Models that might have been. Tri-ang Railways, Tri-ang Hornby, Hornby Dublo, Lima & Airfix.

Tri-ang Railways, Tri-ang Hornby and Hornby Dublo all proposed many interesting new models and livery variation on production models over the years but for reasons not known, these were not proceeded with to general mass production.

Reproducing some of these models would require specialist equipment and skills but others are reasonably straightforward to make using regular production models and materials contemporary with the period in time when they were proposed. Some of these models are illustrated here. These models are not meant to be fine scale detailed replicas of their prototype but are designed to blend in with the standard proprietary production models of their era.

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Tri-ang Railways and Tri-ang Hornby
	BLUE PULLMAN SIX CAR TRAIN (LONDON MIDLAND REGION) The complete Midland Region train with the appropriate vehicles as it could have appeared if issued during the Tri-ang Hornby era. See below for views of the Motor Brake First and Kitchen Parlour First vehicles that were not actually produced.
	BLUE PULLMAN TYPE 1 MOTOR BRAKE FIRST The original Tri-ang Railways R555 and R556 Type 2 Blue Pullman power cars were issued as Motor Brake Seconds as used in the three, eight car trains that were operating on British Railways Western Region. This model has been modified into a Type 1 Motor Brake First as used in the two, six car trains that were operating on the London Midland Region Midland Pullman.
	BLUE PULLMAN TYPE 4 KITCHEN PARLOUR FIRST Tri-ang Railways only ever issued two out of the six types of cars used in the Blue Pullman trains. In this instance an R426 Type 6 Parlour First has been converted into a Type 4 Kitchen Parlour First. Along with two regular R426 Parlour Firsts, a correct representation of the Midland Pullman six car set may now be formed.
	CONTINENTAL DINING CAR One of the more esoteric models produced by Tri-ang was the R625 Continental Sleeping Car. This was a standard Series 1 Pullman Car in CIWL blue with opaque windows on one side and the interior of a Series 1 Corridor Composite Car. It was suggested at the time of introduction that staying with the Pullman Car interior would have made a more appropriate CIWL Dining Car. This conversion is done by replacing the interior and removing the opaque windows.
	Mk.1 BRAKE SERVICE CORRIDOR (BSK) VENICE SIMPLON ORIENT EXPRESS, UK Hornby introduced a slightly modified R469 Pullman Parlour Car fitted with Gresley bogies in 1984. No brake or service vehicle was offered so this is coach is simply a repainted BSK representing the brake vehicle in use by VSOE at that time. No ready to run models of this type of vehicle have been available.
	Mk.1 BRAKE FIRST CORRIDOR (BFK) Although similar in appearance to a Brake Second Corridor this Brake First Corridor has the larger compartments taken from a Composite Corridor coach. The arrangement of doors and windows in the brake section are also rearranged. No ready to run models of this type of vehicle have been available.
	Mk.1 BRAKE COMPOSITE CORRIDOR (BCK) Although of similar appearance to other brake coaches, this conversion has irregularly spaced passenger windows and also the luxury of two toilet compartments.
	Mk.1 BRAKE SECOND OPEN (BSO) This is a modified Brake Second Corridor now with five passenger windows per side and a rearranged and smaller brake section. Note the additional window opposite the toilet, not present on a BSK. No ready to run models of this type of vehicle have been available.
	Mk.1 CORRIDOR SECOND (SK) The easiest conversion to make is a Second Corridor coach. Sides from two Brake Second Corridor coaches are cut and joined to form the eight per side passenger windows. The original interiors are also cut and joined to form the interior compartments and toilets.
	Mk.1 TOURIST SECOND OPEN (TSO) Using the same exterior window arrangement as the SK, what was once one of the most common Mk.1 coaches on British Railways may be represented. In this case an open plan interior representing the 64 seats is made up from plastic card.
	Mk.1 RESTAURANT SECOND OPEN (RSO) Again using the same exterior window arrangement as the SK, this model represents a fairly rare prototype coach that was found adjacent to Restaurant Kitchen cars to provide accommodation for dining passengers. A plastic interior is constructed representing the 2+1 across seating arrangement.
	Mk.1 RESTAURANT MINIATURE BUFFET (RMB) The first twelve RMB cars built seated 48 and the remainder seated 44 because of the replacement of a seating bay with a storage cupboard. This model was converted to represent one of the original batch by the insertion of a window and seating bay to the left of the centre door. No ready to run models of this variation have been available.
	Mk.1 BULLION VAN (SLB) After cutting and reforming the original coach sides a surfeit of coach frames, bogies and roofs remain. By making new plastic sides this unusual vehicle may be made. No ready to run models of this type of vehicle have been available.
	Mk.2 BRAKE SECOND OPEN (BSO) This is probably the easiest conversion to make as it requires no modification to the exterior. It is made by replacing the original compartment interior with new open plan seating. Fortunately the real Mk.2 and Mk.2A BFK and BSO have identical window spacing. The original interior is retained for the FK conversion.
	Mk.2 CORRIDOR FIRST (FK) This model requires two BFK coaches with the passenger windows from one substituting for the brake compartment in the other. As the Mk.2 coaches are not modular, slightly more cutting and joining is required. The two seat units are joined to form the seven compartment interior.
	Ex LNER THOMPSON BRAKE SECOND CORRIDOR (BSK) This carriage, utilising the Mk1 frame, roof and bogies was only ever issued in a teak finish and did not have an interior. This version is in British Railways maroon and a compartment interior has been fabricated from plastic card.
	Ex LNER THOMPSON CORRIDOR SECOND (SK) For once Hornby did not follow their usual practice and issue a Corridor Composite carriage. Probably because the real thing was a shorter than standard vehicle, they made a Corridor Second instead. This version is in British Railways maroon and a compartment interior has been fabricated from plastic card.
	R733 FREELANCE FOUR-WHEEL COACH (STARTER SET) This vehicle was produced for inclusion in inexpensive starter train sets. It was only ever released in yellow. A green model was proposed but not issued.
	AMBULANCE CAR SUPPORT VEHICLE In 1963 Tri-ang introduced the R248, 2nd Series Transcontinental Baggage Car repainted as an Ambulance Car. No other models were produced in these colours to complement this vehicle. A simple solution to providing an additional different vehicle for an ambulance train could have been a 2nd Series Transcontinental Coach Car in matching colours.
	The R254 Steeple Cab loco was produced in British Railways green and Transcontinental green both with operational pantograph and also in maroon with a fixed plastic non working pantograph (Primary Series). The black version shows another alternative livery that could have been.
	The R257 Transcontinental Double Ended Electric Locomotive was produced originally in orange and green with Tri-ang Railways on the side. Later a pair of two tone green models were introduced, one with Tri-ang Railways and the other with the TR shield. Here is another possibility, orange and green with the TR shield instead of Tri-ang Railways.
	The R154, Class N15 locomotive "Sir Dinadan" was introduced 1976 in Southern Railways green at the height of Hornby's "Big Four" period when almost all steam locomotives that could be were issued only in the colours of the pre nationalised railway companies. A British Railway green model was proposed but unfortunately did not reach production.
	An economic model, both for manufacturer and customer, would have been a "King Arthur" Class N15 issued in mixed traffic black. This would have made yet another attractive livery for this model, in this case representing the similar Class S15 locomotive. Nowadays however if this type of economic model was issued it would bring howls of virulent protest from the fine scale zealots. This variant was proposed but it also did not reach production.
	The R252 Class J83 was also introduced in 1976, of course also in pre nationalised colours only. Eventually a British Railways variant was produced but this was also in green. Again, a black version was proposed but did not make it into production.
	The R261 Class E2 was introduced in 1979 and was eventually produced in London Brighton & South Coast Railway Brown Umber, Southern Railway Olive Green and Southern Railway black liveries. An attractive fourth variant would have been in British Railways black.
	The R450 Fowler Class 2P locomotive was introduced in the 1973 catalogue. This is a classic example of an economic model produced from modifying the Southern Railway Class L1. It was of course only issued in London Midland & Scottish Railway colours. A British Railways version would have offered the choice of another model. Once again the fine scale zealots decried this model but it did offer a new model of a locomotive that had not previously been produced.
	The R350 Class 77 EM2 model introduced into the Tri-ang Railways catalogue in 1960 was a lined green model, number 27000 and named Electra. When the prototype locomotives were introduced in 1954, they were in black as depicted here. This one would eventually be named "Pandora". Tri-ang Railways and Tri-ang Hornby eventually made models in differing blue versions but not one in the original black.
	The AL6 Class 86 was originally issued in British Rail blue and a succession of Inter City and other operator's colours but not in the original colour scheme of Electric Blue. The first prototype locomotive modified was E3173 with the addition of large external springs on the bogies thus earning the locomotive the unofficial nickname "Zebedee" after a character in the then current BBC TV program "Magic Roundabout".
Hornby Dublo
	Mk.1 TRAILER LUGGAGE VAN (TLV) Hornby Dublo did not issue any coaches in the then new British Rail Blue/Grey colour scheme. This is a repainted Full Brake with the addition of EPB (Electro Pneumatic Brake) equipment as used on Southern Region Electric Multiple Units. Possible number of 4077?
	Mk.1 RESTAURANT UNCLASSIFIED (RU) It is documented that Hornby Dublo intended to issue a Super Detail Restaurant Car in Southern Region green (4072). No doubt had Meccano remained in business longer, Super Detail coaches would have been issued in British Rail Blue/Grey. Possible number of 4073?
	BOGIE TIMBER WAGON The Bogie Timber Wagon was to use a Super Detail coach underframe painted grey and use the transfers of the Bogie Well Wagon. In this case a coach underframe has been repainted and plastic restraints for the timber load have been fabricated. The number of this model was to be 4612.
	BOGIE CONTAINER WAGON (CONFLAT P) The Bogie Container Wagon also uses a Super Detail coach underframe and in this instance it is fitted with plastic planked decking and low retaining side walls. The containers are plastic, not original wooden ones, as this was the intention stated in the reference book. The number was to be 4638.
	GOODS BRAKE VAN, WESTERN REGION (4312) In the 1962, 1963 and 1964 Hornby Dublo catalogues, the Western Region brake van was illustrated in a bauxite colour but models in this livery did not seem to be produced. The bauxite coloured model illustrated is converted from the grey model.
	GOODS BRAKE VAN, BRITISH RAILWAYS (4311) Although the LMR brake van was issued in both grey and bauxite colours, there was only one choice of livery for the WR and BR brake vans. The grey coloured model illustrated is converted from the bauxite model.
Lima
	Mk2c CORRIDOR COMPOSITE (CK) No Composite Corridor carriages in the Mk2 series were built from new for British Rail but this model represents one of five Corridor Firsts that ScotRail converted to Corridor Composites in the 1980's by downgrading four of the first class compartments to standard class.
	Mk2c OPEN FIRST (FO) The original carriage as supplied is configured as a Corridor First. This simple conversion uses the interior from the Airfix Mk2d Open First.
	Mk2f RESTAURANT FIRST OPEN (RFO) No catering cars were built from new in the Mk2 series and this model represents one of the Open Firsts that were converted for use in Cross Country sets. This model was made by filling in the toilet window and the two adjacent seating bay windows. The model can also represent the externally similar Restaurant Lounge Open (RLO) as used in sleeper trains.
AIRFIX
	Mk2d CORRIDOR FIRST (FK) The original carriage as supplied is configured as an Open First. This simple conversion uses the interior from the Lima Mk2b Corridor first.