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RTR Merseyrail Class 507/508


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does anybody know if Bachmann (or anyone else for that matter) has any plans to release class 507's or 508's.

there are several southern units out now as well as heritage and modern image dmu's. 

but as far as i'm aware nobody has ever produced ready to run 507/508 units, despite the fact they've been serving liverpool and the wirral since the late 70's and are very similar to the 313's which ran out of kings cross.

i know several kits have been produced but these units would be a nice addiction to the rtr unit market, esp being dragged by a 73. 

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But bear in mind, the limited operations, 150s, found in north west, north east, central, and south west England and Wales, 507s/508s, limited use with Silverlink on the WCML, and the Merseyrail ones only to be found in the northwest, so really if you compare the two, the 150 seems/ed a better choice, and its a nice model

NL

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But bear in mind, the limited operations, 150s, found in north west, north east, central, and south west England and Wales, 507s/508s, limited use with Silverlink on the WCML, and the Merseyrail ones only to be found in the northwest, so really if you compare the two, the 150 seems/ed a better choice, and its a nice model

 

NL

 

Don't forget that all 43 of the 508's were initially used on the Southern Region (early 80's) and we have had some come back down south again in Connex, Southeastern Trains, South Eastern and SilverLink liveries.There wouldn't be any overlap with BIL's or HAL's but they could go  with VEP's and CIG's as well as Networkers.

 

The 508's have more livery versions and ave been more wide spread than most people think.

 

There is a new kit of a 313/508 from Ayjay Models

 

http://www.southernregionmodels.co.uk/

 

Luke

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they look like fairly decent kits.

 

George Dent of ModelRail fame did and article on building one of their HAL kits and found it a bit of a struggle.

 

http://georgedentmodelmaker.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/tin-hal-under-way.html and Modelrail185.

 

With the 508's having less complex body detaisl like door handrails and the like, things should be easier.

 

You might want to use one of the Replica Railways amazing chassis (no connection, but pleased customer)

 

http://www.replicarailways.co.uk/die-cast-chassis

 

Luke

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i suck at kits, i'm too impatient lol. but weathering and adding a few details to a nice rtr one would make me very happy. 

I met the chap from Southern Region Models at an exhibition and he's happy to build them for customers. Have a look at the website and drop him an e-mail.

 

Luke

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Don't forget that all 43 of the 508's were initially used on the Southern Region (early 80's) and we have had some come back down south again in Connex, Southeastern Trains, South Eastern and SilverLink liveries.There wouldn't be any overlap with BIL's or HAL's but they could go  with VEP's and CIG's as well as Networkers.

 

The 508's have more livery versions and ave been more wide spread than most people think.

 

There is a new kit of a 313/508 from Ayjay Models

 

http://www.southernregionmodels.co.uk/

 

Luke

Yes depending on what era you model, IIRC they gained the new owner livery as well, 

 

NL

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I devised and led a project some years ago to bring out a RTR/kit 507/8 based on some resin bodies another firm had done for 313s etc but the firm doing the bodies (and vinyl sides) went under soon after the project got underway, a shame really, the bodies were excellent.  We never received any decorated samples so have basically nothing to show for my efforts. At least we didn't lose money on advertising and so on other than some fliers in the shop.  The only thing needed to be tooled were the bogie sides as we didn't have the resources to fund a completly tooled up model.  In a way, the delays to the Replica Railways underframes probably did us a favour.  An oportunity that arose and sank almost as quick as it appeared!

 

There was quite a bit of local interest but cannot say if modellers doing other regions would want them.  Would love it if Bachmann, for instance, did a high spec 503 but can't see it myself.

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sorry to hear that. what a shame.

i know what you mean about 'local' interest. as has been pointed out though, they've become more spread out nationally in recent years (including 313's) and we've also had a few one offs in the rtr world which have proved to be popular.

i bet if Bachmann or Hornby released a few 313/507/508 units with decent glazing and different liveries there'd be a surprising amount of interest. not just for those modelling southport or kings cross, but other areas too. especially down south on commuter lines.

 

and i think 502's and 503's would be big sellers too.

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Just to make life complicated the middle cars on 313's are completely different to the rest of the family with different window arrangements at one end.

 

I didn't know that, are they different to the other AC units 314, 315 or just different to the DC ones 507/508?

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Theres  probably as  much  chance  of  a  RTR  Merseyrail 507/508  as  there  is  for  an Altrincham-Manchester   or  early   Bury- Manchester  EMU, but  of  course  we  can  live  in  hope!! 

i bet they'd sell too. 

i'd also like a blue/grey 304 but that's a bit off topic.

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But weren't one of the classes built as 4 car sets for the Southern region, 507's IIRC.  The extra trailers had to be removed so that the 507's would be able to run as 6 car sets on Merseyside and are still running around in one of the sub classes of 455.  So presumably a model of a PEP type unit would be able to be configured in any of the different types with only 2 bodies, a driving car and a trailer car to mould with possibly a removable/replacement section of roof for the pantographs and possibly some alternative sets of underframe equipment to cope with the transformers for the AC/dual voltage units.

 

Jamie

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But weren't one of the classes built as 4 car sets for the Southern region, 507's IIRC. .... and are still running around in one of the sub classes of 455

 

Indeed, those TSOs were originally in the 43 Class 508s when new. They are still running round in 455/7s with South West Trains.

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