Heljan ‘O’ gauge ED CADS revealed
Heljan has revealed progress on its forthcoming Class 73/1 Electro-Diesel (ED) with release of the latest CAD drawings for this new ‘O’ gauge project.
Built in the 1960s for use on British Rail’s Southern Region, these versatile machines were designed to operate on the Region's third-rail power supply, as well as ‘off-juice’ on their 600hp diesel engine. Examples remain in regular main line use with GB Railfreight, Network Rail and Caledonian Sleeper in original and rebuilt forms.
Heljan’s new ‘O’ gauge model reflects the Class 73/1 (JB) variant introduced from the mid-1960s and will be issued in a raft of colour schemes including a selection of newly-announced unnumbered examples (see table below). 16 different ‘O’ gauge Class 73/1 EDs are planned initially.
The impressive specification includes accurate detail variations between early and late period locomotives such as high-intensity headlights, radio aerials, optional arc shields, plus sprung buffers, buckeye couplings, detailed cab interiors, extensive body detailing and much more. Heljan is also taking the opportunity to incorporate additional features such as retractable third-rail collector shoes, powered roof fan, DCC controllable third-rail ‘flash’, interchangeable headcode panels, provision for a digitally-controlled smoke unit, digital lighting functions (microswitches for DC users) and more.
Following evaluation of these CAD images, final corrections are currently being made to the drawings before the model progresses to tooling.
Prices are set at £625 each, with delivery currently anticipated during mid-2022.
Visit www.heljan.co.uk for more information.
Cat No. Running No. Description
7300 E6008 BR blue with small yellow panels and grey band *
7301 E6020 BR blue with light grey roof and small yellow panels
7302 73137 BR blue
7303 73114 BR large logo blue
7304 73102 Airtour Suisse InterCity Executive
7305 73108 BR ‘Dutch’ yellow and grey
7306 73126 Kent and East Sussex Railway BR Network SouthEast
7308 73128 EWS red and gold
7309 Unnumbered Network Rail yellow
7310 73107 Tracy GB Railfreight blue and orange
7311 Unnumbered BR blue with light grey roof and small yellow panels
7312 Unnumbered BR blue (full yellow ends) **
7313 Unnumbered BR large logo blue
7314 Unnumbered InterCity Executive
7315 Unnumbered BR ‘Dutch’ yellow and grey
7320 Unnumbered GB Railfreight blue and orange
Notes:
*Weathered edition
**Tower Models exclusive limited edition of 50 models
