Revolution Ben

Nice pic. Is it pulling a CCT? Incidentally, I've always been intrigued by photos of DMUs with mixed up liveries - either a combination of green/blue cars or, as in this image, a mix of blue/grey and plain blue. Nowadays diesel and electric units tend to run in fixed formation and are, largely, permanently coupled. Were the various Class 120 vehicles swapped around between units? Or did they just paint them piecemeal? cheers Ben

Hi all, It is fair to say that a 2024 delivery date is unlikely, but at the time it was given in good faith and after we had surveyed the similar Class 126 at Bo'ness. Unfortuntately subsequent efforts to clarify the details on the underframe and elsewhere on the vehicles have proved difficult, though we have had some very useful help from outside including some from RM Webbers. The difficulty for us is that we are all a bit OCD about accuracy and detail. We realise that we are in a minority, and that we *could* have produced a model by now that would probably have 80% of people enthused. But there would be 20% who'd be disappointed, including everyone at Revolution, and that is why we don't have anything we are prepared to show yet. We have very recently located some *much* better drawings than previously available, and I am fairly sure that the next 4-6 months will see this project pick up speed. cheers Ben A.

I think they tended to operate in block trains however they do appear to have been mixed with other car carriers on occasion: Didcot-Mossend (with two HEAs in the consist..!): Castle Bromwich-Southampton (with the IPA car carriers already offered by Revolution): And the odd set could also be seen in consists being taken for maintenance or on trials: cheers Ben A.

Hi all, We will be at Model World Live at the NEC this weekend with more info on this for those interested. cheers Ben A.

Hi there, Yes - but nothing we are in a position to share online. if you're at Model World Live at the NEC this weekend we'd be happy to give more info in person. cheers Ben A.

Hi all, On a recent trip to South Wales we watched a couple of Port Talbot's CBD-90s (931, 933) shuffling back and forth with steel wagons between Port Talbot steelworks and the adjacent yard at Margam. If anyone is heading to Model World Live at the NEC this weekend we will have (undecorated) samples of the loco and the canvas covered steel carriers on display. cheers Ben A.

Hello all, Revolution Trains will be there on stand A27 - we're diagonally opposite to the left as you walk in so should be easy to spot if you're visiting. We decided to attend because (a) at the time it was the only NEC show in the offing and (b) because I think the idea of a mixed-media show is new and exciting, and offers something different. We'll have some more N gauge Class 66 deco samples on display, including a couple of retailer commissions, as well as some samples, and we are announcing a new model too. More info plus a map on our website news page www.revolutiontrains.com/news Hope to see you there! cheers Ben A.

Ironically, given the images Hornby have published, it is only if the models now arrive *with* the front coupler you want that you will be able to say you were misled. cheers Ben A.

These models are a commission for Model Rail so information about them will be in the magazine, including livery selections and ordering details. cheers Ben A.

Roy, The wagons are in production but they aren't yet ready to ship. Once they are we will start issuing balance invoice requests, that is usually the clue that models are imminent. cheers Ben A.

Hi there, I believe some retailers still have stocks of DCC Sound models, depending on the livery you want, or you can obtain a DC silent model and upgrade to sound using the E24 Nano decoder from DC kits. All the locos have an easy-to-access decoder socket beneath the removable engine cover, and have speakers factory fitted and pre-wired in. However, when ordering please ensure you order the ESU E24 Nano variant (not Next 18, which won't fit) and make sure the sound project is correct for your model, as the lighting functions are different for 59/0 and 59/1-2. cheers Ben A.

Hello there, As with the detail variations above, I have received several questions asking about lighting on the Class 59s. Below is a brief summary, but there are full details with images of all modes explained on the Revolution website here: https://revolutiontrains.com/revolution-class-59-let-there-be-lights/ Class 59/0 When hauling a train on the mainline the Class 59/0s all feature both headlights and both side marker lights lit. In additionl GBRf's 59003 has the top marker that was added to make it UIC compliant when it moved to the continent in 1996. This mode is how the Revolution model operates on DC. When shunting it is normal for just the marker lights to be used; and when parked the locomotives show red lights at both ends. Mainline, Shunt and Park modes can all be recreated with the Revolution model on DCC. Class 59/1 and 59/2 By the time the Class 59/1 and 59/2 locomotives were built, BMAC light clusters had become the standard, so the locomotives were designed with these from new. Unlike the 50/0s they feature different modes for day and night running. From the driver's point of view, day running requires the right headlight and left marker lit, and night running vice versa. Because this requires four separate light inputs a Next 18 decoder cannot offer these functions, as well as tail lights and cab interior lights, so this is why we went with the new E25 (Next 28) interface. Day running is the default on DC, but DCC users can switch to night running mode. When shunting it is normal for just the marker lights to be used; and when parked the locomotives show red lights at both ends. Mainline, Shunt and Park modes can all be recreated with the Revolution model on DCC. Apologies for the poor quality images - they were snapped on my phone and cropped to focus on the lights. cheers Ben A.

Hi there, The 59s were trialled on the iron ore trains for a while. ARC 59104: Foster Yeoman 59001: cheers Ben A. cheers

Hi there, As we have said often, steam is rather outside our comfort zone. When we do offer a first steam locomotive it is likely to be something relatively simple so we can use it as a learning process. Jumping straight in with something like the Garratt is not on the cards. Besides, if Hattons, having gone to the trouble and expense of launching it, found that it was unsustainable could we do better? Their reach was signficantly higher than ours! cheers Ben A.

Hi all, There are no limits on what retailers can order, but the wagons won't be here for a while yet. cheers Ben A.

Hi there, The 66 is a little different to our other projects, in that it wasn't pre-order funded. You can order any of the standard Revolution releases from retailers. The only models exclusively available from Revolution are the Bespoke versions, where you can specify a different running number to suit your own needs. cheers Ben A.

The liveries will come when we open the order book, which won't be for a few weeks yet. cheers Ben A.

Hi all, Just to be clear, 66302 in rebranded GBRf is available to pre-order via Revolution Bespoke - Rails have just used the image from our website. It isn't a limited edition for anyone. cheers Ben A.

Hi Paul, The sheer number and longevity of the 66s in original EWS format has made processing the myriad options for this version a Herculanean task. It is being done, and as quickly as possible. As soon as the EWS Bespoke variants are all available to be pre-ordered we will let people know. The caveat is that the ordering window will, inevitably, be short. You haven't missed it, but please keep an eye on our website and socials. cheers Ben A.

Hello all, We are thrilled our 59/0s are feeling the love - the delayed 59/1s and 59/2s are coming soon but we won't be sending any out until after Easter. As ever fully paid-up pre-order customers will receive their models first. For a full update see here: https://revolutiontrains.com/news/ cheers Ben

Please email the support address in your instructions for assistance with these issues. cheers Ben A.

Nice repaint but does anyone know why this loco received Railfreight Distribution lettering in red, and half height, rather than the larger black version applied to some other 90s, 92s and 47s? cheers Ben A.

Hi Ixion, I am sure we will produce more 59s in the future but I doubt it would be for at least a couple of years, and certainly not while our retailers still have stocks. I agree that it is quite possible that 59005 was delivered in the darker blue - certainly images of it from the 1989 Merehead open day suggest this - but without further research I wouldn't be able to say for certain. cheers Ben A.

I am reluctant to post in another manufacturer's page so rather than go into details here I have added some explanatory notes about details and lighting in the Revolution thread. cheers Ben A.

Hi all, There've been some questions here and elsewhere about the detail combinations on the various Class 59s. We've previously illustrated these on our website but I thought it helpful to repost to save everyone trawling back through websites and threads. The Revolution model of 59001 represents the locos as delivered. At this time they had no radio roof pods and the bogies had single vertical dampers on each outer axle. The exhaust port was on the left side. The blue colour was the original lighter shade, and front and side handrails were silver. This shows 59001 in its original form - note the darker blue on the PGA wagons. Later, radio roof pods were added at both ends on fabricated base plinths, the axle dampers were both moved in to the centre, horizontal yaw dampers were added and to prevent exhaust fumes and particles getting drawn into the clean air compartment grill that is directly below the exit when on the driver's side (this information from Steadfast) the exhaust port was moved to the right side. When repaints came due the blue was harmonised to the darker shade and handrails were painted white. In 1998 a revised version of the Foster Yeoman livery was introduced. The original Foster Yeoman order was for four locomotives. When they decided to add a fifth it was built alongside the four then being constructed for ARC Southern, that would become the Class 59/1. Although 59005 retained the original end light patterns, the bodyshell had now been designed with recesses for the roof pods and these were incorporated, so 59005 has a unique combination of 59/0 style lights and 59/1 style roof. For some reason, the roof pods on CLass 59/1 locos are at the outer ends of the recesses, whereas on 59/2 locos they are in the centre. 59005 also has the revised design of catches for the pyramidal roof access panels. These differed again on the Class 59/2s! There are other idiosyncrasies within the class, but these are the main ones we have focused on. With thanks to Kernow Model Rail Centre for use of these images. KMRC also has stocks of 59002 in attractive Mendip Rail green/orange livery. cheers Ben A.