CAD designs for the forthcoming IPA car carriers in 4mm scale/00 gauge have been approved, and the models are now ready for tooling. We are just finalising a few details with the factory and then the order book will be opened – please keep an eye out on our website for an announcement.
The prototype wagons were originally built in France in the 1950s and 1960s, as single unit double-deck car carriers, but were repurposed in the early 1990s. The top deck was removed, new sides fitted and they were marshalled into twin sets.
Later, some were fitted with side stakes to support canvas screens, others received roofs to provide greater cover. Subsequently a large number received this modification and most were remarshalled into four car sets.
All variants are being offered in N and 00 will follow suit.
In 2017 STVA was taken over by Grench automotive logistics giant Groupe CAT, and recently the first vehicles were repainted by Arlington at Eastleigh. An image of the prototype can be found at Carl ‘s Railway Photos.
We are delighted to say we have been able to add a very limited number in this livery to the N gauge production run.
The Groupe CAT version will also be available for 00 modellers to pre-order with STVA pale grey and STVA red.