Both Shell BP and Esso have always been the most popular of the liveries of the Class B ex-Air Ministry tankers. As such we thought people might appreciate the chance to buy sets of 6 of these all with different running numbers.

We are testing the water here and only 100 sets of each will be made. We have now had sufficient advance orders that these have gone into production but advance ordering is still highly recommended as it is a limited run giving customers the oppurtunity to build up a descent tanker train without having to wait years for alternate numbers to come out of Dapol. The sets of six also work out cheaper than the individual tankers from Dapol.

These were also very interesting to research, especially with the Shell BP tankers where no two appear the same on the lettering and where it was carried and we have followed actual photographs as a guide.

Stocks of both sets of these are now running very low.

The majority of these tank wagons were built between 1939 and 1944 as Class ‘A’ wagons for aviation fuel, being 17’-6” long on a 10’-0” wheelbase fitted with RCH either side braking and split oil axleboxes. The tank was 7’-2” diameter containing 4275 gallons saddle mounted with two small platforms on the top of the tank.

After the war and around 1947, surplus tank wagons were converted to Class ‘B’ fitted with heating coils to help discharge of viscous fuel and bottom discharge.

The Dapol model covers the original class ‘A’ later converted to ‘B’.

The chassis contains a die-cast metal floor to add weight, a fully compensated chassis to improve running performance, brass bearings, die-cast wheels with steel tyres, sprung metal buffers, sprung die-cast hook and metal 3 link couplings.

Solebars, axleboxes and brake gear components are moulded in ABS plastic for strength.