From Milk to Mail – Accurascale announce all new 00/4mm Siphon G

Contributed by: Graham Muspratt

16 Dec 2021 00:00am

Accurascale has today announced the 0.33 diagram GWR/BR Siphon G bogie vans in 00/4mm scale.

From the transportation of milk, to mail and newspapers for over 50 years, the GWR designed diagram 0.33 Siphon G was a widely travelled stalwart of the network. The history of these vans is varied and very interesting, venturing from providing transport for milk for the GWR, to serving as ambulance coaches during World War II, to nationalisation and parcels workings, and into the BR blue era on parcels and newspaper trains as well as departmental duties into the mid-1980s.
A comprehensive tooling suite has been produced to cover 15 different versions of these ubiquitous vans, once again leading the way in detail and prototypical variation in the model railway market. With 15 different versions available, the first run of our Siphon G models covers examples from the entire operational period of the prototypes; from July 1930 through to the early 1980s and feature a selection of liveries carried by these versatile and distinctive vans.

Liveries modelled in the first production run include:

• GWR Brown with ‘shirt button’ monogram
• US Army Deep Bronze Green with Red Cross
• Transitional British Railways mix of GWR livery with BR lettering
• BR Carmine Red
• BR Maroon
• BR Rail Blue

Even within these livery styles, there were several variations, and Accurascale have sought to replicate these differences where they can. This will provide a comprehensive study of how the Siphon Gs appeared during their service life.

Extensive use has been made of metal parts to add to the detail levels throughout, the footsteps even carrying diamond tread pattern and running quality hasn’t been forgotten either, with the 26mm axles running in brass bearings to enable a smooth ride. Extensive areas of piping and rodding have been added to the underframe to improve the appearance of the models and the various cabinets even feature separately fitted wire handles.

The O.33 can be recognised by bodyside top vents, plain roofs and plain ends, with the wartime Casualty Evacuation Train/US Ambulance Train Ward Car conversions adding roof mounted water tanks, end steps and handrails, plated over vents and the addition of small windows. Upon conversion back into service stock as O.59 and M.34 diagrams, the O.59 is broadly identical to the O.33 pattern, but with roof mounted ventilators, whereas the M.34 retained an appearance broadly similar to the wartime Ward Cars, but with the roof mounted water tanks being removed.
The BR built O.62 diagram retained the look of the O.33 diagram but added eight sliding vents to the lower bodysides and the later conversion of these vehicles as NNVs saw various vents being plated over on an ad-hoc basis, and the addition of Electric Train Heating apparatus and external emergency lighting points. Across all diagrams, the positions of underframe cabinets varied in size and position, as well as two types of vacuum brake cylinder positioning and two styles of handbrake lever being fitted, depending on that layout – there was even the fitting of Westinghouse brakes to the US Ward Cars! At the van ends, gangways varied slightly in style, with some vehicles being fitted with passenger communication leads, often in varying positions.

To view the available versions and to pre-order at £54.95 each click below:
ACC2410-W2977W Siphon G - Dia. O.33 - BR Carmine Red: W2977W
ACC2411-W2938W Siphon G - Dia. O.33 - BR Carmine Red: W2938W
ACC2412-2789 Siphon G - Dia. O.33 - GWR Brown: 2789
ACC2413-2924 Siphon G - Dia. O.33 - GWR Brown: 2924
ACC2414-W2942W Siphon G - Dia. O.33 - BR Maroon: W2942W
ACC2415-W2938 Siphon G - Dia. O.33 (NMV) - BR Rail Blue: W2980
ACC2416-W2780 Siphon G - Dia. O.59 - Transitional BR (in GWR Brown): W2780
ACC2417-W2960 Siphon G - Dia. O.59 - BR Maroon: W2960
ACC2418-W1023 Siphon G - Dia. O.62 - BR Rail Blue: W1023
ACC2419-W1013 Siphon G - Dia. O.62 (NNV) - BR Rail Blue : W1013
ACC2421-W1048 Siphon G - Dia. O.62r (NNV) - BR Rail Blue: W1048
ACC2422-W1047 Siphon G - Dia. O.62r (NNV) - BR Rail Blue: W1047
ACC2423-A5 3207 Siphon G - Ex-Dia. O.33 Overseas Ambulance Train No.32 Ward Car - Olive Green (c/w Red Cross): A5 3207
ACC2424-W2774W Siphon G - Dia. M34 - BR Rail Blue: W2774W
ACC2425-W2768W Siphon G - Dia. M34 - BR Rail Blue: W2768W
See them all together here>>>

Delivery is advised for Q1 2023

Subject to alteration.

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