143 February 2015 - Realtrack Models

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EVALUATED BY OUR OWN SPECIALIST STAFF
Class 143 ‘Pacer’ two-car DMU
New from
Realtrack Models in OO
In last month’s news pages we featured the Realtrack Models Class 143
‘Pacer’ in OO; we are pleased to be
able here to have a closer look at a
couple of review samples.
The units are an ideal complement
to the firm’s Class 144 (RM December
2013), and one of our samples has
quite possibly the best (or nearly so)
livery application we have seen in a
long time. The FGW ‘local lines’ livery,
with the names of towns, villages,
educational establishments and
tourist attractions emblazoned along
the rivet-strewn panelwork of the
bodysides, is fully legible, even to the
smallest entries on the list, such as for
the Fleet Air Arm Museum, Yeovilton.
Well done Realtrack! (We spent some
time looking in tourist guides for
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‘coolant’…an easy mistake to make!)
The differences between the
Alexander-body/BREL Litchurch Lane
chassis 144 and the 143 are minimal
but noticeable. The 143s also had
Alexander bodies, mated to an
Andrew Barclay chassis: the bodies
are longer (51'0½" versus 50'2" on a
144), allowing for a greater capacity:
92 seats plus 12 tip-ups against 87+6
for a two-car 2+2-layout 144. This of
course means harder work when full
(often!) for the Cummins LTA10-R
engines fitted to each vehicle of the
unit, as the 225hp engines are common with the 144.
In addition to the excellent liveries –
our other sample wears Arriva Trains
Wales turquoise & cream finish, with
Bridgend and Aberdare on the
RAILWAY MODELLER
blinds – the models sport a wealth of
fine detailing, especially the aforesaid
rivets. The doors are well finished, and
the outer handrails are formed from
wire and all stand proud of the bodyside. underfloor detail is good too.
The driving motor standard lavatory
vehicle has the drive, the other driving
motor standard car coming along for
the ride. A can-type motor drives both
axles through shafts and gear towers,
and two flywheels smooth out the
transmission. DCC users will find the
eight-pin NEM socket in the DMS vehicle, however the instructions advise
purchasers to seek professional
installation of the decoder, due both to
the limited space available and the
materials used to make the 143. The
seating block is cast steel, so the
decoder will need to be insulated
properly to avoid any short-circuits.
Realtrack Models itself can offer a
DCC decoder-fitting service; see the
website for details.
In operation, the 143 runs smoothly
and with a realistic top speed. The
CONTEMPORARY VIEW
Class 143 ‘Pacer’ two-car DMU
Operated by Wessex Trains at the time, and sporting an
all-over vinyl wrap promoting the city of Bristol, No.143
613 was captured by the camera at, appropriately
enough, Bristol Temple Meads on 4 August 2004.
Photo: John Chalcraft/www.railphotoprints.co.uk
Unit No.143 610 is outshopped in
the Arriva Trains Wales livery, allocated to workings in South Wales.
cars are coupled by an eight-pin
drawbar, the male and female elements of which are on sprung selfcentring mountings. The DMSL car
weighs 260g, which will be sufficient
weight for adhesion to haul the 143
around most users’ layouts. The minimum radius is R2 (438mm), and to
cope with curvature the axles of eachcar are mounted in pivoting ‘trucks’,
and there is some sideplay in the
axles themselves too.
The models come fitted with slimline tension-lock couplers, clipped
into NEM pockets on pivoting, selfcentring mounts. There are two representations of the BSI couplings via
which the real things can be joined in
the packaging; these can be slid into
the pocket when the couplings are
removed, either for display of the unit,
or for solo operation.
These Pacers have been around
FEBRUARY 2015
now for 30 years or so, and despite
refurbishments and refreshes are
heartily disliked by many passengers.
As proof though, of how different railway modellers are from the herd, it is
likely that anyone whose layout can
accommodate one date-wise will be
beside themselves to spend time with
the Realtrack Pacer, such is its good
looks and running quality.
Samples supplied by
REALTRACK MODELS,
111 Norwood Crescent,
Stanningley, Leeds,
West Yorkshire LS28 6NG.
www.realtrackmodels.co.uk
PRICES
DCC fitted (no sound) –
£145.00
DCC sound fitted –
£235.00
DCC sound fitted, with
passengers –
£250.00
12V dc version (no DCC) –
£120.00
12V dc version, with
passengers –
£135.00
Class 144 micro sound
decoder –
£105.00
Lenz eight-pin decoder
(no sound) –
£16.50
Sound-fitting service – £17.50
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