charliepetty

We have pre thought the interiors, the Northern & WYPTE versions will have the current Chapman seating, with armrests and grab handles!! With the seating layout being correct. When we do the pre-upgraded earlier versions we will have 2+3 Bus seats fitted, not the 'one fits all' Hornby seating. The 143 will have the correct seating layout as per the Arriva & First GW units (this is different to the 144 units). Also different on the models as per the prototypes are: Buffer Beams, Front Steps, Underfloor Equipment, Roof Pod earthing strips. We are trying very hard to have the Best Unit in 4mm, hope we do! Arran & Charlie ( Next DMU being worked on!)

8 Pin is what we have asked for! Charlie

No chance, suggest Christmas if your lucky!! Charlie

Class 143 Planning program NEWS. Just to keep you up-dated: We have not finalised our Class 143 program yet but our thoughts on this are: Class 143 Units (2012 Batch) 143-211 Arriva Trains Wales named 'Sir Tom Jones' 143-212 Arriva Trains Wales un-named. 143-213 First Great Western 'Local Lines' livery 143-214 First Great Western 'Local Lines' livery We are planning the next batch of Class 143 liveries, our thoughts are: 143-311 Wessex Trains 'Visit Bristol' livery (Bristol Zoo promotion) 143-312 Wessex Trains 'Visit Bristol' livery (SS Great Britain promotion) 143-313 Valley Lines 143 named 'Valley Kids' 143-314 Valley Lines 143 un-named. 143-315 Regional Railways liveried 143 with Valley Lines logo.(Not Tom Jones as we will have Sir Tom Jones in Arriva Trains Wales livery) 143-316 Regional Railways liveried 143818 named 'Mute Swan' for the Swan Line promotion (Cardiff-Swansea line) 143-317 Regional Railways liveried 143 un-named. Any interest out there for these!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There seems to be 'Non Woodhead' catenery & masts in the shots, looks Great Eastern stuff. Charlie

Test shots inspected at DEMU Show at Burton, looks good. Well done Dapol, bit of a long wait but hey, what I touched impressed me. It looked right! (To me anyway!) Charlie

Had a good look at one at Burton DEMU Show this weekend, looks like Dapol have done a good job on this one. Charlie

A Meerkat's say, 'Its simples' Project 1 (144)surplus pays for Project 2 (143), further surplus on 1 & 2 pay for tooling on project 3 ( New DMU), further proceeds from 1 & 2 gets us the re-run in Regional Railways (144 & 143) and a Valley Lines 143. All the Wagon Projects are self funded and are not helped by DMU sales, so all FLA sales go towards the PCA. The order book will open on the 144 when final painted samples are approved. Trade orders & customer orders currently exceed 400, evenly spread between Northern & WYPTE Red & Silver. Any one who wants us to reserve one for them can e.mail us at ' customerservices@realtrackmodels.co.uk ' All reservations will be acknowledged. Charlie

Wait for Bachmann, as that's their territory. Charlie

Update on the 144: Adjustments made following a visit to China last week, more rivits added to cabs & roof areas, front step modifications & corridor connection & rear end mods now completed, second samples of the 144 shortly. The response on this unit has supprised us, from Scotland to Bristol, the enquiries keep coming. One guy has ordered 6 Class 143 & 144 Units, thanks to him, with the obvious success of this unit, we are now well advanced on 'DMU 2' project. This could be brought forward if the 144 units sell out quickly. Will keep you lot informed as we go along. Charlie

You maybe have not heard of our NEW company REALTRACK models, but you have possibly heard of DC Kits & Models and C-Rail Intermodal, we have been in this game for 26 years, the REALTRACK portfolio is aimed at the ever expanding RTR market, for unusual or small runs of specialist items. Lots planned in the DMU, Wagon, Lineside & loco front! What wrong with the poor old Hornby 142! just needs a little, or is it 'a lot' of updating. Our 144 / 143 is somewhat better, we are keeping the retail price low so don't expect discount as no one in the trade is getting good discounts, we all have to make a living, especially the smaller shops who we want to support. Our next DMU might be a little dearer. Charlie

HI Ian Your right he didnt !!!!! but i did. Regards Arran

Now the sun shines on the Class 143 samples!

We have numbered them in periods: IE 2 X Northern Night Blue as operating today as 2008-2012 era 2 X Northern (Blue & Red & Silver Metro) as mid to late 2000-2010 era 2 X Arriva/Northern Red & Silver Metro) as early to mid 2000-2010 era Charlie

NO! but you can offer suggestions? use: customerservices@realtrackmodels.co.uk

We are trying to get it right! I am sure certain things will not please some people but the cost is 'Lots', but I like it and we have, based on the sample, various minor mods to do. The 143 is quite different in minor details to a 144 and some compromise here is required without doing a 100% completely different bodyshell. The differences we ARE doing are: Correct bufferbeams & front footsteps (Both different on the 143 to a 144) Different seating layout on both classes. Correct underfloor & battery box detailing. Different dampers on axleboxes. Radio roofpod modifications for 144. As you cannot see! both cars have different roofs, one with toilets & removeable panels and one with the old 'cab to shore' radio equipment fitted, including additional curved strengthening panel. Both cabs come with fire extinguisher & telephone consol, the carriage interior has seating and NO visible motor, working bi-directional lighting and will have our 'unique'constant dc interior lights. We have put alot of effort into our 'First' dmu, as we have to make an impression in todays market, cut out all the hype, but thats not cheap, our profit levels on this are low and at £100.00 we think that a 'Cracking Price', look at Heljans 'Waggon & Macheninbau' railbus. And it not to the 'REALTRACK' specification. Our second DMU, which is being worked on now will be equally as impressive, and hopefully not very much more! Please support us, as we need to do odd ball things st stay clear of the Big Boys. Charlie. PPS The new wagon will be good too! And less than 18 months away.

And another!

Class 143 Samples arrived this morning as arranged, 144 to follow!

At the Bristol Show you can touch one! And the Class 144 too!

Hope you might get the Trenau Arriva Cymru ones first. Charlie PPS Come to Bristol to see some samples!

Fanlights. What a fanlight!