Revolution Trains has received decorated samples of its forthcoming Class 128 Parcels cars in N gauge.
Full line-up of Class 128 models. Photo: Jacques Portal/Model Rail.
Revolution is offering six versions in a selection of liveries and in both Midland Region centre headcode and Western Region gangwayed versions to cover the lifespans and locations of these esoteric and well-liked units.
Midland region 55987 with centre headcode (left) and Western region gangwayed 55994 with split headcode in original green with whiskers.
Although only a small number were built (4 for the Midland region, 6 for the Western region) these units travelled far and their appearance changed significantly when the gangways were plated and the headcode boxes replaced by marker lights. Revolution has tooled for all variations.
55990 in BR Blue ‘Parcels Service’
55991 in BR Blue with headcode boxes replaced by headlights
BR blue era modellers can choose between Midland 55990 with original headcode box showing plain ‘dominoes’ or WR 55991 with headcode boxes removed and replaced with marker lights.
In the 1980s several were painted into an eye-catching Royal Mail red livery with striped double doors, and Revolution is offering two versions: 55992 and 55993.
55992 (right) with gangway and marker lights, 55993 with fully removed and plated over gangway front. Photo courtesy Jacques Portal/Model Rail.
The Midland versions did not receive Royal Mail red as all were withdrawn in the late 1970s and early 1980s, however the Western region versions lasted roughly another decade.
Primary colours: Versions available in green, blue and red. Photo courtesy Jacques Portal/Model Rail.
Naturally the models will feature our usual specification of Next-18 decoder interface, directional working lights and NEM coupler sockets. In addition the models feature highly realistic buffer beam details and pipes, most of which will be factory fitted. We have photographed the models with the couplers removed in most cases to show off the detail, but couplers will of course be provided as the prototypes often ran with a BG or a couple of parcels vans in tow.
As well as variations in the gangways, lights, buffer heads and exhausts, previously mentioned, the Revolution models feature an underframe packed with separately fitted parts and attention to detail you’d expect.
The chassis has a Next-18 decoder socket and although only one bogie is powered under test it has pulled 8 heavy bogie tankers with ease.
All versions can be reserved from our shop at the pre-production price of £135. Models will be available later from retailers, but at a higher price to include their margin.
These samples will be on display at the DEMU Showcase exhibition at Sutton Coldfield in July and at TINGS in September, after which the order book will be closed and the models will go into production.
Revolution Trains has opened the order book for its forthcoming Class 128 Parcels unit, with a low Earlybird price of £120 available until midnight on 16th July 2021.
Revolution is offering six versions, covering the entire lives of these units from their introduction in 1960 to their final withdrawal in 1990, and in both Midland Region centre headcode and Western Region gangwayed versions.
CAD has been approved and tooling is underway. We are anticipating that EP1 samples will be here in 6-8 weeks.
M55990 at Manchester Victoria. Photo courtesy Mark Carter.
As well as the gangway/non-gangway variation, the tooling has been designed to allow variations including round, oval or clipped buffers, sandbox variations, differences in exhausts and plated headcode boxes.
For those modelling the BR Green/transition era, two models are on offer: M55987 in green with speed whiskers, and W55994 in BR green with speed whiskers.
BR Blue era enthusiasts have M55990 in Parcels Service livery with domino headcode displays – as carried from the mid-1970s until its withdrawal, and W55991 also in all-over blue with plated headcodes, representing this unit from 1981 onwards.
Finally we are offering two units in the eye-catching 1980s-90s Royal Mail red livery; one has plated-over headcode boxes but retains the gangway, the other has the last end variation: fully flush with the gangways removed.
Note: CAD images show approved designs. Some details (eg buffers, exhausts) may vary on production models following further research. Livery diagrams are basic graphic images for illustrative purposes only.
N-128-55987A – M55987 in BR green with speed whiskers
N-128-55994A – W55994 in BR green livery with single speed whiskers
N-128-55990A – M55990 in BR blue with yellow ends and domino headcode display
N-128-55991A – W55991 in BR blue with yellow ends and plated over headcodes with marker lights
N-128-55992A – 55992 in Royal Mail red with gangway and plated over headcodes with marker lights
N-128-55993A – M55993 in Royal Mail red with plated gangway and plated headcodes
Revolution Trains has confirmed the liveries and unit numbers it is offering of the Class 128 diesel parcels unit.
Midland Region versions (55987-990)
M55987 green with single whiskers and centre head code boxes and M55990 BR blue with full yellow ends, centre domino head code boxes
Western Region versions (55991-996)
W55994 green with single speed whiskers and split head code boxes and W55991 Blue FYE with marker lights and corridor
55992 RM red with corridor and 55993 RM red no corridor.
The factory is currently making the final CAD changes and once complete we will open the order book. Obviously CAD has taken longer than we anticipated – for which we apologise – we wanted to be sure that the CAD covered all the many variants of 128s (a surprising number for a class of 10!).
Revolution Trains is pleased to show the latest CAD images for our forthcoming N gauge Class 128 Parcels unit. We’ve submitted our corrections to the factory and once those are ironed out we will announce the price, versions and open the order book.
The main “spotting” notes between the versions are that the 4 Midland Region 128s were built without a corridor connection and had a centre headcode box, whereas the Western Region 128s were all built with corridors (though many were later removed) and split headcode boxes. Other variations were plated or removed headcode boxes, marker lights, sandboxes on bogies, 3 different types of buffer (clipped, oval or round) and a variety of exhaust types.
WR 128 with corridor connection, split headcode boxes and sandboxes.MR 128 (55987-990) with no corridor and centre headcode boxWR 128 with plated over corridor and marker light in the headcode boxFormer WR 128 with plated corridor and removed/plated headcode boxes replaced with marker lights
Once the factory have made the CAD corrections we will finalise the versions we are offering and open the order book (not all variants are shown above eg 55991/2 kept their corridor connections to withdrawal in late 1990 but lost their split headcode boxes) .
Four models delivered, three new manufacturers identified and two new powered models offered has made for one amazing year!
As ever we should acknowledge that we could not do any of this without those who have supported us – with time, with expertise, with generosity but most of all with orders. It is only because modellers are prepared to pre-order on trust that we can make all this happen.
And we’d like to say thanks to Rapido Trains for their amazing work, our new manufacturing partner Sonic Models, two other factories we have been using and those traders who’ve supported us including C&M, Cheltenham Model Centre, Collett’s Models, Kernow Model Rail Centre, Plus Daughters, Rails of Sheffield, Osborn’s and Trains4U.
In February our first model aimed at transition era enthusiasts – the Class B tanker – arrived. The wagon had struggled to generate enough interest and came close to being cancelled, but when we saw the quality the factory had achieved we were delighted it had made it – and judging from the comments from so were those who’d supported the project!
Recently we were sent a photo by Ian at Mercig studios of a superb Esso class B he’d weathered. In the accompanying note he wrote: “..this is the best N Gauge wagon I’ve ever worked on!”
Esso Class B weathered by Mercig Studio
Then, in March, the main event – the arrival of the Pendolinos.
This was the culmination of the dream that we and our supporters had bought into back in 2015 when we began the project – and boy did Rapido Trains deliver. Everything about these models was stunning – from the trains themselves to the manual and the book-case packaging.
Pallets full of Pendos…
But we had little time to admire the models when there were hundreds of fellow modellers waiting for them – and we’d like to thank our friends Paul Churchill and Gareth Atkinson who came up that first weekend and helped pick, pack and post the first hundred and fifty or so. We also owe a large debt of gratitude to Allen Pearson – inventor of the amazing Nelevation vertical fiddle yard – for kindly allowing us to use his storage unit to keep the Pendos safe.
At the York show some customers were able to collect their Pendolinos (thanks Abbie) but the majority were posted. This was a massive task, especially as the majority of the work was done just by the two of us in our spare time. They were dispatched as best we could in chronological order of purchase and we would like to thank all our supporters for their patience waiting for their models.
However, seeing an 11-car set tackling the graceful, sweeping curves of Heworth Sidings, by the Yorkshire Area Group of the N Gauge Society, made it all worthwhile!
Poppy Pendo on Heworth Sidings at the York show
Even as we celebrated the success of the Pendolinos the IZA Cargowaggon twins were en route and they arrived just in time for The International N Gauge Show at Leamington – arguably the premier show of the N Gauge year.
Revolution IZA Cargowaggons in single and triple packs
At just over a year from announcement to delivery these were our fastest model yet. With the innovative factory-fitted flashing tail lamp option they have proved hugely popular and prompted Kernow to join us in offering a 4mm version which is currently under development.
4mm IZA CAD
It did mean that our planned TINGS display was slightly obscured by the piles of wagons being collected by customers, but we were able to show painted samples of another new model; the VEA munitions van, which is our first non-crowdfunded model and is being produced in association with Sonic models.
Sonic/Revolution VEA vans – painted samples.
The man behind Sonic is a former Kader engineer who designed some of Graham Farish’s best N gauge models, and this is the first time a Chinese manufacturer has sought to market their own brand British outline models directly in the UK.
We also offered three new models including a second powered model – the Class 128 Parcels diesel railcar in N. The other two were both wagons: the IPA car carrying twin flats – in plain, side-staked and covered versions, and the Cemflo cement wagon in association with Accurascale, the Dublin based manufacturer making a big splash in 00. Both of these are now at the CAD stage, but we have not yet opened the order books.
M55990 at Manchester Victoria. Photo courtesy Mark Carter.
IPA CAD image – this is the flat version with stakes.
Cemflo CAD courtesy Accurascale.
By the middle of November we were preparing for the arrival of our first 00 models, the TEA tankers by Rapido Trains, and once again we prevailed on our friend Allen as five large pallets were airfreighted in.
Their arrival just in time for the Warley National Model Railway show at the NEC meant that as well as supplying those ordered by Kernow models and Trains4U once again we had to enlist help once again from our friends Paul, Gareth and Abbie to hand out those that customers had arranged to collect.
Kernow Model Rail Centre’s Chris Trerise with a small fraction of his TEAs!
The remainder are being sent out by us but twice the scale means eight times the volume, and the sheer size of the 00 models in comparison to the N gauge products we are used to has meant new packaging solutions and dispatching all the models has taken much longer.
Those who visited us at Warley may remember that we were right next to a double decker bus brought in by our friends at Rapido Trains to publicise their latest new model – this gave us an excellent location for a meeting where we were able to examine the final version of the Class 92 locomotive ahead of production and confirm production of another run of Class 390 Pendolinos in Virgin’s latest “flowing silk” livery, as we as more TEAs in N. These will be available to pre-order early in the new year.
Class 92 final test sample by Rapido Trains.
At Warley were were also able to unveil our first steam locomotive – the GWR 56XX in N produced with Sonic models – along with the latest CADs for the HOA hopper and an all-new 4mm model – the MMA/JNA box wagon. These are again not crowdfunded but being produced after we were approached by an investor. We are offering three variants in DB red and Ermewa and Tarmac grey liveries, while models in VTG/Mendip Rail silver and GBRf blue will be available exclusively from Kernow.
Handpainted sample of MMA wagon in DB red.
First CAD of 56XX steam locomotive.
We also took delivery of the 20′ Tank Containers in N that we produced in conjunction with C-Rail. These, along with the 40′ hi-cube containers last year, have been very well received and we will be producing another new RTR container next year. This came, coincidentally, shortly before we closed the order book for the KFA container flats accompanying them which are in production now.
Revolution/C-Rail tank containers in Stolt, Nichicon, Bulkhaul and Hoyer liveries
To conclude, here is a quick reference progress chart summarising 2018. We anticipate that the next models to be delivered will be the 00 MMA/JNA, N KFA and N 92.
Amazingly, 2019 will mark Revolution’s 5th anniversary (we can’t believe it either!) and we are looking forward to next year being our biggest and best year yet! But as ever, we couldn’t do any of this without our fellow enthusiasts, so once again we’d like to thank you for your support.
It’s been a tiring but rewarding weekend at The International N Gauge Show at Leamington.
As many will know our IZA Cargowaggon twin vans arrived with seconds to spare on Friday evening, meaning that our normally tidy stand became a scene of model mayhem – at least for the first few hours – with a combination of those keen to see our new offerings and those who’d come to collect their wagons.
Fortunately on both Saturday and Sunday things calmed down a little after lunch and we were able to see something of the show.
Cargowaggon vans waiting to be unloaded in the yard on Annston, a wonderfully atmospheric layout depicting a secondary line in the Midlands.
Most rewarding was seeing our Pendolinos, TEA tankers, Class B tankers and now Cargowaggon vans giving pleasure on so many of the layouts.
Back on the Revolution stand many came to see the factory painted samples of the new VEA vans. Once we have received and checked painted samples of all the variations in BR Maroon, BR Railfreight Red/Grey and RfD dark grey and yellow these models will go into production, and are expected by Q1 2019.
VEA van in the colour officially known as BR Maroon that really looks like brown.
The door handles are stamped metal to make them the correct profile, rather than the usual wire.
Many visitors commented on the exquisite underframe detail – such a distinctive feature of the prototype.
Those who were not admiring the VEAs or collecting Cargowaggons came to pick up our first “catalogue” – or rather, 4-page leaflet – showing all our plans for the next few months.
Below are all four pages so those who did not attend the show can see what we are offering:
P1
P2
P3
P4
In terms of timings, we are expecting to close the order book for the KFA container flats at the end of this month, and the Class 92s probably 4-6 weeks later.
We’ll most likely open the order book for the Sturgeon and HOA in a couple of weeks or so, followed by the Class 128, Cemflo and IPA toward the end of the year.
As well as offering what we hope our fellow enthusiasts will want, we are also trying to stagger our products to give supporters a chance to budget!
The Class 320/321 is expected to go to tooling very soon. Unfortunately Rapido trains are no longer able to produce this model for us, so we have decided to switch production to another manufacturer. Although we are sad Rapido will no longer be involved we would like to publicly thank them for their superb work so far which will help to ensure the finished model is of high quality.
Revolution Trains is offering the Class 128 Diesel Parcels Unit as its first powered model aimed that the transition era enthusiast.
Ten units were introduced in 1959 – six for the Western region with gangways and split headcode boxes, four for the London Midland region with centre headcodes and centre windows.
We hope to offer both variants, but of course only those receiving enough pre-orders will go into production.
Western region version in original livery with green ends and speed whiskers.
Small yellow panels on Midland region version.
Early BR Blue Western region variant retaining white cab roof.
Midland version in standard BR Blue livery.
Royal Mail red introduced during sectorisation era.
The images above are for illustrative purposes and do not necessarily indicate the final selection of liveries and versions.
If there are sufficient early orders then we hope to begin CAD design work imminently and will be opening the order book soon to allow those who wish to support this proposed model to do so, though as ever we can only proceed to tooling and production once the required minimum order threshold has been reached.
