Perfect grass is the most essential part of landscape greenery. For this reason, NOCH have increased the selection of grass fibres with some very interesting variations. From now on, the popular NOCH Wild Grass is also available as Wild Grass XL with a length of 12 mm (0.47 in.).

The new extra long Grass Tufts XL offer lots of landscaping potential. The 12 mm (0.47 in.) long grass fibres are ideal for O, OO and H0 gauges.

The electrostatic application of grass adds that certain something to your model landscape. The NOCH Start Set Vegetation will help you to easily replicate this since the 2,5 mm (0.1 in.) long NOCH Scatter Grass can simply be applied with the Puffer Bottle.

In addition to the extension of their grass range, NOCH also launching two grass mats in the new colour "Meadow".

The following new grass products are all available at the hobby shops:

Ref. 08200 Scatter Grass Spring Meadow 0.06 in. long, 20 g
Ref. 08212 Scatter Grass Meadow 0.06 in. long, 20 g
Ref. 08214 Scatter Grass Ornamental Lawn 0.06 in. long, 20 g
Ref. 08312 Scatter Grass Meadow 0.1 in. long, 20 g
Ref. 50220 Scatter Grass Meadow 0.1 in. long, 100 g
Ref. 08314 Scatter Grass Ornamental Lawn 0.1 in. long, 20 g

Ref. 07100 Wild Grass, Meadow 0.24 in. long, 50 g (below)



Ref. 07110 Wild Grass XL, Meadow 0.47 in. long, 40 g
Ref. 07111 Wild Grass XL, beige 0.47 in. long, 40 g
Ref. 07112 Wild Grass XL, light green 0.47 in. long, 40 g
Ref. 07114 Wild Grass XL, bright green 0.47 in. long, 40 g
Ref. 07116 Wild Grass XL, dark green 0.47 in. long, 40 g

Ref. 07004 Grass Tufts XL, beige + green 92 pcs., 0.47 in. (below)
Ref. 07010 Grass Tufts XL, green + blossom 92 pcs., 0.47 in.



Ref. 07069 Start Set "Vegetation"

Ref. 00013 Grass Mat, Meadow 78.7 x 39.4 in.
Ref. 00265 Grass Mat, Meadow 47.2 x 23.6 in.

New 'OO' Scenecraft 2012/13 — The Pendon Buildings

Images from the forthcoming Pendon range of buildings by Bachmann Scenecraft have been released.

Pendon Museum, founded in 1954, is home to the Vale scene, an intricate and beautiful model layout capturing the essence of the Vale of White Horse as it was in the 1930s. Scenecraft are producing 9 replica Pendon buildings, approved by the trustees, which are suitable for many layouts and eras.

A donation will be made from every purchase towards the Pendon Museum Trust. For further information on visiting the museum, go to www.pendonmuseum.com.





The Pendon Buildings Collection (9 pieces) consists of:

44-155 Pendon Fernham Parish Pump
44-156 Pendon Tom Brown's Schoolhouse
44-157 Pendon Wagon and Horses Pub
44-158 Pendon Sunnyside Chicken Coop
44-159 Pendon Little Chapel Cottage
44-160 Pendon Wanborough Barn
44-161 Pendon Snell's Hall
44-162 Pendon Wash House
44-163 Pendon Grotty Large Shed



Also, Bachmann will be producing the Severn Valley Railway's popular Highley Station. The SVR is a standard gauge railway line that regularly runs both preserved steam and diesel-hauled passenger trains between Kidderminster and Bridgnorth, over a total distance of 16 miles. Highley Station itself is set in a spectacular valley next to the River Severn.

A donation will be made from every purchase towards the maintenance and development of the SVR. For further information on visiting the station and railway, go to www.svr.co.uk.







The Highley Station Collection (5 pieces) consists of:

44-142 Highley Station House
44-143 Highley Station Gents
44-144 Highley Station Booking Hall
44-145 Highley Station Cattle Dock
44-146 Highley Station Yard Crane



Finally, Bachmann have also announced the Shillingstone Station collection, a range of buildings based on Shillingstone station in Dorset. The announcement of this range coincides with the 150th anniversary of the formation of the much-missed Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway. Several organisations are now working towards the restoration of parts of this historic line, including the North Dorset Railway Trust, who are supporting us in the production of these buildings.

A donation will be made from every purchase towards the maintenance and development of this project. For further information on visiting the station and railway, go to www.shillingstone.addr.com.







The Shillingstone Station Collection (8 pieces) consists of:

44-164 Shillingstone Station Building
44-165 Shillingstone Signal Box
44-166 Shillingstone Parcel Office
44-167 Shillingstone Wickham Trolley Hut
44-168 Shillingstone Greenhouse
44-169 Shillingstone Platelayers Hut
44-170 Shillingstone Goods Shed
44-171 Shillingstone Platform Shelter

With the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the 50th anniversary of the Class 47 diesels coinciding, the opportunity to mark the occasion proved too good to miss! RAIL EXCLUSIVE has therefore teamed up with Italian model manufacturer ViTrains to bring you a run of appropriately chosen ‘Special Edition’ Class 47s all with a ‘diamond’ theme.

THIS YEAR is the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee but another, equally impressive railway milestone is that which arrives at the end of September when the commonplace Class 47 diesels will have achieved an impressive 50-year service life. This deserves recognition; so to follow a rather contrived theme RAIL EXCLUSIVE has commissioned a selection of made-to-order ‘OO’gauge models displaying the ‘double diamonds’ of BR’s Railfreight Distribution sub-sector.

With the co-operation of Italian manufacturer ViTrains, RAIL EXCLUSIVE has chosen to produce no less than four different locomotives featuring both the original Railfreight Distribution and the later ‘European’ colour schemes (some of the most common liveries on Class 47s during their latter years). Surprisingly, this has yet to feature on what could be termed ‘third generation’ models.

As well as being priced below that of similar items from another well-known manufacturer (not counting over £8.00 worth of complimentary etched fittings), ViTrains are ‘pulling out all the stops’ to get them to us for September!

We’ve also listened to our customers... Although widely accepted as the best 4mm scale ready-to-run Class 47 to date, it has often been criticised for the number of parts that need to be fitted by the purchaser. However, this issue is no more as we’ve reached agreement to have handrails and the majority of the detail parts fitted at the factory for the first time.
Additionally, two of the locomotives will provide extra detail variety and come un-numbered and un-named allowing modellers to personalise their purchases. To assist with this, a transfer sheet and a good selection of photo-etched plates will be included completely free of charge along with the etched double arrows, kickplates and depot plaques.

The ‘once only’ production runs, never to be repeated, are:
• V2107: No. 47365 Diamond Jubilee – Original RfD with bufferbeam cut-away and long range tanks.
• V2108: Un-numbered – Original RfD with bufferbeam fairings and battery box underframe.
• V2109: No. 47555 The Commonwealth Spirit – RfD European with fairings and battery box underframe.
• V2110: Un-numbered – RfD European with bufferbeam cut-away and long range tanks.

Pete Binger, Managing Director of The Hobby Company (ViTrains' UK distributor), commented: "I am absolutely delighted to be working with RAIL EXCLUSIVE. I have nothing but admiration for their quest for accuracy and attention to detail, with the ultimate aim of supplying the best possible models to their customers. The deal to produce these Class 47s is a demanding one, especially with the ViTrains factory at maximum capacity with Italian production, and it represents a glowing endorsement of the ViTrains model. The much-requested liveries should be extremely popular with modellers and collectors alike."

RAIL EXCLUSIVE’s Philip Sutton, added: "It’s great to be working with The Hobby Company and ViTrains again. They have listened and responded to our requirements, making the production of these four locos in a short timescale a viable proposition. Personally, I cannot believe the Railfreight Distribution schemes have been neglected for so long and we will be making every effort to ensure these models are as special as possible in every way by adding value through optional numbers and nameplates. Experience tells me that all modellers love to personalise their locomotives, especially if we can make it easy for them."

All the models will be available to purchase individually and presented in RAIL EXCLUSIVE’s own unique packaging, including certificates plus free etched stainless steel detail packs. As is normal, DCC chip and sound-fitted options are offered as well as a numbering and nameplate fitting service. Staged payment plans are available and, because many customers will want to purchase both pairs, a multiple purchase discount has been introduced.

RAIL EXCLUSIVE has only a few weeks to confirm quantities for the strictly limited ‘machine time’ so don’t hang around if you want to be guaranteed of securing these highly collectable models. As an additional incentive, everyone pre-ordering before April 30th will be automatically entered into a free prize draw to win a Badger airbrush, compressor and weathering DVD package worth over £160.

For details and prices, visit the Class 47 section of the website http://www.railexclusive.com/index.php?category=119 or call 01780 470086.

“Butler Henderson” becomes a National Railway Museum Director

Bachmann Branchline in partnership with the National Railway Museum today announce that the production of the D11/1 Class locomotive “Butler Henderson”, which is part of the National Collection, is well advanced and has reached the stage, where the complex Great Central Railway livery is being applied to the already tooled model.

Following the announcement earlier this month that Bachmann Branchline is to produce a LNER D11/2 “Scottish Director” 4-4-0 Class locomotive, both the National Railway Museum and Bachmann Europe have been inundated with enquiries regarding the prospect of the Great Central Railway (LNER D11/1) version.



In making the announcement earlier than intended, the model is well developed but will not be available until later this year. “Butler Henderson” will be the fourth in the “Exclusive Edition” model series and will only be available through the National railway Museum shop at York, on-line from nrmshop.co.uk or from Locomotion at Shildon.

Steve Davies, Director at the National Railway Museum said today “we are delighted that once again we are able to produce an “Exclusive Edition” model of yet another of the National Railway Museum’s iconic locomotives. It has been under development for over 2 years and we are confident that members of the public will be impressed by the high quality craftsmanship and attention to detail that Bachmann have put into creating this model”.

Eleven D11/1 Class locomotives were introduced by the Great Central Railway between 1919 and 1922 and were known as “Improved Directors”. No. 506 was built at the Great Central Railway works at Gorton and was named “Butler Henderson” after company director Eric Butler-Henderson the son of Lord Farringdon, Chairman of the Great Central Railway from 1899 until 1922. No. 506 is currently located at Barrow Hill.

Due to the increased loading gauge of the Great Central main line, which was built to the Continental loading gauge, these locomotives differed from the already announced Scottish Directors (D11/2) by having taller chimneys, domes and cabs. The GCR locomotives were also fitted with tender water scoops.

The model can be pre-ordered. The cost is from £130.00 plus postage and packaging and can be pre-ordered from our online store nrmshop.co.uk. further information on expected delivery will be made available on our online store. Every purchase helps support the museum.

Bachmann have announced their upcoming programme at the Coventry transport museum

Bachmann Branchline
LNER D11-2 Scottish director 4-4-0
LNER J11 Pom Pom
L&Y 2-4-2T
Midland railway 4F 0-6-0
Class 101 DMU
Midland compound
GWR City class

The last 2 have been available as NRM exclusives and those particular numbers will remain to NRM exclusives. but other running numbers will go on general sale.

More to follow