LNER - HE3151 - 8008

I was hoping this model would restore my faith in Accurascale after having two Class 30/31 failures. I put the engine on the track, turned on the power. Nothing happened. My heart sank. Took the engine off tried again. Same. Pushed it slightly on the track. Slowly it began to move with a 'clacking' sound (I could not tell from where). I decided to continue to run-in, and by the time it had travelled 30 minutes each way, the noise had virtually ceased. I am keeping an 'ear' on this model, but after a couple of days all seems good. Otherwise the engine is beautiful with exceptional detailing...I just don't appreciate the initial scare!

A brilliant little model well executed in a very striking livery

Great model. Certainly a step up from my old Hornby version.

Like most of Accurascale’s products, this tooling has been thought out carefully, with the design of the mechanism, the bodyshells and the detailing up to their usual high standards.

There’s no two ways about it: the Accurascale Austerity is beautifully austere. It is simple, plain, and perfectly formed.

A 1/76th scale model of the real thing right down to the plain coupling rods, welded tanks, and other items that betray the wartime origins of the class. If it looks a simple model, it is a simple prototype.

Yet look closer at the cab and the top of the boiler, and you see a wealth of additional details, put together beautifully.

The safety valve and whistle arrangement on top of the boiler together with the absurdly perfect back head in the cab look perfect compared to the prototype, just requiring weathering to finish.

The wooden floor in the cab also looks convincing, and the windows are finished with glazing that look very much like glass. Not sure how that has been achieved but it seems to distort in just the right way for the cab inside, looking in.

There’s a nice representation of the valve gear between the frames.

The model is mostly diecast metal and comes in at 230 grams.

Testing my Austerity - finished in the wartime sand livery as the LNER’s no.8008 - the mechanism was smooth running through all speeds and it easily handled my recent oil train build of 20 tankers, two barrier wagons and a brake van without breaking a sweat. It is obvious that it could have taken a lot more.

The livery is well applied, including the branding and numbering, with the desert sand colour a pleasing colour of - well - sand! It looked a bit garish in the promotional images online and in the flesh is more subdued, with a satin fashion to the model all round.

The bit which sticks out most for me is the face of the model. It really captures the shape and the character of these locomotives.

First off, let me say that my photo does not do this loco justice !
Heavy, beautifully detailed and the crawl running on DC straight
from the box is the best that I have seen.
Highly recommended.

Superb runner for such a lovely small locomotive. I like this desert sand colour which is unique. Very smooth running over the points and gradient. Though I missed the pre-order for the sound, I managed to buy the sound and crew bundles.

Excellent runner.

I must say that I cannot find a fault with this loco. The color is a flattish sand color that should match its war time use. I first tried to chip it with a Sountraxx Tsunami decoder but it is too long for this loco. I would suggest you use the ESU sound decoder or get it factory installed. Without sound, it is a very quiet runner. I particulary like the fine wire handrails and mostly metal construction. Installing crew will be a bit of a challenge but well worth the effort. The only down side is that it is too pretty to weather! Way to go Accurascale.

An excellent model in all respects

I bought this loco due to the unusual livery, although it is before my modelling era. The finish is faultless and the is tooling superb. It ran faultlessly out of the box. Delivery was with 24hrs of me ordering from Accurascale-superb.

Great little tank engine

nicely detailed model of the Hunslet with a beautiful unusal livery

Great overall model, very well detailed and an excellent runner :)