What is undeniable is that the “ARAH” custom has become a small but permanent part of OO gauge folklore. It serves as a cautionary tale about manufacturer hype, a creative outlet for frustrated collectors, and a reminder that even in a hobby obsessed with rivet-counting accuracy, there is always room for a well-executed joke.
The DJ Models ARAH custom is not a factory release. It is a satirical, fan-made repaint of DJ Models locomotives, born from the ashes of a failed business, and embraced by modellers with a dark sense of humour. If you see a bright purple Class 71 labelled “ARAH Recovery” at a exhibition, you are witnessing a piece of modern modelling history—flawed, funny, and entirely unique. dj models arah custom
When applied to a custom model, “ARAH” refers to a specific genre of repainted or modified DJ Models products—most notably their (electric locomotive) and Class 92 —finished in purely fictitious or “preserved” liveries that the original manufacturer never intended. The Origin of the Custom The “ARAH” custom trend began as an in-joke on modelling forums circa 2018–2020. As DJ Models faced liquidation and Dave Jones made numerous public claims about retaining rights to tooling despite clear evidence to the contrary, modellers began creating fictional “ARAH” versions of his locomotives. What is undeniable is that the “ARAH” custom