Bachmann RNAD narrow gauge wagons
◆ GAUGE ‘OO9’ ◆ MODELS • Bachmann Narrow Gauge 393-125 RNAD van • 393-150 RNAD Rebuilt open wagon ◆ PRICE £29.95 each ◆ AVAILABILITY Bachmann stockists Web: www.bachmann.co.uk
Bachmann has supplied review samples of two of the eight types of RNAD narrow gauge wagon announced a couple of years ago, in the form of a van and rebuilt open wagon, whose ancestry can be traced back to the First World War period.
The RNAD (Royal Naval Armaments Depot) was initially created by the Royal Navy in Tudor times, but by the time that these wagons originally appeared, they were destined to work on the internal rail systems of munitions storage depots for all three of the UK’S armed services.
Only one RNAD depot still operates, that being to supply the nuclear submarine base in Scotland. The closures of depots in the 1960s/70s enabled the sale into preservation of redundant equipment and rolling stock used within the RNAD sites, and wagon chassis were ideal for conversion to other vehicle types and even as coach bogies.
Thus, Bachmann has been able to refer to actual vehicles in order to create these two four-wheel wagons. Both models have a moulded plastic chassis and body, weighted to 8g for the open wagon and 13g for the van.
The van appears to be based on two restored vehicles, Nos. 61 and 62 at Woody Bay on the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway. Finished in light grey with black strapping, the body is neatly moulded with planking, door and strapping detail, with the latter picked out in matt black.
The body is correctly proportioned and the simple shallow peaked roof carries detail of the sliding centre panel which enabled the loading of the larger bombs, which stood on end. This is so well done that it looks as if it should slide, but it doesn’t. Perhaps, considering the price of this very small model, it should.
Separate end handrails and steps are fitted but the side door handles are moulded on. The underframe carries separate brake levers on both sides and is fitted with pinpoint bearing metal wheelsets with spoked wheels. The open wagon is based on a vehicle rebuilt as a locomotive coal wagon by the Statfold Barn
Railway in Staffordshire and has a slightly shorter wheelbase than the van. The two-plank open wagon body is moulded in plastic with plank detail inside and out. It measures 38mm over the body, 52mm over the couplers. Like the van it is fitted with spoked metal wheels on pin-point metal axles and is very free running. It has separate brake gear and brake levers. Indeed, it was difficult keeping it still long enough to review it!
The livery of our sample is matt dark grey with white lettering and Statfold Barn initials, which appears to be based on a typical GWR Loco Coal wagon livery. Pivoting, hook-and-loop couplers – the standard for ‘OO9’ narrow gauge – are fitted to both wagons There is no doubting that these are cute little models that will appeal to ‘OO9’ modellers. (CJL)