◆ GAUGE ‘OO’
◆ MODEL Cavalex Models • Class 56 56093 BR ‘large logo’ blue • 56055 Load Haul black/orange
◆ PRICE £189.95 each (DCC-ready), £289.95 (DCC sound‐fitted)
◆ AVAILABILITY Cavalex stockists Web www.cavalexmodels.com
When Cavalex first announced its Class 56 project, my initial reaction was to question whether we really needed another ‘OO’ version. I was more than happy with my collection of Hornby models, which were a huge step up from the old Mainline ‘56’, although that had been one of the best-looking models of the 1980s.
However, as the Cavalex project progressed, it was fascinating to see production samples at exhibitions over the past year, revealing just how special this ‘56’ could be. With the first production batch of models arriving in early February, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on ‘large logo’ blue 56093, which I’d pre-ordered for myself.
Cavalex also kindly sent us a sample of Load Haul 56055, providing a contrast in liveries and detail appointments.
Packaged in a large foam-lined box, the locomotives are bolted to a sturdy plastic transit cradle, protecting them successfully from bumps during their long voyage from China. Both samples thus arrived in perfect condition, with not a loose detail fitting to be found anywhere.
DETAIL THERAPY
Instantly, it’s clear to see how much effort has gone into these models, as they look superb, capturing the look of the real thing to a tee. Cavalex has gone to exhaustive lengths to mimic the various detail and profile variations between the Romanian, Doncaster and
Crewe‐built locomotives (and variations thereof), many of which are incredibly subtle but nonetheless important.
Our two samples are useful for identifying a number of these deviations, with 56055 sporting the smaller cab front grilles, split horizontal handrails, rubber grommets surrounding the central headlamps, recessed side head/tail lamps, and partial beading around the bufferbeam. In contrast, 56093 carries the larger front grille, plated central headlamp surround, flush‐mounted side head/tail lamps and no beading around the bufferbeam.
But that’s not all – minor differences to the cab door handrails and windscreen surrounds (rubber or plated) are observed, while 56093 also features the later fabricated cab front profile, which is slightly more angular than the earlier batches. Even more variances feature across the full range, including different mesh patterns for the grilles and full bufferbeam cowlings where appropriate.
Period-specific detail differences are also present, such as the cab roof antennae on the Load Haul version, which also carries the revised pattern of cant rail level grilles at the No. 2 end.
It would be easy to get bogged down in the minutiae of detail variances, but we shouldn’t overlook
