Sonic Models and Rails of Sheffield partner up

RAILS of Sheffield has become an exclusive retailer for Sonic Model’s latest N gauge announcement of the GWR 2-6-2T 5101/61XX class Large Prairie models.

With eight variations incorporating five different liveries to choose from, the model will feature a detailed back head in the cab and a similar drive mechanism to the firm’s previous GWR 56XX and upcoming LNER J50 models. A six-pin DCC decoder socket will arranged so that a chip will be largely hidden in normal use. An early engineering sample had been received as this issue of Heritage Railway went to press, with decorated samples due to be arriving imminently.

Release is expected to be in late 2022 or early 2023.

Five preserved examples are included in the range:

■ No. 5164 in Great Western green

■ No. 4144 in British Railways green

■ No. 6106 in GWR green

■ No. 5199 in BR black with early crest

■ No. 4141 in BR lined green with late crest

Models are priced at £129.95 and can be pre-ordered with a £30 deposit at railsofsheffield.com