm track. 

Would modelling the Irish Broad gauge in TT/120 to a gauge of 13.3 actually worth the bother to the average modeller?

The visual narrow gauge effect of modelling the Irish Broad Gauge to a gauge 6" narrower than the prototype are far less significant than the 12+" narrower in British TT or OO.

Those modelling the Irish Broad gauge to TT/120 would need to essentially adapt/develop a new track gauge developed from TT/120 standards. Those adapting British TT (scale) with proprietary OO faced with using a track that the correct gauge but an incorrect larger scale distorting the proportions of the model railway.

While a manufacturer/comissioner might potentially considering producing Irish outline locos & stock to TT/120, producing the models to British TT may have a potentially dampening effect on demand from TT/120 who might like an Irish outline train to the same scale as their existing British or Continental outline collections.

 

 

I'd be waiting for the finescale version: Proto120 or ProTTo3

[Colin R]

Hi John, do you mean this?

 

[Mayner]

9 hours ago, Colin R said:

Hi John, do you mean this?

 

Hi Colin. I had totally forgotten Ballyconnell Road a noticeable example of Irish Broad Gauge fine scale modelling https://sites.google.com/site/3mmpublic/members-layouts/ballyconnell-road

Interestingly while to 3mm/1:101.6 (British TT) the group selected (the correct) 15.75mm rather than OO (16.5) to model the Irish 5'3". Clearances between wheels/running gear and body work become critical when building locos/stock to the correct scale gauge ratio. Either the scale would have to be increased to a min of 3.14mm-ft and the bodywidth increased/distorted to model the Irish Broad gauge on 16.5mm/OO track.

I guess the question for a manufacturer potentially considering Irish Outline 'broad gauge" stock is whether to produce the models to TT/120 scale allowing some use of common tooling with British Outline stock (MK2,3 coaches, Esso Tank wagons) or produce the models to 3mm/101.6 scale or even 3.14/1:103 scale significantly reducing market share.

While there may be some demand for British Outline rtr stock from existing British TT/3mm modellers it has been very much a minority scale since Tri-ang ceased production of rtr TT over 60 years ago and TT120 more attractive to newer entrants to the hobby with the availability of both British and Continental Outline models to the same scale.

Personally an 071 & MK2D or Mk3 coaches would be a good starter set for someone whoes memories of the railways were mainly the late 70s early-mid 80s.

Then N (1:160) scale would be a nice addition to my collection on American N scale stock and look less toylike than British 1:148 N.

[Colin R]

Hi John.

As an update, I was speaking to one of the guys behind the layout last year, and he told me that they are planning a new and bigger layout in this scale. The problem they have is the lack of rolling stock. Mike is doing his best, but as Worsley Works has now shut down, so I just hope they managed to acquire a lot of the spare etches he had done before he closed.

One of the problems they have is a lack of rolling stock (Mick Rawlings told me they don't really have enough for Ballyconnell Road), but he is trying to build a lot more, but it is a slow process.

I guess it is hard to work out how much rolling stock you need for a small exhibition layout.

 

Colin

 

.  

 

 

 

[Colonel]

They've got more than enough stock to fill the storage sidings, but (like all of us, I guess) always want more to ring the changes. Mick is a prolific builder and works to a very high standard, with all his steam outline locos having working inside valve gear (3mmfs, remember). Last time I spoke with him, he was busy making bogie coaches. Forget which type, but scratch built bodies, in nickel silver with all the window openings fretted out by hand...

[Mayner]

I would imagine that the 3MM Society may take over Worsley Works 3mm designs potentially including the Irish 3mm etched parts.

As David commented modellers like Mick tend to be less reliant on trade support and scratchbuild models to a high standard like Drew Donaldson andTony Miles.  Several years ago I remember reading an article in (Model Railway Journal?) on a 3mm 5'3' gauge NR(I) U Class  4-4-0 Mike built for Ballyconnell Rd with the aid of Worsley Works parts, the mechanical design and build were almost identical to that pioneered by Tony Miles when he independently developed 4mm fine scale standards during the 1960s. Large motor with flywheel in tender driving a gearbox in the loco, split axle pick up in the tender, working inside valve gear in the loco.

When I returned to Ireland in the mid 1990s, MRSI members scratchbuilt rolling stock in plasticard for use on the Loughrea (21mm gauge) and Greystones OO gauge layouts, including a train (approx 15) GSW cattle wagons for use on Loughrea, batch built locomotive bodies and a fleet of Craven coaches (using jigs and toolings) for use on Greystones. Scratchbuilt platsticard 201 and 141 class loco bodies became masters for resin bodies available from Marks Models long before MM released its 1st 201 and 141 Class diesels.

[Tullygrainey]

Mick Rawlings' Build of a U Class: MRJ 279, p.141

Ballyconnell Road: MRJ 249, p.215

 

[enniscorthyman]

Best of luck to the lads on this news.I was talking to Fran at the Heljan stand ModelRail Scotland. I did mention about the possibility of a O gauge 141/181 in the future.

[ttc0169]

1 hour ago, enniscorthyman said:

Best of luck to the lads on this news.I was talking to Fran at the Heljan stand ModelRail Scotland. I did mention about the possibility of a O gauge 141/181 in the future.

Me too….

[DJ Dangerous]

9 hours ago, enniscorthyman said:

Best of luck to the lads on this news.I was talking to Fran at the Heljan stand ModelRail Scotland. I did mention about the possibility of a O gauge 141/181 in the future.

 

7 hours ago, ttc0169 said:

Me too….

Ah, sure they might as well make it an 071 while they’re at it!

[enniscorthyman]

If we could only get someone to make this 181 a bit bigger.

[DJ Dangerous]

14 hours ago, enniscorthyman said:

If we could only get someone to make this 181 a bit bigger.

I’ve been waiting about thirty years for the chance to say “Honey, I shrunk the Baby” (GM)…

[flange lubricator]

Obviously the wagon started out as oo guage and were transporting Genetically modified grain and they grew …….. 

[Mol_PMB]

Less than £250 for a O gauge Peak, with an extra 10% off for the first order. 
Crazy prices! I paid more than that for an 03 shunter several years ago. 
https://heljan.com/products/class-45-0-br-blue-unnumbered-o-scale

I have no need for a Peak on my O gauge shunting plank though. 

[west_clare_wanderer]

16 hours ago, Mol_PMB said:

Less than £250 for a O gauge Peak, with an extra 10% off for the first order. 
Crazy prices! I paid more than that for an 03 shunter several years ago. 
https://heljan.com/products/class-45-0-br-blue-unnumbered-o-scale

I have no need for a Peak on my O gauge shunting plank though. 

 

It will be interesting to see how much the price the 03 at if/when it does return. The 48ds too. Or maybe the smaller locos won't see that much of a price reduction. 

 

On 3/4/2026 at 1:08 PM, enniscorthyman said:

Best of luck to the lads on this news.I was talking to Fran at the Heljan stand ModelRail Scotland. I did mention about the possibility of a O gauge 141/181 in the future.

 

Yes please!!