Accurascale and Rails partner for Class 89 exclusive

Accurascale and Rails of Sheffield have revealed an exclusive model of the BR Class 89 ‘Badger’ prototype electric locomotive in OO gauge/4mm:1ft scale, to be sold exclusively direct from Rails of Sheffield and Accurascale.

CAD is now said to be complete, and the locomotive has entered the early stages of tooling. The first tooled sample is expected in time for the Warley show in November 2022, with decorated samples following in early 2023 and delivery slated for Q3, 2023.

Accurascale and Rails of Sheffield first mooted this exclusive model in 2020 as an “expression of interest” among the public to see if there was sufficient interest. Demand was reportedly healthy, but due to the COVID 19 pandemic, access to the real locomotive for surveying and scanning was impossible. However, following the easing of restrictions in 2021 and beyond, Accurascale was able to continue working on the model, including a survey facilitated by Mervyn Alcock and the staff at Barrow Hill, while Wabtec Brush was able to provide copies of the original drawings.

The new model will use the same sound set up as its existing diesel and electric locomotives, as well as the DCC-operated rising and lowering pantograph. Models will feature a "powerful and silky smooth" five-pole skew-wound motor with twin flywheels, helical cut gears, a flange squeal sensor, and full lighting package including illuminated cab dials. The Class 89 model will be based on Accurascale’s Class 92 platform, with all-wheel powered six-axle bogies and a pantograph that can be raised or lowered almost silently under DC or DCC control.

The project is the second partnership between Accurascale and Rails of Sheffield, and builds on the successful cooperation with the Class 55 'Deltic', which included a number of special editions commissioned by Rails in partnership with the Deltic Preservation Society and Locomotion Models. However, the Class 89 will feature five different livery variants, all of which can be bought from both Rails and Accurascale direct online.

Speaking about the project, Rails of Sheffield MD John Barber said "We are very excited to be working with the Accurascale team on this new OO gauge project. The Class 89 has been on many people's wishlists for a long time, so we are thrilled to be recreating a model of such an iconic engine in miniature together."

Accurascale’s PR and Marketing Director Fran Burke expressed his excitement about the project; “The Class 89 is one project our production team and I have been very excited about for a long time. For people of our age it has been a legendary locomotive and one we will bring a premium, high-quality feel to. We are thoroughly excited about this locomotive and our latest partnership with Rails of Sheffield and we feel that there could be many more of these partnerships in the future, bringing modellers many more exciting models with it.”

Livery variants are as follows:

• October 1986 to November 1988 BR InterCity Executive livery
• December 1988 to July 1992 Named Avocet on December 16, 1988 and debuts in InterCity Swallow livery
• March 1997 to January 1999 Reinstated for service March 3, 1997 and repainted into GNER blue with white logo (loco had been purchased in 1996 by Sea Containers)
• February 1999 to June 2007 Returns to service after repairs at Brush in GNER blue with gold logo
• April 2019 to present Classic InterCity Swallow livery with Modern OHLE Flashes

The model specification is as follows:

• Highly-detailed OO scale model, 1:76.2 scale
• Minimum Radius 438mm (second radius Set-track)
• Die-cast metal chassis
• RP25-110 profile OO wheels
• Separately-applied etched metal/plastic detail parts, including grab handles, steps, wipers
• Scale width wire handrails
• Etched metal pre-painted nameplates provided for customer to install
• Full underframe tank detail with brackets and pipework
• Fully sprung metal buffers and bufferplate, factory-fitted pipework and screw couplings (for display)
• Dummy knuckle coupler provided in polybag
• Kinetic NEM coupler mounts at correct height and mini-tension-lock couplers
• DCC ready [21-Pin MTX Socket] or Factory-Fitted DCC Sound options
• Five-pole motor with two flywheels
• Metal helical gear box for maximum performance and slow speed running
• Gearing arranged so locomotive can achieve minimum scale top speed of 125 mph (200 km/h)
• DCC ready with PowerPack capacitor for uninterrupted power
• All wheel drive (sprung centre axle) and all-wheel pick-up
• Directional lighting, DC and DCC
• Switchable red and white marker lights with day/night options
• Separately switched cab lighting and illuminated, driver’s desk, auto/off on movement
• Scale-sized Brecknall-Willis High Speed pantograph raised and lowered by DCC control (auto up and down operation in DC with power on/off)
• Customised Dual-Speaker Technology with large ‘Accurathrash’ Style Bass Speaker and smaller 'iphone' style cube for higher frequencies (on DCC Sound-fitted models only)
• Hall sensor for flange squeal effect (DCC sound-fitted models only)

Pre-ordering is now open and orders can be secured via the Accurascale and Rails of Sheffield websites for a deposit.