Page 62 - Rail Express - September 2019
P. 62
REVIEWS N GAUGE 1967- ERA
circa
2mm:1ft
2010
TopTEA from
Graham Farish
ABRAND-NEW model of the once is fitted with fine
common 102t bogie tank wagonhas mouldings forbrake
been promisedbyGraham Farish for cylinders, air tank
afew years; with tantalising images andlinkages. The
of theBachmann ‘OO’ gaugemodel in brakewheels are Abrand-newmodel of the 102t TEA bogie tank wagon
theGraham Farish catalogue to keep separate fittings with Gloucester bogies has been released in ‘N’ gaugeby
‘N’ gaugemodellers in astate of keen andlocated towardsone Bachmann, sold under its Graham Farish label.
anticipation. endofthe underframe. Tank discharge
Threeversions of the wagonhave pipes arealso fitted as separate parts
nowbeen released, including the andare neatlymoulded with capdetail The tooling is completelynew and
featured model which poses as oneof andsupport bracket modelled at the brings contemporary levels of finishing
the BRTTEA and TEB 102t GLWbogie ends. They aremissing the vertical to amodel of acommon wagontype
tankwagons(373-560).Theywere linking pipe locatedinthe middlewhich including well modelled brakeequipment
built by Norbitt-Pickeringand Metro- would be connected to the underside and afine underframe moulding.
Cammellfor BRTbetween 1967 and of the tank.
1968; numbered BRT20000-099 and Noteworthy is thecorrect taper
subsequently renumbered as BRT84000- of the solebars where theyangle out
099. Theywereleased to several from the inner members to the full
companies including Esso, Phillips widthframing overthe bogies which
petroleum and Gulf Oil. The model does have the complexdropinboardof FEATURES WE LIKE
not represent those BRTwagons of the the headstocks. Headstocksare the ■ Etched end platforms and ladders.
samebasic design which were de-lagged correctshape and fitted with good ■ Gloucester bogies well represented.
andotherwise changedtosuit specific representations of ovalbuffers. Air ■ Underframe detailed with accurate
commodities including styrenemonomer. pipes and coupling hooksare supplied in brakefittings.
Close examination of photographs the boxfor the modeller to fit. ■ Close coupling cams.
of thefull-size BRTwagons shows ■ Finelytooled underframe.
some detail differences including the Bogiesand couplings
endladdersand position of thebrake Gloucesterbogies arefitted,with a
wheels.Essentially, mostdetailfits well resemblance to the Mk.3 type. Spring
includingthe position of dischargepipes, detail is nicelytooled and theframing
andthe loadinghatches. Underframe hasthe correct shapetoo.Brake
fittingsare also correctfor thetypeof shoesare moulded as partofthe bogie
wagonrepresented. Regardingthe Gulf side frames, just inboardgiving the
Oiland BP versions of the model, this impressionofbeing linedupwith the
reviewcannot make anycomment on wheels. They arepartially alignedwith ª Acloser viewofthe bogies and full width section
them as no samples were received. the metalwheels which were found to of the underframe. The discharge pipe assemblies are
roll smoothlyinthe bogies. The outer missing the vertical pipe.
Tank barrel face of the wheels hasahint of abrake ¬ Good models of Gloucester bogies arefitted complete with metal
Mostofthe structural strength of the disceventhough theyare painted black. discwheels. Close coupling cams areintegral with the underframe.
TEAtankwagonsisthrough thebarrel, Close coupling cams are
with theunderframe beingusedfor incorporatedinthe underframe and are
mounting thebogies and supporting sprung lightly enough to be reasonably ® One of the three
brakeequipment. Thebarrel is 18mm smooth in their operation. NEM 355 models is finished
in diameter equating to ascale nine coupling pocketsare fitted with in Class Agrey
feet in diameter.Itiswellmoulded with standard‘N’ gaugecouplings which with Esso and BRT
separately fitteddished ends andneat couldbeexchanged forfixedbars when markings as No. BRT
framingabove the bogie area of the running thewagonsinablock rake. 20062 (BRT84062).
underframe. Endladders and platforms
arefitted as etchedmetal parts whilst Finishing
thelongwalkway is moulded from The livery appliedtothe reviewmodel wasa smudge on theedgeofone of Forits part, Bachmanncould tool the
plastic. The joinbetween thebarrel and is Class Agreywith redsolebarsand the Esso logos.Ithas an eggshell finish otherbogie types foundunder many
dished endsisa little too pronounced adorned with Esso and BRTmarkings. readyfor some dirtyinguptomatch the 60ft ClassATEAssuchasESC and David
eventhough the welded join on the No TOPS panel is applied and the trulyoilyconditionofmanyBRT TEAs &Lloyd bogies.Making thebogies and
full size wagons is beingexploitedasa wagonisnumberedasNo. BRT20062 operated in the 1970sand 1980s. wheels availableassparepartswould
natural join forthe parts. indicating that it represents the wagon Whilst not every difference furtherhelpmodellersand be abenefit
earlierinits working life.The markings between the TEA/TEB wagons can be to the hobby.
Underframe aresharp and legible,particularly incorporated in an off-the-shelf model, Finally, issuingmorethan one
The complexshape of the underframe on thesolebars includingthe ‘Earth it leavessome scopefor modellers to number per livery in anygiven catalogue
member has been well tooled and is Here’ labels.Aslightlysoftedgewas detailand adapt to better matchthe would bewelcomed by modellers
fineisappearance.The inner section detected on the longred band and there BRTwagonsit is intended to represent. wanting to assemble long block rakes.
£ RRP £42.95.
❒ Produced by Bachmann Europe
www.bachmann.co.uk
® End platforms and ladders are
composed of etched metal and are
fine in appearance. Grab railsare
shaped from metal wirewhilst the
walkway is made of plastic.
M30 RAIL EXPRESS Modeller September 2019 Supplement No. 185
