The Leader
It has been a long time coming, with quite a few unexpected delays on the way. But we are really pleased (and relieved too!) that the finished models have now arrived in the UK. This includes all livery versions, in DCC ready, DCC fitted and DCC sound fitted. The container will need to clear customs, then will be sent directly to our UK distribution warehouse for orders to begin being picked and processed for onward delivery to customers.
It’s not a fast process but this is our first FULL 20ft container. You will be getting an email with your tracking number once your order has left our warehouse. Please bare with us as this is a particularly busy time for our warehousing partner, as they also handle picking and distribution for several other companies too.
There are still some models available to order, and these can be purchased via our website or via our stockists, but unallocated numbers are low so act quickly to avoid disappointment.
Important message for North American Customers.
For those customers in Canada and the US, please be aware that the current Canadian postal strike will affect all orders despatched from here. Customers have the option of waiting for the postal strike to end and for their model(s) to be despatched then as normal or have their model(s) despatched from our UK warehouse. Be mindful though that international postage from the UK is normally slow, and delivery via this method may well take upwards of a month. If we don’t hear from you then we’ll dispatch them from our Canadian Warehouse once the strike is over.
The model features:
Plux 22 DCC socket- SR head code lights that can be cycled through different modes on DCC
- Separate SR head code discs for user application
- Cab lighting
- All wheel pickup
- All wheel drive
- On board Stay Alive
Plux 22 DCC socketFor those wanting to see more, a full review video has been produced by Jennifer E. Kirk Model Railways on Youtube and can be watched at this link.
Additionally, Hornby Magazine has published a full and in depth review in their last issue. Be sure to check it out!
Order Your Leader Model Today
Production Sample Images
We have partnered with the great Ken Patterson (What’s Neat This Week) to have some photos of one of our production models taken. We are really pleased with the results, and would like to thank Ken for his amazing work.
Ken’s photography has appeared in the catalogues of Walthers and Bachman USA amongst others as well as on the pages of Model Railroader magazine. Be sure to check out his regular show over on Youtube.
Model Updates
We recently attended the British Festival of Railway Modelling at the NEC (aka: “I can’t believe it’s not Warley” or “Warnerley”). Several models stand out as being the most eagerly awaited with questions being asked about how they are progressing, so here is some information on where we are at with these.
Big Bertha
A decorated sample of Big Bertha arrived in our Canadian offices, though without enough time to be able to send it on for display at the NEC show.
The sample in the picture is the Midland Railway black version, and we’re sure that you will agree that it looks smart in this livery. Please note that the wiring visible under the cab is not indicative of how the production models will be and this will instead be contained in a black pipe running between locomotive and tender.
There are still a few tweaks to feed back to the factory, but hopefully we are nearly at the point that the model can be signed off for production. It is one of our most eagerly anticipated models and demand is sure to be very high in all liveries. We recommend if this is a must-have model for you that you order now to avoid disappointment.
Pre-order your Big Bertha here
4DD EMU
These models are currently part way through production.
They will hopefully follow the Leader models into our warehouse in the early new year. Look out for updates as these models have proven to be exceptionally popular. Please note that they are currently sold out to pre-order.
Bellerophon
Those who attended the Great British Model Railway show at Gaydon will have witnessed our Bellerophon sample hard at work on layouts. The model performed well and we are very pleased with its performance.
A decorated sample has just arrived in our Canadian offices for assessment. Again, this was just before the NEC show and it was impossible to get the sample sent to be on display. This is the plain black livery which has proven difficult to photograph clearly in the lighting in our office. The model will be being sent for photography and we hope to have better pictures to show in the next newsletter. So far all looks good, and we are pleased with how well the model has turned out in its livery. Sometimes it is difficult to really truly visualise the finished presence of a model just from the EP samples but despite being the plainest of the offered liveries, the model looks really smart finished in black.
As with the Big Bertha samples, we hope to have the model approved for production soon once we have had samples of the other liveries and any tweaks that are identified as needing doing are addressed. Some liveries of Bellerophon are close to being fully allocated on pre- order so we suggest pre-ordering now if this is a must- have model for you to avoid disappointment.
Pre-order your Bellerophon model here
Hunslet Bo-Bo
These models should follow on into production once the 4DD EMUs are completed. We will update you once we have confirmed that they are in production as this will give us a clearer timeframe.
Four different livery versions will be available depicting different members of the class and are perfect for any steelworks layout, or indeed any industrial location on your model that requires beefy shunters!
Pre-order your Hunslet Bo-Bo here
Production Schedule Updates On Your Models:
| Model | Status | Delivery ETA |
| SR Bulleid Leader | Clearing Customs | Processing orders |
| Bulleid 4DD | In production | Spring 2025 |
| Clayton DHP1 | Awaiting production | Spring 2025 |
| Bellerophon | Decorated samples | Spring 2025 |
| Hunslet BoBo/Torpedo wagons | Awaiting production | Spring 2025 |
| Class 40 ‘Whistlers’ | Tooling | Winter 2025 |
| Mica B refrigerated wagons | In Production | Spring 2025 |
| Big Bertha | Decorated samples | Summer 2025 |
| Two Truck Shay | Delayed | Summer 2025 |
| Skeletal Logging Car | Delivered | Delivered |
| WD 2-10-0 | CAD’s | Spring 2026 |
