06 February 2023
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What we like, and what we noticed on the release of these models under the EFE Rail brand name.
Announced in November and recently arrived, EFE Rail is distributing on behalf of Kernow Model Rail Centre, newly-tooled 56ft non-corridor vehicles termed as ‘Cross Country Sets’.
Constructed between 1906 and 1910 by the London and South Western Railway these could be found on secondary services across the South West section of the Southern Railway and BR(S) and as such are ideal for stopping and branch line services.
Here's what we liked:
1
Presented in an attractive book box form with explanatory notes and photographs, EFE Rail is offering three sets of three coaches in late Southern Railway malachite green, BR Crimson and BR Southern Region green spanning the 1936 to 1957 period.
2
Beneath the composite coach battery compartment boxes are finished on all surfaces and representation of the planked floor and the appropriate links to the brake cylinders.
3
Each window surround is edged with a metallic silver, the appropriate ‘No Smoking’ and ‘First’ window decals are present and livery lettering and solebar printing is sharp and dense.
Here's what we noticed:
Some feel the door droplight windows are a touch undersized and have a robust feel. However there's a respectable amount of separately-fitted detail such as the torpedo roof vents and the wire handrails.
The bogies were relatively simple and leave much of the 3ft 6in disc wheels visible on the model. These are of an unfinished steel, and would benefit from chemical blackening, or painting and weathering.
Read Andy York's full review in the April 2023 issue of BRM.
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