Accucraft February News

This month we have some really exciting news – four new locos in Gauge 1!  In addition we are launching our first collaboration with one of our dealers and are unveiling plans for our first adventure in 7/8ths scale.

We are delighted to say that we are developing four more Gauge 1 live steam locomotives. In addition to the A3 and B4 which caused so much excitement in Mississippi we are working up a family of Great Western Railway locos, a 61XX 2-6-2T, a 43XX 2-6-0 (with the later Collett 7322 variant), a 68XX 4-6-0 ‘Grange Class’ and the magnificent 47XX 2-8-0. These models clearly demonstrate Accucraft’s commitment to 1:32 scale and our ambition to supply reliable, affordable live steam engines for this gauge. We are aiming at target prices from £1600 for the ‘Prairie’ tank to £2500 for the ‘Grange’ and 47XX.  As they say, “watch this space”!

61XX 2-6-2 suburban or branch line tank locomotive

43XX 2-6-0 mixed traffic locomotive

68XX ‘Grange’ Class 4-6-0 passenger locomotive

47XX 2-8-0 express freight / mixed traffic locomotive

1:32 SCALE B4

Our “introductory” model in Gauge 1, the little L&SWR B4 tank engine, was extremely well received at the International Steam Up at Diamondhead, Mississippi, the prototype model running faultlessly for lap after lap while hauling a heavy load of six bogie coaches.  Footage of the trials can be seen here.  It looks as though a large percentage of the first batch may be heading to the United States!  With a UK RRP of just £800 we expect these engines to be very popular – so don’t miss out on the first batch.

1:32 SCALE A3

Also popular at Diamondhead was our pre-production ‘Flying Scotsman’ which proved to be a smooth-running, powerful machine.  The model showed it had good endurance and controllability while wowing the crowd of hardened U.S. live steam fans.  Video of the loco running can be seen here.  The initial batch will be available for a UK RRP of just £2495 and will appear in four liveries, make sure you reserve one soon!

‘LEW’ – SOME REVISIONS

Responding to feedback concerning the fitting of working drain cocks to ‘Lew’ we have decided not to proceed with the factory fitted items but to provide the locos with pre-drilled and tapped cylinders (plugged) ready for equipping with DJB Engineering’s automatic drain cocks.  The pre-production prototype ran superbly at Diamondhead, footage of which can be seen here.  With the first batch sold out we are now taking orders for the second batch, likely to be shipped in the autumn, which includes the all black version S19-18.  Please be advised that the second batch is already well filled.

‘PEVERIL’ – LIVE STEAM VERSION

We were delighted with the way our final pre-production sample of this loco ran at Diamondhead, working smoothly and swiftly round one of the test tracks there.  With the sample signed off the factory has commenced construction of the first batch, 80% of which is spoken for!  If you haven’t reserved one yet, we suggest you contact your local retailer as soon as possible.  You can see how ‘Peveril’ performed here.

WELSHPOOL & LLANFAIR ‘PEATE’ WAGONS

Trackshack, on the Isle of Man, has commissioned a limited run of private owner wagons based on those operated by Messrs. J. L. Peate & Sons, coal and lime merchants in Llanfair.  Private owner wagons on British narrow gauge systems were rare but Peates used five on the W & L, painted dark maroon with white lettering.  We’ll be producing four (No’s 2,5,6 & 7), based on our existing Welshpool & Llanfair open wagon, which will only be available from Trackshack at a target price of £45 each.

7/8ths SCALE QUARRY HUNSLET

In light of the growing popularity of this scale, used to represent 2′ gauge on 45mm track and 18″ gauge on 32mm track, we have decided to take the plunge and produce our first live steam locomotive for this market.  The more generous proportions of models in this scale have given us the opportunity to look at prototypes which would be rather too small in 1:19 scale but which we have long hankered to produce.  At the top of this wish list is the archetypal North Wales ‘Quarry’ Hunslet. The model will be gas fired and be fitted with a water top up valve, water check valve, miniature pressure gauge; constructed of stainless steel and etched brass, the loco will have an enhanced level of detail made possible by this scale and be gauge-adjustable between 45mm and 32mm gauges. We are aiming to bring this model to the market with a target price under a thousand pounds.

By the mid 19th century, the North Wales’ slate mines and quarries had a requirement for small, powerful and rugged locos to work the galleries and tramways in what was by then a rapidly expanding industry.  Various manufacturers supplied narrow gauge motive power to these businesses but none became more synonymous with the area than the saddle tanks supplied by the Hunslet Engine Co. of Leeds.  These sturdy little locos were ideal for the roughly laid, temporary lines in the quarries and the class evolved from the first design, produced in 1870, to encompass a variety of sizes and types which found work at Penrhyn, Dinorwic (where many acquired the names of racehorses!) and the Nantlle valley.  Remarkably the majority of those locos still in service in the 1960’s survived to be preserved, some of them in America and Canada.  Today Quarry Hunslets are still be produced in limited numbers by the new Hunslet Engine Co. based at the Statfold Barn Railway.

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26 Responses to Accucraft February News

  1. Rob Bennett says:

    Really looking forward to the Hunslet..it will look fantastic…also I heard rumors of a Wren…very nice…any Idea of when the Hunslet will be out…2013

    Rob

    • Accucraft UK Ltd says:

      Rob, thanks for that. We don’t have an exact time scale as yet but hope to get it out as soon as we can. The answer is to watch this site! As for a ‘Wren’, again, watch this space.

  2. jcfgrr says:

    I have been following this news on the 7/8th Hunslet on the 7/8th Forum.
    I am interested in purchasing one of those locomotives. I will contact my
    dealer ( Don Sweet in Concoed, New Hampshire USA) and place a
    deposit.

    John Foley
    Hudson, New Hampshire USA

    • Accucraft UK Ltd says:

      John, thanks for your support! We are thrilled to be venturing into this scale since it widens our choice of prototypes enormously. US customers will be offered a “pre-sale” price for the initial batch, a large part of which will be shipped to Accucraft (US).

  3. taliesin says:

    Nice to see further Gauge One engines but any rolling stock planned? cheers Rob

    • Accucraft UK Ltd says:

      Rob, I think you know well enough how this firm thinks…. if the market for the locos is strong enough I’d say rolling stock is a given.

  4. Bert says:

    Thanks for the good news re cylinder drains on the L&B 2-6-2. It is not unusual to be asked by a manufacturer what we would like to see, but it is unusual that it causes a reaction.

    I was sorry to see you have decided to build a series of these quaint old fashioned engines from somewhere down south! I had hoped for a more modern follower to the Scotsman, perhaps Earl Marischal or even Cock O the North would have been nice. OK back to being serious, thanks for the 2 engines above. These will be added to my collection.

    Bert

    • Accucraft UK Ltd says:

      We are still considering how best to approach the issue of drain cocks but the ready tapped and plugged drains may be the way to keep everyone happy. As for your comments about GWR locos, don’t let the Swindon mafia find you! Now, ‘Cock o’ the North’…. mmmm……..

  5. farholmer says:

    7/8th Hunslet: marvellous news. I’m off to the dockside now, in the hope of being able to sell my body to raise the funds.

    • Accucraft UK Ltd says:

      😉 Please! There’s no need for that! It’ll be a few months before we even sort a prototype out so you can start putting coppers in your piggy-bank! We are extremely pleased with the positive reception this announcement has had…..

  6. Andrew says:

    Just found this news, it couldn’t be better.

    I will definitely be buying one of these when they are ready…

    Bought a US Accucraft Forney, but it really doesn’t like my R2 curves, shame.
    But I’ve Fallen in love with the Accucraft Engines.

  7. NGT_Models says:

    I have five customers interested in the NEW 7/8th Scale engine…, can’t come soon enough!

  8. Seagoon says:

    The 7/8″=1′ scale Hunslet is an absolutely inspired choice — there’s definitely a niche to be filled in terms of live steam in this scale (although an Edrig makes for an excellent alternative). Of course, the next question will inevitably be regarding rolling stock. Slate wagons would be the obvious first choice, but they’re complex to produce (I know, I’ve scratchbuilt a number of them; machining the bobbins, even in 7/8″ scale, is mind-numbing). Perhaps a Croesor iron wagon or a generic tipper would be easier to manufacture?

    • Accucraft UK Ltd says:

      Thank you for your support. Perhaps you’d let us walk before we run! 🙂 Everything depends on the take up of this initial batch of Hunslets, if it is good we’ll progress other 7/8ths scale projects we have in mind. Are you aware that Acme engineering make quarry rolling stock in this scale?

      • Mr ACME says:

        I’m really glad about the new Accucraft 7/8″ loco and already have one on order to show and demonstrate alongside our growing range of 7/8″ scale rolling stock which includes a Penrhyn open workmens’ carriage and a Glyn Valley coach.

        We welcome any suggestions for further models to add to the range – our website http://www.acmesteam.co.uk shows details

        Mike Ousby

  9. smileysteam says:

    Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy! What great news. After a 52 year lifetime of railway modelling and lusting after a QF in a scale that you can actually see it, and without needing a truck and hiab to transport it, our prayers have been answered. Please pencil a cabbed version in to make an overseas journey To Oz. Thanks!

  10. Seagoon says:

    A suggestion for a cabbed loco: if the Hunslet fulfills its apparent early success and Accucraft UK consider other prototypes to model in future years, might I humbly suggest the “Charlton” class locos which ran at Woolwich Arsenal. The last survivor, “Woolwich”, is currently being restored. While these engines were 18″ gauge, there looks to be ample room between the frames to allow a dual-gauge design.

    • Accucraft UK Ltd says:

      Thanks for the suggestion, we have a number of small 2′ gauge locos in mind as well as some 18″ gauge designs but much depends on the success of the Hunslet.

  11. CANNON0111 says:

    Like all the new models. Specially the B4 (though my stuff is all 1:19 and 1:20.3 size). But the 7/8 Hunslet sets off the bells and whistles especially in the price range given. I’d be up for one of those! Keep up the good work!

  12. massaug says:

    Should be a great model! Mine has been ordered! Can you tell us what “enhanced level of detail” will include?

    • Accucraft UK Ltd says:

      The loco will carry all our usual detail such as rivets but the open cab and larger scale mean that we will try to ensure the backhead detail on the firebox is as close to scale as possible and we will strive to reduce/hide any over-scale controls.

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