Can we, as customers, for now just talk about the Cavalex 60 in this new thread and leave out the comparisons with competitors until we all have them in our hands in 2025.

Cheers

Steve

Cavalex Models are pleased to announce a newly-tooled Class 56 in 4mm.

The model is already significantly advanced and currently at the tooling stage, having been in the works for the past few years. All variants of the 56 are being tooled, to accurately cover all 135 locomotives produced between 1976 and 1984. The Cavalex 56 has been designed completely from scratch, based on original works drawings from both Electroputere and BREL. We have incorporated numerous innovations into the model which we’re looking forward to showcasing.

Whilst the 56 has been released by other manufacturers in the past, it was an obvious choice for us given the prototype ran with all of our released and forthcoming wagons, and being 56 fans, we wanted to capture the distinct differences between the four main versions of the ‘Grid’. We have deliberately chosen prototypes that don’t conflict with existing models of the class, whilst also releasing liveries never seen in 4mm scale. This extends to liveries not seen on certain versions; for example Red Stripe Railfreight on a Romanian built Class 56.

The Cavalex 56 will be produced to the same high standard of finish as the highly regarded PGA and BBA/BLA wagons, incorporating similar levels of detail and innovation.

The locomotive will incorporate the following features:

● A wealth of separately fitted parts, including bogies which aren’t just one piece mouldings to allow for proper detail relief

● Photo etched grilles throughout the model

● All wheel pick up

● Alloy chassis to allow the locomotive to pull prototypical wagon rakes

● 5 pole motor with twin flywheels, geared for prototypical running speeds with superb slow speed control

● 21 pin DCC interface, with easy DCC fitting provision

● DCC sound and stay alive options (Further news to follow)

● Provision for an EM2 Speaker in the chassis as standard

● Drop in EM/P4 wheelset packs available to order separately to coincide with the release of the model (Further news to follow)

● Separately motor operated roof fans via a function output on DCC, or when moving on DC

● Etched name plates supplied as appropriate

● Both standard and revised cantrail grill options depending on prototype.

The Cavalex Class 56 Range - Run 1.

Product codes are in the brackets -

56008 - BR Blue – (CM - 56008 - BRB) -

56018 - EWS - (CM - 56018 - EWS) -

56019 - Red Stripe railfreight - (CM - 56019 - RSR) -

56023 - Coal Sector - (CM - 56023 - TGCS) -

56046 - Construction Sector - (CM - 56046 - TGC) -

56055 - Loadhaul - (CM - 56055 - LH) -

56070 - BR Blue - (CM - 56070 - BRB) -

56074 - Coal Sector - “Kellingley Colliery” - (CM - 56074 - TGCS) -

56077 - Original Railfreight - (CM - 56077 - OR) -

56093 - Large Logo - Tinsley Celebrity - (CM - 56093 - LL) -

56097 - Metals sector - (CM - 56097 - TGM) -

56120 - Large Logo - (CM - 56120 - LL)

Retailing the Cavalex Class 56:

Continuing their support of retailers, the Cavalex 56 will be a retail only model, available exclusively from all of the retailers listed below:

● Collett’s Models - https://www.collettsmodelshop.co.uk

● C&M Models - https://candmmodels.co.uk

● John Dutfield - https://www.johndutfieldmodelrailways.co.uk

● KMS Railtech - https://www.kmsrailtech.co.uk

● Rails of Sheffield - https://railsofsheffield.com

● Rainbow Railways - https://rainbowrailways.co.uk

● Trains4U - http://www.trains4u.com

● Ultimate Model Railways - https://ultimatemodelrailways.com

Photo courtesy Mike Fraser

Cavalex is teaming up with Ultimate Model Railways to produce the Orenstein & Koppel bogie aggregate open wagon in 4mm scale in OO scale.

The 61 wagons were built by Orenstein & Koppel at their Dortmund works in Germany and introduced in 1988, to meet the expanding business and upgrading of the Foster Yeoman Torr works quarry, for use out of Merehead stone terminal. They were designed to be as short as possible, to give the maximum payload in the shortest possible train length and were a similar size to the successful PTA wagons then in use by Foster Yeoman and ARC, as they were then known. A side door was required, to enable cleaning out to avoid contamination of different materials, but these were rarely used in practice, if at all!

Generally, for design and build purposes they were to run in blocks of 10 wagons, with two outer wagons and 8 inner wagons, but in reality blocks could be any number, depending on depot size and payload required. At some depots the trains had to be split for unloading and reconnected afterwards.

The first two wagons built, both outers, were subject to rigorous type testing before the wagon design was accepted to run on BR metals. The bogie, the O&K 25-100, was new to the UK and resulted in the wagons being restricted to 45mph fully loaded, but this was not a problem with the long, heavy trains being run by Foster Yeoman, so the wagons entered service as soon as they arrived!

The TOPS code was changed in 1990 to JYA, but took some time to appear on all wagons.

The wagons proved very successful, both in operation and maintenance and, although designed for a 20 year life, are still in operation today.

There has been one livery change, around 1997, when the original side plates with the word YEOMAN and big Y logo on were removed from all wagons and replaced with a single plate, which had the Y logo and YEOMAN name on the same plate. The basic Silver grey colour has remained (apart from repair repaints which were mainly grey) but the logo plates have been gradually removed over the years, leaving the wagons looking decidedly grubby in appearance!

The model is already significantly advanced and at the tooling stage of the process. Deliveries are expected during Q4 2023.

The Cavalex PHA/JYA wagons will be produced to the same high standard of finish as the highly regarded PGA and recently arrived TEA bogie tank wagons and will incorporate similar levels of detail.

Both inner and outer wagons have been modelled.

The wagon will incorporate the following features:

• Highly detailed underframe

• Zinc alloy chassis

• Easy conversion to P4/EM, with 26mm axles used as standard

• NEM coupling pockets

• Sprung buffers at one end for outer wagons

• Working knuckle couplers with uncoupling bar for inner wagon ends

• A wealth of separately fitted parts to recreate this highly detailed wagon

Three liveries are announced for the initial run of the PHA/JYA, running numbers and pack details to be confirmed.

PHA – Foster Yeoman livery (outer wagon)

PHA – Foster Yeoman livery (inner wagon)

JYA – Revised Foster Yeoman livery (outer wagon)

JYA – Revised Foster Yeoman livery (inner wagon)

JYA – Unbranded livery (inner wagon)

JYA – Unbranded livery (inner wagon)

The wagons will be priced at £49.99 each and can be pre-ordered through ultimatemodelrailways.com.

This model is exclusive to Ultimate Model Railways and cannot be ordered through any other retailer.

Our thanks to Mike Fraser for all his help with this project.

This model is currently at the design stage of the process.

We would like to pass on our sincere thanks to the staff at Aggregate Industries’ Bardon Hill quarry for allowing us to visit the sidings and conduct further on site research. This visit has proved very useful and now completes the research stage of the process.

Following a recent visit to Bardon Hill, the design stage of the process will now progress at pace. We hope to have this stage of the process completed over the next few months. Further updates will be provided in due course.

Photo courtesy Craig Munday

CDA  

In the mid-1980s a plan was devised to replace the ageing fleet of vacuum braked wagons used for the Cornish china clay traffic. A replacement wagon type was sought and following the success of the HAA design for coal traffic it was decided to trial a converted HAA wagon for use with china clay. The trial wagon was re-coded to CDA and fitted with a roller sheet cover. An order was placed for a fleet of 124 new wagons which were to be built at Doncaster. The design was essentially the same as the HAA except for the roller sheet cover and ventilators at each end to aid discharge without the need to open the cover. A further 14 wagons were converted from HAA's to increase the fleet and also re-coded CDA.  

Some of these wagons are still in service today, as can be seen by the photo below. 

Photo courtesy Craig Munday

We are very excited to release some 3D renders of our 1:76 scale CDA wagon design:  

Further information regarding pre-ordering the CDA will be released shortly. Alongside the HAA, the CDA will be exclusive to KMS Railtech and Trains4U.

Please visit our website for more images.

http://cavalexmodels.com/?page_id=163

We will provide an update for how to submit expressions of interest in due course.

Admin, thanks for putting this under the Cavalex class 60 topic.

Cavalex Models, in collaboration with KMS Railtech and Trains4U, are pleased to announce a newly tooled HAA family of hopper wagons in 4mm scale.

The model is already significantly advanced and at the tooling stage.

Watch out for the full update this Sunday, 20th September at 8pm.

I've taken delivery of the Cavalex CLass 60 DB Red one on Monday and ran it in but I didn't get the chance to fully give it ago. Last night I swapped the buffer beam out to allow access to the NEM pocket. When I tried to put Hunter Coupling and the provided tension lock coupling I noticed it was catching against the top part of the gap in the buffer beam. I am aware of at least one person having this who put his findings on YT before taking the videos down. Is anyone else experiencing this?

I have reached out to Cavalex but haven't heard back from them as yet.

Thanks

is there an easy fix for this problem where the 56 exits the curve, the coupling cant re-centre and it tries to drag the first wagon off behind it....similar to the Hornby issue...which i hoped wouldnt affect the cavalex model due to the curve profile guiding the coupling being less aggressive than the Hornby one.....

happens mainly on the code 75 medium radius points.

anyone else had this issue with Hornby HAAs or am i looking at a loop on the bufferbeam for these loco's as well?

Thanks

Simon

We would like to wish all of our customers and followers a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
Thank you to everyone that has supported us over the past year. We are looking forward to 2023 in which we hope to deliver numerous projects to modellers, both announced and unannounced. 
Merry Christmas!
 

Cavalex Models are pleased to announce our newly-tooled Class 60 in 4mm. The model is already significantly advanced and currently at the tooling stage, having been in the works for the past few years. All variants of the 60 are being tooled, to accurately cover all 100 locomotives produced between first delivery of 60001 in 1989 and the present day operations of the fleet. This will of course see the release of Class 60s in configurations and liveries that haven’t been available before in 1:76.2 scale.

The Cavalex Class 60 has been designed completely from scratch, based on original works drawings from Wabtec and an extensive survey of multiple locomotives at Toton. We have incorporated numerous innovations into the model which we’re looking forward to showcasing. Whilst the 60 has been released by other manufacturers in the past, it was an obvious choice for us given the prototype ran with all of our released and forthcoming wagons.

As with all of our models, the Class 60 has taken years of significant research and development time, which we believe has been well worth it to capture all of the features of this iconic modern type 5 freight loco. The model is currently in tooling and we’re looking forward to showing off a full 3D print of our design at Model Rail Scotland this weekend.

The Cavalex 60 will be produced to the same high standard of finish as our highly regarded wagons as well as our forthcoming class 56, incorporating similar levels of detail and innovation.

THE CAVALEX CLASS 60 SPECIFICATION:
● 21 pin DCC interface and innovative removable panel to allow for easy DCC chip installation and access to the comprehensive dip switch control for DC users, which allows access to all of the DCC functions for lighting, without the need to remove the model from the track.
● Photo etched grilles throughout the model including body side, roof and etched grilles within the clean air bay.
● A wealth of separately fitted parts across the model, including bogies which aren’t just one piece mouldings to allow for proper detail relief as well as the under frame.
● Fully detailed model of the Class 60 engine room visible through the body side grilles.
● Full independently controlled lighting, allowing for parked, yard, light engine, and ‘on train’ modes, with realistic levels of brightness and colour representative of the prototype being modelled. Prototypical day/night lighting configurations for the modern livery examples. Engine room and cab lighting independently controllable via DCC functions.
● Realistically bright (or dim depending how you look at it) cab lighting, driver’s desk with individually printed dials and decorated full depth cab interior as per the prototype.
● Hall sensors for fully adjustable automated flange squeal on sound fitted models. This feature automatically provides the characteristic screech as the wheels enter sharp curves. Not having to activate the sound manually only adds to the immersive effect whilst driving the locomotive.
● Power bank providing smooth uninterrupted running, which combined with floating centre axles, allows trouble free road holding and power.
● 5 pole motor with twin flywheel and low ratio gearbox for prototypical running speeds typical of the class.
● Provision to order drop-in wheelsets to easily convert the loco to EM and P4 gauges for those modellers that wish to showcase the unparalleled levels of detail and accuracy of the model with equally accurate trackwork.
● Highly detailed and accurate underframe with numerous separately fitted parts.
● Individual details and finish that has been rigorously researched and applied to each model to represent the individual prototype as accurately as possible.
● DCC sound with custom ESU project for our factory fitted sound version and stay alive fitted to all models. EM1 type Speaker and additional sugar cube speaker in the chassis as standard for a balanced combination of low and high frequency sounds to accurately reproduce the prototype via a custom recorded sound project.
● Etched name plates as appropriate to each model number.
● Two styles of cab roof mounted horns to accurately recreate all prototypes.
● Further yet to be announced innovative features.

The Cavalex Class 60 Range - Run 1.

Product codes are in the brackets

60027 - “Joseph Banks” Triple Grey Metals (CM - 60027 - TGP)

60061 “Alexander Graham Bell” - (CM - 60061 - TGCL)

60049 “Scafell” - (CM - 60049 - TGM)

60017 “Arenig Fawr” - (CM - 60017 - TGCN)
60059 - “Swinden Dalesmen” - (CM - 60059 - LH)

60018 - EWS - (CM - 60018 - EWS)

60010 - Debranded DB Cargo UK - (CM - 60010 - DB)

60076 - Colas Railfreight - (CM - 60076 - Colas)

60028 - Cappagh - (CM - 60028 - CB)

60087 - GBRf) - (CM - 60087 - GBRF)

Please note the above images are for illustration purposes only - the final models may differ.

Retailing the Cavalex Class 60:
Continuing our support of retailers, the Cavalex 60 will be a retail only model, available exclusively from all of our retailers listed below:
● Collett’s Models - https://www.collettsmodelshop.co.uk
● C&M Models - https://candmmodels.co.uk
● EHEE Limited -
● John Dutfield - https://www.johndutfieldmodelrailways.co.uk
● KMS Railtech - https://www.kmsrailtech.co.uk
● Rails of Sheffield - https://railsofsheffield.com
● Rainbow Railways - https://rainbowrailways.co.uk
● Trains4U - http://www.trains4u.com
● Ultimate Model Railways - https://ultimatemodelrailways.com
● TTC Diecast - https://www.ttcdiecast.com
● Cheltenham Model Centre - https://cheltenhammodelcentre.com
 

Photo courtesy John Whiteley

Photo courtesy Alan Padley
102 Tonne GLW Class A bogie tank wagon.
Built in the late 1980s by The Standard Wagon Company for Total Oil.
Built in two batches, numbered 85930 – 85944 and design code TE009D and 85960 – 85974 TE009F and fitted with Gloucester GPS 25 bogies.
Since their introduction into service in the late 1980s, these bogie tank wagons have seen use throughout the network from Wales in the west, the south coast right up to the north east of England.

Some examples:
Oil refinery at Immingham to storage terminals around the country including; Leeds, Kinsbury (Birmingham), Westerleigh (South Gloucestershire), Bedworth (Warwichshire), Colwick (near Nottingham) and Jarrow (South Tyneside).

Milford Haven/Robeston oil refinery – Westerleigh (South Gloucestershire), Theale (West Berkshire) and Bedworth (Between Coventry and Nuneaton).

Eastleigh area being used on the regular flows from Holybourne to Fawley oil refinery (Hampshire, near Southampton) until the flow ceased a few years ago.

VTG currently own the wagons are they are still in operation today being seen working out of the Lindsey oil refinery.

In addition, four TEA tank wagons have been converted to KBA barrier wagons for use with new S-Stock Underground transfers. The KBA wagons are numbers; 85937, 85933, 85936 and 85943.

The Cavalex Models TEA bogie tank wagon will be released in 4mm and 2mm scales. We have a few further tweaks to make to the design and we plan to open the pre-order process at the start of next month.

The following CADs showcase our TEA wagon which is about 95% complete. The bogies are currently placeholders. 

Proposed liveries:
TEA – Total grey
TEA – Livery for current period to be confirmed soon.
KBA – Barrier wagon
 

(C) Brian Daniels

 

65 Warflats were built at Shildon for the Ministry Of Defence between 1976 and 1981, originally built with through vacuum piping in addition to the air brakes, with the TOPS classification PFB, they were converted for air braked use only during the 1990s.  Some received the PFA code before the K prefix came into use (KFB/KFA).  These wagons are primarily used for transporting soft skin and light armoured vehicles, but can be used for a variety of loads, including bridges and even steam locomotives.  KFAs are still in wide use by the MOD today.
The KFA is a very versatile wagon and can be seen running in long rakes, or in smaller numbers, even ones or twos, mixed in with other common wagon types, such as Warwells,  OCAs, and VBA, VDA or VGA vans.

The wagon will incorporate the following features:

•        Close coupling mechanism

•        NEM coupling pockets

•        Sprung buffers

•        Weathered effect decking

•        Detailed underframe

•        Zinc alloy frame

•        Will accept EM/P4 Wheelsets

The KFA is a much sought after wagon in OO scale and a personal favourite of mine, appearing high on the annual polls and wish lists for several years. 

We decided to ask Cavalex to manufacture the KFA for us following the release of their PGA wagon, and the quality and commitment to accuracy they have demonstrated in delivering what is a highly regarded and popular model.

We expect this wagon to be very popular, especially given the range of complimentary wagons and load options already available in the marketplace.    As well as a fully detailed underframe, we are also aiming to replicate another key feature of the wagon, which is sun-bleached and weathered wooden decking.   The wood quickly faded and marked, and we feel that this will add to the realism of the finished product.
 

Two liveries are announced for the initial run, with four different running numbers available in each livery.
 

·        PFB in Olive green with green jacks – suitable from construction (1976-81) through to the early 1990s

·        KFA in Olive green with yellow jacks and bufferbeams – suitable for late 1990s through to present day

The wagons will be priced at £35.00 each and can be pre-ordered through Trains4U.com or by contacting the shop directly.  

No deposits or up front payments are required for orders as this is not a crowd-funded model.

This model is exclusive to Trains4U

CAD work is complete and the model is expected to go into the tooling stage once the required number of orders is reached.  Deliveries are expected during late summer/early autumn 2020

The Cavalex KFA will be produced to the same high standard of finish as their highly regarded PGA wagon and will incorporate similar levels of detail. 

Cavalex KFA Flyer 1 page.pdf

Update 1st August 2020

The first production samples have been delivered 

more details on page 3 of this thread...

Cavalex Class 56 joins the fleet (youtube.com)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orI2LDKhhW0