Oxford Rail ‘Warwell’

◆ SCALE ‘OO’ gauge ◆ MODEL ‘Warwell’ A Ministry of War Transport MS1 ◆ PRICE £29.95 ◆ PERIOD 1942-present ◆ REGION All

Ready-to-run military flat wagons are like buses. You spend ages waiting for one to appear, then several come along all at once. Last month, I reviewed Hatton’s ‘Warwell’, only to receive Oxford Rail’s take on the wartime wagon as we closed for press. Comparisons between the two are inevitable, so which one is most fit for duty? Oxford sent us the ‘Warwell’ MS1 for review. However, the wagons aren’t limited to military layouts. Although it was introduced in 1942 to transport Sherman tanks on Britain’s railways, the versatile ‘Warwell’ was adopted (and sometimes adapted) for civilian use, and is still in service today. The Oxford Rail range currently includes eight ‘Warwell’ combinations: from an MOD triple pack to wagons that feature either a traction engine or Sherman tank load - there’s plenty to suit a variety of eras, themes, and regions.

CHAIN GANG

Unlike Hatton’s, Oxford has opted to include separately fitted chain links. No doubt this detail will be enough to get some modellers on board, but others have already questioned the inconsistency in scale. Oxford’s Tim Mulhall explained that while the company is aware that each link is slightly overscale, making them that size was a conscious decision - due to the fiddly nature of removing and attaching the pins that hold the chains in place. With Hatton’s choosing to omit the detail in favour of accuracy, we’re spoilt for choice - whether you prefer precision or playability will likely influence yours. Hold Oxford’s ‘Warwell’ for the first time and you’ll likely find its lack of weight surprising - the large amount of die-cast metal in Hatton’s ‘Warwell’ made it much heavier in comparison. However, the featherweight flat wagon performed flawlessly on our test track - navigating baseboard joints and points with ease.

CRYPTIC COLOUR

Oxford has represented the ‘Warwell’s’ shape and character suitably, and I’m particularly pleased to find that the deck sits perfectly flush atop the side frames. Printed details are crisp enough, but colour wartime photographs are in short supply so it’s difficult to judge just how accurate the livery really is. Prototype photography suggests that earlier ‘Warwells’ were fitted with circular buffers, so I was surprised to find that MS1 is fitted with oval ones. That said, Oxford has catered for both eventualities with the former supplied as loose, optional details. I’ve noticed that Hatton’s model sports roping eyes either side of the deck, while Oxford Rail has opted for flush planks of wood. Again, with precious little prototype imagery and the somewhat lax approach to standardisation during wartime, it’s difficult to reach a definitive conclusion. My biggest reservation with Oxford Rail’s ‘Warwell’ is its lack of finesse. The underframe detail is lacking in comparison to Hatton’s model, and our sample features several separately fitted details that were slightly askew. Oxford’s ‘Warwell’ looks the part and performs well. The separately fitted chains will be enough to seal the deal for some, but for everyone else it really is a choice between refinement or budget. (MH)