Accurascale Fran

Hi Mike, Indeed. And you can be perfectly charming when you want to be too! 🙂 Cheers! Fran

Hi @lego legs, Yes indeed, partially is great and makes up a good percentage of our direct pre-orders. We also have Clearpay and PayPal credit options to help spread the cost of in stock items should you fancy those too. https://www.accurascale.com/pages/flexible-instalment-options Cheers! Fran

Hi Mike, 3’ 1” wheels fitted, which scales to 12.33mm. So bob on :) Cheers! Fran

Hi @zr2498, Provisions have been made to ensure that no cutting out on any of our future models will occur, beginning with these. This is helping us to find the solution for the 37s which we will report back on in due course. Naturally, this is also being implemented into our second run of Class 37s. Cheers! Fran

Hi everyone, Great news! Our hotly anticipated Class 66 locomotives are nearing completion at our factory and they have sent us production samples of the first four models to sign off! We have asked for a couple of final little tweaks before taking delivery, but nothing that will impact the timeline. They will arrive in stock, as planned in late Q1 of this year. So, that means March! In for assessment first are two EWS machines, including our "Accurascale Exclusives" model of 66001 as delivered with maroon grilles, one of our "Freds" in the attractive and now iconic Freightliner green and yellow livery, and GBRf machine 66769 in Prostate Cancer UK livery, sales of which has lead us to our £10,000 goal of a donation to this very special cause. Check out the images below, including the special presentation packaging for 66001 and 66769, and keep an eye out for more "first looks" in the coming weeks as we reveal more locos! We only have a limited amount of stock remaining, with several liveries and running numbers already sold out. So, check with your local stockist, or browse direct via our website: https://www.accurascale.com/collections/class-66/availability_pre-order If you had a pre-order with Hattons and you want to keep it, just drop us a line at sales@accurascale.com with your proof of purchase and we will set that up for you too. Cheers! Fran

Hi folks, Thanks very much fo the feedback, and it really is great to get some insight into what the market itself thinks. I'm aware that my question was and method was not the most scientific, but there is some food for thought there and some good suggestions thrown into the mix. Now that desired price has been outlined, what about quantities? If we were to make your dream unit tomorrow, at the price you have in mind, how many units would you buy? Answers on a postcard, and of course should anyone else wish to post their thoughts to my previous query about price, please continue to do so below too. Cheers! Fran

And thankfully not our one!

Hi Baz, No, you do not have to remove the crews or anything else when sending them back. Cheers! Fran

Hi @Fair Oak Junction, If it helps, circa 65% of our locos sold are DCC Sound fitted from the factory, to 35% DC/DCC ready. Cheers! Fran There would, but it would be not huge, add say £20 as a finger in the air for the sake of debate. Cheers! Fran

Hi Godfrey, It is my understanding that a 5-WES has been laser scanned by another company, which seems pretty concrete about intentions there. As a matter of interest though, perhaps you guys could help us with something? It's not very scientific, but perhaps will spark a wider debate among modellers. While we have lost two institutions in our hobby over the last week, (Hattons and Warley) we don't necessarily buy into the notion that the doom mongers have reported (even in the national media now!) that the hobby is "dying". Indeed, for someone like ourselves, we're growing thanks to your support, which is excellent. However, young companies always have to be cautious, and get decisions right as they grow. The "large gap" in modern era modelling (very loose term, but let's say 70s-present) is 4 and 5 car multiple units such as the 5-WES etc. These represent a HUGE capital investment, over say a locomotive, and take a lot more development time due to researching 4 different vehicles, electronics between each car talking to each other, and you are less likely to sell more due to modellers being "loco-centric" in the main, and of course the higher RRP. So, for the 5-WES, what do you think would be a fair RRP that you would be willing the pay, for a 5 car unit to the standards we aim for with all our models? The means working interior lights, all the detail, variations, motor hidden away, DC/DCC ready and DCC sound fitted, stay alives etc. Likewise, how much for a 4 car unit with the same spec, and say working raising and lowering pan (where applicable). Knowing what you would be willing to pay, and how many you would buy would be interesting research for us to know. Spread the word and post below! (also, this is not us committing to a 5-WES!) Cheers! Fran

Hi Flying Dustman, We offer much more than that as part of our warranty; taking the model back, thoroughly inspecting and testing it, carrying out any repairs required and sending it back to the customer with all costs of postage etc covered. It is why we encourage anyone, with any issue, to contact us direct. Cheers! Fran

Hi everyone, This is indeed the case. We don’t want any Hattons customers missing out on their pre-orders, so are using the stock allocation to Hattons for Hattons customers only for now. This applies to the Mark 2s, Classes 31, 37, 55 and 66 or any other sold out items on our website. Just drop us a line via the website with your Hattons proof of purchase and we will fix you up! If you have a Hattons pre-order for an item that is still available for pre-order on our website or via our other retailers then just place the pre-order with your choice of supplier as normal. Any warranty queries for any Accurascale branded model bought from Hattons can contact us via the website, again with proof of purchase. Hope this helps! Cheers! Fran

Hi @Captain Kernow, Gerry Beale has carried out the conversion and inspected it thoroughly along with Martin Finney. You are quite correct in that it was not designed with easy conversion a primary concern, but we did do our best to not make it impossible either. As I said, I don’t want to give the game away on the article on its ease or otherwise, but I guess I would not be hinting at it if it was a complete nightmare either! All shall be revealed in due course! Cheers! Fran

Hi @Edwardian, We are due an update on these but are delighted to confirm that decoration samples are currently being assembled before shipping to us early next week. Once they’re here we will provide a full update on them then, but they look a bit special! Cheers! Fran

Hi Meerkat, It's a whole new sound file. Cheers! Fran

Doh, thanks John! Can I blame "first week back" syndrome? Cheers! Fran

Thanks folks, it is an interesting one, and I guess it's spurred on here by the "Accurascale Exclusives" box for 66001 which has landed with us as the production models arrive for assessment. sneak peek below! I have a fondness for 66s too @James Makin but as we basically had nothing but GM locos (or powered locos) over here since I've been around I guess it's not so surprising! More 66 updates in the coming week or so, so keep an eye out! Cheers! Fran

Hi everyone, Just another wee heads up - there will be a guide to converting our Manor to EM in a forthcoming edition of Model Railway Journal (teaser in the next issue I believe!) I wont spoil the content by saying how easy, intermediate or difficult it was to do, but just giving a heads up as some modellers on here and elsewhere had previously asked if it was possible. When I hear which edition it will be in I shall report back. Cheers! Fran

Hi Rob, Your post touches something we were discussing over our tea break the other day actually, and something that would be cool to hear about from modellers; Is EWS livery now becoming a nostalgic favourite? Triple grey has become that way (especially among ourselves in recent years!) so as the march of time progresses we get closer to the launch of EWS. The original shadow freight franchises are 30 years old this year too. Will enthusiasts become nostalgic for 66s? I have to say I always liked a Freightliner green Fred personally, and before the EWS maroon dulled, it looked really smart on the 66s too. Cheers! Fran

Hi everyone, Just to update that we are on course to deliver these at the end of Q1 and should have some further, colourful news in the next couple of weeks. Also, our charity drive 66415 is now at 70% sold out, so thank you to everyone who has put their name down so far! Cheers! Fran

Hi Ray, We have offered to inspect and repair. Cheers! Fran

Hi @Silver Sidelines, ’Fran’? It’s my name! There is no difference, possibly just not something connected correctly on the PCB on one locomotive. It happens but we are helping out. Cheers! Fran

Hi Neil, All our Manors were made in the same factory on the same production line by the same people using the same materials. Cheers! Fran

Hi everyone, This news is just terrible and we are still in shock since the email from Rich landed in our inbox earlier this afternoon. In our short time of trading with Hattons, and in my personal experience of being a customer for over 20 years, the staff from Hattons have been a delight to deal with from beginning to end and professional to a tee. I have been in contact with a few I have been lucky to work closely with over the past couple of years; very capable, bright, hard-working and talented people to wish them the very best in their futures. They will for sure go onto new and bright things, but a lot of really good and talented people have lost their jobs today, and our heart goes out to them. A real loss to our hobby and industry. It's scarcely believable. We wish the staff and management all the very best and thank them for their help in our early years in this industry. Fran.

Hi @IOW O2, Nothing to do with a large YouTube following. If you could PM me your details I’ll sort you out when I’m back at the desk on Monday? While your retailer cannot replace the model due to weathering they could and should contact us first regarding a repair. Cheers! Fran