March 2022 - post Model rail scotland update

Exhibition overview

Our first time exhibiting at Model Railway Scotland was a great opportunity to catch up with friends, customers and new faces alike. We thoroughly enjoyed our time in Scotland at the three day show, showcasing two production models, photos of which can be seen below.

Alongside the production samples running on Oldshaw (see below), we were very grateful to the operators on Clackmannan Goods for running our Bauxite BBAs we converted to P4 on Dave Furmage’s excellent layout. We thought they looked great - please see the photo below:

TEA Production samples

In the coming months we will see the arrival of our TEA bogie tank wagons. Built in the late 1980s by The Standard Railway Wagon Company for Total, these wagons can still be seen on the network today working from the Lindsey oil refinery in North Lincolnshire. This particular design of TEA wagon, with its continuous solebar and Gloucester GPS bogies, has not been released in OO scale previously, which will not only fill a gap in the market but also compliment other designs of bogie tank wagon currently offered by other manufacturers.

The brass etch walkway on the top of the barrel and the fully detailed underframe make these models a great addition for modellers looking to recreate petroleum workings from the late 1980s right up until the current day.

Production is now complete with the models due to be shipped to the U.K. this month. Further updates will be provided as and when we have more information.

Two production samples of the Total grey liveried wagons were flown in especially for Model Rail Scotland allowing us to display the wagons at the show, and give the opportunity for customers and visitors to view and handle the models. These will also be able to view at the upcoming exhibition at Alexandra Palace in London later this month.

We were lucky enough to be allowed to give the TEA wagons a run on the superb EM gauge layout at the show, Oldshaw. The two models were converted to EM gauge on Sunday during the show using Alan Gibson drop in wheelsets, to run on Oldshaw.

Thank you to the Oldshaw team for allowing us to run our wagons on their superb layout.

HAA Production samples

One of the wagons in our range which will compliment our forthcoming Class 56 and take modellers back in time, is the HAA coal hopper wagon. The Merry-Go-Round wagons have been seen behind the Brush type-5 since the Class 56 was first introduced to service in the late 1970s.

The first batch of our HAA wagons are being readied at the factory to ship to the U.K. and it is very rewarding to see another model coming to fruition.

As with our TEA project, the factory kindly flew over some samples to show at Model Rail Glasgow.

These highly detailed models were also converted to EM gauge on Sunday during the show with, drop in Alan Gibson wagon wheel sets, to run on Oldshaw. Suitable traction was provided, with the HAAs running behind an Original Railfreight 58, great traction and very fitting for these red cradle MGR wagons.

Thanks again to the team from Oldshaw for letting us run our models on the layout.

Will advise when we have further updates

Class 56 project update

Photo courtesy Douglas Johnson

As the tooling stage of the process for our Class 56 project nears completion, the excitement levels here at Cavalex have increased tenfold. Following years spent researching the prototype and planning our first model locomotive, to be nearing the point of seeing our first Engineering Prototype sample is very exciting to say the least!

The first shots out of the moulds are due early next month with the first EP due towards the end of April.

The 3D printed model gives a very good indication of the high levels of detail that can be expected on our production models.

As and when we have more updates from the factory, updates will be posted on our website and social media pages.

Other projects & upcoming exhibitions

Other project updates:

  • N PGA - expecting final livery samples over the coming months ahead of production

  • OO gauge PHA/JGA - expecting livery samples in the next few months and updated T2 samples

Upcoming exhibitions for 2022:

  • London Festival of Railway Modelling - Alexandra Palace - 19th/20th March 2022

  • DEMU Showcase - Sutton Coldfield Townhall - 23rd/24th July 2022

  • Mid Essex - Bishops Hill College, Shenfield - 17th September 2022

  • Scaleforum - The Cressex School, High Wycombe - 24th/25th September 2022

  • Warley - NEC Birmingham - 26th/27th November 2022