Accucraft October News

Once again we approach the season of “mists and mellow fruitfulness” and at last some of us have had the weather to allow us to get out and actually runs some trains!  However, the evenings are drawing in and that precious winter workshop time beckons once more…. so what to do?  Happily we can help you!  Just arriving is a batch of ‘Ragleth’ power units so why not snap one up from your local dealer and get making something for our power unit competition?  Entries must be in by the end of March 2013 with judging taking place in April and the results announced at the 16mm Association Garden Railway Show on the 27th of April.  We are also bringing you news of a live steam, Gauge 1 ‘Black 5’ and of a project from ‘down under’….

Accucraft Power Unit Competition

A competition to find the best locomotive built up using the ‘Edrig’ or ‘Ragleth’ 0-4-0 chassis or the ‘Lawley’ 0-6-0 power unit. Entries can be to any scale running on 32mm or 45mm gauge track, and we will feature these on a dedicated page of our website. Tag Gorton, editor of Garden rail magazine, will judge the entrants and the winners will be notified in March so that the top three can be displayed at the 16mm Association show in April where the prizes will be awarded. First prize will be an Accucraft power unit and the runners up will be presented with items of rolling stock from the Accucraft range.

Competition Terms & Conditions

The entry must be based on the Edrig or Ragleth 0-4-0 or Lawley 0-6-0 power unit, it must be able to run on 32mm or 45mm gauge track and it may be to any scale.  The builder must be prepared to attend the 16mm Association show on 27.04.13 with the model and allow permission for the entry to be featured in appropriate publications if successful.  Entries can be submitted by email to info@accucraft.uk.com including as full a specification as possible as well as notes about the prototype (if any!). Four landscape format photographs should be attached (we suggest, side, front, back and a top view) with images not exceeding 2500 x 2000 pixels in size. Good Luck!

The starting point – a ‘Ragleth’ power unit

Stop Press!  A live steam ‘Black Five’ in Gauge 1!

In addition to the fleet of locos we have already announced for 1:32 scale we are pulling another rabbit out of the hat.  Given the popularity of our electric Gauge 1 ‘Black 5’ it was only logical that we should use the tooling to produce a live steam version as well.  The target UK RRP will be £2250.00 – your local dealer is taking orders!

The London Midland and Scottish Railway’s Class 5 4-6-0, almost universally known as the ‘Black Five’, was introduced by William Stanier in 1934 and 842 were built between then and 1951. The Black Fives were a mixed traffic locomotive, a “do-anything, go-anywhere” type, designed by Stanier, who had previously been with the GWR. In his early LMS days he acquiesced with the completion of a small number of 2-6-0s already under construction. But Stanier realised that there was a need for larger locomotives. These were to be the LMS’s copy of the GWR Halls. They shared similar cylinder arrangement (two outside), internal boiler design and size and 6 foot driving wheel diameters.  Members of the class survived to the last day of steam on British Railways, in 1968, and eighteen are preserved.

A live steam ‘Black Five’ in 1:32 scale (electric version illustrated)

The model is in 1:32 scale and 45mm gauge and features all metal construction with three versions. The model is gas-fired and has all the features the Gauge 1 fraternity have come to expect from an Accucraft locomotive.  The chassis is constructed from stainless steel. The boiler is copper, the cab and tender are constructed from etched brass. Like other fine scale models from Accucraft, it will provide many years of enjoyment.  The target RRP will be £2250.00.  The images shown here are of the electric version and although the live steam version has been based on this it will be substantially re-tooled before release. The model will run round radius 3 curves and is happy on code 332 or code 250 tracks.  You can see a full specification here. Liveries available subject to production batch:

S32-5 – Black 5 4-6-0 LMS black No. TBC
S32-6 – Black 5 4-6-0 BR black with early emblem No. TBC
S32-7 – Black 5 4-6-0 BR black with late crest No. TBC

Victorian Railways NA 2-6-2T

In association with Accucraft, our Australian colleagues at Argyle Locomotive Works have decided to develop a Victorian Railways NA Class 2-6-2T in 1:19 scale – live steam and electric, 45mm and 32mm gauge. Planned liveries – Green, Indian Red, plain Black with appropriate numbers.  These models will only be available from Accucraft (UK) and reservations now being taken.

These iconic locomotives are the main motive power on the Puffing Billy Railway and in some respects are an enlarged 2-6-2 version of ‘Lyn’ of Lynton & Barnstaple fame.