Darstaed BR Mk 1 ‘suburbans’
◆ GAUGE ‘O’ ◆ MODEL Darstaed D23‑4‑3 S3 Mk 1 57ft non‑gangway Second, BR crimson; D23‑1‑3 BS3 Mk 1 57ft non‑gangway Brake Second, BR crimson ◆ PRICE £169.00 each (£665.00 for four) ◆ AVAILABILITY Ellis Clarke Trains, Unit 1 Toller Court, Shortbank Road, Skipton, North Yorkshire BD23 2HG Web www.ellisclarktrains.co.uk
My only experience of the BR Mk 1 non-gangway coach was in 1963 – a packed evening train from King’s Cross to Finsbury Park behind a Class 31 when I went to see The Beatles at Finsbury Park Astoria. The train was packed, cramped and uncomfortable but these 57ft coaches were the mainstay of such operations until displaced by multiple units. They were introduced in 1955 to replace pre-grouping designs that had continued to be built until 1953. They were generally intended for commuter services, though a few served on branch lines and main line stopping services further afield. Having brought us an excellent range of 64ft Mk 1s in 2018, it was no surprise that the Ellis Clark Trains/darstaed partnership would bring us the Mk 1 non-gangways.
It’s produced six vehicle types: Composite, Lavatory Composite, Second, Brake Second, Second Open and Second Lavatory Open. All six are offered in crimson, lined maroon, unlined maroon or Rail blue. We received a Diagram 321 Brake Second and a Dia. 311 nine-compartment Second in original plain crimson livery.
It’s immediately apparent that Darstaed has captured the curved, smooth-sided look of these coaches extremely well. The etched metal sides have the right degree of curvature and the window glazing is flush and clear, which is a marked advantage over plastic-sided vehicles where flush-glazing often results in a prismatic effect around clear plastic mouldings. The coaches have separately fitted door and commode handles, but the latter seemed to have a slightly odd shape and protrude a little further than they should.
The only issue for me is that the door hinges are supplied separately for fitting by the modeller. The hinges are pre-coloured but they’re really tiny and I’m not sure that I’d have the patience to fit them and make sure they were accurately aligned. I’d probably omit them, but for those notdaunted by working with tiny parts, there are equally minute locating points visible in the door outline recesses that makeit easy to ensure correct positioning.
WORTH THEIR WEIGHT
These are substantial models, thanks to the metal sides and underframes, and they weigh in at 1,012g. Ends and roofs are moulded ABS plastic.
Underframe detail – truss frame, battery boxes and brake cylinders – are mainly plastic mouldings on a metal chassis and metal-framed BR1 bogies. These are compensated, with the bogie sideframes allowed to pivot vertically so that they ride extremely well over complex trackwork. In fact, these are very free-running models and 267 November 2019
a vintage kit-built LNWR 4-4-0 on Dave Lowery’s layout handled a train of four coaches, which included the two Mk 1s, with consummate ease.
Phosphor-bronze wiper pick-ups bear on the backs of the fine, turned-metal pinpoint wheelsets to collect current for the interior lighting, and, on the brake coach, a standard oil tail lamp. The red light in this is just a little on the bright side but the effect is fun nevertheless!
Sprung metal oval buffers and some nice screw couplings are fitted.
Paint application and printing is excellent. As with most
‘O’ gauge models, they are not numbered but you get a sheet of waterslide decals with Eastern, Western, Midland and Scottish Region prefixed numbers. The decals are printed on white backing paper and are a little difficult to read before placing on the dark background of the model. Although the decal instructions refer to BR crests, non-corridor stock didn’t carry crests and so, correctly, none are supplied on the decal sheet.
It is, however, the interior detail that really lifts these coaches into a class of their own. Not only are there some exquisite replicas of those old-style mesh luggage racks above the seats, but there are coloured carriage prints galore on all the compartment partitions. This detail is nicely illuminated by the interior lighting. The moulded roof is attached by screws and can be removed in order tofit passengers.
With similar plastic-bodied ‘O’ gauge coaches nudging the £200 mark, these Darstaed models with their predominantly metal construction really do represent good value. Recommended. (CJL)
The etched metal sides have the right degree of curvature and the window glazing is flush and clear