These models are available as powered versions at £89.99 and unpowered versions at £59.99. The powered models feature a not quite below the floor drive mechanism that does not permit a fully detailed interior, however a spirited 8 wheel drive (onto the outer bogies) is the result. The above picture was taken prior to fitting of destination blinds, for which a sheet of self-adhesive signs of a number of routes and destinations is supplied, and rear view mirrors. Tram numbers 2532 and 2545 are available.

The reviewer is most definitely not an expert on Croydon Tramlink, but his first impressions are that the ends of this model appear slightly more rounded that on the real thing and the windows reflect the trams in as-delivered condition before additional hopper ventilator windows were fitted. The wheels are miniature pizza-cutters but it is doubtful if reliable running on wheels of such a small diameter and around sharp tram curves could be achieved with Proto 1:87 standards! However, this is a very smart model with excellent flush glazing produced by the livery and details being printed onto clear plastic sides, and how else are you going to get a model of Croydon Tramlink stock without scratch building? The reviewer is not in a position to comment about the accuracy of roof mounted detail which appears as a number of grey rectangular boxes. This model definitely needs suitable advertising posters just below roof level though!

If you are interested in acquiring any of these models you are advised to move quickly because (written second week in August) they are reported as selling fast. They can be bought online via the museum's online shop.

photographs by Aryan Snowsill

Ayjay Models - a collaboration between John Jaanus of Canterbury Loco Works and well known Southern Electric modeller Aryan Snowsill - are now producing a 4mm scale kit in resin to enable a Bulleid 4Sub unit to be built without working with metal. This kit features sides, roof, floor and ends with moulded on detail (including door furniture which can be removed and replaced with separate details if required) and one piece resin moulded bogies. Interior, wheels, motor bogies, couplings, paint and transfers are not supplied. An interior kit is currently under development. The price of this kit is £225 plus postage and a £50 deposit is required when placing an order. For more details and/or to download an order form (Adobe Acrobat format) please click here.

Although of no direct relevance to Southern Electric modellers we are bringing this to your attention because of the future potential to our following. Jim Smith-Wright of DEMU is producing a kit to convert the recent Bratchell Models Class 317/2 kit to the earlier Class 317/1. This consists of four sprues of etched nickel silver containing parts to convert the window frames, doors and cab fronts, plus detailing parts such as ventilator grilles, door opening buttons, etc. This is not a complete conversion kit as other parts are still required - particularly for the underframe. Scratchbuilding is required to convert the roofs at the cab fronts plus excavate recesses for the body side ventilator grilles. Otherwise it is basically applying overlays (bending where required) and fabricating the cab front - the corridor connection additionally requiring building up with styrene microstrip. Although the modelling secretary has not yet had time to offer up the parts to check for fit he can comment that the etches are of high quality plus the instructions (supplied in this case as an Acrobat file on a CD-R ) are the best the modelling secretary has ever seen - clearly devised and written by someone who understands modelling and what is required by modellers. Not only do these instructions contain clear explanations and diagrams, but also very good pictures of the prototype illustrating particular details. Many a kit manufacturer would do well to emulate instructions of this excellent quality.

So onto the potential for Southern Electric modellers. The only relevant parts from this kit for a Class 455/8 (original), apart from small detailing parts, are the cab fronts (if jumper cables are added) plus the ventilator grilles. The window overlays are clearly irrelevant and the door overlays are not correct because on the class 455 the windows on the passenger doors align with the top of the saloon windows, not the bottom as on a 317/1, plus on a 455 the driver's door window aligns with the cab window which is not the case on a 317. However, a Class 455/8 conversion kit is projected for the future, which with discarding the cab fronts and grilles will also be suitable for Class 455/9 conversions. Though it is hoped a dedicated 455/9 conversion kit will also follow. This is indeed promising since Bratchell Models are unable to produce a 455/9 kit without major and expensive new tooling to incorporate the differences to the windows in the doors.

This Class 317/1 conversion kit costs £24 including p&p (£20 to DEMU members).
More details from Jim Smith-Wright.

(top left) kit artwork
(top right) etches for the MSO/TCO and DTSO

(above left) converted DTSO
(above right) cab roof conversion

(left) converted MSO

artwork/photographs by Jim Smith-Wright
except for the etches - Colin Duff

This feature is brought to you by the Southern Electric Group as a service to its members and enthusiasts.  The Southern Electric Group is the only group covering all aspects of the Southern Electric System past , present and future.   If you are not a member you are very welcome to join the group.  For more details please follow the links bottom left.

This page updated 21st September 2008 by Colin Duff.
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