Category: 4mm

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3, 2, 1 – is go!

Revolution has received EP1 samples of its upcoming OO gauge four-car class 321 and three-car class 320 units for checking and testing.

Revolution Class 321/4 sample on Tidmarsh by Thetford and District MRC.

We are grateful to Thetford and District MRC for allowing us to test the models on their impressive ‘Tidmarsh’ display layout.

321417 in London Midland livery at Milton Keynes, 320318 in Scotrail Saltire at Coatbridge. Photo: Tom Smith.

Revolution is offering the Class 321/4 – comprising DTCO-PMSO-TSOL-DTSO and the Class 320 comprising DTSO-PMSO-DTSO cars. We are offering versions incorporating the original light clusters with rectangular markers, revised clusters with round markers and latest versions with combined marker lights and tail lights.

All models feature directional, destination blind, driver controls and interior lighting and are also available in DCC/Sound with controllable operating pantographs and side door lock lights. The outer cars are fitted with working representations of the Tightlock coupler on the prototypes, while the inner cars have 14-pin connectors to allow the whole train to be controlled by a single DCC decoder fitted in the underside of the pantograph car.

The EP1 is primarily designed to test the quality and fit of the mouldings, and to give us an early idea of running characteristics and any areas requiring improvement.

We have already identified areas for improvement including the fit of some smaller parts incuding the front lower fairing, radio roof pods, the bogie yaw dampers and roof airconditioning units (not all versions) and the clarity of the glazed components. Running tests identified some light leakage in the front clusters. These will be corrected.

The Class 321/4 units were built by BREL at York and introduced between 1989 and 1990 with Network Southeast for suburban services from London Euston and Liverpool Street. Following privatisation they transferred to Silverlink, London MIdland, Great Eastern, then First Capital Connect, Great Northern and finally some were converted to three car sets and moved to Scotland to join the similar Class 320 units that had been in service since 1990 too.

Top left, image right: 321426 at South Kenton in 1998, 320318 at Partick in 1995. Both Matt Taylor/Creative Commons. Bottom left: 320436 at Euston in 2009. Hugh Llewelyn/Creative Commons.

In 2022 Varamis Rail acquired a handful of Class 321/3 and 321/4 units and converted them for express parcels use between Scotland, the Midlands and London. These units have had the passenger seats removed and racking introduced for secure storage of parcels.

The models are being extensively tested to identify any further issues and check the DCC functionality.

The next step is for decorated samples to be prepared, and these are anticipated some time in early summer, though as ever this is an estimate and timings can change.

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March forward with new arrivals

We have a considerable quantity of models expected over the next couple of months with many already at sea (and one due to come by air)!

OO gauge/4mm

Borail/Mullet/Parr/Super Tench 60′ engineers wagons have shipped and are expected to arrive in the UK in early March. Update – 19/1/26: all balance invoices generated.

Cartic-4 car carriers have also shipped and are expected shortly after the Borails/Mullets/Parrs/Super Tench in early-mid March. Update – 17/2/26: all balance invoices generated.

KSA ‘Rover Cube” vans and timber carriers – the remade KSAs are largely complete. The timber carrier versions have shipped and are due early March (with the Borails). The vans are in the final stage of production and checking and will ship separately soon.

N gauge/2mm

1938 stock – the much anticipated 38 stock are largely complete with final instructions and packing to be completed before the models are shipped. The 38 stock will be air-freighted so we’re still expecting delivery to the UK in the next few weeks.

Balances: if you paid in full then you don’t need to do anything – we will send out your order(s) when the models arrive. If you paid a deposit we will send you balance invoices for your models starting this week. All the models featured in this update will be invoiced. Please note that sending out all the balance invoices will take some time – please do not chase balance invoices until we have said that they have all been generated. We will update this page with progress of balance invoice generation.

If you are expecting a balance invoice(s) for a model and we state that all invoices have been generated then please check your account on our website if you haven’t received it by email – if you can’t find the balance invoice(s) in your account then please contact us in case we’ve missed it.

We would be grateful if you could pay your balance invoice(s) before the models arrive so that we can get your orders out as quickly as possible.

Please note when you pay a balance invoice the website automatically updates the deposit part of your order to “Complete” and sends you an email saying your order has been despatched – this is an automatic software bug that we can’t change. Your order is actually despatched when we mark the balance part of the order as “Complete” ie despatched.

If you need to change your delivery address please update the shipping address in your account.

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Colour Coradias and adorned Adelantes!

Revolution Trains has received decorated samples of its forthcoming OO gauge class 175 Coradia and class 180 Adelante units for assessment.

These will be checked and assessed and any modifications or amendments sent to the factory. With this in mind we have set a pre-order deadline of 31 January 2026 for these models – once orders close they will go into production and delivery is expected in Q3 2026.

Class 175

The Class 175 units are being offered in Arriva Trains Wales an Transport for Wales liveries, as they operated for two decades around Wales and north west England, until withdrawal at the end of 2023. The fleet is currently being prepared for introduction by GWR on its trains in Devon and Cornwall with the fleet expected to be in full service by the end of 2026.

Revolution is offering 175008 (2-car) and 175103 (3-car) in Arriva livery, and 175003 (2-car)and 175107 (3-car) in Transport for Wales colours.

Prices are:

2-car trains: DC/DCC ready £225.00 (post-production MSRP £274.95); DCC Sound: £320 (post-production MSRP £369.95)

3-car trains: DC/DCC ready £270.00 (post-production MSRP £339.95); DCC Sound: £365 (post-production MSRP £434.95)

All models come with speaker pre-fitted, inter-car power couplers and working headlights, tail lights and interior and door lock lighting. One decoder is needed per unit and is easy to install in a 21-pin MTC socket.

Class 180

The Class 180 was designed for high speed inter-city services operated by First Great Western from London to the west country; however unreliability issues plagued their early years. They did eventually settle down into service, and operated in the stylish dynamic lines colours with First Great Western and with Hull Trains.

Since 2009 the trains have progressively entered service with Grand Central on its East Coast routes, and four former Hull Trains units have also operated with East Midlands Railway.

Revolution is offering complete five car trains in the following liveries:

First ‘Dynamic Lines’ – 180102 First Great Western, 180109 Hull Trains.

Grand Central: 180107 Hart of the North (replaces 180108 William Shakespeare), 180112 James Herriott (with green stripe on one driving car).

180107 Hart of the North (changed from 180108 William Shakespeare): bright orange stripe, Grand Central branding, no blue disabled access door stickers or orange bike stickers (as ran from approximately 2010 to 2018)

180112 James Herriott: later duller orange/old gold stripe (except for green stripe on one driving car), Grand Central by arriva branding, blue disabled access door stickers and orange bike stickers (as ran from 2019)

Prices are:

5-car trains: DC/DCC ready £350.00 (post-production MSRP £449.95); DCC Sound: £445 (post production MSRP £544.95)

EMR – Rails of Sheffield exclusive

Two units: 180109 and 180113 have been commissioned by Rails of Sheffield in the attractive East Midlands Railway scheme and can be pre-ordered direct from Rails. Please note the N gauge sample is shown below.

All the models will be going into production after Chinese New Year in 2026 and are expected to ship in Q3 2026.

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Stone and sand hoppers next in 4mm from Revolution

Revolution offers IIA-B, IIA-F and HOA-B family of stone and sand hoppers.

Following the success of our HOA-A hoppers, Revolution is offering IIA-B and later HOA-B wagons in OO gauge 1:76.2 scale.

In addition, the similar IIA-F sand carrying wagons, with hinged roofs, will also be made available.

Prototype History

The prototype IIA-B wagons were built in several batches.

In 2008, EWS ordered 34 wagons for use on Cemex trains from Peak Forest and Shap. These were built by Greenbrier in Poland and delivered in Cemex blue and grey livery, however the branding was removed after less than a year.

Instead of a domestic code in the H series, they received the international TOPS code IIA-B, and were given the UIC designation Fabfnoos.

60059 Swinden Dalesman at Loughborough with Crawley-Peak Forest empties. Photo: Paul Biggs.
60079 with Washwood Heath-Peak Forest empties. Photo Rob Reedman/Creative Commons.
66059 at Shap Blue quarry. Photo: Adrian Nicholls. (All rights reserved.)
59204 at Kintbury with Merehead-Colnbrook stone. Photo: Foulger Rail Photos/Creative Commons.

Also in 2008 wagon leasing company NACCO bought 40 for use on Mendip Rail trains from the Somerset quarries Tor Works (Foster Yeoman/Aggregate Industries) and Whatley (Hanson) with an additional 20 purchased for Mendip Rail use a year later by VTG.

59201 at Fairwood Junction. Photo: Dan’s Railway Gallery.

In 2019 a further 35 wagons were added to the Mendip Rail fleet by VTG, but these were domestically coded HOA-B, with the UIC designation Fanpps, and in 2020 they were joined by 40 more HOA-Bs owned by wagon leasing company Touax, and outshopped in dark red. The success of these wagons, and planned retirement of existing fleets of wagons dating from the 1980s and early 90s, then led to a further VTG order in 2024 for 203 HOA-Bs, these delivered in dark blue with MRL branding.

59004 at Newbury. Photo: Foulger Rail Photos/Creative Commons.
HOA-B in Touax livery at Kensington Olympia.
New VTG blue HOA-Bs on delivery in 2024. Photo: Jo Alder.

In 2017 GBRf, impressed by the success of the design, ordered 41 similar wagons fitted with hinged roofs coded IIA-F (UIC: Tanpps) for Sibelco Leziate sand traffic from Middleton Towers, just outside Kings Lynn in Norfolk, to Goole, Barnby Dun and Monk Bretton in Yorkshire. The Revolution model will cover this variant, which will be available exclusively from Key Model World.

66735 with Middleton Towers-Goole sand train at Peterborough. Photo: Redruth/Creative Commons.
66797 at Eastrea. Photo: David Smith.

The sand traffic has become a key flow for GBRf’s new fleet of Class 69 locomotives; these are former Class 56s that have been reborn by being fitted with Class 66 type EMD710 powerplants.

69004 at Whittlesey. Photo: David Smith.
69011 at Spalding. Photo: Steve Knight/Creative Commons.

The map below shows many of the workings of these widely travelled wagons; but as aggregate flows can be short term, and as wagon fleet useage changes, it does not claim to be exhaustive.

The model

Revolution is tooling five different variants to cover the totality of the IIA-B, HOA-B and IIA-F fleet. These cover differences in brake arrangements, location of discharge controls, positioning of strengthening fillets and, in the case of the IIA-Fs, the hinged roof parts.

We will also be offering a selection of liveries to cover the service lives so far of these wagons (not all livery versions may be produced in the first run).

We expect to open the order book soon, and with CAD completed we anticipate that tooling will begin this summer and the models should be ready to be shipped by Q2-3 2026.

Chasing Rainbows – 66729 at Rowston. Photo: Andrew Shenton.

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Fallen timber: delays to the OO/4mm KSAs

As many of you will have been aware our OO/4mm KSA ‘Rover cube” vans and timber carriers were due to be with us at the end of March 2025. We received the shipment from the factory and went through our usual spot-check process.

Unfortunately, despite the KSA production samples passing our inspection the remainder of the production run that we have checked to date have not met our standards. As a result we would not be happy to send the models to our customers.

The factory has agreed to produce a replacement batch of models though this will mean a delay to the arrival of the finished models.

If you have paid your balance invoice(s) recently or paid in full when preordering then you don’t need to do anything further – when the models arrive we will double-check the delivery address on your order against that saved in your account (and contact you if we have any queries) then send out your models.  If you still have a balance to pay, you have a bit longer to settle the balance though we would ask that you do so by the end of June so that all the models can be despatched as quickly as possible when they arrive.

We would like to apologise to our customers eagerly awaiting their models and we will advise a revised expected shipping date on our website when we have more information from the factory.

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The fastest cancellation in model history

Following our announcement of plans to produce OO gauge Underground battery electric locomotives we have learned that another company have already been given a licence to produce these models.

This was not mentioned before during licensing discussions, but clearly puts Revolution in a difficult position.  We have no desire to infringe on a licence.

For this reason we have decided to halt our plans at this time for this model.

Naturally we are very reluctant to do this, and many (including us!) will be disappointed, but we feel acting quickly and decisively is the fairest way forward for all involved.

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It’s an Industrial Revolution – in OO!

Revolution Trains is offering the Hunslet 0-6-0 diesel hydraulic (DH) shunter in OO gauge.

Original NCB design

CAD is virtually complete and incorporates numerous options to allow for both 50T and 55T locomotives to be depicted with variations including engine room air breathers, handrails, footstep equipment boxes and sandbox fillers. The ‘flameproof’ versions used in refineries can also be produced.

Hunslet line-up at Workington steel works. Photo: John Carter.

Between 1965 and 1989 well over 50 0-6-0DH shunters were built by Hunslet for the British market. More were also built to a variety of gauges for users abroad in south America, Africa, Europe and the Indian subcontinent.

The Hunslet 0-6-0DHs were surprisingly powerful for their size, and their short wheelbase enabled them to operate in locations where other locomotives may struggle.

Model features

All models feature a heavy die-cast chassis block for reliable running, and a high reduction gear train to ensure smooth and realistic slow speed running.

‘Flameproof’ refinery design with single enclosed headlight

The locomotives will all have working head and tail lights and an illuminated cab interior, and where prototypically correct a flashing roof beacon.

A 21-pin MTC decoder socket is included with factory-fitted speaker, so upgrading to sound is simple. The decoder is accessed by simply unscrewing the body and lifting it clear of the chassis.

DCC sound models will also incorporate a stay-alive power pack, and this will be designed as a simple plug-and-play uprgrade for DCC Silent users.

The line up

Initially Revolution is offering four versions, with prototypically accurate detail variations intended to cover a wide variety of eras and locations.

HE6614 – NCB green

This locomotive was built in 1965. The National Coal Board was the largest user of the type, and this locomotive was given the internal number 503 and assigned to the North Eastern Area.

Locos in this version of the NCB livery saw service at collieries across the north and Midlands, often working alongside earlier steam locomotives.

Spotting points include the small sandboxes, dome breather on the right side of the long bonnet, as well as early pattern handrails. This loco has no roof beacon.

HE7017 – HNRC

Built in 1971 and originally used at Whitehaven harbour the locomotive was later acquired by Harry Needle Railroad Company, given the number 29 and used in a variety of locations for spot hire work, and it is offered in this later condition.

As a shunter-for-hire it’s been used at locations including Flixborough Wharf and Long Marston. This locomotive features more substantial handrails, dome breather mounted on the bonnet top and a flashing beacon, along with an equipment box on the right side.

Photo of 7017 at Long Marston courtesy Martyn Sanders.

HE7543 British Steel

This locomotive has seen widespread use – first at British Steel Workington, numbered 403, then it moved on to Shap quarry where it currently resides, though no longer in regular use.

The spotting points for this version are the oval buffers with strengthened shanks and conical breather.

Photo of Hunslet line up courtesy John Carter.

7543 at Workington exchange sidings with 66752. Photo courtesy Dave McAlone.

HE8999 Esso

This locotive is one of the last-built of this design, entering service in 1981 and operating variously at Fawley and Grangemouth before being sold. It is now in residence at the Chasewater railway at Brownhills in Staffordshire.

This locomotive is to the ‘flameproof’ design for refineries and features enclosed side cabinet and fire suppresant equipment. It has an extended exhaust (to be added to the CAD) and no roof beacon.

The CAD for this models is complete, barring some very minor adjustments, and we are hoping to receive first samples during the summer.

Industrial inspirations

The first four locomotives offered by Revolution have been selected to showcase a variety of liveries, details and uses but they can only scratch the surface of the wide range of locations served and liveries worn by these popular and long-lived locomotives.

From left: 8979 ‘Black Agnes’ at Dunbar. Photo davyc2008 – 7017 at Whitehaven 1982 – 6663 & 7018 Bersham 1986.

If you are interested in seeing more we heartily recommend the Flickr gallery of photographer Gordon Edgar. Here are a selection of his images.

You can find his full image directory here:

The Gordon Edgar Gallery

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Goods inward: OO/4mm KSA ‘Rover cubes’ and IHA steel carriers plus N/2mm Cartic-4s

Updated: 7 April 2025.

We have a variety of models on the high seas at the moment which are due in close proximity to each other during February and March 2025. To enable us to get orders out to you as quickly as possible we’re going to start sending out balance invoices over the next week for the following models (ie the order that they are due to be delivered):

  • N/2mm Cartic-4 car carriers – delivered to Revolution 18/2/25 – Balance invoices all generated 23/1/25. Paid orders up to 10/03/25 posted.
  • OO/4mm IHA steel carriers – delivered to Revolution mid-March 2025 (balance invoices all generated 24/1/25). Paid orders up to 10/03/25 posted.
  • OO/4mm KSA ‘Rover cube’ vans and timber conversions – delayed due to unsatisfactory models: see news item.
N/2mm Cartic-4 car carriers
OO/4mm IHA steel carriers
OO/4mm KSA ‘Rover cube’ and timber conversions

Paid in full: if you paid in full you don’t need to do anything other than relax, your model will be shipped first in order of when we received your order(s) (and your order status will be updated)!

Paid a deposit: if you paid a deposit then we are starting to send out balance invoices over the next week or two but that will take a while to process all the balance invoices for all the models. Please note when you pay a balance invoice the website automatically updates the deposit part of your order to “Complete” and sends you an email saying your order has been despatched – this is an automatic software bug that we can’t change. Your order is actually despatched when we mark the balance part of the order as “Complete” ie despatched. Please don’t chase your order until both parts of the order (ie balance as well as deposit) has been marked as despatched, particularly before the models have even arrived!

If you need to change your delivery address please update the shipping address in your account but also please send us an email if you changed it since 17 January (otherwise your order might not get updated in time). Thanks!

Collection at shows: it may be possible to collect orders at either Model Rail Scotland (Cartic-4s) or Alexandra Palace (IHA steel carriers and KSA ‘Rover cubes’/timber conversions) but at this stage we can’t guarantee that. If show collection becomes feasible we will update customers accordingly. No need to contact us in advance.

We will update this page with progress of arrivals, sending out balance invoices and orders in due course, obviously if you haven’t received your order when we have sent out all the orders then please let us know!

If you missed out on ordering direct then you should be able to place an order with one of our retailers.

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Get down to steel town!

Revolution Trains has received decorated samples of its upcoming IHA (UIC code: Sfhimms) canvas covered steel carriers in OO and N.

These models are now being assessed and checked before full production is started. We expect to be closing the order book for these models in the next 4-6 weeks, though as ever they will be available from retailers after production.

The models being offered are the same in OO and N.

In OO the models are, clockwise from top right: Original livery RT-OO-IHA-401; HT-spot marked livery RT-OO-IHA-402, H-spot livery OO-IHA-403 and current Ermewa branded livery RT-OO-IHA-404. For each version, four numbersets are available with the suffix A, B, C and D on the product code.

The same variants are available in N, with the same variety, meaning up to sixteen different running numbers are available, with prototypical variations in labelling and data placards.

The models feature all our usual refinements including separately fitted locking hooks, underfloor brake details and photo-etched end platforms. The OO versions also have bogies designed to accept P4 or EM wheelsets, and the brake blocks can me moved outward to accommodate this.

These wagons are used across England and Wales to transport steel coil from Margam for domestic customers and for export. They are also used for imported steel from Humberside and Lincolnshire to the midlands.

In the past traction has included Classes 47, 56, and 66 among others.

Photo credits, clockwise from top left: Roger Cutts, Hugh Llewellyn/Creative Commons, Foulger Rail Photos/Creative Commons, Arran Aird, Paul van Duin, Foulger Rail Photos/Creative Commons, David Smith, GarstangpostT21.

The wagons are the ideal accompaniment to our upcoming Tata Steel CBD-90 Clayton battery hybrid shunter in OO and our Class 66 locomotives in N.

The pre-order prices are OO £39.95 (MSRP £48.95) and N £36.95 (MSRP £47.95.) Pre order your models here.

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Caroline goes to the ball…well Model World Live!

In addition to our standard display of samples and the latest information updates, we are pleased to announce that we will be offering the final limited stock of our award-winning OO/4mm SR inspection saloon 975025 / Caroline for purchase at the event. This includes all three striking liveries: blue/grey; NSE; and Network Rail green. The models will be available at the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of £159.99.

For those of you unable to go to the show – fear not, we have reserved some of the stock for sale from our website and they will be available from 1000 on Saturday 26 April until stocks run out.

So if you missed out on our inspection saloon and would like one then now’s your chance!

Please note that stocks are very limited at the show and online!

As well as stocks of the SR inspection saloon we will have a selection of other stock (including some sold out items) available for purchase.

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Take Five! Revolution offers articulated Arbel car carriers

Revolution Trains is offering the imposing 5-piece articulated WIA ‘Sefoorss’ car carriers as its next wagon in OO and N.

Photo: Foulger Rail used under Creative Commons

CAD work on the model is complete, and the order book is opening imminently, with our usual great value pre-order price available to encourage early orders.

OO WIA CAD image

The Prototype

60 five-unit sets were ordered by BR’s Railfreight Distribution sector ahead of the opening of the Channel Tunnel in 1994.

They were designed to offer complete protection and, being fully enclosed, meant that new cars could be shipped between the UK and continental Europe without needing to be waxed, saving time and money.

Brand new WIA units lined up at Tonbridge. Photo: Paul Wade.

Initially they were operated by Auto Care Europe, a partnership comprising RfD, SNCB and Cobelfret. Some outer wagons were adorned with the ACE logo and car maker markings too. On privatisation ownership passed to EWS and from around 2007 the DB Schenker (now DB) logo was added to the intermediate cars of some sets.

Photo: Mark Saunders
Photo: CA850 used under Creative Commons.

Though it is not immediately apparent from the outside, the wagons are double-decked and the entire roof canopy can be raised or lowered as one unit to aid loading and unloading.

In railfreight terms cars are light, but high volume, so the wagons are designed to maximise the use of space and completely fill the loading gauge, hence the angled contours of the roofs. Articulation is chosen as it both reduces costs, but cutting the number of bogies required, but also simplifies loading and unloading as cars can easily be driven the full length of the train.

Photo: Foulger Rail Photos-Creative Commons

The Model

The model features our usual refinements including separately fitted brake parts and articulation units designed to allow operation down to curves of radius 2. We’d like to thanks DB for their assistance and support in researching the model.

The OO CAD is complete and the N gauge CAD is under development.

The articulation units have been designed to allow the model to comfortably negotiate R2 curves, and for added realism the customer will have the option, for the tail end car, of replacing the tension-lock coupler with a cosmetic air pipe, in either the loose or stowed position, and a control box moulding that clips into the NEM pocket to recreate the look of the real thing.

L-R: Cosmetic air pipes, end with tension lock coupler, tail end with customer fit control box and air pipes.

We expect to open the order book soon, and livery options are from top: original RfD blue, ACE blue, DB Schenker, fully debranded plain blue and DB.

Tooling is expected to start shortly with the models estimated to be ready to ship in Q2-3 2025.

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Revolution upscales to offer 320, 321 in 00

Revolution Trains is offering the Class 320 and 321 Electric Units in 00 gauge, having previously produced these trains in N, after extensive lobbying from 4mm enthusiasts in both England and Scotland.

Revolution’s N gauge Strathclyde PTE Class 320 flanked by Network Southeast and London MIdland Class 321s.

The models will be available in a variety of liveries and will feature directional lighting, DC Silent and DCC versions with sound and working deployable (though not conducting) pantograph.

N gauge Class 320 in Strathclyde PTE Carmine and Cream livery produced as an exlusive for the AMRSS/Model Rail Scotland.

Prototype notes

The Class 321 4-car units were built at BREL York in the late 1980s and early 1990s to replace first generation suburban units on trains operating from London Euston to the Midlands, London Liverpool St to East Anglia and around Leeds.

London Midland Class 321 at Milton Keynes, 2015.

The success of the Class 321s – nicknamed ‘Dusty Bins’ after a character from the then popular TV quiz show 3-2-1 – led to a 3-car version, designated Class 320, being built in 1990 for suburban services around Glasgow.

Class 320 in Scotrail Saltire livery by Tom Smith

Introduced on the North Clyde line, they have also been used on the Argyll line, Cathcart Circle and between Glasgow and Lanark.

Class 320 and 321 units over the years. Photos courtesy Roger Marks, Hugh Llewellyn and John Ray used under Creative Commons.

On privatisation the Class 321s were split between Silverlink, Great Eastern and Arriva Rail North, and through various franchise changes have seen use with London Midland, First Capital Connect, Northern Rail and Greater Anglia/Abellio.

The 00 model

CAD work is underway and although based on the N gauge version we produced using extensive drawings and access provided by owners Eversholt, it will be fully extensively and upgraded for the 00/1:76 scale version.

N Gauge CAD for the Class 321.

Once we open the order book we will confirm the livery options available to order. In N gauge, for each livery offered at least two running numbers were produced and it is likely we will repeat this in 00.

The models are likely to be priced in line with our other 00 unit models at around £300 for the 3-car Class 320 and £350 for the 4-car Class 321, with DCC Sound etc around £100 extra, and we will be opening the pre-order book shortly to enable customers to reserve their models.

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KSAs in colour… Rover ‘cube’ and timber carriers impress

Revolution has received decorated samples of its 00 gauge 1:76.2 scale KSA Rover ‘Cube’ and timber carrier wagons for evaluation.

The prototypes were built in 1995 by Rautaruukki of Finland and intended to carry components for the Rover car company. These parts were large but light, so the wagons were designed to the limits of the loading gauge to maximise the number that could be carried.

Photo courtesy Kevin Payne.

In 2001, after Rover ceased operations, a number were transferred to the Malcolm Group for their Anglo-Scottish services tranporting bulky goods including bottled water, and two wagons were given their colourful red and blue colours.

Revolution is offering the Rover liveried models in maroon and grey in four twin packs, making a total of eight differently numbered wagons available.

Photo courtesy Gordon Edgar.

In addition, the two Malcolm wagons are available in their own twin pack and these will be available from our selected retailers.

Photo courtesy Tom Smith.

In 2012 several of the wagons were selected for conversion into timber carriers for Kronospan traffic from Scotland, north and south west England and south Wales to Chirk. In these trains KSAs are often mixed with the blue IWA ‘Rfnoos’ wagons already produced by Revolution Trains

Photos courtesy Steve Knight, Barry Lewis used under Creative Commons.

The conversion involved removal of the top covers, isolation of the centre well lift mechanism and addition of side stanchions. In addition, slats were cut in the outer ends to improve air flow in some wagons. Revolution is offering both designs.

Once the decorated samples have been checked and assessed the models will be cleared for production. There are some minor changes we want to make such as darkening the blue shade on the Malcolm’s versions.

The deadline for pre-ordering is December 31st 2023, with the models expected to be delivered in Q1-2 2024, subject to delays caused by Chinese New Year.

Purchase KSA Rover Cube wagons or Timber Carriers twin pack
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Mullets can look good…

Revolution Trains has received decorated samples of its forthcoming 00 gauge BR Borail EB/EC and MB wagons, BRV and BRA steel carriers and YLA Mullet, YQA Super Tench engineering flats.

BORAIL MB (front) and BRV rear. Please note all the samples shown have accommodation wheels. Production models will have wheelsets of the correct scale diameter.

The Borails were built in the late 1950s and early 1960s as EB and MB variants (with five bolsters) and EC (no bolsters) for the Eastern and Midland regions to convey pre-stressed concrete beams and other long, heavy items. They had 8′ plate bogies, five-spoke handbrake wheels and twelve chain loops on each side.

Chain loops on each side are separate fittings. On production models the deck will be a slightly lighter shade.

Under TOPS in the 1970s they were coded BRV, then in the early 1980s 150 were fitted with air brakes, six bolsters, recoded BRA and used for steel traffic, particularly rails, primarily from British Steel Workington. These wagons were painted railfreight red during the rebuild.

The shade of Railfreight red will be corrected on this version, and the bolsters will be correclty configured.

Later the fleet was transferred to the engineers and given the fishkind name Mullet. Most received CE ‘Dutch’ livery. On some wagons the bolsters were removed and replaced with longitudinal baulks for carrying concrete sleepers; these were given the fishkind name Parr, while post privatisation some were designated Super Tench, having their upper body replaced with modular ISO standard mesh-sided cages.

Livery variations included variations in CE Dutch – with some wagons receiving Railfreight grey underframes; all-over mainline blue, and EWS maroon. Versions of these are all available to pre-order in packs with two wagons that complement each other.

These are a selection of the twin packs available; full details of the complete range and wagon identies are on the order page. Please note N gauge graphics are shown; however the 00 versions are the same.

Detail features on these models include fine photo etched mesh sides, separate wire and plastic details, NEM couplers in kinematic pockets and four different designs of brakewheel.

Once the decorated samples are assessed feedback will be sent, and then the models will be ready to go into production. The order book will close in due course.

For those who prefer not to pre-order, these twin packs are expected to be available from retailers, albeit at a higher price.

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Nuclear secrets…

With our FNA-D nuclear flask wagons now in stock here with Revolution and with retailers we have received some enquiries from customers about the variations in hazchem panels applied to the models.

When loaded, the wagons are required to run with panels indicating the contents – for these wagons this is 3329 7 fissile nuclear material, which comes with assorted regulations for loading, transportation and unloading, and showing the Radsafe information line number for use if necessary.

In addition, the wagons can carry the appropriate ADR/EU orange hazard labels with the same 3329 code, though this is not always present.

When running empty – either to a nuclear site, for repair or maintenance, or as a barrier wagon or spare, the panels do not carry any warnings at all, and to enable our customers to replicate this we are offering one wagon – version 3 – which does not have the warnings present. This table shows the panels on each of the models on offer.

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Making Tracks 3 features Revolution Trains IPA carriers!

Whilst we’ve been busy sending out SR inspection saloons (975025/Caroline) and FNA-D nuclear flask carriers, we’ve also been delighted to support the fabulous Making Tracks 3 on show at Chester Cathedral – our IPA car carriers look the part depicting the Dagenham-Garston car train that passes through Milton Keynes regularly.

Chris Clenton, the project manager behind the Making Tracks layout, sent us this video and some great photos:

The train running on Making Tracks 3 comprises pairs of 00 gauge flat twins, flat twins with stakes and covered and sheeted quad wagons, all in STVA’s red livery. The models are also available in N gauge.

Making Tracks 3 incorporates remarkable levels of detail to enjoy even when trains aren’t passing, and has been designed to be fully interactive; young visitors can drive trains through the scenic section controlling trains via tablets; stopping them at the station or speeding through.

Chris estimates that so far more than 40,000 visitors have seen the layout, and ticket sales have raised many thousands for Chester Cathedral.

We’ve got a relatively small number of OO/4mm IPA carriers from the Shop section of our website (please don’t mix orders for stock items with pre-orders for future models!):

Purchase OO/4mm IPA car carriers

(If the version you want isn’t available from us some of our retailers might still have some stock).

IPAs in 00

Once the stock is sold out that is going to be it for the IPA car carriers for a while until we do a second run but don’t worry car carrier fans we’ve got plenty in the works announced (see our Cartic-4s available to pre-order in the Shop section) and unannounced!

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Vive la France! French steel carriers next in 00 and N!

Revolution Trains is offering the IHA ‘Sfhimmns’ canvas covered steel coil carriers as its next wagon model in 00 and N.

CAD is complete and the models in both scales are in tooling, however the 00 model is slightly more advanced than the N gauge version.

The stubby design, with its characteristic platform at one end above the buffers to allow staff to cross safely from one side of a train to the other, is a familiar sight on steel trains and often intermixed with other designs such as the Thrall-built BRA/BYA ‘Nissen hut’ design.

66303 on Dee Marsh – Margam service. Photo courtesy Roger Cutts.
Tata Steel Clayton battery hybrid shunter 930 shunts IHA wagons at Knuckle Yard, South Wales. This locomotive type is also being offered by Revolution Trains. Courtesy Clayton Equipment Ltd.

Photos: Clockwise from left – 66007 on Margam-Wembley enterprise, 2009. Courtesy Robert Catterson; GBRf 66755 with Grain-Margam service; 47212 in RfD livery at Kingswinford Junc. in 1995. Courtesy Dave Gomersall.

47805 ‘Talisman’ and 47769 ‘Resolve’ on hire to Colas with a short train for Dollands moor, 209. Courtesy David Smith.
Colas 56113 with imported steel from Boston bound for the Midlands in 2016. Courtesy GarstangpostT21.

There are around 250 of the type in use for transporting high-grade steel on a variety of flows. These include domestic steel from South Wales to destinations in the midlands, north and south-east of England and via the Channel tunnel to customers in France, Belgium and Holland.

IHA wagons at Botlek in the Netherlands. The smaller British loading gauge is very apparent in this image courtesy of Paul van Duin.

These wagons are also used to feed imported steel from ports on the east coast and Thames estuary to steel terminals inland.

Left: 08507 shunts IHAs over the swing bridge at Boston Docks. Courtesy 6089 Gardener. Right: IHAs at Wolverhampton Steel Terminal. Courtesy Stephen Burdett.

Protoype history

The first batch of 48 wagons were built by Fauvet Girel in 1991, registered in France and given the UIC code Sfhimms; the ‘f’ in the code signifying their suitability in the smaller British loading gauge. Further batches were built in 1993 and 1998.

There are very minor variations between batches and these are accounted for in the Revolution tooling.

Now owned by wagon leasing company Ermewa, the wagons have red bogies, underframes and ends and grey canvas covers.  Some have yellow discs painted in the covers signifying they are reserved for domestic traffic only.

Recently, as the canvas covers came due for renewal, wagon owners Ermewa began adding its branding more prominently.

IHA in original as built livery
IHA in domestic traffic with yellow disc
IHA in domestic traffic with HT branding
IHA refitted with new Ermewa branded canvas hood

These graphics are for illustrative purposes only and not approved painting diagrams.

A further batch of similarly-coded wagons was built in 2008-9 by Astra Rail (now Greenbrier) in Romania and finished in GE (now Touax) blue livery, however these are to a different design and are not the subject of this model.

Model features

The wagons feature our usual levels of detailing with lots of separate parts and photo-etched platforms at one end and NEM coupler pockets in kinematic mounts.

The models are also designed for easy conversion to EM or P4 standards, with axles set at 26mm. The brake blocks on the model will be supplied correct for its 00 wheels, but additional mounting holes have been incorporated into the frames to make widening them straightforward.

Brake blocks at 00 spacing
Brake blocks at P4 spacing

Formations and destinations…

During our research we have identified numerous flows these wagons are used on however it is quite possible there are others we have not come across.

The majority of the flows on the diagram are now operated by DB, however the Margam-Dee Marsh and Grain-Llanwern contracts are now in the hands of GBRf, on occasion using hired in locomotives. The Trostre-Tilbury trains and those carrying imported steel from Boston use Colas traction, often Class 56.

One reason for offering these wagons, as our popular sample consists diagram shows, is that they tie in very nicely with other models already available – such as the BYA from Bachmann, IGA from Heljan, IWA from Dapol and JSA from Accurascale, enabling enthusiasts to depict more authentic steel traffic.

We would like to thank Ermewa and DB/Axiom for permission to use their logos and IP and their generous help with information and facilitating close up inspections of the real thing.

We are hoping to have first samples of these models for evaluation very soon, with delivery expected by summer next year.

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Easy come, easy (car-)go…OO/4mm Caroline and FNA-Ds arrive!

Update 02-8-23: models have cleared customs and will start to be sent out to customers on 3 August. All SR inspection saloon / Caroline and FNA nuclear flask carriers balance invoices generated – please check your account on our website if you haven’t received an email.

The 400m ‘Suezmax’ ONE TRADITION is currently unloading at Southampton with a container of valuable cargo onboard. The ONE TRADITION has a capacity of over 20,000 TEU (Twenty foot equivalent units) and regularly carries upwards of 9000 forty foot containers. Amongst its current cargo is a container full of our OO/4mm SR inspection saloons and FNA-Ds. We expect the container to be unloaded and go through customs clearance over the next few days with delivery to us late this week/early next week. As soon as we receive the shipment we will check the models over and then start to send out the models to customers with fully-paid orders.

Order processing

We have started to generate balance invoices for customers who paid a deposit on either model (update 27-7-23: all the balance invoices for SR inspection saloon / Caroline and FNA-D nuclear flask carriers have been generated) – if you have a balance to pay you should receive a balance invoice in your email or if not in your account on our website.

If you need to change your delivery address please update the shipping address in your account but also please send us an email if you changed it since 24 July (otherwise your order might not get updated in time). Thanks!

If you missed out on our pre-orders some of our retailers still have models available to order (they should receive their allocations next week).

Please note when you pay a balance invoice the website automatically updates the deposit part of your order to “Complete” and sends you an email saying your order has been despatched – this is an automatic software bug that we can’t change. Your order is actually despatched when we mark the balance part of the order as “Complete” ie despatched.

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ROG invites Revolution to see the 93…

Revolution Trains has been able to go and visit the first of the new Class 93s – 93001 – at the depot being used by its owners Rail Operations Group as a base for the approvals procedures now needed before the locomotives can enter service.

The Class 93s are tri-modes – able to draw power from 25kV OHLE, from an onboard battery pack or from a 1200hp Caterpillar diesel.  They are designed as a flexible go-anywhere option (one reason why, unlike early renders, the finished loco has a yellow front panel) and this week ROG have been displaying the new arrival to a succession of potential users.

Our visit is going to be the first of several as we adapt the CADs we already have (derived from information sent by Stadler) to match the locomotive as it is built and incorporating alterations made during that process. 

Draft CAD image. Even a cursory glance will reveal numerous variations between this and the as-built locomotive

For example, some parts of the underframe have been altered or reconfigured and initially the design followed European practice in not having cab door windows; these have since been added and will be to our CAD of course.

For ROG the next stage is a combination of testing both in Britain and abroad and there may well be further changes to ensure the locomotive conforms to any further gauging, safety, operator or staff requirements and these will be incorporated. 

While we are keen to develop this model as quickly as possible we will not begin the expensive tooling until the locomotive is in its ‘service’ condition; furthermore the licence we have with Stadler and ROG stipulates that the models must not be released before the locomotives begin to enter service.

We’d like to thank the team at ROG for welcoming us yesterday, and for a rather nice guidebook, and look forward to providing further updates as the project develops. In the next week or so look out for a short video giving more detailed information about this trip and the next stage of the locomotive’s development and introduction.

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Class 175 and 180 in OO/4mm available to pre-order now!

Our much-anticipated Class 175s and 180s are now available to pre-order in OO gauge/4mm scale. If you order before the end of July 2023 you will benefit from our discounted early-bird prices!

The Class 175s are £215 (increasing to £225 after 31 July 2023) for 2-car units or £255 (increasing to £270 after 31 July) for 3-car units.

The 5-car Class 180s are £330 at early-bird prices (increasing to £350 after 31 July 2023).

As well as our low prices you can also take advantage of our deposit option (pay half now and half on delivery) if you would like to spread the cost. All units are DCC ready, but DCC sound versions are available of all versions.

We are offering a selection of liveries:

Class 175 in Arriva Train Wales and Transport for Wales liveries (both offered in 2 or 3 car sets):

Class 180 in Grand Central and First Dynamic Lines (choice of Hull Trains or First Great Western (First Great Western not shown.)

Missing liveries

Some of you may have noticed some missing liveries. We would really like to offer these to 4mm modellers but sales in N gauge have not been great, so we are asking for expressions of interest in these versions. If we get sufficient expressions of interest in any of these liveries we will put them on sale. Please submit expressions of interest as soon as possible but no later than 31 August 2023. Please note this is not a commitment to purchase and so there is no benefit in waiting until the deadline – the sooner we know that there’s interest the better!

Class 175 First North Western

Class 180 First Barbie (Great Western or Northern) and EMR

If you would like to express interest in any of these liveries please complete the short form here before 31 August 2023.

Purchase OO gauge Class 175 or 180 DMUs