Accurascale reveals GWR 'Manor' for 'OO'

Accurscale has unveiled its next OO gauge / 4mm:1ft scale locomotive as the GWR 78XX 'Manor' 4-6-0 tender locomotives. The models will be the manufacturer's first venture into RTR steam outline.

Tooling is said to be complete, with the first test mouldings having taken place. Accurascale said, "We are currently awaiting the etched and turned metal parts which will complete the buffers, motion, whistle baffle, chimney and other parts of the locomotive which will arrive shortly for assessment."

Delivery of models is anticipated for Q4 2021, with pre-orders being taken via Accurascale’s stockists. Accurascale added, "Development of the 'Manor' is well progressed, with work on the project beginning 18 months ago. The Accurascale research team conducted extensive surveys and a scan of Cookham Manor at the Didcot Railway Centre and research on various GWR tenders at Tyseley Locomotive Works each side of the Warley Model Railway Show in November, 2019.

Spot the difference – Accurascale's first batch of locomotives in 10 guises will represent a cross-section of the class, with details adjusted accordingly.

The manufacturer is promising a number of detail configurations which makes almost every variant bespoke, with options for chimney, smokebox and boiler sides, smokebox door/handles and buffers. The range of promised tenders is similarly complex with different tender bodies, frames, spring hangers, buffers, and also the frame installed in latter days to remind crews not to climb onto the coal space while on overhead electrified lines.

"The locomotive will feature a wonderfully-smooth operating three-pole motor with flywheel that offers an exceptionally low starting voltage. Electrical pickup is from all tender and locomotive driving wheels and there is a 21-Pin MTC Socket in tender for the decoder of your choice, or you can choose our DCC Sound-installed option. DCC modellers can enjoy Accurascale’s by now standard PowerPack capacitor for uninterrupted power and sound and three speaker arrangement, which includes a sugarcube mounted in the smokebox. There is also a flickering firebox light in the cab and in DCC this employs ESU’s intelligent flicker to synchronise the effect with the sound from the speakers," added the manufacturer.

Surveys of four different locomotives were undertaken for the project and the data was combined with a 3D scan, 1938 and 1952 works drawings to create what Accurascale claims to be the most accurate rendering of this class in any scale.

The Manors wore nearly all major GWR and BR liveries from 1938 until their withdrawal at the end of 1965. The first 20 were delivered in unlined GWR locomotive green with the roundel or ‘shirtbutton’ monogram logo on the tender, although by nationalisation they could be seen with tenders wearing GWR initials or GW separated by the company’s coat of arms. Repaints during wartime years would have been unlined black, with unlined green returning once hostilities ended. Unlined black was again applied after the formation of British Railways, albeit with ‘lion and wheel’ crest and smokebox-mounted numberplates. However, the BR-built Manors were released from Swindon in lined mixed traffic black, later being repainted in unlined black. Between 1956-60 all 30 Manors were turned out in lined BR green, initially with the early crest but the majority received the later style totem.

10 locomotives will be released in the first Accurascale run:

GWR (original chimney)

• 7801 Anthony Manor in GWR plain green with monogram (flush tender body/narrow hornplates)
• 7818 Granville Manor in GWR plain green with G-crest-W on tender (riveted tender body/narrow hornplates)
• 7819 Hinton Manor in GWR plain green with GWR on tender (flush tender body/narrow hornplates)

BR (original chimney)

• 7814 Fringford Manor BR unlined black with large early crest (riveted tender body/wide hornplates)
• 7820 Dinmore Manor BR lined black with early crest (flush tender body/wide hornplates)

BR (redraughted chimney)

• 7800 Torquay Manor BR lined green with late crest (riveted tender body/narrow hornplates)
• 7810 Draycott Manor BR lined green with early crest (riveted tender body/wide hornplates)
• 7812 Erlestoke Manor BR lined green with late crest (flush tender body/narrow hornplates)
• 7824 Ilford Manor BR unlined black with large early crest (flush tender body/narrow hornplates)

Preserved (circa 1974-present)

• 7808 Cookham Manor GWR plain green with monogram (flush tender body/wide hornplates)

A detailed cab interior has been unveiled, with many separate parts.

Specification

Common Features:

• Highly-detailed OO gauge model, 1:76.2 scale on 16.5mm track
• Based on 3D scan of 7808 Cookham Manor and full works drawings provided by GWS, Didcot
• Surveys undertaken with assistance of Erlestoke Manor Fund, Dinmore Manor Loco Ltd and Tyseley Locomotive Works
• Smokebox and chimney correctly represents as-built GWR condition or post-1952 BR redraughting
• Detailed cab interior with many separate parts
• Scale width wire handrails
• Etched metal/plastic and lost wax detail parts, incl. grab handles, steps, drain cocks, etc
• Etched metal pre-painted name and numberplates
• Etched metal ‘Cambrian Coast Express’ and ‘Pembroke Coast Express’ headboards
• High-fidelity dummy screw couplings
• Fully sprung metal buffers and factory-installed pipework
• Tapered or straight buffer housings where applicable
• Brake blocks in line with wheels
• Front mini-tension lock coupler can be replaced by accurate front pony truck moulding

Tender details:

• Churchward 3,500 gal tender with numerous variations including riveted and flush sides, narrow or wide hornplates, three different styles of spring hanger and underframe-mounted water scoop.
• Fully sprung metal buffers, factory-installed pipework and high fidelity dummy screw couplings.
• Early tapered, tapered or straight buffer housings where applicable
• Optional overhead warning plate bracket on late-BR examples
• Kinetic NEM coupler mounts on tender at correct height with mini-tension-lock couplers
• DCC decoder socket in tender (tender roof accessible by lift out section secured by magnets)
• Choice of lift out sections: empty or simulated ‘coal’ load

DCC / Electronic Features:

• DCC ready (21-Pin MTC Socket in tender) or factory-installed DCC sound options
• DCC Sound locomotives have speaker mounted in smokebox and dual speakers in tender
• PowerPack capacitor for uninterrupted power and sound
• Flickering firebox light (synchronised with sound on DCC installed models)
• Electrical pickup from all tender and locomotive driving wheels

Traction Features:

• High-quality three-pole motor with flywheel, low starting voltage and smooth power delivery
• Minimum Radius 438mm (2nd Radius Set-track)
• Die-cast metal chassis, running plate and body with sprung centre driving axle
• Gearing arranged so locomotive can achieve a scale top speed of 90 mph (145 km/h)
• RP25-110 profile OO gauge wheels

For more details, including pricing and availability of models, visit the Accurascale website, or see your local stockist.