Description
Expected Delivery Q3 2026 (Subject to Change at Manufacturer’s Discretion).
Common Features:
- Highly-detailed OO Gauge / 1:76.2 Scale Models on 16.5mm track
- Extremely fine exterior rivet detail on roof and coach ends
- Separately-applied etched metal and high-fidelity plastic parts, including handrails, brake/steam heat pipes, ETH cabling and sockets, footsteps, dummy drophead knuckle coupler, and roof vents
- Prism Free Glazing
- Pre-painted etched metal water filler covers provided for customer to install
- Fully-detailed underframe with numerous separate parts, pipe runs and accurate differences between versions
- The most accurate B4 bogies ever produced, with provision for re-gauging to EM or P4 (18.83mm) gauges
- Blackened RP25.110 profile wheel-sets with 14.4mm back-to-back measurements, and 26mm over pinpoints
- Different buffers for retracted and non-retracted positions
- Accurate interiors with characteristic ‘winged’ headrests, separate metal interior handrails on the brake and corridor vehicles and fully-detailed guard’s compartment
- Correct height NEM standard coupling sockets with mini tension lock couplers and kinematic close-coupling
- Easy conversion to Kadee-compatiable knuckle couplers
- Full lighting package, including
- magnet ‘wand’ controlled interior lighting
- ‘Stay-Alive’ capacitor in all coaches
- directional lighting with DC or DCC control (Driving Trailer only)
- Minimum Radius 438mm (2nd Radius Set-track)
- Coach Length: 269mm
The Prototypes
The Phase I Mk.2c retains the basic window layout of the Mk.2b, featuring the large toilet window, but appears with various roof vent configurations: large ‘G’ style vents, smaller ‘GM’ vents, or in some cases, the later Mk.2c’s ‘Roe-Vac’ vents. Accurascale’s previous Mk.2c release focused on Phase II variants, which were exclusively fitted with ‘Roe-Vac’ vents and smaller ‘air-con’ style toilet windows.
Unlike the Mk.2b coaches, which were shared between the Western and Eastern Regions, early Mk.2c coaches were initially allocated solely to the London Midland Region. By the 1980s, however, they could be found on every region except the Southern, making them an incredibly versatile option for modellers.
As expected, Accurascale is offering a comprehensive selection in a variety of authentic liveries. Alongside the ever-popular BR Blue/Grey, this run expands coverage of Network SouthEast, InterCity, and TransPennine stock. A standout addition is the striking South Wales & West stock, featuring distinctive dark blue and maroon liveries.
Accurascale South Wales & West Mk.2b/c Coaches
Between 1989 and 1993, the introduction of ‘Sprinter’ DMUs across secondary services dramatically reduced the active fleet of Mk.2b and Mk.2c coaches. By 1994, most cross-country, TransPennine, internal Scottish, and Network SouthEast loco-hauled services had transitioned to DMUs, leaving only Mk.2c BSO 9458 in regular BR service—mainly running with Mk.2a stock in North Wales and the North West.
In 1996, a reprieve came when the newly formed South Wales & West franchise hired a small fleet of Mk.1 and Mk.2 coaches from Carnforth Railway Restoration Services (CRRES), a West Coast Railways subsidiary. This fleet replaced Regional Railways Mk.2a stock that had been reassigned elsewhere. The leased stock included:
- Mk.2b TSO 5453/78/91 and Mk.2c BSO 9440 in Regional Railways blue with a thin white pinstripe
- Mk.2b TSO 5463/87, Mk.2c TSO 5569, and Mk.2c BSO 9448 in West Coast Railways maroon
- Mk.1 TSO 99318/27/28 were used temporarily during refurbishment
Returning to mainline service in summer 1996, based at Rail Express Systems’ Bristol Barton Hill depot, these coaches ran services linking Manchester Piccadilly/Oxford Road, Birmingham New Street–Cardiff Central, Cardiff–Bristol Temple Meads, and Bristol/Westbury–Weymouth. They were primarily hauled by Class 37/4s, with frequent substitutions by Class 37/0s.
Following the takeover by Prism Rail’s Wales & West franchise in October 1996, the Mk.2b and 2c coaches remained in service until September 1999. They returned again in 2001 under National Express-operated Wales & Borders, serving the Rhymney–Cardiff–Fishguard route until their replacement in 2004 by ex-Virgin air-conditioned stock. Afterward, the coaches returned to Carnforth, with many used in rail tours into the early 2010s.
The Model
The Phase 1 Mark 2c has never before been offered in ready-to-run form, making this a significant addition to the BR coaching fleet. Accurascale once again delivers exceptional fidelity, matching previous Mark 2 runs in terms of detail and build quality. Highlights include:
- Fully detailed interiors decorated to prototype specifications
- Working interior lighting powered by track pickup and powerpack capacitors for flicker-free operation
- Close-coupling mechanisms with NEM pockets
- Free-rolling metal wheelsets
- Museum-quality decoration and assembly
With over 20 coaches available across a broad selection of formats, liveries, and eras, this release offers excellent opportunities for modellers to expand existing rakes or build new formations behind popular Accurascale locomotives such as the Class 50, 31, and 37.
