Sam Hewitt

REVIEW: The manufacturer has unveiled its first D&E era wagon in 4mm, this portraying the ex-LMS vehicle-carrying flats. ANNOUNCED just over a year ago, Oxford Rail has now released the first version of its much anticipated Carflat wagon. This not only provides a scale rendering of these useful vehicles for the first time in ‘OO’…

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REVIEWS: Now available from the Liverpudlian retailer are no less than 20 ‘OO’ gauge wagons spanning decades of operation. ORIGINALLY due to be released towards the end of the year, June saw Hattons spring something of a surprise by announcing the imminent arrival of its exclusive 4mm scale Warwell wagons. Faced with competition from Oxford…

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After initial optimism, the IDA ‘twin’ intermodal flats have yet to achieve their full capability for Direct Rail Services due to ride issues over poor track. Gareth Bayer describes the rise and fall of the innovative WH Davis ‘Super Low 45’ and their slow return to service. JUST a year shy of the design’s 10th…

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REVIEW: The IDA container ‘twins’ have been released to accompany the Class 68, these being used on DRS intermodals. DAPOL has further expanded its range of current day wagons in ‘OO’ gauge with the release of the IDA container flat ‘twins’, as used exclusively by Direct Rail Services on its intermodal services radiating from the…

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THE striking British Oxygen Company TEA tankers are set to appear in ‘OO’ gauge with the news that Heljan has been commissioned to produce the wagons exclusively for Sheffield-based retailer Olivia’s Trains. Few details have been released by either party but CAD work has been completed and approved with tooling now underway. BOC operated a…

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The three-day exhibition at the Great Central Railway in mid-June saw Bachmann, Dapol and Hornby all in attendance and showing the latest progress on several new models, as illustrated here. Catching the eye on the Bachmann stand was the first appearance of one of the 4mm scale regional limited edition Class 47s, this being the…

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The first appearance of the long-awaited Mk.2f coaches is the highlight of the manufacturer’s summer briefing. AS is now traditional, Bachmann provided an update on the state of play with its ranges at the start of July, this being a sort of mid-year report where the latest samples are shown to the model railway press…

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The company has now received factory samples of the InterCity livery with the other schemes on their way. EARLY June saw Oxford Rail receive the first fully factory-decorated samples of its new ‘OO’ gauge Mk.3a coaches, these all being finished in InterCity colours. The batch consisted of several Tourist Standard Open (TSO), First Open (FO)…

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