Newsdesk: Heljan Electro-Diesel progress
Heljan reveals the first prototype of the forthcoming ‘O' gauge Class 73/1 and approves production of the ‘OO' gauge Class 86/4. Kernow announces more Brush Traction whilst Accurascale goes back to the beginning with the Chaldron wagon which touched the D&E era, albeit briefly.
A TEST-ASSEMBLED pre-production model of the forthcoming ‘O’ gauge Class 73/1 emerged from Heljan showing a highly detailed model with square framed headlights and a wealth of tiny little details applied to the cab fronts, bogies and bufferbeams.
It consists of over 550 parts and they cover the wide range of detail variations that appeared in the Class 73/1 during its long career, from introduction to their current use with GB Railfreight. Among the 550 parts are detail differences as small as sand box lids, as well as the more distinctive features such as underframe fittings, arc guards, radio aerial pods and headlights.
In addition to more advanced LED illuminated lighting for the headcode boxes, cab lights and headlights, builtin third rail arcing effects are included in the bogie shoe beams, a first for any ready to run model.
The Class 73/1 will be powered using Heljan’s established bogie mounted motor and flywheel power assembly with all wheel current collection, leaving room for a plug and play decoder and digital sound components. The model will be produced in 17 different liveries covering the most popular schemes including BR blue, Civil Engineers yellow and grey, InterCity and GB Railfreight. A number of the models are listed without numbers or nameplates and applied details will match the timestamp of the livery. Several of the announced models are special editions for Gaugemaster and Tower Models. The price for a standard model is £749 and advance ordering is recommended.
Class 86/4s enter production
Final livery samples for the second version of the Heljan ‘OO’ gauge Class 86 were approved for production recently, with the models expected to arrive early in the New Year. Its specification is broadly the same as the new AL6 Class 86/0 models released previously, including LED lighting, an improved bodyshell fitted out with metal details and four-axle drive powered by a five-pole motor.
The Class 86/4 and associated Class 86/6 models exhibit details specific to the sub-class including
SAB resilient wheels, Flexicoil springs, square framed headlights, the original multiple working jumper cables and boxes alongside later features such as TDM equipment and the covers applied to the holes left when the larger jumper cable boxes were removed.
New models of the Brecknell Willis pantograph are also fitted to some versions of the 11 new models (including two for the Gaugemaster collection) which spans the InterCity era, through Sectorisation with RES and Railfreight, to late life condition Freightliner Class 86/6s and Caledonian Sleeper livery applied to No. 86401 Mons Meg. www.heljan.co.uk.