◆GAUGE ‘OO’ ◆MODEL Accurascale Class 37/0 D6702 BR green, small yellow panels
◆PRICE £169.99 (DCC-ready), £259.99 (DCC sound) ◆AVAILABILITY Accurascale stockists Web www.accurascale.co.uk
It has been a year of plenty, especially where Accurascale Class 37s are concerned, with a raft of models appearing since the summer, covering the later BR and privatisation eras.
The latest sample to arrive at Model Rail HQ, is the fourth ‘37’ we’ve reviewed this year, and portrays a Type 3 in early condition. BR green D6702 sports small yellow warning panels, split headcode boxes, communicating doors, bufferbeam cowlings and a host of other period and prototype-specific details, such as the early pattern of cant rail grilles (with riveted surrounds), double-riveted roof panels, and large cab vents.
The headcode boxes are pre-fitted with alphanumerical codes, appropriately reporting Class 7 and 9 freight workings at alternate ends. Plenty of alternative headcodes are also supplied, in self-adhesive form or printed onto paper, which need cutting out and installing behind the glazed panels.
A full suite of lighting effects is included, with illuminated headcodes, tail lamps and interior lighting within the engine room and cabs (including the driver’s desks). Talking of which, the fully detailed cab interiors are superb, with the correct colours employed on the bulkheads and control consoles.
The cabsides are adorned with BR blue-backed data panels and NB (no boiler) legends, denoting the fact that the ‘37’ lacks a source of train heating, with the plated-over exhaust panel on the roof confirming this. BR 41A shedcode stickers are also in place referring to Tinsley (Sheffield), where it moved to in the mid/late 1960s. Indeed, a colour image within the model’s handbook shows D6702 at Wath Yard in 1969, looking very much like its 4mm scale replica.
In terms of looks, it’s difficult to find anything amiss, as has been the case with each previous Accurascale ‘37’ release. Performance has also been exemplary under test.
This DCC sound-fitted version features Accurascale’s usual twin speaker arrangement – which provides a superb aural experience. And there’s a vast range of individual sound effects to choose from, along with the facility to control the individual lighting functions.
Accurascale’s designers have shown remarkable attention to detail, allowing an individual member of such a large class to be modelled faithfully. Build quality and paint finish is top notch, with just a feint hazing around certain areas of the yellow warning panels. I did wonder if the shade of BR green was a little on the light side, but I wonder if my mind is comparing it to shades used by other manufacturers, which are often on the darker side. Either way, as a complete package, it’s a wonderful model.
The supplied detail bag provides all the necessary bufferbeam fittings, two different snowplough sets (for permanent or temporary attachment), plus a pair of frost grilles and etched builder’s plates. I decided to add many of these detail parts prior to photography and can report that everything fitted perfectly.
It’s great to see a ‘split box’ Class 37 in 1960s condition, which is complemented by another BR green version with full yellow ends, plus BR blue 37001 for the 1970s era. At the time of writing, very limited stock of each version remained.
For a more thorough assessment of the core tooling, mechanism and electronics, I would urge readers to refer back to my first review of Accurascale’s ‘37’ in MR314.
(GD)
“There’s a vast range of individual sound effects to choose from”
SUMMARY
PROS
● Looks.
● Performance.
● Attention to detail.
● Superb finish.
● DCC sound is excellent.
CONS
● Not a lot.
FINAL VERDICT
Fantastic.
3 things we like
1
Interesting cabside adornments: shedcodes, BR blue data panels and ‘NB’ (no boiler) notifications, plus etched Vulcan Foundry builder’s plates
2
Frost grilles, an optional customer fitment, feature realistic mesh pattern and fastener head detail around the frame.
3
Lift-off roof panel, secured with strong magnets, reveals the 21pin DCC interface. This sound-fitted version boasts a twin-speaker setup, with great results.