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Bachmann 38-650B

PCA Metalair Bulk Powder Wagon 'Blue Circle Cement' Grey (Weathered)

Manufacturer catalogue image - please note that pre-release images may be CAD renders or CGI images rather than photographs

Prototype Eras
Era 9 (1995 to 2004) Initial Privatisation
Era 10 (2005 to 2015) Rebuilding of the Railways
Era 11 (2016 to 2026) The Last Days of Privatisation

Manufacturer description

Rail has long been the favoured mode of transport for moving bulk goods and cement is just one commodity for which specialised wagons have been developed to facilitate this. In the mid-Twentieth century British Railways introduced the ‘Presflo’ wagons to carry powdered cement, which had previously been conveyed in goods vans in bagged form, and as time moved on new designs were sought to replace the distinctive ‘Presflos’. Many of the new cement wagons, which were coded PCAs under the Total Operations Processing System (TOPS), featured depressed centres or ‘V’ tanks, but the ‘Metalairs’ built for Blue Circle Cement had parallel tanks. The wagons were built by Powell Duffryn and Procor in the mid-1980s and used a discharge system developed by Metalair; many remain in use today.

The Bachmann Branchline ‘Metalair’ wagons are faithful 4mm scale replicas of the real thing, using injection moulded bodyshells to capture the distinctive shape of the parallel tank that is then adorned with separate tank filler hatches, walkways, ladders and end pipework. The chassis boasts a wealth of fine detail too, from the suspension and axleboxes which are modelled in full relief to the discharge pipework and brake components that are each added individually. The bufferbeams are finished with metal buffer heads, a cosmetic coupling hook and lamp iron, while metal wheelsets are employed along with NEM coupling pockets.

 

MODEL FEATURES:

• Bachmann Branchline OO Scale
• Era 9
• Weathered ‘Blue Circle Cement’ Grey livery
• Running No. BCC11026
• Accessory Pack
• NEM Coupling Pockets
• Length 115mm (over couplings)

Catalogue listing

Model details

Prototype information

Bachmann Branchline OO‑scale model of a Metalair cement wagon, representing the ‘Blue Circle Cement’ grey livery of the weathered type. The model carries the manufacturer part number 38‑650B and is marked as Era 9, reflecting the period of railway rebuilding.

The real wagons were built in the mid‑1980s by Powell Duffryn and Procor for British Rail to replace earlier Presflo wagons. They feature parallel tanks and a Metalair discharge system and are still in use on the network. The model reproduces the distinctive parallel‑tank shape with injection‑moulded bodyshell and fitted with separate filler hatches, walkways, ladders and end pipework.

The replica measures 115 mm over couplings, includes an accessory pack, NEM coupling pockets, metal buffer heads, a cosmetic coupling hook and lamp iron, and uses metal wheelsets. The chassis is modelled in full relief with detailed suspension, axleboxes, discharge pipework and brake components, and carries the running number BCC11026.