Dapol seeking expressions of interest for N Gauge Gresley Full Brake and Gresley Buffet in BR Blue & Grey
- N Gauge News
- 2 hours ago
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Express your Interest in the Gresley Full Brake!
Dapol have announced they are seeking expressions of interest for an N Gauge model of the Gresley full brake (BG)
Due to the limited scope of the prototype, Dapol anticipate that sales volume may not reach a level that makes this project feasible through their retailer network and are currently accepting expressions of interest via the Dapol website.
The project will only progress to tooling if sufficient interest is shown in the project and Dapol will provide regular updates on pre-order levels.
Following on from the earlier Dia. 43 Full Brake, the Dia. 113 featured slight revisions to their sides and layout of panelling. More than thirty of the Dia. 113 full brakes were built between 1929 and 1934, the later examples featuring the angle truss underframes as featured on our existing range of Gresley Coaches. The last examples of the Dia. 113 Full Brakes were withdrawn from revenue earning service in 1967.
While most post 1934 Full Brakes favoured flush steel panels, further batches of teak Full Brakes were constructed in 1938 and 1939 to Dia 245. This later diagram was outwardly identical to the earlier Dia 113 examples but featured shelving along both sides of the interior intended for pigeon racing traffic. Around 50 of these later Dia 245 Full Brakes were constructed and the last examples lasted in revenue earning traffic until the mid-1970’s.
Some examples of these Full Brakes found their way into departmental service and could be found in yards up and down the country in the late 1970’s.
Proposed Liveries
2P-011-401 - Gresley Full Brake (BG) LNER Teak 70183
2P-011-402 - Gresley Full Brake (BG) LNER Lined Teak 4145
2P-011-403 - Gresley Full Brake (BG) BR Crimson E70168E
2P-011-404 - Gresley Full Brake (BG) BR Maroon E70176E
2P-011-405 - Gresley Full Brake (BG) BR Blue E70146E
Specifications
The Dapol model will feature all-new body tooling to accurately portray these coaches in a variety of liveries.
Highly detailed body, underframe and bogies
Fine application of livery
Lightbar ready (2A-000-040 - Steam Era & 2A-000-041 - 70's/80's style lighting) available to purchase separately
Project Update
Advanced CADs and artworks have been completed, expressions of interest are now being taken. Dapol will keep those who express interest updated with fortnightly progress reports and plan to make a decision whether to proceed with the project by the end of November 2025. If the project goes ahead they expect to have first EP samples by the middle of February 2026.
Should the project progress, Dapol will offer the opportunity to place pre-orders to secure the models. This will occur around the time photographs of the decorated samples are revealed. Typically, it takes an additional nine to twelve months for the finished models to arrive at their warehouse.
The RRP is £39.95
N Gauge Gresley's Survivors - BR Blue Grey Buffet
In addition to the BG, Dapol have also announced they are seeking expressions of interest for the N Gauge Refurbished BR Blue Grey Gresley Buffet Coach.
As with the BG, they anticipate that sales volume may not reach a level that makes this project feasible through their retailer network. Therefore, they are currently seeking expressions of interest via the Dapol website.
The project will only progress to tooling if sufficient interest is shown in the project and Dapol will provide regular updates on pre-order levels.
During the 1960s, British Railways found itself short of Mark 1 catering vehicles to meet demand and so some LNER Gresley-designed buffet cars were brought back into front-line service on the Eastern, Western and Southern regions.
Some Gresley Buffets received an extensive refurbishment in the early 1970s which included new panelling on one side, removing several windows and a much-hated interior refurbishment. The new interior replaced the beautiful wood panelling with cream Formica along with BR Blue seating.
All but one of these Buffets were allocated to the Eastern Region and saw extensive use, notably on the Harwich to Liverpool “European” service. One Buffet, W9135E achieved some celebrity during the 1970s, being allocated to the Western Region. This coach was used extensively on Summer Saturday trains from Paddington to Devon and Cornwall, as well as filling in on secondary services to the West Country.
Both of the prototype vehicles proposed by Dapol were removed from service by the mid 1970's and have remained in preservation ever since.
Proposed Liveries
2P-011-501 - Gresley Buffet W9135E in Blue/Grey Livery
2P-011-502 - Gresley Buffet E9115E in Blue/Grey Livery
Specifications
The Dapol models features all-new body tooling to accurately portray these fascinating coaches in BR Blue/Grey livery.
Highly detailed body, underframe and bogies
Fine application of livery
Lightbar ready (2A-000-041 - 70's/80's style light bar available to purchase separately)
Project Update
Advanced CADs and artworks have been completed, expressions of interest are now being taken. Dapol will keep those who express interest updated with fortnightly progress reports and plan to make a decision whether to proceed with the project by the end of November 2025. If the project goes ahead they expect to have first EP samples by the middle of February 2026.
Should the project progress, Dapol will offer the opportunity to place pre-orders to secure the models. This will occur around the time photographs of the decorated samples are revealed. Typically, it takes an additional nine to twelve months for the finished models to arrive at their warehouse.
The RRP is £39.95