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EP1 samples of our long-awaited Class 320/321 units are nearly ready!

The factory has sent us these shots of the first mouldings that are now being assembled, and we are hopeful that samples will be with us for the International N Gauge show in just over two weeks time.

The images show the four different bodyshells (DTSO, TSOL, PMSO and DTCO) that between them enable us to offer the 321/4 and 320 units.

Once we have received the working samples and assessed them we will be in a position to prepare livery diagrams ready for production.

At the moment confirmed versions include Network South East 321 (2 different numbers), London Midland 321 (2 different numbers) and Scotrail 320.

Other liveries, including Silverlink and Strathclyde PTE, are close so if you wish to see these versions produced now is the time to order.

The Class 320/321 units have proved our most challenging models to date and have taken far longer than anticipated so we are delighted to be able to report progress.

But we have been determined to see this model into production because humdrum units like the 320 and 321, while not as glamorous as the Pendolino or Caledonian Sleeper trains, are a vital part of the “complete picture.”

Their arrival offers N gauge modellers the opportunity to accurately model important commuter routes from London to the Midlands, East of England and East Anglia as well as suburban services around Glasgow.

We’d like to thank all our suppportes for their patience – the wait is nearly over!

Revolution Trains was delighted to present a cheque for £1810 to the Royal British Legion raised through sales of the crowdfunded N Gauge model of 390103 ‘Virgin Hero’ produced by Rapido Trains.

The prototype became affectionately known as the “Poppylino” when it was branded with the Royal British Legion poppy motif, and the words “We Will Remember Them,” to mark the centenary of the start of WW1 in 2014.

The cheque was handed over by Corporal Gareth Atkinson of the Mercian Regiment, who was instrumental in negotiating the use of RBL’s logo, at their London headquarters.

The models of 390103 carried a £10 premium, with the full amount donated to the RBL, and Revolution was delighted that despite the additional cost the model was, by some margin, the biggest selling of the 10 different versions offered.

Mike Hale of Revolution Trains said: “We are delighted that this crowdfunding campaign led not just to a fantastic Pendolino model but also gave us the opportunity to help such a good cause.”

Accepting the donation on behalf of TRBL, London Area Manager Ryan Allain said: “Thank you to Gareth and to Revolution Trains for supporting the Royal British Legion and raising valuable funds that will allow us to provide lifelong support to serving and ex-serving personnel and their families.”

Corporal Atkinson added: “As a serving soldier and N gauge enthusiast I was right behind the Pendolino project from the start, and was delighted to be able to help ‘Virgin Hero’ be produced as a model.”

The Revolution/Rapido Pendolino was the first UK crowdfunding campaign to produce a complete train, and has been the springboard for Revolution’s ongoing successful campaign of crowdfunded models.

Revolution and Rapido are proposing further Pendolino models in the attractive new “flowing silk” livery for 2020 and the order book is expected to open in due course.

Revolution Trains is proposing another production run of its award-winning TEA fuel tankers in N.  These models were voted Model of the Year in both the RM Web and Model Rail polls in 2016, their year of first release, and we have been consistently asked to produce more!

This run will include the new VTG aviation fuel variant constructed and introduced since we first produced these models.

The new tanks are slightly different from the versions we previously offered in having no end ladders, shortened catwalks and no separate hazchem placard.  Our model will faithfully represent these subtle differences.

The aviation fuel tankers are in an attractive pale grey livery, and at this time traction for the flows is provided by Freightliner.

We are also proposing other liveries that were not originally offered, or have been introduced since, including VTG green (these are rebranded ex-Freightliner wagons) and EWS unbranded as some are now in service with DB Cargo.

We are also offering all the original versions, though of course only those that reach minimum numbers will go ahead.

The VTG-Enviro versions will have different slogans to those produced in the first run, enabling all six variations on the prototype to be covered.

We are also considering earlier versions of these wagons in the attractive livery of Petrochem Carless and in VTG unbranded blue (usually mixed with the others) and unbranded grey (used, among other flows, for styrene trains from Stalybridge.)

However, please note that due to limitations of the manufacturing process that these wagons will have full length catwalks, rather than the 2/3 lengths catwalks of the prototype.  This is unavoidable without adding significantly to the price; it is up to you the modeller whether it’s a compromise you can accept.

As ever, we will only produce models where our supporters let us know they are wanted.  At this time we are not taking orders, but just asking for expressions of interest.  To let us know what you’d like, please click here.

Revolution Trains, with our friends at Rapido Trains, are delighted and proud to have been named “N Gauge Manufacturer of the Year” in the annual poll of readers of Model Rail magazine.

The award caps an amazing year for us, in which we were also named N gauge manufacturer of the year in the recent BRM/RM Web awards too.

And it’s double-bubble for us as our Revolution/Rapido Class 390 Pendolino in N has been voted as N gauge model of the year too!

As ever we’d like to thank Rapido for all their hard work on this project – from showing faith at the start to going above and beyond to develop not just a thrilling new model but also a unique coupler design and numerous all-new features such as working table lamps in first class cars and detachable coupler covers to allow prototypical “drags” for those who don’t have catenary.

And of course we would also very much like to thank everyone who voted for us, and pay tribute to the other nominees who produced fine models in what has been a wonderful year for British N.

IF you were unlucky enough to miss out on this gorgeous model first time round, as production is limited, we plan to produce some more soon in Virgin’s new flowing silk colours – now applied to much of the fleet – including the striking Virgin Pride rainbow scheme.

The chance to order our forthcoming HOA hopper wagons at the discounted early bird rate is rapidly disappearing – with the deadline at midnight tonight.

Our HOAs will be to the usual Revolution high standards of tooling, production and finish and are currently in tooling.  We are expecting first samples to arrive soon, though at the moment nearly every factory in China has closed for two weeks for Chinese New Year.

We are offering two versions of the HOA – the original build (2006) with body-mounted parking brake wheels and four reinforcing panels  in EWS, Cemex and DB liveries:

These three types are often seen mixed:

This version is also being offered in the more recently introduced Ermewa/Tarmac colours:

We are also producing the slightly modified version produced for VTG and in use on Mendip stone trains, with additional strengthening panels on the side and bogie-mounted parking brake wheels:

After tonight you’ll still be able to order these models, but it will be at the standard pre-order price.

To order your HOAs click here

Revolution Trains is delighted and proud to have been voted N Gauge Manufacturer of the Year in the 2018 British Model Railway Awards.

What makes it extra special is that these awards are chosen in a poll of our fellow enthusiasts, and we would like to say a huge thank-you to everyone who voted for us.

We are also delighted that our N Gauge Pendolino, made by the amazing Rapido Trains, was recognised in the N Gauge locomotive category – unfortunately there isn’t one for a complete train! – and our IZA Cargowaggon twins and Class B tankers also received awards in their respective sections.

We’d like to also thank all those who’ve supported and helped us during the year.  And it’s a pretty long list.

On the manufacturing side we have Jason, Gareth and Bill at Rapido, Colin Allbright for his design work, Martin, Sam and Edward.  Tom Smith and Paul Bartlett, along with several other photographers, have been very supportive in allowing us to use their images here and for research.  We need to say thanks to our helpers – Paul, Gareth, Vic and Abbie – along with our friends in the industry – at Brush, Eversholt, the Severn Valley Railway, Robert at GBRf, Ernie and Carl at Arlington and a couple more who know who they are but can’t be named yet!

We’d also like to say a huge “well done” to our fellow award winners in all categories – surely there has never been a better time to be an N gauge enthusiast given the quality and variety of models on offer?

Let’s keep the momentum up!

Revolution Trains is teaming up with C-Rail Intermodal again to offer our 1:148 scale/N-gauge 40′ hi-cube container models in the eye-catching bright pink livery of new shipping giant ONE.

ONE – Ocean Network Express – was formed last year with the merger of three giant Japanese shipping firms:  K-Line, MOL and NYK.

Although barely a year old, their bright pink containers are becoming a familiar sight on intermodal trains in the UK, and the ONE containers are a useful addition for those modelling the currrent scene.

We are also offering the bright orange of Hapag-Lloyd to offer yet more variety for N-gauge intermodal fleets.

Formed in 1970, German shipping giant Hapag Lloyd is the world’s 5th largest container carrier (one above ONE above!) and although the company has seen numerous changes of ownership in the turbulent waters of global intermodal, its well-known orange containers have been a constant presence on British trains for 20 years. 

Livery artwork has been approved by C-Rail and these models are expected in the next few months.  They’ll be available from both Revolution and C-Rail Intermodal and are expected to be priced the same as our previous 40′ containers.

DC silent

1 x 2000A 390001 Virgin Pioneer
3 x 2000B 390005 City of Wolverhampton
3 x 2000C 390006 Tate Liverpool
1 x 2000D 390045 101 Squadron

All 9 car Pendolino sets £335.00.

Revolution is proud and happy that our Class 390 Pendolino – manufactured by Rapido Trains – has been nominated in the Best N Gauge Locomotive category at the inaugural Hornby Magazine model railway awards.

While it’s Rapido who manufactured this beautiful model, everyone who pledged and helped make it happen since we started development in 2015 deserves to share the credit.

We are also very excited that our 35T Class B tankers have been nominated in the Best N Gauge Rolling Stock category – again this is entirely down to the vision and commitment of those who stepped forward to support the project.

We’d like to say a big thank-you to anyone who has voted for either of our models, or intends to, as they are up against some very fine competitors and we’re sure every vote will count.

Voting is open until October 1st, with the winners announced at the Great Electric Train Show on the weekend of October 13th/14th at the Arena MK.

Revolution Trains is once again at The Internatonal N Gauge Show at the Warwickshire Exhibtion Centre this weekend, on stand 16.

It’s our fourth year at the show which has established itself as the premier calendar event for N Gauge enthusiasts, and the obvious place to take stock and look to the future with new announcements and suggestions.

The last 12 months have been very rewarding for Revolution as we delivered our much-admired Class 390 Pendolino (with Rapido Trains) and our first model aimed at the transition era modeller – the well received Class B 35T tankers. We have also enjoyed increasing take-up of our ongoing crowdfunding projects as more modellers see the potential in this approach for obtaining niche models that may otherwise be uviable for the mainstream manufacturers.

Our IZA Cargowaggon twin vans have just arrived, while the 00 TEA tankers are in the final stages of production and we are expecting to close the order book very soon on our KFA container flats and Class 92 electric locomotives.

This all gives us the confidence to increase the ambition and scale of our operations. At TINGS we will be offering up five all new models, including our first non-crowdfunded wagon.

They are the Class 128 Parcels DMU, 20′ tank containers (with C-Rail Intermodal), IPA car carriers, Cemflo wagons (with Accurascale) and VEA vans.

We will also be offering new runs of our Class 390 Pendolino in Virgin’s new white livery, and the award-winning TEA tankers in new liveries and as reruns.

The VEA is being produced by Sonic Models, a new company set up by a former Kader engineer and not crowdfunded.

To publicise all this we are also producing our first “catalogue”, though actually it’s just a folded colour A4 brochure, but we are still very excited about it!

We would like to thank everyone who has supported us and helped us to make this happen.

In celebration of this, and reflecting Revolution’s ambitious plans, our first ever “catalogue” will also be available to collect at the show.  This features all our ongoing projects and offers our supporters a good way of tracking our progress.

In reality, our first catalogue is just a folded A4 leaflet, but we are proud of it and we hope our supporters will enjoy browsing and considering which of our projects they may wish to support.

We would like to thank everyone who has supported us and helped make this happen.

During the day we will be adding more detailed information about these planned items, and over the coming weeks opening the order books – but please remember that, with the exception of the VEA van, while we have done preparatory work they all need orders to move from dreams to reality!

And if you can’t come and see us at the N Gauge Show, we will be at the Warley National Model Railway Exhibition at the NEC in November!

It’s order deadline day for the Revolution Trains IZA Cargowaggon twin vans.

At midnight tonight we will close the order book as the factory is ready to begin production.

These wagons were introduced in 1986 and are still in service.  Over the years they’ve been used in block trains and marshalled into mixed Speedlink, Connectrail or Enterprise services carrying everything from beer and mineral water to bagged clay and electrical parts from Cornwall to the north of Scotland, and through the Channel Tunnel to continental Europe.

They’re also the perfect wagons to run behind Revolution’s upcoming Class 92 locomotives, which will also be going into production this summer.

Please note the photos show livery samples; on production models the wheels will be blackened as standard.

As ever we will only produce enough models to satisfy pre-orders so please do not miss out.

We anticipated delivery of these models to be around September/October.

Revolution Trains will be at the York show this Easter Weekend again, and we are looking forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones.

We will be on stand 104 across from our friends Rapido Trains (stand 99) in our usual spot on the second mezzanine floor of the attractive and airy grandstand building overlooking York’s famous racecourse.

As ever we will be showing samples of forthcoming models including painted samples of the Cargowaggon twin vans and KFA container flats.  These are likely to be going into production soon.  If you are interested in either (or both!) of these we recommend ordering now to avoid missing the deadline!

PENDOLINO PICK-UPS

If you’d like to p-p-pick up your pre-ordered Pendolino at York – and save on the postage* – then please email to let us know by midnight on Sunday March 25th and we will endeavour to bring it along.

Please note this offer is for pre-order customers only; we will not have any models to buy on the stand.  To collect your models, you must also have completed payment as we will not have any way of processing money at the show.

* Postage reimbursements will be arranged electronically after collection.  We won’t be able to refund your postage in cash at the show – sorry!

They’re here!

The Revolution Class 390 Pendolino models manufactured by Rapido Trains of Canada have arrived.

After three years of development – and the occasional hiccup along the way – Britain’s first fully crowdfunded complete model train is a reality.

The first job was simply to take the cartons off the pallet and group them into sets.  There are four different 9-car versions – in both DC and DCC Sound, seven different 11-car versions (including the bonus City of Birmingham sets) plus lightbars, 5-car sets and add-on coach twin sets.

The image below shows the first pallet being unloaded.  The other still-sealed pallets can be seen in the background!

After several hours work the all the pallets were unwrapped and the cartons sorted into some kind of order.

Later this week when time allows we will being a short programme of testing a selection of the models plucked at random from the consignment.

We are expecting to begin sending models out this weekend, or very soon after, but given the sheer number it will take us at least 2-3 weekends to get every last model shipped.  We will try to do it in order of purchase, so those who stepped up at the start receive their models first.  After all, they have waited the longest!

We have had several emails from this wishing to collect their models at York – please let us know if you would like to do this too.

We would also like to take this opportunity to pay tribute and say thanks to Jason, Gareth, Bill, Dan, Tomas, Janet and everyone at Rapido who actually did the heavy lifting with this project (let’s not forget – it IS a Rapido model!) and have been with us all every step of the way negotiating issues and solving problems with ingenuity, skill and great good humour.

And, of course, once again, a huge thank-you to everyone who stepped forward and helped us make this incredible project a reality.  Is this a game-changer?  You bet!

After the highs of 2016 – when we delivered Britain’s first crowd-funded model – 2017 was always going to be a year of consolidation and steady progress with a focus on continuing or completing the development and delivery of pre-announced models.

That said, we have delivered another new model this year, and found time to offer two new models.

2017 began with the incredible news that our TEA tankers had been voted Model of the Year in the British Railway Modelling/RM Web annual poll. Amazingly, Revolution Trains was also voted runner-up in the Manufacturer of the Year category.

Our first show of the year was Model Rail Scotland at the SECC in Glasgow at the end of February.

Here we were able to confirm that after a slow start, and amid some doubts that it would ever generate enough interest, our first model aimed at the transition era – the Class B tanker – had finally reached the minimum level required for us to put it into tooling.

Once this was done progress was swift, with unpainted samples received just eight weeks later – in time for the DEMU showcase exhibition. By the time we closed the order book we were delighted with the number of orders and these models are now in production and expected early in the New Year.

The ever-popular York show over the Easter weekend gave us a great opportunity to meet supporters and potential customers and we were positioned next door to our friends from Rapido Trains of Canada.  They had  the latest news on the 00 version of our TEA tankers – which are now in production – and the Pendolino, Class 92 and KFA container flats.

Pendolino production started in early summer. Completing these models was a huge task requiring the manufacture of more than 10,000 individual vehicles of 6 different types – and not helped by factors outside Rapido’s control including fine dust from a neighbouring ceramics plant contaminating the paintshop, however they are now understood to be en route from China.

The Class 92 has progressed well, with a first working sample emerging in June – just seven months after we announced the model – and a successful trip to Polmadie with Legomanbiffo to record the exclusive sounds for the model courtesy of Serco, GBRf and Caledonian Sleeper.

For the Warley show in November we handpainted one of these first samples into the attractive Caledonian Sleeper livery.  This was useful as it both shows how attractive the finished models will be, and also highlighted some areas where fit or moulding needed to be fractionally tightened.

Second samples were received by Rapido just before Christmas with suitable improvements and we are looking forward to assessing these ourselves.

In June we attended the DEMU showcase exhibition where we announced our first new model of the year – the IZA Cargowaggon twin van.

The response to this delighted us and we were able to get the CAD drawings signed off, and tooling completed, in just five months, meaning we had the first moulded samples of this model in time for the Warley National Railway show at the NEC in November.

Painted samples – and a set with the working tail light – are expected next month, with the order book likely to close in early Spring.

We also decided to offer the APT-E as an N gauge model – based on the success of Rapido’s model of this iconic train, though while the response has been encouraging so far we are under no illusions that this model is likely to take some time for word to spread and to generate the levels of interest needed to start production.

In September we were at The International N gauge show (TINGS) again, for the third year, where we had our 40′ hi-cube containers – produced in conjunction with C-Rail – on show.

We also had for sale Dapol’s models of 66419 “Patriot” in its attractive powerhaul livery on behalf of Project Railway Honour, raising funds for the ABF – The Soldier’s Charity. Limited numbers of these models are still available.

Looking forward to 2018, we are anticipating the delivery of three different models – the Pendolino, Class B tankers and 00 TEA tankers – in the first half of the year.

As models are delivered we do have ready new projects to offer, with the first of these likely to be unveiled at Model Rail Scotland at the SECC at the end of February.

At the end of March we will make a final decision on whether to proceed with our Class 320/321 project. We have seen an upturn in orders in recent weeks, but once again would appeal to those who expressed an interest, but who have not yet ordered, to get behind this project.

The CADs are now completed but without sufficient orders we are simply unable to commit to tooling.  This would be a shame as while such units may lack the glamour of the Pendolino they are the unsung heroes of the modern railway and, for those wishing to model a complete system, are just as important.

By the summer we are expecting the Class 92s to be in production, and by Autumn we are hoping the HOA hopper will have reached the sampling stage.

3D prints based on the approved CAD have been made for approval, now the model is awaiting its turn in the production schedule.

If you’d like to come and talk to us about existing projects – or give us your suggestions for new ones – then as well as Model Rail Scotland we will have stands at York, DEMU Showcase, TINGS and Warley again so please come and say hello!

Once again, we would like to say a huge thanks you to everyone who’s supported us, ordered from us, come to chat to us or engaged with us online.  None of this could happen without everyone being a part of it.

Here’s to a great 2018!

Revolution Trains would like to wish all our friends and supporters a Merry Christmas and an enjoyable 2018.

We’ve received an early Xmas present from Santa Rapido in Canada – this image showing the latest samples of our forthcoming Class 92 model.

These models show several refinements over the first samples received a few months ago, with a finer fit to many of the parts, more crispness in the mouldings and a tightened up drivetrain improving smoothness and power.

Having just arrived in Canada, these models will be thoroughly tested before being sent to us for assessment.

Once that’s done, and the fit and performance of the models is approved, we will check liveries and be ready to close the order book and begin production.

Our IZA Cargowaggon twin vans  are the perfect models to run with your Class 92.

The IZA samples have now been thoroughly examined and approved, and livery diagrams finalised for all versions.  We are expecting to receive painted samples early in the New Year, as well as a set with our flashing tail lamp option.

We anticipate closing the order book and beginning production as soon as the factory reopens after Chinese New Year in mid-February, so please consider ordering soon if you haven’t already and want to take advantage of low crowdfunder prices.

As this project was only unveiled at the DEMU Showcase exhibition in June we feel progress so far has been remarkable and are very grateful to the team working on this model in China and those in the UK who have provided invaluable assistance!

Look out for our Revolution round-up next week when we will have more news of all our projects, and a look ahead to our plans for 2018.

Revolution’s 40′ hi-cube containers – produced in association with C-Rail intermodal – have been picked and packed and are being sent out this week.

These superb models represent the world’s most numerous container type and this is the first time they’ve been available in British N 1:148 scale – in either kit or RTR form.

They form the ideal complement to Revolution’s forthcoming KFA container flat – being produced in association with Rapido trains.  Revised samples of this are expected in time for the Warley National Model Railway show at the NEC and should be on display on the Revolution stand.

They are also ideal for the upcoming C-Rail intermodal KQA/KTA pocket wagon.

We have spent the weekend packaging up hundreds of orders, and these are being dispatched immediately.

We suggest UK customers watch their doormats this week, though delivery may take a little longer for our many overseas supporters.

Thanks again to all the backers who made this model possible – our first non-rolling item!

Rapido Trains have just informed us that some of our projects will be delayed by month or two due to problems with airborne dust being generated by a ceramics  plant near their factory.

Production has now resumed, but this unexpected turn of events has delayed some of Rapido’s own projects, and Revolution’s own Pendolino in N and 00 TEAs.

In their newsletter published this weekend Rapido say:

You may have noticed that our factories (plural) have been a bit slow on deliveries lately. We certainly have. The LRC factory is still finding its feet and the Rapido factory moved to a new and improved location. The old location was near a bunch of ceramics factories so the air was quite dusty, requiring us to redo a lot of shells that got dust in the paint. The new location is in a much cleaner part of Dongguan and should save us a lot of time in the long run.

This has put us a bit behind schedule, but we’re working overtime at both factories to catch up.

Rapido have apologised to us, and we are sorry too, but unfortunately there seems to be little anyone could have done to prevent this.

If you are coming to the International N Gauge Show on September 9th and 10th this year please come and see us on stand 16 and we will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

This delay only affects models currently in production with Rapido and will have no impact on our KFA container flats, Class 92 locomotives or Class B tanks.