A new number for Esso silver painted class A oil tank wagon produced by Dapol from the tooling from Lionheart Trains.
These oil tank wagons were built to orders from the air ministry during WW2 using a design from the late 1930s with the tank sitting saddle beam stretchers, restrained by braced end beams and fastened down with steel straps. The earlier diagonal bracing cables looped around the top filler being dispensed with. Most of the air ministry tankers were built as Class A wagons for highly flammable products like petrol and aviation fuel, using the standard RCH 17'6" long 10' wheelbase chassis equipped with either side brakes and oil axleboxes. A 4275 gallon cylindrical tank was fitted and usually platforms were provided either side of a central filler hatch, which was also used for discharging highly flammable loads.
A rail wagon has a life expectancy of 20-40 years and the new air ministry wagons were were sold on to the oil companies after the end of hostilities, many remaining in service well into the early British Railways era. A considerable number were donated to preservation societies and can be seen today in use as water carriers and in demonstration goods trains.
Model features diecast chassis parts to increase the weight and sprung axleboxes providing compensation for good running. Detailed solebars and brake rigging is moulded in robust ABS plastic.
Fitted with metal wheels, sprung buffers and drawbar with hook and three-link coupling.