BR Mk1 57' Non-Gangway Coach - BT - BR Carmine Red: E43119

These are lovely coaches, bought a pair to be part of a planned historic branch and they look great.

Despite the year-long delay in supplying these coaches, they (a third and a brake third) arrived faulty. The lighting did not work on DCC.

These went back to Accurascale for repair. A fault was found (poor quality control?) and the coaches returned to me.

On DCC the lighting now could be activated, but only by holding the wand directly over the reed switch under the roof. However, once on, and with both coaches static, the lighting slowly dimmed to nothing.

Nudging a coach brought the lighting back to full intensity, which then slowly dimmed to nothing again.

Accurascale then wanted me to return the coaches for repair for a second time. I asked that they send me two coaches without faults before I returned them, which they refused to do. So they have no gone back for a refund.

To me this is poor quality control (supplying faulty items) and poor customer service (shipping items not fully repaired and putting the onus on me to keep sending the coaches back).

The models themselves are fantastic, hence my disappointment at the faulty lighting.

Ordered the BT plus 3x Ts originally for Christmas 2023 (plan date then was Q3/23) but only received January 2025. I think in the meantime that Accurascale are actively trying to reduce the time between announcement and availability which is a step in the right direction. Very frustrating. Once the coaches arrived though they are fantastic, good quality, good runners. The magic wand for lighting is a bit hit and miss - but maybe I need more practice ? The only thing missing is an Accurascale loco to pull the coaches … how about an N2 ?

Like all Accurascale models you wait a long time for them to appear but when they do - Oh Wow!
These Suburban Coaches are no different. From a very mundane subject, a beautiful model has been produced. Mk1 Suburban stock was utilitarian and functional. They slipped beneath most people's radar. They were just 'there' but they were an absolutely essential part of the commute to and from work for a lot of folks, especially in London.
This model captures the subject perfectly and with such a level of detail that is rarely seen in a OO model of a coach in this price bracket. A lot of praise has been given to the magnificent interiors and lighting but the superb attention to detail is even given to the bogies and under frames. Quite breathtaking really and the thoughtfully designed packaging accommodates that delicate detailing well too.
These are weighty little models too. You know that they are quality as soon as you unpack one and hold it in your hand. I've had Mk1 Subs from other manufacturers which were good enough models in their time but lacked the weight of these beauties. That weight is reflected in the wonderfully smooth running of the coaches.
I bought four and have waited impatiently for them. But now I have them and have seen them behind a Baby Deltic on my work-in-progress Kings Cross themed layout, I not only know I made the right decision to buy them but I've already ordered more.
An absolute 5 Star model. If you buy any, I'm sure that you won't be disappointed.
We could really do with a newly modelled N2.

Stunning

A very beautiful model, perfectly executed and the underframe detail is sublime (and fragile). Interior is stunning too. Lettering very neat and the overall paint job is high quality. Runs smoothly albeit with a discernible whistle noise which I put down to the electrical pickups.
I run in dc so the lighting is a bit of a gimmick - left on a track with 12v to charge the capacitor the lights remain for a few seconds but at low branch line speeds no illumination at all. No doubt much better with DCC.
Still a nice addition to my limited fleet of passenger stock. Running a full rake might turn out to be a tad expensive !

I received these a week or so ago and they looked amazing, the intricate underframes and the detailed interiors are a credit to accurascale. Took them to the model club this week and they ran superbly - and received a lot of admiration! Brilliant purchase - Thank you!

Another truly stunning model from Accurascale.
Keep up the Excellent work all of you!

I am writing this review for all five of my coaches. They are just awesome in terms of detail. The interior lighting is delightful. Just as in one of the pictures in the booklet that comes with each coach, I have mine headed up with a Gresley N2. As I have said before the name is appropriate “Accurate Scale “

Very impressed ordering another one.