The Flying Fag Packet

The new Farish Mk2 Brake Second has arrived. I have mixed feelings about this one; on one side they're to be commended in managing to reproduce the complex livery at all (I spoke to one of the major transfer (decal) manufacturers a couple of years back asking if they were going to make transfers for the lower bodysides; they replied that it wasn't possible with the printing technology they had). The quality of the printing is good; they haven't been able to reproduce the 'fade' of the prototype perfectly, but the way they've done it falls into the realm of acceptable compromise, at least in my opinion.

The down side that the model is still quite crude, and shows how far British outline modelling is behind the models available for continental European prototypes. All details, including the windows, are simply printed on to a clear plastic bodyshell. Since they've used a 'one size fits all' body, this one's lacking the footsteps for the centre doors, which are just printed on. It would probably be possible to improve this by adding some microstrip for footsteps and handrails. The clear bodyshell also means there's no relief in the windows at all; which can look wrong in certain lightings. It also lacks any kind of interior.

On the other hand, the price is a lot lower than you'd pay for recent products from Minitrix of Fleischmann.