Models

Unfortuanely, there are currently no "Ready-to-Run" Class 104 models available to buy from mainstream sources, so examples of 104's recreated in miniature are rare in comparison to some other classes. The mass production of models from Hornby, Bachmann and Lima etc over the years has resulted in classes 101, 105, 108, 110, 117 and 121 being immortalised on the country's model railways. However, how often do you see a 104?

Kits are now available in O Scale which has lead to several models appearing at exhibitions, althouh we are unsure of their source or whether they are still available. OO Scale modellers have the Crafstman conversion kit, which includes whitemetal pieces and etched brass front ends. These convert a Hornby Class 110 into a presentable 104, as most of the major differences are in the front end. As far as we know for all other scales, or for a more detailled model, modellers have to scratch build to produce a 104.

Below is a small gallery of class 104s that modellers have made, with any details for each listed. We would be very interested in including more models, as we are sure there are others out there, so if you have a 104 on your layout, don't hesitate to send in some pics. Quality is not an issue!

Many thanks to Alex Riley who has shared these images of a "work in progress" 104 DMCL conversion, via the Craftsman route utilising a donor Hornby Class 110.

Whilst visiting the Midland Railway Butterley's DMU Gala in March
2008, a great touch was that the resident model railway, which lies on
the platform at Butterley, had got right into the spirit of the event and
was using DMU's on their impressive "Alfreton" layout. A wide cross
section of DMU types were operating, including models not available
as kits or RTR, one of which was a green 104 power twin. It is a cut
down Hornby 110 (with the sides reprofiled)
fitted with Chris Leigh front ends and detailing
from DC Kits. It has a fully detailed
underframe, with engines, etc. It was built
12-15 years ago and is still going strong. We
suspect the numbers were not chosen at
random as M50454/M50528 just so happens
to be preserved on the Llangollen Railway!

This fantastic recreation of an eastern
region 4-car set has been created in
EM Guage (Finescale OO) by Paul
James.

It has been used on the inspiring 1970's
based layout Wibdenshaw and is a
proper formation including the Trailer
Brake Second.

It operates as part of a large fleet of
DMUs which can all run together in
multiple formations, three link coupling
being present on the front ends to enable this whilst keeping realism.

Other details such as window stickers (to denote first class and non smoking areas), interior seating and underframe additions (such as exhausts) complete this excellent model.

Flying the flag for Network SouthEast in the modelling world is
this DMCL in that colourful livery. The current owner bought this
vehicle so we are unsure who made it. Although no DMCL
vehicles were painted in NSE the vehicle certainly looks the part
and represents well the way that in latter years the NSE brake
vehicles were tagged onto all sorts of formations, as the image
on the right shows (with 117 vehicles behind). The 104 can be seen on the modern image exhibition layout Northolt.

Here is a OO gauge model built for use on a loft layout based on the Preston area. This was
of course a regular haunt for 104's, so the modeller was quite keen to have one on his railway.

It is a BR Blue "Power Twin" two car set which is how many sets typically ended their lives in
the late 1980's and early 1990's.

It has been converted from a Hormby 110 using a Craftsman conversion kit. Since this picture was taken, various embelishments have been added including headcode blinds and a DCC decoder with cab and passenger compartment lights.

This OO Gauge model was built by a BRCW Group member. It is based in the 1970's when sets were in BR Blue but had not yet lost the two character headcode boxes on the front end.

The model also recreates one of the rarer Power-Trailer two car sets. M56179 being paired with M50455 (which strictly speaking should have been in 3-car formation).

The model is a Hornby 110 conversion using the Craftsman conversion kit. It is also unpowered, the idea being that it would be dragged around by other (Ready to Run) DMUs "in multiple".