Reviewed by Derek Peters

Accurascale kindly supplied this review model at Telford. The HOP 24 were classified HUO under BR (TOPS) and lasted in regular use as late as 1987. Some continued in use in a number of collieries. The reviewed hopper model represents 1/148 revised 1/154 patterns from 1958-1962.

Accurascale are suppling for sale at the moment eight hopper wagons with different running numbers. Each hopper wagon comes in a sturdy cardboard box and rests in a moulded plastic tray, which will keep it protected when not in use. After opening the box, you will notice the wagon is finely moulded both inside and outside of the hopper body. The details on the hopper doors are excellent above and below the wagon floor. Mouldings on the solebar and below, of the hopper door handles and of the brake lever and so on all show plenty of detail. The colour of the plastic hopper body is freight grey and the diecast chassis is black.

The text on the solebar is readable but some on the hopper body is not so clear on the model loaned to me at Telford. Buffers are BR heavy duty 13in diameter wagon buffers, with Instanter couplings fitted to the coupling hook. The buffers are sprung just right but I thought the spring on the coupling hook was little bit weak for my liking. This can be easily changed if you want to.

Accurascale also supply a pack of four BR self-contained sprung buffers which can be used to upgrade a number BR wagons.

The model weighs approximately 150g, the wheels are independently sprung and they fit into brass bearings. The wagon had no problem running on my garden railway. This model fits in well with my 20 ton hoppers, so I will definitely add more to my fleet.