Class 31, by Accurascale - It's time 2 Brush Up!

[No Decorum]

17 minutes ago, Michael Hodgson said:

If I recollect correctly on some the early models they were part of the bogie moulding and lacked flanges to help them go round train set curves.

Those were the Airfix ones. They looked awful, especially as the power bogie had contrasting metal wheels. I couldn’t bring myself to buy one.

[No Decorum]

21 minutes ago, Dagworth said:

Yes, driving wheels 3’7”, carrying wheels 3’3.5”

 

Andi

It would require some complicated gearing to drive the centre wheels. I think Accurascale has made the right choice. There have been some models with unpowered centre bogie wheels where the real thing has them powered – ViTrains for example. In spite of my preference for having them driven, I must admit they work fine.

[Dagworth]

6 minutes ago, No Decorum said:

Those were the Airfix ones. They looked awful, especially as the power bogie had contrasting metal wheels. I couldn’t bring myself to buy one.

The old Tri-Ang Brush type 2 also had moulded dummy centre wheels on the power bogie. They seemed less of an eyesore than the Airfix ones 

 

Andi

[No Decorum]

1 minute ago, Dagworth said:

The old Tri-Ang Brush type 2 also had moulded dummy centre wheels on the power bogie. They seemed less of an eyesore than the Airfix ones 

 

Andi

Interesting. I’m inclined to think that models should be consistent, even if not entirely accurate. Airfix was the worst for inconsistency – metal loco wheels but plastic tender wheels was another example. Are we not fortunate to have left such things far behind?

[adb968008]

9 hours ago, PieGuyRob said:

Can I ask if:-

31410 Granada Telephon in regional railways,

 

31455 Oor Eli in Regional Railways 

 

31472 in Regional Railways,

 

Will be offered in the future? I saw them all on Blackpool club trains way back when, when I was too young to get them for haulage, as I was still at school. I think they would be good follow ups to Wigan Pier. Also 37407 named Blackpool Tower, guess where I live......

31410 "Granada Telethon"
31421 "Wigan Pier"
31439 "North Yorkshire Moors Railway"
31455 "Our Eli"
31465
 

take your pick, but 472… i assume is a typo.

[Roy Langridge]

1 hour ago, Michael Hodgson said:

Yeah, but the prototype was only powered on two of the axles on each bogie.

Yep, I know that as I own shares in five of the real thing 😃

 

Roy

[PieGuyRob]

1 hour ago, adb968008 said:

31410 "Granada Telethon"
31421 "Wigan Pier"
31439 "North Yorkshire Moors Railway"
31455 "Our Eli"
31465
 

take your pick, but 472… i assume is a typo.

Yeah. 410, 421 and 455 I remember seeing at Blackpool when I was a kid. 410's huge nameplate always stuck in my mind.

[97406]

8 hours ago, Michael Hodgson said:

If I recollect correctly on some the early models they were part of the bogie moulding and lacked flanges to help them go round train set curves.

 

I remember that - The Triang one! Didn’t it have a motor bogie made out of pig iron and a plastic trailing bogie? I seem to recall that.

 

Edit to add…

 

Edited June 18, 2023 by 97406

[Melton Works]

On 17/06/2023 at 12:57, Goodnight Sweetheart said:

End of life (with EWS) 31110 Traction Magazine in BR Green would be nice to go with 466 as part of the EWS heritage fleet. 

Yes! Remember when this was in the 1999 EWS "Stay of Execution" ELR event and named Traction Magazine, by editor David Brown. Nose doors and disc headcode reinstated, bodyside grills modified and a full repaint. This loco is definitely a good call!

[Melton Works]

15 hours ago, Roy Langridge said:

Yep, I know that as I own shares in five of the real thing 😃

 

Roy

Yup A1A wheel formation 😊

[Ray M]

12 hours ago, 97406 said:

 

I remember that - The Triang one! Didn’t it have a motor bogie made out of pig iron and a plastic trailing bogie? I seem to recall that.

 

Edit to add…

 

And does it still spark, from the tracks, like its running on 3rd rail.

[Phil Bullock]

52 minutes ago, Ray M said:

And does it still spark, from the tracks, like its running on 3rd rail.

I love the smell of ozone in the morning… 😉

[Southernman46]

I cannot criticise the dear old thing for it is what got me started all those years ago when this was my most prized possession

 

 

[Fredo]

Hi, thanks for the updates on the Class 31’s. Any plans to fit crews in the locos?  Thanks Fred

[uk_pm]

These locomotives are looking - and sending - absolutely first rate; how exciting.

 

The latest update includes a tantalising picture of 31 018 in BR blue, but I cannot find this model for sale.  Can anyone point me in the right direction, please?

 

PM 

[Alycidon]

They're exclusive to Locomotion Models, this link should take you there

 

Not sure how you post a link in here, but if you google Locomotion Models and go to the exclusives page, that'd where they are

[Roy Langridge]

1 hour ago, Alycidon said:

They're exclusive to Locomotion Models, this link should take you there

 

Not sure how you post a link in here, but if you google Locomotion Models and go to the exclusives page, that'd where they are

 

Like this: https://www.locomotionmodels.com/exclusives/future-releases/class-31-no-31018_1 😉

 

Hope that helps,

Roy

[Pete the Elaner]

20 hours ago, 97406 said:

 

I remember that - The Triang one! Didn’t it have a motor bogie made out of pig iron and a plastic trailing bogie? I seem to recall that.

 

Edit to add…

 

 

Yes, it was iron because it was magnetic to increase tractive effort. This was possible in the 70s when most (all?) of us had steel track, but it doesn't work with the alloy of Nickel silver we now use.

[newbryford]

Just now, Pete the Elaner said:

 

Yes, it was iron because it was magnetic to increase tractive effort. This was possible in the 70s when most (all?) of us had steel track, but it doesn't work with the alloy of Nickel silver we now use.

 

 

The Tri-ang TT 31 had a magnet as part of the bogie.

 

 

[uk_pm]

9 hours ago, Alycidon said:

They're exclusive to Locomotion Models, this link should take you there

 

Not sure how you post a link in here, but if you google Locomotion Models and go to the exclusives page, that'd where they are

Thank you.

[uk_pm]

8 hours ago, Roy Langridge said:

 

Like this: https://www.locomotionmodels.com/exclusives/future-releases/class-31-no-31018_1 😉

 

Hope that helps,

Roy

Thank you.

[PieGuyRob]

On 19/06/2023 at 01:39, Melton Works said:

Yes! Remember when this was in the 1999 EWS "Stay of Execution" ELR event and named Traction Magazine, by editor David Brown. Nose doors and disc headcode reinstated, bodyside grills modified and a full repaint. This loco is definitely a good call!

That was a good day out!😊

[Accurascale]

Shedding Some Light On The Network Rail Class 31s, Our Latest Accurascale Exclusive Pair!

 

We are very happy to reveal a pair of very special Class 31s in our Accurascale Exclusives range, Nos. 31105 and 31285 in Network Rail yellow. Like many past models in this series, such as ‘Deltic’ No. 9016 Gordon Highlander in Porterbrook purple and Class 97/3 No. 97301, these additional releases showcase a considerable amount of unique tooling to accurately depict these locomotives in 4mm scale.

 

The acquisition of the venerable Brush Type 2s by Network Rail, which eventually totalled five locomotives, was something of a formalisation of the previous arrangement between its predecessor Railtrack and Fragonset to provide motive power for infrastructure monitoring trains. This deal had even seen one member of the class, No. 31190, repainted in Railtrack’s blue and green house colours before the company was forced into administration.

 

 

No. 31285 was the first Class 31 to be outshopped in NR yellow, being released from Fragonset’s workshops at the former RTC site in Derby in October 2003. While the livery was striking enough, even more dramatic was the addition of five large spotlight brackets (two on the lower cab front and three on the cab roof) and a forward facing camera in the plated nose door at the No.2 end.

 

 

The ultra violet spotlights – of various designs over time – gave it the nickname ‘scooter’ and were deployed when running with the Structure Gauging Train and were also fitted to Nos. 31233 and 31602 (cab roof only). Meanwhile, the No.1 end also featured various sockets for connecting to the test coaches.

 

 

At the start of 2008, No. 31285 debuted new larger LED tail lights and, at the same time, lost its original windscreen washer jets and baffles in favour of new wiper-mounted versions. After 12 years of service with NR and some 54 years after being delivered to Tinsley as D5817 in October 1961, it was retired and sold to Harry Needle in August 2015. It has been based at the Weardale Railway ever since, still with full light package, and is operational.

 

 

No. 31105 was the third of Network Rail’s Class 31s to return to traffic and the only former disc headcode-fitted locomotive in the fleet, although it could often be found partnered with Howard Johnston’s hired in Fragonset, later BR blue-liveried, ‘skinhead’ No. 31106 on test trains. The former D5523, new to Stratford in March 1959 and withdrawn from Bescot in May 1997, was selected in 2002 for rebirth in NR’s QADD pool along with No. 31107.

 

 

While the latter fell by the wayside, No. 31105 was released from Derby in yellow in August 2004, externally almost unchanged from its previous condition, even retaining the extra lamp iron on its plated nose doors. However, by the second half of 2005, Derby had taken the opportunity to remove the cab roof vent cover from the No.1 end cab roof to match the No.2 end that had been rebuilt in early 1984. While in late 2007, the front ends were further modified with same LED tail lights and the washer jet modifications described above with No. 31285.

All good things come to an end though and No. 31105 was withdrawn for the second time in February 2015, leaving just No. 31233 still active for NR. Still in working order, it was occasionally used as a shunter at the RTC site before being sold into preservation at the Mangapps Railway in Essex in October 2018.

 

Accurascale’s extensive Class 31 tooling suite has been designed to cover Nos. 31105 and 31285 and Network Rail’s other trio of Brush machines, Nos. 31233, 31465 and 31602. As well as the modified cab roofs, fully functioning spotlights and No. 31105’s additional lamp irons, other never before produced tooling on our initial NR pairing correctly dates these locomotives to the period from 2008 onwards with LED tail lights / washer jet modifications.

 

Of course, the lights should be more purple in hue and they will be on the finished production models. The brightness will also be dulled down on the production models too. 

 

This latest pair of 'Peds' are now available to pre-order direct via the Accurascale website only in both DC/DCC Ready and DCC sound fitted formats. We are due decoration samples towards the end of this year and delivery will take place in Q3 2024. As will all Accurascale Exclusives, both locomotives will be complete with special presentation packaging. 

 

Pre-order with no money down by clicking the link: https://www.accurascale.com/collections/brush-type-2-class-30-31

[WCML100]

Just what we needed! Order will be duly placed. We have all been waiting for a 31 with all the (extra) bells and whistles! 

 

One observation (and I assume like the colour not being purple enough), the size of the spot lights will smaller on production? 

[Accurascale Fran]

12 minutes ago, WCML100 said:

Just what we needed! Order will be duly placed. We have all been waiting for a 31 with all the (extra) bells and whistles! 

 

One observation (and I assume like the colour not being purple enough), the size of the spot lights will smaller on production? 

Hi @WCML100,

 

To make them fully functional and robust we had to make them slightly overscale, so the finished model lamps will be this size.

 

Cheers!

 

Fran