As we await the final pre-production samples from the factory which will include the latest sound file and final speaker setup, the testing of our painted samples has continued. Thanks to Barrow Hill Junction; BR Blue 56008 was given a MGR working very prototypical for the area whilst 56049 was given some mileage on bogie tank wagons. Link to YouTube video here:
Please keep an eye out for updates coming soon.
We’re very excited to be attending DEMU showcase this weekend for the premier D&E exhibition of the year. We will be on stand 24, come and visit the stand for updates on all of our projects and support the society!
We’re very excited to be attending the Rail Riders exhibition this weekend at the Crewe Heritage Centre! If you’re attending the show please come and visit the stand to have a chat about our various projects.
We’ve been working with the factory to make further improvements to the 56 ahead of the production models, with the mesh horn grille being an area we wanted to focus on. As you can see the mesh has been further improved vs the painted samples alongside other areas which we will showcase on the production samples.
Cavalex are pleased to report that the Class 60 project has been progressing nicely in the tooling stage to a point where we are confident, we can release the price of the loco without changing it further into the project - with the DCC Ready RRP price being set at £194.95. The price of the DCC sound fitted versions will be £294.95.
Following the past few months of hard work to get to the project to this stage in the process, we are very excited to receive the first shots out of the moulds and will provide a full update on the project once these have been received.
We would like to thank all of our customers and followers for their overwhelmingly positive reaction to the project so far.
The Cavalex 60 can be pre-ordered from all of our retailers listed below:
● Collett’s Models - https://www.collettsmodelshop.co.uk
● C&M Models - https://candmmodels.co.uk
● John Dutfield - https://www.johndutfieldmodelrailways.co.uk
● KMS Railtech - https://www.kmsrailtech.co.uk
● Rails of Sheffield - https://railsofsheffield.com
● Rainbow Railways - https://rainbowrailways.co.uk
● Trains4U - http://www.trains4u.com
● Ultimate Model Railways - https://ultimatemodelrailways.com
● TTC Diecast - https://www.ttcdiecast.com
● Cheltenham Model Centre - https://cheltenhammodelcentre.com
Cavalex are pleased to report that as the Class 56 project enters the production stage of the process, we can release the price of the DCC sound fitted loco - with the RRP being set at £289.95.
Photo courtesy Thornbury & South Gloucestershire MRC
Thank you to British Railway Modelling for a great weekend at Alexandra Palace last weekend - thanks also to everyone that visited our stand over the weekend and spoke to us on various projects. We are also very grateful to the New Sodbury layout team by Thornbury & South Gloucestershire MRC for running our 56049 painted sample over the weekend - it looked great on the Revolution Trains log carriers!
Cavalex Models continues to expand its Brush Type 5 offering in 4mm with our next locomotive project, the Class 60 in OO scale.
With the type 5 loco hauling our released, and forthcoming wagon projects, it was a logical next step for us after our Class 56. The model is already significantly advanced and at the tooling stage, having been in the works for the past few years. All variants of the 60 are being tooled, to accurately cover all 100 locomotives produced between first delivery of 60001 in June 1989 and the present day operations of the fleet. This will of course see the release of Class 60s in configurations and liveries that haven’t been available before in 1:76.2 scale.
Photo courtesy Alan Padley
In 2018 GB Railfreight acquired 16 Class 56 locomotives from UK Rail Leasing to meet the increased demand for motive power as the company continued its growth in the sector.
The plan was to rebuild the Class 56s based on the need to improve emissions, save costs through improved fuel economy and standardisation amongst the fleet. Classified as Class 69, the newly converted locomotives would incorporate various new parts including new engine and cooler group with the bogies and traction motors being retained but overhauled.
In April 2019, GB Railfreight announced that ten locomotives had been ordered, with the option for an addition six more, which would be rebuilt by Progress Rail at its Longport facility.
The first of the Class, 69001, was released from Longport in February 2021 and moved to the Severn Valley Railway for testing. 69002 followed in March of the same year and as of January 2023, the fleet currently stands at seven operational locomotives.
To mark the end of Class 56 operations by GB Railfreight, UK Railtours in association with GBRf, arranged a final mainline railtour with two of GBRf’s Class 56 locomotives before the last of the fleet prepared for conversion to Class 69.
Ahead of the Railtour, 56081 and 56098 were painted by local staff as a one-off before withdrawal, in B.R. Blue and Large Logo respectively. The locomotives looked resplendent in their retrospective British Rail liveries and are a credit to the staff involved.
On the 14th of January 2023, 56081 and 56098 worked the GBRF Class 56 Farewell Tour from Wembley Central to Barrow Hill and return.
To commemorate this event and due to the growing number of requests received for Cavalex to produce a limited number of models of these fine locomotives, we are delighted to announce that we will be offering 56081 and 56098 as a limited edition pair thanks to GB Railfreight.
The GBRF Class 56 Farewell Railtour twin pack is available exclusively from our retailers listed below. Price for the double pack will be £379.90 for the DCC ready version, sound fitted price TBA.
We hope to provide an update on the sound fitted version of our Class 56 at Model Rail Scotland later this month
● Collett’s Models - https://www.collettsmodelshop.co.uk
● C&M Models - https://candmmodels.co.uk
● John Dutfield - https://www.johndutfieldmodelrailways.co.uk
● KMS Railtech - https://www.kmsrailtech.co.uk
● Rails of Sheffield - https://railsofsheffield.com
● Rainbow Railways - https://rainbowrailways.co.uk
● Trains4U - http://www.trains4u.com
● Ultimate Model Railways - https://ultimatemodelrailways.com
We would like to pass on our thanks to GBRF, Bob Tiller and Tony Middleton for their help and support with producing these models.
Photo courtesy Richard Watson, Hornby Magazine
We wanted to extend our thanks to the Hornby Magazine team for a nice afternoon talking and playing trains yesterday at their office. 56008 was given a nice run out on HAAs and 56049 an easy turn on TEAs.
Photo courtesy Richard Watson, Hornby Magazine
Photo courtesy Richard Watson, Hornby Magazine
Look out for videos and more content from Hornby Magazine coming next week.
Thanks to Richard Watson for these excellent photos.