3things we like
The gangway buffing plates include some fine lamp irons, which adds a touch of finesse.
But there are several key areas that really lift these models. Firstly, the glazing, which doesn’t suffer from the prismatic effect that can affect some ‘N’ gauge models, reveals a surprisingly detailed interior. There’s not much beyond moulded seats and the corridor partition but it’s really effective, especially the interior panelling. The only minor niggle is that the frosting for the porthole windows is applied behind the glazing, presumably because it’s impossible to produce frosted plastic in this scale!
Things get very impressive below solebar level. The bogies are crisply moulded, with lots of relief. Underneath is a whole raft of detail, from the battery boxes to the truss rods and the brake pipes. It’s all beautifully produced and those truss rods, for example, are very fine, they’re nicely flexible so you don’t feel as though you might break them if you pick the model up.
CLEVER COUPLING
Standard Rapido ‘N’ gauge couplers in NEM pockets mounted on cams. They’ve been very cleverly designed so that, when the coaches are coupled together on straight track, the gangways are practically touching but will break apart to allow a train to negotiate 263.5mm radius curves.
As one would expect from a contemporary Bachmann/farish model, the finish is excellent. The shades of crimson and cream on E1041E looks right and all but the smallest text on the builder’s plates are visible (albeit under a magnifier). But it’s No. 18510 that steals the show here.
In order to get its new coaches to match the pre-war teaks, the LNER painted its post-war all-steel coaches with a fake wood grain. The Kader factory has done a superb job to produce this scumbled teak finish in ‘N’. The shade looks right and the grain is impressively printed. What’s more impressive is that the window frames and ventilators are a different shade and the printed curtains have a three-dimensional effect. Oh, and the wheels have white rims too.
These models are truly exquisite and, given that some retailers are offering them for less than £40, they’re excellent value. If any coach can tempt you to model in ‘N’, it has to be these. Highly recommended. (RF)