DEMU Show Highlights

Realtrack models' CAD artwork for the Class 144 unit is looking impressive.

A busy weekend culminated in a flying visit to the DEMU showcase event at Burton on Sunday, to enjoy the excellent layouts and obtain a few 'bits' from the various traders. I had meant to post this news on Monday but ended up having to run (not literally!) up to Carnforth for the day, to deliver a number of finished models to the Telerail HQ for the final bits of filming on the next Model Rail DVD. Hence why the weekend was pretty hectic, painting and finishing off a DRS '20' and a pair of LMS 4-6-0s in ultra-quick time (look out for future posts). Apart from watching the England game at a friend's house, that was the only break I got over the weekend.... grumble, grumble....

Anyway, this was the first time I'd been to DEMU since the show relocated from Burton Town Hall and, although I always loved the older venue, the Bretby conference centre does offer more space, albeit in a fairly bland setting.

But never mind, the Realtrack Models stand had a display of their upcoming projects, including the FLA intermodal twin-sets and several pieces of CAD artwork for a brand new rtr Class 144 and 143 dmu. While I'd been privy to the developments in this project for a while, it was great to see it go public and to hear modellers talking about the new model with enthusiasm.

Personally, I can't wait to see one in the flesh, although it will be next year before that happens. I know that the Pacer family are not the best of trains, but I've always found that they're so bad that they're good, if you know what I mean. They're certainly not dull, especially when you're going over 40mph on jointed track and being bounced around like mad.
See http://www.realtrackmodels.co.uk/ for more details...

Realtrack's FLA twin set is also looking good - this pre-production sample showing off an impressive amount of detail, including excellent printing on the sides.

One of the highlights of the new products - for me at least - was the sight of an unpainted sample of the Hornby Railroad (ex-Lima) Class 40, which should prove popular with detailers - how will it look with an array of Shawplan bits added, I wonder? Simon Kohler mentioned July/August as a possible delivery date for the first batches of '40s' and '33s'.

Most manufacturers know that you can never go wrong with a Scot-Rail branded model and this early shot of a Hornby '156' car in the latest Scottish livery looked very nice.


Another new livery about to emerge is the East Midlands scheme on the new HST power cars. Again, execution looks to be to a high standard.


The OTA timber wagons are still progressing, with both types on display in unpainted format. Will they stop me building the small fleet of Cambrian kits that I've been hoarding for years?

Also of note was the unveiling of a pair of Network Rail wagons and the 'OO' gauge range of caternary on the Dapol stand, plus Bachmann had a pre-production sample of the Class 70, along with a very attractive pair of decorated Cravens DMUs. The Farish display gave me my first glimpse of painted Class 14s, plus an unpainted prototype Deltic - all looking lovely.

You can read about most of these developments in the latest Model Rail (Issue 145), on sale this week.