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Flangeway ZZA Snowplough
I would like to thank Flangeway Models for allowing us access to two of their ‘O’ Gauge ZZA Independent Snow Ploughs (ISP). The models in question are the Inverness plough in original condition (O-1S004 ADB 965205) and the updated Network Rail version (O-S1009 ADB 965241).
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Brief History
The Independent snowplough has been familiar site on Britain's railways since the 1880s when the North Eastern Railway, (NER) company built their first independent snow ploughs using wooden bodies on redundant tender chassis. These lasted in use well into the later half of the 20th Century with a number entering preservation in the late 1970’s. Over the years the designs of snow plough varied very little depending upon the company building them, but most were usually constructed using redundant steam locomotive tender chassis with a steel guard’s compartment and a full height the plough blade, others had half height ploughs fitted to the loco end of the tender.
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During the 1960’s BR set about designing a standard ISP to replace the hotchpotch of other designs. Designed at Doncaster they were designed used redundant the Gresley (LNER) group standard four-thousand-gallon tender underframes. These are thought to come from withdrawn V2 steam engines with some modification.
Under BR with the distinct lack of tender underframes available to build replacements plough they opted to use withdrawn diesel shunters. Following the harsh winter of 1982/83, when parts of Kent, the South East and Scotland saw no trains run for a number of days. BR decided it needed invested in a couple of Snow Blowers and more snow ploughs. As there was no more tender frames, they looked at other sources. The bogies from withdrawn class 40’s and 45’s were utilised giving rise to the Beilhack Ploughs. |
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What's in the box
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The model comes well packaged in a sturdy cardboard box, lined with high density neoprene foam. In the box is a little information booklet, in the later versions there is a small bag containing the four pieces of the Icebreaker ring and the plough itself.
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The Model.
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Flangeway have ten models in their initial line up covering the late BR period through Railtrack, and into Network Rail. The base colours of all the vehicles is Black and Yellow as per prototypes. There are six models that cover the original build design. Two carrying the Inverness stag and adorned with grey plough blades, two carrying Eastfield's West Highland Terrier and two in plain black and yellow. Then there are then two each of later Railtrack and Network Rail (NR) updated versions.
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The model is crisply moulded with a fine level of detail to the correct outline of the prototype. The body side, steps, doors and access plates are neatly moulded into the model. Although based on a standard platform, both models are completely different due to the detail differences that Flangeway have nicely captured. Both models feature separately fitted handrails and lamp irons.
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The Railtrack and Network Rail versions carry far more detail than the original model, and has many features that are not on the early version. It has an extra lamp iron on the top point of the blade and more numerous handles fitted on the access panels on the blade of the plough. These are absent on the original version blade. The Inverness version has a smooth grey blade with a yellow tip. The NR version also has a separately fitted central spike to the upper curves of the plough, again absent from the Inverness and original designs models.
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The rear of the plough features moulded dumb buffers and a small window that would have provided light into the cabin for when the guard or plough crew would have road in the actual ploughs. There is a moveable lift up plate between the dumb buffers as per prototypes. This helps to accommodate coupling and uncoupling. Below the plate is the coupling shackle and air pipes. When propelling the ploughs there may be an issue here for some modellers depending upon the severity of the curves on your layout. Hopefully this won’t impact many modellers, but the MIOG team came up with a solution.
The arrangement is very similar to the Just Like the Real Thing (JLRT) ISP’s. When propelling it was found that there was an issue where locomotives and ISP were prone buffer lock on tighter curves. The solution was to add an extra strip of plastic between the dumb buffers to stop the loco buffers from dropping inside the dumb buffers.
All the transfers are clear and crisply printed, easily readable, and add colour to the otherwise bland liveried vehicle. |
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The model runs on a 6-wheel chassis. The Flangeway model looks peculiar on close inspection, why? Because it has been fitted with the correct wheel arrangement of different size wheels. The front wheelset a smaller diameter than the following two axles to allow it to fit under the slope of the plough blade. The centre axle has far more play than the outer ones, this should enable the model to navigate set track curves. Might be problematic if you don’t get it on the track right in the first place, but I found no issues on the straight piece of rail I pushed it along to check for free rolling of the axles. This was satisfactory despite the fact that pinpoint axles are not fitted.
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Conclusion
The model retails from Flangeway at £99.95 for all variants. At under a £100, this I see as excellent value for money for a bespoke ready to run ‘O’ Gauge model. Especially given the prices of some other manufacturer’s products, and also the prices of some of the recent 4mm scale wagon releases. I’m sure there is a market for the models. Especially given the number of layouts being modelled by the Modern Image fraternity of depots and stabling points.
Details of how to order directly from Flangeway are here: https://flangeway.com/collections/o-gauge.
I hope that this model sells well for Flangeway, as they are another manufacturer stepping into the growing ready to run ‘O’ Gauge market. I see that they are already advertising Side Tipping Mermaid wagons as their next ‘O” Gauge project. I look forward to reviewing these in due course.
Details of how to order directly from Flangeway are here: https://flangeway.com/collections/o-gauge.
I hope that this model sells well for Flangeway, as they are another manufacturer stepping into the growing ready to run ‘O’ Gauge market. I see that they are already advertising Side Tipping Mermaid wagons as their next ‘O” Gauge project. I look forward to reviewing these in due course.
Flangeway 7mm O Gauge O-IS001 1965 DB 965307 (Original) ZZA Independent Snowplough
Flangeway 7mm O Gauge O-IS003 Inverness Stag ADB 965223 (Original) ZZA Independent Snowplough
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Flangeway 7mm O Gauge O-IS002 1965 ADB 965220 (Original) ZZA Independent Snowplough
Flangeway 7mm O Gauge O-IS004 Inverness Stag ADB 965205 (Original) ZZA Independent Snowplough
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Flangeway 7mm O Gauge O-IS005 Eastfield Scottish Dog ADB 965213 (Original) ZZA Independent Snowplough
Flangeway 7mm O Gauge O-IS007 Railtrack ADB 965210 (Modern) ZZA Independent Snowplough
Flangeway 7mm O Gauge O-IS009 Network Rail ADB 965241 (Modern) ZZA Independent Snowplough
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Flangeway 7mm O Gauge O-IS006 Eastfield Scottish Dog ADB 965234 (Original) ZZA Independent Snowplough
Flangeway 7mm O Gauge O-IS008 Railtrack ADB 965230 (Modern) ZZA Independent Snowplough
Flangeway 7mm O Gauge O-IS010 Network Rail ADB 965206 (Modern) ZZA Independent Snowplough
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