Reviews
NR class diesel electric locomotive by SDS Models, PO Box 804, Winston Hills NSW 2153.Website: sdsmodels.com.au. Email: sales@sdsmodels.com.au. Prices in text.
The NR class is a ubiquitous locomotive in the post-privatisation world of Australian railways. In model form, SDS Models has released a new version of the prototype. For prototype information on the class, including modifications, please refer to Dash 9 in Australia: National Rail’s NR Class [AMRM Issues 219 and 221 (December 1999 and February 2000) – Editor]. Since these articles were published additional liveries have been introduced.
SDS Models have released these locomotives in all the possible current liveries:
• National Rail including: Seatrain, SteelLink, Trailerail and pre–and post-Indigenous liveries)
• Pacific National, Great Southern Railways, The Ghan Mk 1 to Mk 3 inclusive, Indian Pacific Mk 1 to Mk 3 inclusive, Southern Spirit and Great Southern
• five proposed liveries, The Ghan, the Overland, two PN variations and Rio Tinto.
Models retail for $295.00 for a DC-powered locomotive; a DCC model with sound retails for $425.00.
The models come in a cardboard box with a silver coating, a polystyrene foam insert and separate foam stand-offs for protecting the double-rung handrails.
The Indigenous liveries have a box with the livery of the particular locomotive, thus the boxes are unmistakable.
The box is sealed by a thin clear cellophane dust cover; this is easily removed, running a sharp knife along the base in the gap between the top of the box and the base (sealed for your protection?).
To remove the model from the foam, there is a thin section of opaque film plastic, which will help you remove the model from the box when pulled.
Products used for this review are NR30 and NR52, both in their respective Indigenous liveries, NR52 (a pre-production version), NR69 in PN livery and NR122 in Rio Tinto Coal livery.
From the general appearance of the models, they capture the look of the prototype well. This model] radio installation up to the present day. Post modified air intake, and pre MU hose pockets on the cowcatcher.
