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

[LNERandBR]

On the 37's activation of the Flange Squeal is still on a function button.

 

Turn the function on then the loco will squeal on the curves as dictated by the sensor. Turn it off and there is no squealing. Therefore, you can pick and choose if you want it to activate or not :)

 

[55020]

And you cannot adjust the sensitivity/angles or anything else.   Flange squeel On or Off is the only control.

 

Steve

[derekdoestrains]

2 hours ago, 55020 said:

And you cannot adjust the sensitivity/angles or anything else.   Flange squeel On or Off is the only control.

 

Steve

but it does adjust to the speed… 

[Craig1989]

Just had a phone call from rails confirming my details as they said the 31s are couple of months away. Wonder if they will be here for Xmas? 
 

cheers Craig 

[Accurascale]

Class 31 Production Update - October 2023

 

 

Launched at Model Rail Scotland in 2022, our Class 30 and 31 has been cooking way while our Class 37 and Manor arrive in stock. We're still playing catch-up with factory schedules due to COVID lockdowns in China in early 2023, but recently we travelled to China to see our Class 31 progress into assembly. 

 

As reported in June, we had to go through the first EP samples with a fine toothcomb. On the surface, they looked lovely, and many of you will have seen them in our cabinets at recent shows. However, a lot of work was required to get them spot on. We executed 99% of this successfully, but following our last update, there was one area that modellers pointed out still just was not quite right; the bodyside grilles.

 

 

Unfortunately the consistency of the bodyside grilles was incorrect, with an uneven fitting of slats. It has taken more work and altering than we would've liked to get this correct, but we have finally got it spot on following some tooling alterations.

 

 

As we saw in the factory, it is now where we want them to be. Another area of improvement of fit and finish required was around the bufferbeam area, which has also now been solved to our satisfaction.

 

 

While we were working on the fit and finish of these areas we were able to work to improve the locomotive on the electronics side. Oddly, our first sample with fully working cab dials came with them in red, offering a rather odd and bright appearance. These are now corrected to a colour consistent with out Class 37, 92 and Deltic.

 

 

Hellfire! (but for all the wrong reasons!)

We have also taken an opportunity to up the already extensive lighting functions present on our current locomotives even further, with an industry first! From the 50s to the late '80s/early '90s, the drivers head light was operated as a single light - either side. The 31s kept individual switches for tail lights, so there is a L/H tail light switch that is ON-OFF and a R/H tail light switch that is ON-OFF.

 

 

Our model will be able to faithfully capture this prototypical feature, on both DC/DCC! Not only that, but our working fan, although powered by a separate motor, can also work on DC as well as DCC! For DC users, it will be controllable with the switches under the magnetic roof panel. For DCC users, your decoder will have all this functionality. 

 

 

We have just returned from visiting the factory in China and we saw that production is well under way. Everything has been cast and moulded and painting is almost complete for batch 1, with assembly about to get underway. Batch 2 is also moulded and painting is underway.

They're wheely coming along! (sorry!)

 

 

Body shells awaiting painting as part of batch 2. 

 

 

Chassis blocks being prepped before paint.

 

 

In further good news, we brought the factory the specifications required for our drop-in EM and P4 wheelsets, so look out for updates on those ahead of delivery for you fine scale modellers. 

And finally, the biggest news of all; we managed to finally track down a high quality sound recording of the original Mirrlees power unit and we are in the final stages of perfecting the sound file for these original Brush Type 2s. Watch out for a video preview of these in the coming weeks! It will be offered as a separate plug and play decoder which modellers can install along with a large Accurathrash speaker for full effect!

 

 

 

So, the big questions are; when? Is the loco delayed further? 

Yes, there is a further slight delay. We're really disappointed about that, and we know you are too. The 31 has proven to be a massive challenge to get right. Could we have just accepted it as a 98% model with the grilles buffer beam and put it out there? Perhaps, but we just couldn't be cynical and do it. We see how many people love the standard of our locomotives, and we just cannot let the standards diminish. So, we take that extra time to make it better. It's our way. We hate delays, but it has got to be where we are happy with it before we can put it out there. Now it is in a place where we are happy with it. 

 

So, the updated schedule is as follows;

 

Batch 1:

ACC2741-5544

ACC2742-5544DCC

ACC2745-31248

ACC2746-31248DCC

ACC2749-31409

ACC2750-31409DCC

ACC2753-31402

ACC2754-31402DCC

ACC2761-31432

ACC2762-31432DCC

ACC2781-31128

ACC2782-31128DCC

 

These will arrive in stock at our warehouse in Q1 2024.

 

Batch 2:

ACC2729-D5549

ACC2735-D5615

ACC2737-5803

ACC2738-5803DCC

ACC2739-5674

ACC2740-5674DCC

ACC2755-31110

ACC2756-31110DCC

ACC2769-31420

ACC2770-31420DCC

ACC2771-31514

ACC2772-31514DCC

ACC2773-31421

ACC2774-31421DCC

 

These models are due late Q2 2024.

Our exclusives including 31407, 31466, our Network Rail pair and limited edition models for Hornby Magazine, Model Rail Magazine and Rails of Sheffield will be Q3 2024.

 

 

We apologise for this delay, but with production now well underway delivery will be smooth. For those of you who know what to expect following delivery of our Class 37, 92, Manor or Deltic, you know that getting it right now ahead of delivery will be well worth waiting for. 

Most of these locos are sold out direct, but we still have some of our exclusives available. Make sure you check them out via the link here: https://www.accurascale.com/collections/brush-type-2-class-30-31

 

 

 

Edited October 12, 2023 by Accurascale

[Southernman46]

The NRM 31018 version would be Q3 2024 (wasn't mentioned specifically) ?

[Albie the plumber]

Great spec , looking good !

[rorz101uk]

Gives me time to save up! You guys are doing a great job, in any business there’s always set backs, it’s all about communication!

 

with regard to the taillights these would have been right in the early years, going to Probably 80s the switch had a mod where there was a bar across both switches to turn it on, and then with the NR 31, the taillights control at the end, so No. 1 end would control No.1 taillights where as originally no.1 end would control No2 end taillights. 

[Vecchio]

Terrible stuff. Just had to pre-order one...

[Krieghoff]

Hi Chaps

could you enlighten me on 31276 class 31 'calder hall power station' for Key Publishing. It doesnt seem to have been mentioned in despatches. 
 

just need an idea of roughly which Qtr that will arrive. 
 

thanks

[Chris56057]

15 minutes ago, Krieghoff said:

Hi Chaps

could you enlighten me on 31276 class 31 'calder hall power station' for Key Publishing. It doesnt seem to have been mentioned in despatches. 
 

just need an idea of roughly which Qtr that will arrive. 
 

thanks

It is mentioned above under Hornby Magazine as arriving in Q3 2024. 

[Nigel Emery]

19 minutes ago, Krieghoff said:

Hi Chaps

could you enlighten me on 31276 class 31 'calder hall power station' for Key Publishing. It doesnt seem to have been mentioned in despatches. 
 

just need an idea of roughly which Qtr that will arrive. 
 

thanks

I think there’s only one limited edition for Hornby Magazine / Key and therefore it’s Q3/24

Edited October 12, 2023 by Nigel Emery

[Covkid]

.  Mmm that's mine on the left 5544 and doesn't she look tasty ?

Well done Accurascale for maintaining the high standards

[rob D2]

I've accidentally ordered 31514 and 466. No idea why the first one , but i'm jumping on the bandwagon 

[ERIC ALLTORQUE]

 

[carefreeroz]

Thanks for update guys. Don't stress about delays, just get them spot on. People will prefer that in the long run. Looking forward to my two beauties.

 

Keep up the great work!

[Andy7]

Looking great and well done for the tweaking.

 

As accurascale brought up the topic of prototypical lighting;

Will there be an option to turn off front lighting leaving only tail lights on when pushing a train or in top and tail mode? 

[Chatham.mrc]

looking forward to both of mine. The delay gives me chance to save some more penny's and maybe buy a third one haha

[Melton Works]

On 12/10/2023 at 19:37, ERIC ALLTORQUE said:

 

Network Rail yellow already outdated!

[Southernman46]

Watched that man play 4 keyboards at the same time ............................ what a cool dude

[ERIC ALLTORQUE]

13 hours ago, Southernman46 said:

Watched that man play 4 keyboards at the same time ............................ what a cool dude

While driveing a 31................:)

[atom3624]

I saw / heard him in a concert with his son at New Brighton perhaps 10-15 years ago - absolutely fantastic!

 

Al.

[TomScrut]

To the guys at Accurascale, when will we be able to request stock alerts for the already sold out 31s? I understand from a post elsewhere that they go out in batches based on when they are signed up for so would like to be near the front of the queue! Cheers!

[Dicky L]

9 hours ago, TomScrut said:

To the guys at Accurascale, when will we be able to request stock alerts for the already sold out 31s? I understand from a post elsewhere that they go out in batches based on when they are signed up for so would like to be near the front of the queue! Cheers!

There is the option "Email me if one comes available' on each loco on website. 

[TomScrut]

9 minutes ago, Dicky L said:

There is the option "Email me if one comes available' on each loco on website. 

 

I can't see it on the 31s, that's what I am getting at. It tells you it's sold out, then also still has the pre order button (which takes you to an empty cart) but no alert option.

 

Edited November 19, 2023 by TomScrut