2025 Models

[GatwickDepress]

Connex is sorely under-represented in modelling. I'd love a filthy transition-era layout with a eclectic mixture of NSE and Connex liveries; 508s, 319s, Thumpers, all manner of slammers...

 

[Sun Chariot]

Connex is sorely under-represented in modelling. I'd love a filthy transition-era layout with a eclectic mixture of NSE and Connex liveries; 508s, 319s, Thumpers, all manner of slammers...

I fondly recall the "ghost" livery - their white base coat, yet to receive Connex yellow transfers - on some slammers.
I have a photo of one such 4CIG, at the head of a 12-car rake, on Grosvenor Bank (outside London Victoria)

 

[Ted633]

Connex is sorely under-represented in modelling. I'd love a filthy transition-era layout with a eclectic mixture of NSE and Connex liveries; 508s, 319s, Thumpers, all manner of slammers...

Now you mention it, there haven’t been many. The Graham Farish 319, Hornby VEP & Bachmann CEP (although there was only 1) have so far avoided Connex.
Only RTR example I can think of is the Kernow Thumper. (Was the Hornby 466 ever released in Connex white & yellow? Think it was only NSE and Southeastern.)

 

[trainswitheddy]

Now you mention it, there haven’t been many. The Graham Farish 319, Hornby VEP & Bachmann CEP (although there was only 1) have so far avoided Connex.
Only RTR example I can think of is the Kernow Thumper. (Was the Hornby 466 ever released in Connex white & yellow? Think it was only NSE and Southeastern.)

Seem to recall IC82 reviewing the Connex 466..?

 

[Ted633]

Seem to recall IC82 reviewing the Connex 466..?

Just had a search of the Hattons directory and you're correct, they did. Was in the 'updated' White & Grey livery though, not the original white/yellow one (Although not sure any networkers got painted in that livery anyway due to the warranty on the then-recent NSE paint)

 

[Islineclear3_1]

As Hornby did the sole Southern liveried 4VEP 3514, could they do 4CEP 1602 in Connex? Oh wait... Hornby don't make 4CEP units...

 

[61653 HTAFC]

As Hornby did the sole Southern liveried 4VEP 3514, could they do 4CEP 1602 in Connex? Oh wait... Hornby don't make 4CEP units...

Bachmann do a CEP, perhaps they'll do a refurbished one in Connex colours in the future? Though I'd probably see SWT's "Stagecoach-ified NSE" as more likely.

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Had Hornby done the 4Cep they may have done the Connex one. I can't see Bachmann doing a one-off esp as 1602 had tapered cab windscreens which would need different tooling

 

[Jaydubya]

All privatisation era liveries need to be licensed but who do you license the Connex one from given that the parent company is now defunct.

 

[Yorkshire09876]

All privatisation era liveries need to be licensed but who do you license the Connex one from given that the parent company is now defunct.

Same applies to GNER but that gets used, so there must be a process.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Probably 2026 models thread contender, but I hadn't realised Bachmann are releasing OO models of the very specialised class 13 hump-shunting trio. I suspect novelty value drive its sales; how many modellers really have a representative sized model of Tinsley's marshalling yard complete with its hump!

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Probably 2026 models thread contender, but I hadn't realised Bachmann are releasing OO models of the very specialised class 13 hump-shunting trio. I suspect novelty value drive its sales; how many modellers really have a representative sized model of Tinsley's marshalling yard complete with its hump!

The price of those shunters is eye-watering, but I'm sure plenty will want them. Previously the only option was to kitbash the slave unit, and not everyone has the skills for that (myself included). There's plenty of ways you could justify having one on a non-representative layout though- it's one way to explain away an unprototypical gradient!
Given the limited use of the real versions, I'm sure a couple of fictional versions would have sold well too- maybe offering numbers above 003, and/or a version in Railfreight grey as a "what if they'd lasted longer?" hypothetical. That's not really Bachmann's style though- it's more a Rapido thing!

 

[Sun Chariot]

Given the limited use of the real versions...

...and by the time I caught up with them, 001 and 003 were languishing withdrawn at TI (002 had already gone). Now that's an expensive way to model!

 

[D1511]

I agree they're a bit niche......I wonder what size of garden shed you'd need for a OO model of Tinsley depot and marshalling yards, c.1978.......

Moving down to 1:148, I see the new Dapol 33s are on show at last, and can be pre-ordered for delivery in December/January.
They look rather nice, although they'd be Rule 1 locos for my region!

 

[Sun Chariot]

Moving down to 1:148, I see the new Dapol 33s are on show at last, and can be pre-ordered for delivery in December/January.
They look rather nice, although they'd be Rule 1 locos for my region

The fidelity of N models nowadays blows my mind!
The 1960s Cliffe-Uddingston cement flow, if I recall, regularly took a pair of BRCW Type 3s to South Lanarkshire. So, Rule 1 says there was an undocumented occasion when they were "poached" for other Scottish use.

 

[sprinterguy]

I agree they're a bit niche......I wonder what size of garden shed you'd need for a OO model of Tinsley depot and marshalling yards, c.1978.......

The product discussion for these on RMWeb concluded that about 118 feet by 15 feet would cover the immediate bounds of the yard in 4mm scale, so more warehouse than shed really.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

The product discussion for these on RMWeb concluded that about 118 feet by 15 feet would cover the immediate bounds of the yard in 4mm scale, so more warehouse than shed really.

To be fair I recall Gareth Dennis saying that a scale model of the 125mph turnouts on the ECML would be about 5m long. I know some are really persnickety about the mismatch between track and trains in OO, but realistically any functional model layout will have some compromises.

Meanwhile, this morning Accurascale have made an update announcement about their Electrostar:

EDIT- Should have specified that Gareth Dennis was talking about a HO/OO scale model of the 125mph turnouts. Obviously an N gauge one would be half the size!

 

[GatwickDepress]

I fondly recall the "ghost" livery - their white base coat, yet to receive Connex yellow transfers - on some slammers.
I have a photo of one such 4CIG, at the head of a 12-car rake, on Grosvenor Bank (outside London Victoria)

There's an image of me somewhere as a young sprog next to one at Eastbourne, and I have fond memories of those 'ghost' trains! The yellow/black fronts provided a really nice contrast.

Now you mention it, there haven’t been many. The Graham Farish 319, Hornby VEP & Bachmann CEP (although there was only 1) have so far avoided Connex.
Only RTR example I can think of is the Kernow Thumper. (Was the Hornby 466 ever released in Connex white & yellow? Think it was only NSE and Southeastern.)

Sadly us N scale modellers have little to work with from that era beyond the 319. The Graham Farish 4CEP was only available in BR Green and BR Blue/Grey, so you can't even have an unrepainted NSE one in Connex service.

Moving down to 1:148, I see the new Dapol 33s are on show at last, and can be pre-ordered for delivery in December/January.
They look rather nice, although they'd be Rule 1 locos for my region!

They do look lovely. It's impressive how much 1:148 models have improved so much in the last few decades. I've had my eye on pre-ordering the Gaugemaster Collection WCRC Class 33 for a while, which uses the Dapol tooling and hopefully this means they will arrive soon too!

To be fair I recall Gareth Dennis saying that a scale model of the 125mph turnouts on the ECML would be about 5m long. I know some are really persnickety about the mismatch between track and trains in OO, but realistically any functional model layout will have some compromises.

Meanwhile, this morning Accurascale have made an update announcement about their Electrostar:

I'm always a bit jealous of those American model railroading clubs that have warehouse-sized clubrooms with absolutely titanic layouts. Completely prototypical track layouts with accurately sized high-speed turnouts would be quite interesting to see in scale form.

As for Accurascale, what a lovely video. Great to see progress on the Electrostar and I appreciate the sort of candid discussions they have about their projects. They could have gone with an easier 2 or 3 car unit, but they ploughed straight on with a 4 car one and its many variants.

 

[D1511]

I've had my eye on pre-ordering the Gaugemaster Collection WCRC Class 33 for a while, which uses the Dapol tooling and hopefully this means they will arrive soon too!

Yes, they're on the same delivery schedule....late next month or very early next year.
Looks nice!

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Accurascale's latest announcement... A(nother) 08! The video had me going with the lingering shots on the class 70s

Glad I held back when Bachmann announced theirs now. If anyone was wondering what bit of that qualifies for the "never before in RTR" claims, they're going to offer a cut-down version.

 

[Iskra]

Accurascale's latest announcement... A(nother) 08! The video had me going with the lingering shots on the class 70s

Glad I held back when Bachmann announced theirs now.

A nicer price point than Bachmann’s

Stong hints of an upcoming Class 70 in that video too

 

[61653 HTAFC]

A nice price point than Bachmann’s

Stong hints of an upcoming Class 70 in that video too

I eagerly await details on the full range they'll be doing. Call me boring, but I just want a slightly scruffy-looking air-braked BR blue one, without any decals that pin it down to a particular depot or region!

A 70 would be of no use to me, but those who model the 2000s era would be glad of it. Isn't there one on the market already though? Can't remember who makes it, mind. Nor whether it's any good.

 

[Iskra]

I eagerly await details on the full range they'll be doing. Call me boring, but I just want a slightly scruffy-looking air-braked BR blue one, without any decals that pin it down to a particular depot or region!

Yeah, I agree with that!

 

[Ted633]

I eagerly await details on the full range they'll be doing. Call me boring, but I just want a slightly scruffy-looking air-braked BR blue one, without any decals that pin it down to a particular depot or region!

A 70 would be of no use to me, but those who model the 2000s era would be glad of it. Isn't there one on the market already though? Can't remember who makes it, mind. Nor whether it's any good.

Bachmann did/still do one. No interest in having one myself, so no idea if it was any good! Came out in 2011, so probably showing its age against the very latest offerings

 

[fgwrich]

Well this one rather took everyone by surprise:

We are excited to announce the Class 73/9 locomotives as our next Accurascale Exclusives release, arriving Q4 2026.

Reborn from classic 1960s electro-diesels, the modern 73/9s represent one of the most impressive locomotive reinventions in UK railway history.

Available exclusively from Accurascale, the locomotives are scheduled for delivery in Q4 2026, so you can pre-order yours today with NO deposit required upfront.

Priced from £161.99 each (DC/DCC Ready) and £251.99 each (DCC Sound Fitted) when purchased as working pairs.

New Announcement - We Hit Cloud 9 With The In-Demand Rebuilt Wabtec/GB

Our Accurascale Exclusives range kicks up a notch as we introduce new exclusive tooling! The perfect place to start is one we've been associated with for a long time; the Class 73/9 in 00/4mm gauge...

www.accurascale.com

Facebook

www.facebook.com

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Well this one rather took everyone by surprise:

Facebook

www.facebook.com

Launch video here.

These Accurascale "bait & switches" will be the death of me!

 

[RichJF]

Finally an accurate RtoR 73/9! Hornby could've stolen a march on this years ago. That price isn't too bad either tbf.

1x Dick Mabbutt ordered!

 

[birchesgreen]

I love how the video starts like a Scandi-noir

Looks a great idea for a model.

 

[Iskra]

Hallelujah!

I’ll be ordering a CS one of these, for obvious reasons

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Dec 2025 ==

Hallelujah!

I’ll be ordering a CS one of these, for obvious reasons

73968 DCC sound ordered, as it’s the one I’ve had the most for haulage.

I’ve just gone for a single loco, as they can run singly but I do intend to get a GBRF 66 to double head with eventually.

Clues about more CS MK5’s being produced soon.

Very happy with all this as I’ve been advocating for a CS 73/9 for years! An excellent Christmas present!

 

[JohnMcL7]

Does that mean there's going to be another run of CS Mk5's?

As always not sure which one to go for since I think I've seen all the CS 73/9's, I'm leaning towards 73966