Model Spot – Bachmann NSE Class 117/121 DMUs
Simon Bendall details the Network SouthEast Class 117 and 121 DMUs from Bachmann.
With this month marking the 35th anniversary of the launch of NetworkSouthEast, Simon Bendall takes a look back at the first generation DMU fleet used on suburban services out of Paddington, two examples of which have recently been released in OO gauge
At the time of the launch of Network SouthEast on June 10, 1986 the sector was still home to a sizeable fleet of first generation DMUs, spread across several routes and depots. For example, Cambridge had Class 101s for workings to Royston and King’s Lynn, Marylebone was home to the Chiltern Line Class 115s, and Bletchley maintained the BedfordBletchley Class 108s. The bulk of the NSE fleet could be found on the Western Region, though, where the Old Oak Common and
Reading allocations handled inner and outer suburban duties at the London end of the Great Western Main Line. In addition, DMUs for North London and North Downs services onto the Southern were provided by those two depots respectively.
For stopping services between Paddington and Reading and then Reading to Newbury, Oxford and Banbury, the three-car Pressed Steel Class 117s held sway throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, as they had done since delivery at the start of the 1960s. Working alongside them were Class 101s in both two- and three-car formations, while examples of Classes 104, 108 and 119 also appeared. Completing this diverse line-up were the single-car Class 121 Bubble Cars, the versatility of which allowed them to work on their own on branches such as Greenford, paired-up with a driving trailer to the likes of Windsor & Eton Riverside or on the main line ‘stoppers’ in order to strengthen formations.
With all the different DMU types being fully compatible with each other, trains could be formed of different classes, while individual sets also frequently included vehicles from two or three manufacturers. The introduction of the Class 165/1 Turbos on Thames Valley services from 1992, followed by the express-specified Class 166s, brought the end for not only the Class 47-hauled services but also the region’s DMU fleet.
Pressed Steel pairing
A model of the Class 117 was first released by Lima at the beginning of the 1980s, although the headcode box design marked it out more as a BRCW-built Class 118. Amongst a host of issues was the financial decision to only tool the Driving Motor Brake Standard (DMBS) and Trailer
Composite Lavatory (TCL) cars, leaving the set with two brake compartments, as the Driving Motor Standard (DMS) was never produced. This did, however, open the door for a host of articles in the magazines of the time showing how to produce the missing vehicle, not to mention aftermarket conversion kits.
After some persuading, a single-car Class 121 also followed from Lima in the early 1990s, created by irreversibly altering the Class 117 tooling, and this model now resides in the Hornby range. In more recent years, Dapol has released the popular Bubble Cars in OO gauge as well. While this is a high-specification model that has been produced in most of the possible liveries, it is rather undermined by the one-size-fitsall approach taken to the tooling and the ignoring of the modifications made
during the refurbishment programme of the late 1970s and early 1980s.
With a modern rendering of the Class 117 being much required, Bachmann released its version of the DMU a year ago along with a Class 121, the development of the latter being a natural extension given the many shared components between the two types. Happily, the manufacturer did not skimp on the detail specification for its version, with the green, blue/grey and NSEliveried releases displaying the necessary period features. More recently, a re-run of both classes has seen them re-appear fitted with DCC sound chips and it is these models that are featured here.
Branding decisions
Both of the NSE models are finished in the revised darker shade of blue that was introduced at the end of the 1980s, the Class 117 also having the amended rounded corners to the cab stripe upsweeps. Logically, you would expect both to be finished with Thames route logos to recreate their best-remembered and longest-lived days in the red, white and blue colours, but this is not the case.
The Class 121 depicts set L124 (ref 35527SF, RRP £269.95) otherwise known as 55024 as it ran for part of 1989. Although a Thames unit during this period, it did not carry a route logo, while the bodyside NSE branding was also non-standard, being restricted to just a small chevron logo rather than the full Network SouthEast lettering. The Thames badge would be in place by that autumn, and this is available from Railtec Transfers for anyone looking to add it. The destination blinds for this set read Paddington and Greenford.
Equally strange is the decision to give North Downs route logos to the Class 117, which recreates set L425 (ref 35-502SF, RRP £404.95) formed of DMBS 51363, TCL 59515 and DMS 51405. While the class always had a presence on Reading to Gatwick services in NSE days, it was only in the final year or two that the route logos were changed. This followed the introduction of the Turbos on Thames Valley services, which displaced some Class 117s onto the cross-country workings before the new order was also cleared for this route. The above transfers, with a little work, would allow the more common Thames look to be recreated, while the Gatwick Airport blind
would also need attention, the other being Reading. NSE was never the easiest livery to apply, but Bachmann has done a nice job with both models, the various stripes having crisp edges while the finer printing includes Reading and Old Oak Common depot stickers and No Smoking signs.
Under the body
Bachmann has taken a new approach to powering some of its more recent multiple unit models, doing away with the motor and weight block that intruded into part of the interior. Both of these DMUs are therefore equipped with a low-profile mechanism – or two in the case of the ‘117’ – that sits below the seating without unduly compromising the floor height while the well-executed chassis detailing hides the motor enclosure from below.
On the three-car set, the bogie at the inner end of both the DMBS and DMS is powered on both axles, with the rest of the wheels across the set also featuring electrical pick-ups. As a result, power couplings are fitted between the three cars with 14pin connectors to provide the necessary functionality, the trade-off being that they are rather visually intrusive. The Bubble Car is powered on the brake end bogie only, with pick-ups on all wheels, while both DMUs feature standard tension lock couplings at the cab ends that fit into bogiemounted NEM pockets. No provision has been made to fit power couplings at the outer ends, thwarting anyone looking to form a hybrid Class 117/121 set without carrying out modifications.
In terms of lighting, both units feature directional head and tail lights along with independent cab and saloon lighting, while illuminated destination blinds are also fitted. Although DCC will give the best control of the various lighting options, six switches are provided beneath the 121 and the 117 DMBS to enable DC users to be able to switch off the various lights. Each powered car also has a speaker pre-fitted regardless of whether it is supplied with a DCC decoder in place or not.
Making a noise
The sound decoder fitted to both of these models has 29 functions, including all the usual effects such as engine start up and shutdown, brakes, horns, doors slamming and a guard’s whistle and buzzer. Also included are rail joint clatter, flange squeal, and warning detonators, amongst others. As is normal for Bachmann models, some of the sounds will work for DC users, for example engine start, taking power with gear changes and others that are speed dependent.
The quality of the body tooling offers no great surprises either, capturing the look of the Pressed Steel high-density units very well, especially the sizeable former headcode boxes. The roof could perhaps have benefited from a representation of the seam lines, but Bachmann tends to favour a smooth approach nowadays rather than overdone joints as in the past. There is plenty of separate detail, including handrails and grabs, windscreen wipers, sprung buffers and bufferbeam lamp brackets and steps. The security mesh on the guard’s van windows is a neat touch while the exhaust stacks are well executed on both classes with toned-down colours. The accessory bag includes all of the bufferbeam pipes and cables along with screw couplings to finish off the impressive underframe details. Finally, the interior detail is worth a mention, particularly the decorated cab desks. The saloon and brake van areas have the basics that can be enhanced further with passengers and detail painting if desired.
"There is plenty of separate detail, including handrails and grabs, windscreen wipers, sprung buffers and
bufferbeam lamp brackets and steps."