This weekend the ‘Warley’ show is on. It will be different this year, no longer run by the Warley club, the slot has been filled by Warners Publications.
I’m there with Shelfie4 and helping me out will be James Hilton . It looks an excellent show, one or two ‘regular’ traders won’t be there, but most will. It’s always been a great run in to the festive season, and I think it’s well worth supporting as well as being a good social interaction between trade and us, the customers. Earlier this year there was much wailing that the hobby was in serious decline when both Hattons and Warley announced they respectively were closing and stopping the NEC show.
What we have seen this year are changes, and this show is one of them. We too will be ringing the changes. As the layout is ‘timeless’ in addition to my 70-80’s equipment, James is bringing more up to date Maritime Canadian stock from Beaverbrook, and we’ll ring the changes through the day. I’m looking forward to it, we’re stand 51L, please drop by and say hello!
Over the past week or so there been some concurrent internet discussions regarding the latest RTR releases and what DC controller is the best to use if you’re not using DCC. This discussion has been rumbling around for a few years, and going back many years theres been talk of the effects of using a poor controller and how that impacts the quality of models running properties.
Back in the 1980’s I bought a duette from where I worked. I kept it and looked after it, but a couple of years ago it started to give very erratic running for no apparent reason. As it was old I threw it away, mainly for safety reasons. If 240v are going into it from the wall socket, and it’s got a metal case, well you don’t need to be an electrician….
What I did was to standardise on Gaugemaster W or Combi controllers. I’ve rarely read of any problems with them, and they have a lifetime fixing warranty, which I had to use on an HH controller I had. A common comment is that people are using controller X from years back and they worked then, what’s the issue? Well the video above shows the potential problem, and the poor performance from it was similar to that which I had from my thirty year old Duette. The solution?, buy a contemporary controller, no regrets. And critically now when I run a DC locomotive for the first time, if it runs poorly it’s not a factor of the controller.
Over the past few weeks I’ve been revisiting my layout building plans and aspirations, having worked over a Bachmann 3F ‘Jinty’ for a future bookazine article. That tasking took me back to the makeovers I’ve done in the past on Bachmann GWR Panniers. In the week preceding the Warley NEC exhibition in November 2023 Accurascale announced their introduction of the GWR ‘standard’ 57xx pannier locomotives to the product range. When I say ‘standard’ it’s just to lump them all together coming from the Genesis 57xx locomotive. This then includes, 36/37/46/57/67/77/87/96/97xx panniers, and exclude the 15/16/34/54/64/74/84/94xx families for clarity.
Accurascale OO GWR Low Cab Pannier EP
Three engineering prototypes were available to view and I was fortunate enough to be allowed a quick look at them outside the display case. The news of the large and pannier introduction was well received, notwithstanding the pretty good model introduced by Bachmann albeit about 20 years ago. The big news with the Accurascale announcement is the volume of variants they’re going to be producing. From the first look it’s clear that both high and low cab will be covered, and perhaps the most time consuming make over element on a Bachmann model, the top feed removal, will not be required on appropriate Accurascale versions.
Accurascale OO GWR High Cab Pannier EP
Over the years I’ve done a good few detailing and conversion makeovers of the old Bachmann faithful. It’s safe to say unless you really want to do them, the Accurascale range as they are introduced, are going to render the need to do those redundant. I’ve still got a few in stock, and don’t see me passing on my existing fleet, just adding to it.
Accurascale OO GWR Pannier
The main thing that struck me was the overall finesse of the fittings and mouldings. With one glance at the three EP’s you could see a wealth of detail differences to the cab and superstructure of all three types.
Accurascale GWR Pannier Rivetted Tank
The obvious differences are the two cab styles, the low and high cab versions. Then perhaps the top feed, and following that the mass of detail differences that come from the different batches, built either by the Great Western themselves, or sub-contracted out.
Accurascale OO Early GWR Pannier
The differences include tank types, tank fillers, tank steps, bunkers, whistles and their respective guards. Cab sides, doors and other njectors akdo enter the mix in this mass of detail variations. For example in the above picture we can tell this is an early GWR version, no top feed, no cab side doors, no whistle guards, no bunker steps. Looking at other EP’s we can see the changes where the prototype developed over the years, and these changes reflected in the tooling and details fitted to individualise each model as we see in the model below.
Accurascale OO Late Low Cab GWR Pannier
The chassis is interesting too. A look underneath indicates a centre drive axle, from a tower gearbox. This means the motor must be quite a compact unit, likely similar to the coreless motor fitted to their J69 family. Anyone either a Bachmann 57xx family model will recall the motor drives to the rear axle, with some of the mechanism visible at the right (wrong), angle. The drive on the Accurascale models is totally enclosed, pick ups being wipers on the rear of the wheel rims.
Another feature which caught my eye with the EP’s is the coupling rods are one pice rather than jointed. My preference is for the joint to be functional or alternatively hidden in an overlap on the central drive wheel. Accurascale have used solid rods on the J69 family and that works really well through second radius set track points. Other manufacturers have used them too recently, Heljan and Rapido so it may be a ‘habit’ thing for me. Brake pull rods are etched and this gives a marked visual difference to previous RTR models and sit very close to the wheel face, they also include the rear double pull rods which I don’t think has been on any previous RTR Pannier model. As part of the assembly the cross rods are alloy with plastic fittings to attach the pull rods to eliminate any electrical shorts. That seems a quite complicated assembly, but if they can be manufactured consistently it’ll help with the fine scale appeal of the model. The wheels look like they are fixed to 2mm diameter axles with shoulders, the spoke profile on these early EP’s is a bit one dimensional, not quite capturing the look of the prototype wheels. The wiper pick ups indicate these will be a conventional axle rather than a split chassis. The running plate is a metal casting and it was difficult to tell how much room there is between the wheel face and the inside of each splasher. This isn’t an issue for OO modellers but it may make conversion to wider gauges such as EM or P4 more challenging as there’s unlikely to be a simple drop in replacement without some work to be done around the brake gear assembly.
Accurascale OO GWR High Cab Pannier
Both low and high cab versions are to be released and feature sliding cab roof shutters.
The rear of the cab faces have etched glazing bars which opens up the access for light to get into the cab, as does the roof vent. This will make quite an impact visually, having done similar on my Bachmann conversions the amount of detail that is then illuminated in the cab is very noticeable.
Albion Yard Bachmann Pannier Modifications
So with the future release of the Accurascale family of 57xx panniers end my conversions? Almost certainly it will for the core structures.
However, while the conversions I’ve done work and look good, there’s still a few areas that can be lifted to bring them more into line with the Accurascale offering. I’ve not lost out by any means, the enjoyment I’ve had from my fifteen or so Bachmann models is irreplaceable and they taught me some new skills too. However, if I feel the need for a new one then I’ll save my time and look closely at these Accurascale models once released (Q1 2025 estimated). If they run as well as the J68 EP has done they’ll be well worth the money, and the time saving, which is my most precious resource!
There are some models that just ‘do it’, and the past week or so has had me just enjoying the Accurascale class 31. It’s funny how those connections work, 31’s aren’t the glamorous express, high profile engines, but almost the polar opposite.
Accurascale Class 31
The fact that it’s a ‘dull’ locomotive isn’t really an issue, because the character is captured so well.
Bachmann Class 08
The Bachmann and Hornby class 08’s also have it, even if Bachmann’s original version needs a bit of magic wafted across it, and if you’ve got an early Hornby ’screamer’ there’s potentially a gearbox rebuild and lube waiting for you.
I think for me this connection has two links, one the familiarity of the prototype, I saw 31’s every day, and two, the desire to see them. I rarely saw an 08 or similar, a shunter at Welwyn Garden City yard was really unusual, and meant trying to sneak into the yard to see it. I can remember seeing a Hymek on the East Coast Mainline, or rather, I think I did. It would have been so, so, unusual though, and the Triang model lit a flame for them with me.
Heljan OO Hymek
Heljan’s model above is also one of those captures, and I found recently a picture of a Hymek at Cambridge that had visited on a special or charter. So there’s just the tiniest possibility that I actually saw it if it routed via the ECML. Another of those everyday locomotives that meant relatively little at the time.
Peculiar then, that these prototypes and their respective models really resonate with me, which is simultaneously odd, and cool…
I’m pretty certain I’m one of the few, apart from Peco, who has taken time out to try a large number of ready to run products through the Peco Code 75 bullhead track, points and crossings. At the time of their release I was building Shelfie 3 and hadn’t finalised what the actual layout was going to use as far as stock goes, and indeed, what region it was to be set in. This was slightly unusual, however, I’d determined what track plan I was going to use, a three point terminus style heavily influenced by Iain Futers’ layouts. I wanted to make a simple terminus and was working out if I should stick with a GWR/WR theme to adapt in due course into a multi location larger layout, or a standalone model in its own right. I chose the latter, but whilst trying different themes of stock I’d had the opportunity to see that I wasn’t getting the short circuits reported by a few people online.
Peco Code 75 Bullhead Track / Shelfie 3
It’s important to stress here that these tests are not connected in any way with Peco, these are purely out of my own interest. As above the testing was done because there were several vociferous comments online about how these point were causing problems with regular short circuits as locomotives, and some stock passed through them particularly at the crossing section. This is frequently referred to as the ‘frog’, for simplicity if required in this posting I’ll refer to the crossing as the frog.
The list underneath are all those types (98 as of 14/10/24), which have been tried through the Peco OO Bullhead points and crossings. The test piece comprised of a left and right hand large radius point one single slip and a long crossing. At the time of the core tests the medium radii points hadn’t been released, and the comments regarding the electrical short circuits referred specifically to the left and right hand large radius points. I’ve subsequently had the opportunity to try many of these models through left and right hand medium radius points and and a double slip, so far I’ve experienced no problems with those track components either. Each type has had a minimum of at least four passes through the test track on DC control. Where DCC has been used this will be annotated in a similar fashion. The description of them is their well known generic name. Where there have been multiple releases of the same model the variant is marked as Mk1/2 etc to identify the release period. A total of 149 different locomotives have been tried through the test piece as of 10/09/23. For clarity a locomotive in this context simply refers to a motor driven model, regardless of steam or D&E prototype outline.
Peco Bullhead Test Track
The reason for four passes is all follows, the model facing in each direction, and passing through the track in each direction. Many of these have had multiple examples of the type through the test section, where this has been done a bracketed number will be shown next to the types concerned. My thanks to those friends whom have assisted with loans of motive power to assist with these tests. I’ve concentrated on the locomotives for a simple reason, these are the most expensive products we regularly purchase, and are much more difficult to adjust or convert than rolling stock.
Where I had multiple car vehicles DMU’s etc, they were ran as far as practicable with the space I had available, as full sets. For example when I tested the 4CEP I had room to place simple flextrack extensions on either end of the test board. When I had the opportunity to try the Blue Pullman I only had restricted space so they were run as shortened units, but the passenger cars were pushed through manually.
ACCURASCALED&E
Class 31 (x 2)
Class 37
Class 55 Deltic
Class 50
ACCURASCALE STEAM
GWR 78xx Manor
J68
57xx pannier
ATHEARN
HO GP7 (DCC Genesis)
GP45
BACHMANN D&E
LMS 10000 & 10001 ‘Twins’
Class 03 (x 3)
Class 08 (x 5)
Class 20 (DCC Mk1)
Class 24 (2 x Mk1) Class24 (2 x MK2)
Class 25 (Mk1)
Class 37 (Mk3)
Class 40 (Mk1)
Class 47 (2 x Mk1)
Class 57
Derby Lightweight (4)
Class 101
Class 105 (3)
Class 108 (7)
Blue Pullman. Power cars run back to back, coaches individually
MLV
2-EPB
4-CEP (2)
BACHMANN STEAM
USRA 0-6-0T (2)
MR 1F
LMS 3F 0-6-0T (5)
LMS Fairburn 2-6-4T
LMS Ivatt 2MT 2-6-0 (2)
LMS Ivatt 4MT 2-6-0
BR 3MT 2-6-2T (2)
BR 4MT 2-6-4T
BR 4MT 2-6-0 (2)
BR 5MT 4-6-0
BR 9F 2-10-0 (3)
WD Austerity 2-8-0
SR C Class 0-6-0
GWR 45xx (3)
GWR 56xx (3)
GWR 57xx (13) 2x DCC sound
GWR 64xx (5)
GWR 94xx
DAPOL
Class 22
Class 52
Class 121 (2)
LSWR B4 0-4-0T
LBSCR Terrier 0-6-0T (Rails commission)
Hawthorn Leslie 0-4-0T
DJM
GWR 14xx 0-4-2T (2) Hattons commission
J94 (2) As this is re-released by EFE those may be covered by this test too
HELJAN D&E
Class 104 DMU
Class 02 (Diesel shunter) (DCC)
PWM Shunter (Model Rail commission)
Class 05
Class 07
Class 11 (Model Rail commission)
Class 14 (Hattons commission)
Class 26
Class 27 (2)
Class35 Hymek (5)
Class 47 (2024 release)
Class 128 (2)
Falcon Prototype (2)
GWR Diesel Railcar
Park Royal Railbus (slows through double single slip)
AC Railbus
HORNBY D&E
Sentinel 0-4-0 (2)
Class 08 (3)
Class 31 (DCC)
Class 40 (Railroad)
Class 71
2-BIL (2)
2-HAL (2)
Class 755/4 FLIRT
HORNBY STEAM
Peckett 0-4-0T (2) Stops occasionally due to wheelbase length vs frog inert section length
Peckett 0-6-0T
J15 0-6-0
J50 0-6-0T
K1 2-6-0 (2)
L1 2-6-4T (DCC)
A4 4-6-2 (DCC Intermittent fail due tender axle B2B causing short circuit)
GWR 42XX 2-8-0T
GWR 61XX 2-6-2T (Full Range not Railroad variant)
GWR 50xx Castle (DCC) 4-6-0
LSWR M7 Long Frame 0-4-4T
SR Q1 0-6-0
LSWR Drummond 700 0-6-0
SR Battle of Britain 4-6-2
BR/SR Rebuilt Battle of Britain 4-6-2
BR 70xxx 4-6-2 Britannia
BR 72xxx 4-6-2 Clan
KITBUILT
Craftsman 02 Diesel 0-4-0
LIMA Class 31
PROTO2000
SW900(3)
RAPIDO UK & CANADIAN
BR/WR 15xx
BR/WR 16xx
LNER J70 Tram (2)
Hunslett Industrial 0-6-0T (2)
GMD-1 A1A- A1A (DCC)
SW1200 (2x DCC)
ViTRAINS
Class 47 (2)
Class37 (2)
SAMHONGSA
GWR/WR 94xx Failure reason not clear suspect metal brake rodding short circuit
OTHERS
In addition to the above listings there are a couple of rolling stock items of note, in particular the Bachmann Mk1 Pullmans. These collect power for internal lighting through the wheel sets, four of these have been run with no issues.
Shelfie 3 Peco Bullhead Timelapse
CONCLUSION
From running all these types through the current bullhead range of points and crossings, it’s clear the only a very few products have issues with this track. Obviously I can only comment on those models I’ve tried, but to date 14/10/24, only two have failed and caused short circuits. They are a Hornby A4 and a Hornby Battle of Britain locomotive. Both of those had back to back’s that were too tight. One issue that will occur is with very short wheelbase locomotives like the Hornby Pecketts or Dapol’s Hawthorn Leslie. If you don’t power the frog electrically, the wheelbase is so short it may cut out as both wheels on one side become inert on a ‘dead’ frog.
Another element here is that even if the model bridges the dead section it may stop running if the pick ups are poorly adjusted and some are not making electrical connection. I’ve seen that myself with some of the sample locomotives, they’re not fine tuned, they are mostly as supplied. This is why I include the grain of wheat bulb, if a locomotive halts I have an immediate verification if there’s an electrical short circuit. The track in these tests isn’t fixed, it’s just placed on this baseboard with some additional tape. By having track that isn’t fixed permanently, theres lateral and vertical flex that can have an impact on conductivity. The solution is of course electrically powering the frog. The three videos below show the test piece and a few of the models tested. Primarily tested using DC as that’s my normal control system, I did do some DCC testing, that’s on the third video.
Peco Code 75 Bullhead Test Part1
Peco Code 75 Bullhead Test Part 2
Peco Code 75 Bullhead Test Part 3
I have to say, I do enjoy using this track. Over the years I’ve used many different types of ready to lay track from Triang Super 4, and up to date I use Kato Unitrack for testing too. The appeal with this track for me, is the huge leap forward with the transformation in appearance of OO ready to lay pointwork and crossings.
When you combine this track, contemporary RTR products and kit built items, you can make very realistic models come to life. Previously ready to lay track was obvious that it didn’t look as good as perhaps it could, and to have the Peco track reliability as an added extra really makes the difference. I’d love to see this range extended further, and think a catch/trap point would be a valuable addition.
Peco Code 75 Bullhead points
I’ve made trap points by cutting regular points in half, that’s expensive, but it captures the appearance of real track and that’s why I did it, and why I feel this track appeals to modellers wanting better looking, and well performing track.
I’ve not finished testing yet, I have a simple test piece which includes a single slip and medium and large radius points. Every time a new model comes through the man cave, I’ll test it and add it to the list, it’s a bit of a habit now!..
Something a little different for the blog, but a film I found particularly interesting. This is a fascinating look through the soon to be auctioned Rusi Klein collection of cars in Los Angeles by Magnus Walker.
One thing that rang true after watching this was the enduring interest in scrap and salvage yards, and how photogenic they can be. One of my first magazine covers was on a country lifestyle magazine, with a truck at Rush Green with weeds growing through it. It made the readers of Hertfordshire Countryside sit up, and write and telephone in!
Anyway, one for the next 20 minutes or so you’ve got free to just wonder at the backstories of all these vehicles, and what the future holds for them..
Prepping Maple River for the NEC exhibition this November I took the opportunity to get one of those shelf queens finished.
Shelf Queen
This Proto2000 HO switcher was last worked on in 2018, I won’t be alone in having shelf queens that have sat around the man cave for lengths of time. What spurred the return to this was setting up the layout to test some OO locomotives in DC. The layout is built for DCC, and literally apart from droppers is ‘only two wires’, so can only be worked on the one engine in steam principle in DC.
2018 Modelu figure print
A good friend in the US had sent across a contemporary DC version of this Proto2000 model, and that in its clean configuration reminded me of this queen of the shelf. Last time it was worked on was 2018, and the image above confirms that with the Modelu figure in the red resin, and what a journey they’ve had over the period too!
All it took was putting it back together and fitting the glazing, new couplers will be required and some details like air hoses. It’s weird what difference little prompts can have to the man cave shelf queens! Also strange is running the layout as DC with no sounds, the Geep below and the SW1200’s it normally runs with being sound equipped. Whilst I notice the difference, I don’t actually miss the sound element.
Shelfie4 Maple River Copyright @teriffictrains
It’ll be interesting to see how well the new NEC November show will do, there’s a good cross section of layouts and trade, hopefully it’ll be similar to previous shows, ( in a good way).
Albion Yard 
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