Cavalex Model’s Class 56 in OO

The Cavalex Model’s Class 56 in OO - the answer to the Cavalex Conundrum teased earlier in the week - with the type 5 loco hauling all of our released, and forthcoming wagon projects. 

Cavalex Models are pleased to announce our newly-tooled Class 56 in 4mm. The model is already significantly advanced and at the tooling stage, having been in the works for the past few years. All variants of the 56 are being tooled, to accurately cover all 135 locomotives produced between 1976 and 1984.

The Cavalex 56 has been designed completely from scratch, based on original works drawings from both Electroputere and BREL. We have incorporated numerous innovations into the model which we’re looking forward to showcasing. Whilst the 56 has been released by other manufacturers in the past, it was an obvious choice for us given the prototype ran with all of our released and forthcoming wagons, and being 56 fans, we wanted to capture the distinct differences between the four main versions of the ‘Grid’. We have deliberately chosen prototypes that don’t conflict with existing models of the class, whilst also releasing liveries never seen in 4mm scale. This extends to liveries not seen on certain versions; for example Red Stripe Railfreight on a Romanian built Class 56.

As with all of our models, the Class 56 has taken a significant amount of research and development time, which we believe has been well worth it to capture all of the features of this type 5 freight loco.

Our tooling covers the four main designs of Class 56s as follows:

Romanian Built (56001 - 56030)

• Distinctive Romanian shape 

• Full buffer beam cowling

• Square mesh side grilles, cantrail grilles and roof grille

• Rubber sealed cab and cab side windows

Doncaster Built - Romanian design (56031 - 56055)

• Rubber sealed cab front windows

• Partial bufferbeam cowling, side plates removed

• Steel cab side windows 

• Diamond mesh side grilles, cantrail grilles and roof grille

Doncaster Built - UK design (56056 - 56090)

• Distinctive fabricated cab shape 

• Cutaway buffer beam 

• Diamond mesh side grilles, cantrail grilles and roof grille

• Steel cab and cab side window frames

DONCASTER AND Crewe Built (56091 - 56135)

• Distinctive fabricated cab shape 

• Cutaway buffer beam 

• Diamond mesh side grilles, cantrail grilles and roof grille

• Steel cab and cab side window frames

• Additional air conditioning vent on the second man’s side

Further to the above detail variations, there are a few Class 56s with two different cabs at each end, which our innovative design has allowed us to faithfully recreate where appropriate. Also incorporated into the design are various designs of headlights, lifting point covers, additional air conditioning vents (56091 - 56135), body types with and without air circulation vents, and alternate coupling bang plates fitted below the cabs.

The model is currently in tooling and we’re looking forward to showing off a full 3D print of our design soon.

The RRP of the Cavalex 56 is TBA. We will have more information on the sound fitted models in due course. We wanted to also outline this is not a crowdfunded model, and there are no minimum orders we require to proceed with the model - the Cavalex Class 56 is in tooling.

Cavalex Class 56 prototype inspiration - images courtesy of Douglas Johnson

The Cavalex Class 56 Range - available from all of our retailers listed below

Please note the above images are for illustration purposes only - the final models may differ.

The Cavalex Class 56 Specification:

• A wealth of separately fitted parts, including bogies which aren’t just one piece mouldings to allow for proper detail relief

• Photo etched grilles throughout the model

• All wheel pick up and innovative automatic flange squeal activated via magnetic hall sensors

• Alloy chassis to allow the locomotive to pull prototypical wagon rakes

• 5 pole motor with twin flywheels, geared for prototypical running speeds with superb slow speed control

• 21 pin DCC interface, with easy DCC fitting provision via removable roof panel to the number 2 end

• DCC sound with custom ESU project for our factory fitted sound version and stay alive fitted to all models

• Sound model has an EM1 type Speaker with additional sugar cube speaker in the chassis as standard for a balanced combination of low and high frequency sounds to accurately reproduce the prototype via a custom recorded sound project

• Drop in EM/P4 wheelset packs available to order separately to coincide with the release of the model (Further news to follow)

• Separately motor operated roof fans via a function output on DCC, or when moving on DC

• Etched name plates as appropriate

• Both standard and revised cantrail grill options depending on prototype.

How to order:

Continuing our support of retailers, the Cavalex 56 will be a retail only model, available exclusively from all of our retailers listed below:

• Collett’s Models - https://www.collettsmodelshop.co.uk

• C&M Models - https://candmmodels.co.uk

• John Dutfield - https://www.johndutfieldmodelrailways.co.uk

• KMS Railtech - https://www.kmsrailtech.co.uk

• Rails of Sheffield - https://railsofsheffield.com

• Rainbow Railways - https://rainbowrailways.co.uk

• Trains4U - http://www.trains4u.com

• Ultimate Model Railways - https://ultimatemodelrailways.com

Should you have any questions please don’t hesitate to get in touch - cavalexmodels@gmail.com

Alex & Cav