DAPOL/LIONHEART GWR COLLETT NON - CORRIDOR STOCK
lionheart trains, run by Richard Webster, made a big impact with its excellent wagons and ‘64XX’ 0‑6‑0PT and autocoach in ready-to-run ‘O’ gauge, but more recently things went quiet after Lionheart merged with Dapol. Now though, Richard’s enthusiasm for all things GWR has come to the fore again with a batch of ‘O’ gauge non-corridor coaches from the Collett era, being offered in two and four-car ‘B Sets’ and, where appropriate, singly too. Their arrival highlights how poorly GWR modellers are catered for in ready-to-run coaching stock in all scales, and these are the first non-corridor coaches since the Airfix (now Hornby) two-coach ‘B Set’ was introduced in 1975. There’s a big price tag on this set, but at under £200 per coach the vehicles represent good value, particularly when one considers that new coaches in ‘OO’ are nudging their way progressively towards £100. These are weighty vehicles too, tipping the scales at 800g (1lb 12oz), and it will take a strong locomotive to pull a rake of four or more. The model is assembled from self-coloured plastic mouldings. The roof is spray-painted grey and, on the GWR versions, the chocolate brown is spray-painted. Overall, there is a slight ‘plasticky’ look to the model, especially when lit, but the level of detail that this makes possible is certainly pleasing. The character of these wide-bodied GWR coaches is well captured, with recessed door handles and handrails, and the distinctive inset guard’s door. Separately fitted details include shell vents, end hoses, steps, and lamp irons.
INSIDE JOB
The roof simply unclips to enable the modeller to fit passengers or add further detail to the interior. It’s already pretty impressive with open-mesh luggage racks, brown seating and blue in First Class. The internal walls could do with a coat of appropriately coloured paint, but modellers who wish to undertake this will find that the sides can be removed by undoing an umber of screws in the floor. There’s a splendidly detailed bulkhead in the guard’s van, including the letter rack and the emergency cabinet. It just needs painting. Clear moulded glazing is fitted and this has bars on the van and end windows. One droplight in each side is modelled slightly open, as there’s always a passenger who wants to sit in a draught! A nice bonus is the fitting of internal lights, the LEDS being contained in clear domes to replicate the light
fittings of the real compartments. A great innovation is a tiny circuit board with two small holes, which protrudes through the rear of the brake compartment. A separate rear lamp with an integral LED is provided, which plugs into this bracket to provide a removable illuminated tail lamp. WHEEL DEAL The model runs on good representations of the Collett 7ft wheelbase coach bogie, moulded in black plastic and fitted with blackened metal wheels on insulated axles. Electrical pick-up for the lighting is by way of live wheels and bearings on insulated axles, and there is a small circuit board in one of the compartments. Sprung, blackened metal buffers are fitted and there is wire brake rodding, together with dynamo, battery box, V-hanger and brake cylinder detail. Sprung screw-link couplings are fitted, but on one of our four vehicles both couplings were missing their lower link section. Spare couplings are provided, but fitting these will be no easy task as the bogies must be removed and the pivot screws are obstructed by the brake rods. I found disintegrating couplings to be a weakness of the previous Lionheart coach, and my autocoach is currently out of service, awaiting replacements. Not being particularly familiar with
running more than a couple of coaches in an ‘O’ gauge train, and wary of the weight, I took the set to Dave Lowery’s layout to see how they would fare.
SURE-FOOTED
On test the set of four performed faultlessly through an assortment of Peco pointwork. The lighting looks good but is perhaps a little too bright, and there are places, particularly the recessed guard’s door, where the plastic is thin and the light shines through. This could be cured by painting the inside or by adjusting the light level. The red tail lamp plugs in easily and looks good in operation. A Tower Brass pannier tank was tried initially, but this came to a halt as it struggled with the weight of the four coaches. However the same maker’s BR Standard 2‑6‑4T proved more than capable of handling the set. This suggests that Lionheart’s 2‑6‑2T or forthcoming 2‑6‑0 would be more suitable motive power. It is good to see the benefits of the Lionheart and Dapol merger in well detailed, affordable coaches that are to be used, as well as admired. (CJL)
A GREAT INNOVATION IS A TINY CIRCUIT BOARD WITH TWO SMALL HOLES, WHICH PROTRUDES THROUGH THE REAR OF THE BRAKE COMPARTMENT