RMweb Gold Popular Post Accurascale Fran Posted May 12, 2022 RMweb Gold Popular Post Share Posted May 12, 2022 (edited) Hi everyone, What is it about test trains we love so much? Is it the unusual formations? The modified vehicles? The rarity? Or, perhaps it's their eye catching, and even iconic liveries. It is likely all of the above, but when it comes to eye catching liveries, few can compete with the RTC red and blue scheme employed by the legendary Railway Technical Centre (RTC) at Derby. So, when planning out our first run of Mark 2B coaches, the RTC pair was identified and classified as an absolute "no brainer" for an Accurascale Exclusives release. Now we can revealed them in decorated form! History By the mid 1980s growing ‘Sprinterisation’ and electrification had allowed a cascade of newer air-conditioned stock onto secondary and relief services. For the Mk.2b fleet this meant further withdrawals, as well as the mass declassification of the corridor first (FK) vehicles. In 1987, two recently retired examples were transferred to the Mechanical & Electric Engineer at Derby for use as brake force runners, the pair being among the final members of the RTC fleet to gain the iconic red and blue research department colours. They also received “Test Service Vehicle” brandings at the left hand end of the coach and the famous “D of M & EE B.R.B. Technical Centre Derby” lettering at the right hand end of each side. A general increase in test train speeds had required the use of additional non-test coaches to assist in braking the various track evaluation and research formations and the newly renumbered ADB 977528 (ex-13484) and ADB 977529 (ex-13487) – both basically unchanged other than their exterior revamp – visited almost all corners of the network over the next few years. They were partnered with a range of evaluation vehicles, including ADB 975091 Mentor, ADB 975397 Test Car 2 and RDB 977469 Laboratory 5, and were most often found sandwiched in-between the RTC fleet of Class 47s, Nos. 47971-47976. In 1991 they lost the ‘D of M & EE B.R.B.’ part of their bodyside identification and soldiered on for another year or so before being replaced by other vehicles. Withdrawn around 1993, incredibly both still exist. ADB 977528 moved to Swanwick Junction (Midland Railway Centre) to become staff accommodation for the Class 20 Locomotive Society where it remains to this day, while ADB 977529 joined the North Downs Railway fleet before being sold to the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland (RPSI) who regauged it to 5’3” and returned it to railtour service in their dark green livery renumbered as the 181. The Accurascale Exclusives Model A perfect addition to our rapidly growing "Accurascale Exclusives" range of limited edition models available direct only via the Accurascale website, our RTC Mark 2B pair of coaches follow the same unbeatable museum quality and specification of our new Mark 2B range, including: Highly-detailed OO Gauge / 1:76.2 Scale Models on 16.5mm track Extremely fine exterior rivet detail on roof and coach ends Separately-applied etched metal and high-fidelity plastic parts, including handrails, brake/steam heat pipes, ETH cabling and sockets, footsteps, dummy drophead knuckle coupler, and roof vents Prism Free Glazing Fully-detailed underframe with numerous separate parts, pipe runs and accurate differences between versions The most accurate B4 bogies ever produced, with provision for re-gauging to EM or P4 gauges Blackened RP25.110 profile wheel-sets with 14.4mm back-to-back measurements, and 26mm over pinpoints Different buffers for retracted and non-retracted positions Accurate interiors with characteristic 'winged' headrests, separate metal interior handrails on the brake and corridor vehicles and fully-detailed guard's compartment Correct height NEM standard coupling sockets with mini tension lock couplers and kinematic close-coupling Easy conversion to alternate NEM compatible couplers Full lighting package, including magnet 'wand' controlled interior lighting 'Stay-Alive' capacitor in all coaches Free running track pickup These RTC coaches will be sold together as a twin set, strictly limited to 500 packs and delivered in special presentation packaging, complete with limited edition certificate. Delivery is slated for Q4 2022 along with the rest of the Mark 2B range and priced at £119.90. Due to the love for all things RTC early pre-ordering is advised. You can secure your pack with a £30 deposit by clicking here. Cheers! Fran Edited May 1 by Accurascale Fran 23 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torbay Express Posted May 12, 2022 Share Posted May 12, 2022 Testing the water for RTC Class 31 perhaps????? 3 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aeroplane Posted May 12, 2022 Share Posted May 12, 2022 Do you have the formations graphic in higher resolution please? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold McC Posted May 12, 2022 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 12, 2022 Just now, aeroplane said: Do you have the formations graphic in higher resolution please? https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0019/3957/0801/files/Accurascale_BR_Mk.2b_formations_-_3_Late_BR_Privatisation_Final_715ae139-d022-4450-b524-ba88f4c67fed.jpg?v=1652297978 2 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Accurascale Fran Posted May 12, 2022 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted May 12, 2022 Just now, aeroplane said: Do you have the formations graphic in higher resolution please? Sure, just click here: Cheers! Fran 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aeroplane Posted May 12, 2022 Share Posted May 12, 2022 Thanks! I will order these when I get home from work 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip Jackson Posted May 12, 2022 Share Posted May 12, 2022 Ouch, my wallet. Actually quite good value compared to other manufacturers standard releases 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Accurascale Fran Posted May 12, 2022 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted May 12, 2022 Hi everyone, So, erm, over 25% of stock has gone in the first hour or so. Bloody hell!!! These are shifting fast! Cheers! Fran 8 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium E100 Posted May 12, 2022 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 12, 2022 Done!!! 1 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium E100 Posted May 12, 2022 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 12, 2022 1 minute ago, Accurascale Fran said: Hi everyone, So, erm, over 25% of stock has gone in the first hour or so. Bloody hell!!! These are shifting fast! Cheers! Fran I'm starting to think you need a bigger factory... 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold McC Posted May 12, 2022 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 12, 2022 9 minutes ago, E100 said: I'm starting to think you need a bigger factory... We're only using 6 in parallel at the moment to maintain pace - perhaps we need more! 1 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium E100 Posted May 12, 2022 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 12, 2022 1 minute ago, McC said: We're only using 6 in parallel at the moment to maintain pace - perhaps we need more! Wow - that's some very impressive logistics management! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aeroplane Posted May 12, 2022 Share Posted May 12, 2022 More than half sold in 1 hour now! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Ncarter2 Posted May 12, 2022 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 12, 2022 Not surprising how popular these have been. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Darius43 Posted May 12, 2022 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 12, 2022 Just when you think you have all the coaches you need… Really useful formation diagrams. Cheers Darius 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torbay Express Posted May 12, 2022 Share Posted May 12, 2022 1 hour ago, McC said: We're only using 6 in parallel at the moment to maintain pace - perhaps we need more! Slow down..... I need a factory to print money. 6 factories, thats interesting. Don't want to go into too much depth, but with your detail standards etc., expect they must be part of the same company or something, in order to maintain product consistency at such high standards. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris56057 Posted May 12, 2022 Share Posted May 12, 2022 These are just outside my era, however they look absolutely stunning and therefore I've pre-ordered a set. Excellent work, looking forward to receiving them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham108 Posted May 12, 2022 Share Posted May 12, 2022 2 hours ago, aeroplane said: Thanks! I will order these when I get home from work You may be too late! 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium tommyliam021 Posted May 12, 2022 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 12, 2022 Only 68 left now! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazil31 Posted May 12, 2022 Share Posted May 12, 2022 Just got home from work a bit earlier than usual and decided to have a look on RM web with a beer to relax. Glad I did just ordered a set and only 56 left now. Would of missed out if I finished on time. Baz Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold McC Posted May 12, 2022 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 12, 2022 21 minutes ago, Torbay Express said: Slow down..... I need a factory to print money. 6 factories, thats interesting. Don't want to go into too much depth, but with your detail standards etc., expect they must be part of the same company or something, in order to maintain product consistency at such high standards. No, each of the 6 are different, but we do have senior team members on the ground and in Hong Kong keeping that watchful overview :) 1 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazil31 Posted May 12, 2022 Share Posted May 12, 2022 Blimey 20 sets sold in the last 7 minutes 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Sweet pea Posted May 12, 2022 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 12, 2022 Wow those are definitely stunning. 😎 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krieghoff Posted May 12, 2022 Share Posted May 12, 2022 Boooooommmmmm Ordered Only 46 packs left. So glad i saw this. Fran....................lets have a 31 please in RTC livery..............Plleeeasssseee 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aeroplane Posted May 12, 2022 Share Posted May 12, 2022 30 minutes ago, Graham108 said: You may be too late! Luckily I got home in time! Wonder if they regret only making 400 now? It'll be sold out within the hour probably. 2 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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