GWR Toplights Poll

[Coach bogie]

Afull k

 

I meant to say 100 pound.

it is now just short of £100 to buy a toplight coach kit without wheels so for an rtr you do not have to build, not unreasonable.

 

Mike Wiltshire

Edited January 15, 2018 by Coach bogie

[81C]

I did see some gossip in a thread which I can't now find that Slaters have recovered or are in possession of their 4mm kit moulds , I gave up looking again after pouring through so much troll

tripe in the trade section did anyone else see it ?.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

[The Great Bear]

I did see some gossip in a thread which I can't now find that Slaters have recovered or are in possession of their 4mm kit moulds , I gave up looking again after pouring through so much troll

tripe in the trade section did anyone else see it ?.

You aren't imagining that, guess was in one of the Coopercraft threads?

[The Great Bear]

Afull k

 

it is now just short of £100 to buy a toplight coach kit without wheels so for an rtr you do not have to build, not unreasonable.

 

Mike Wiltshire

 

Agree. And for mere mortals getting a finish like modern day RTR for complex liveries or things like painting bolections would be beyond us. 

 

That does assume though that the kits are actually available eg are David Geen kits available right now - believe the business is to be sold and he has some (understandable) altered priorities in the meantime - and the issues with Slaters are covered elsewhere. So I'm exploring a DIY (ish) alternative to the latter.

[Siberian Snooper]

The last I heard is that David Geen is giving up at the end of ExpoEM South in Bracknell in May, I believe that he is also due at Scaleforum North in April.

[81C]

The last I heard is that David Geen is giving up at the end of ExpoEM South in Bracknell in May, I believe that he is also due at Scaleforum North in April.

The trouble trying to buy anything from him at shows he's surrounded by a load of old windbags not coming up for air I've given up on several occations.

[Siberian Snooper]

The trouble trying to buy anything from him at shows he's surrounded by a load of old windbags not coming up for air I've given up on several occations.

 

I always send him an email, of what I want a couple of weeks before the show, don't expect a reply, but I find that once I catch his eye he will sort out my stuff or have a word with his Mrs, she's always helpful and gets his attention if needs be.

 

davidgeen111@gmail.com

[Coach bogie]

He may no

 

The last I heard is that David Geen is giving up at the end of ExpoEM South in Bracknell in May, I believe that he is also due at Scaleforum North in April.

 

 

I always send him an email, of what I want a couple of weeks before the show, don't expect a reply, but I find that once I catch his eye he will sort out my stuff or have a word with his Mrs, she's always helpful and gets his attention if needs be.

 

He is not certain he will be attending Bracknell, Scaleforum north is more likely to be his last show.

 

It is David's 'Mrs' that is his greatest priority as she is not well at all at the moment, railways are fitted in around family, when he has time.

 

Mike Wiltshire

[rprodgers]

Being realistic if a range of corridor Toplights were ever to appear rtr  and be viable we will need to compromise..... they would need to share a standard length underframe say 57ft .... if a longer length then this would look odd on the tight curves most of us favour

 

I would prefer the coaches to be panelled showing relief (not like the last Hornby clerestory coaches). This way would make it easier for any one wishing to adapt them to partially or flush coaches.

 

If there were 3 my preference would be a Brake comp (which seem rare in rtr), a composite , brake third, and maybe a full brake

 

 

Something"more exotic" like a slip coach or a restaurant car would be nice but I guess unlikely

 

R

[chris45lsw]

Being realistic if a range of corridor Toplights were ever to appear rtr  and be viable we will need to compromise..... they would need to share a standard length underframe say 57ft .... if a longer length then this would look odd on the tight curves most of us favour

 

I would prefer the coaches to be panelled showing relief (not like the last Hornby clerestory coaches). This way would make it easier for any one wishing to adapt them to partially or flush coaches.

 

If there were 3 my preference would be a Brake comp (which seem rare in rtr), a composite , brake third, and maybe a full brake

 

 

Something"more exotic" like a slip coach or a restaurant car would be nice but I guess unlikely

 

R

There must be an all third.

 

Chris KT

[Coach bogie]

Being realistic if a range of corridor Toplights were ever to appear rtr  and be viable we will need to compromise..... they would need to share a standard length underframe say 57ft .... if a longer length then this would look odd on the tight curves most of us favour

 

I would prefer the coaches to be panelled showing relief (not like the last Hornby clerestory coaches). This way would make it easier for any one wishing to adapt them to partially or flush coaches.

 

If there were 3 my preference would be a Brake comp (which seem rare in rtr), a composite , brake third, and maybe a full brake

 

 

Something"more exotic" like a slip coach or a restaurant car would be nice but I guess unlikely

 

R

The E95 brake compo would be ideal as there was a slip version the F20, the only difference being the corridor end being replaced by the three window slip and vacuum tanks fitted.

 

There was never an actual toplight restaurant as such as, although in the same 'style, there were not actually any toplight windows.

 

The closest was the converted tea cars.

 

It is a constant conversation as to how many toplights would actually sell. Kit sales of toplights have never been better. As I write this David Geen is packing more toplights to fulfil worldwide orders.

 

Worsley Works is introducing more toplight sides with the F20 mentioned above as a bespoke set of body sides and ends.

 

The Blacksmith ones have been around for 50 years now and still sell immediately second hand. 

 

If all these kits are being built would there be the mass sales? A group of us discussed how many they would buy and the sad reality is not many. My response was none at all. Having built all the toplights I really need and more on the bench, the rtr boys would not benefit from my wallet. They many not be up to modern rtr standard but they are acceptable to me.

 

Mike Wiltshire

Edited February 2, 2018 by Coach bogie

[Miss Prism]

on the GWR.ORG web site it is listed as NYA, but that site has a lot of incorrect information on it as it lists all the Blacksmith kits as NLA which is incorrect as they are still available as etches only.

 

The Blacksmiths are listed as NYA as they are tied up in the black hole of Cooper-Craft, and I think most people will agree that it is best not to advertise them as 'available', because the kits are not available, and such etches that are available are only what Dunn may have in his old stock. I am not aware he is making new etches.

 

All corrections to the gwr.org.uk listing are nevertheless very welcome.

 

 

Edited January 28, 2018 by Miss Prism

[Coach bogie]

Is the second coach in your photo a H16, and if so the door on the right hand end is hung around the wrong way as this coach and some of the other H coaches such as the H22, H25, H24 at least also had the door on the same side hung on the right hand side most likely so the commode handle was not so near the end of the coach. Auto coach A27 drivers doors (I think all the Auto coaches with the central doors opened the same end to avoid the leaver for the low platform steps) and B set E129 also had doors like this. 

 

Also it was the vacuum reservoir cylinders which were hung across the coach as in your photo, and not gas cylinders as you stated for your F20. 

 

Interesting if David Geen has got the door right for his H16 kit if it has come out yet as on the GWR.ORG web site it is listed as NYA, but that site has a lot of incorrect information on it as it lists all the Blacksmith kits as NLA which is incorrect as they are still available as etches only.   

Yes the H16 is wrong with the door position, some thing I have been aware of for over 30 years but I am not changing it now.

 

It is correct on the David Geen etch with his H16 kit which has been available now, for many years.

And the H15 as well.

 

Again you are correct with the F20 they are Vacuum cylinders not gas.

 

Mike Wiltshire

[Miss Prism]

Ah, I wasn't aware David did the H15. Thanks.

[GWR8700]

Let's not stop at toplights.
Non corridors, an extension of the Bow Ender range, B sets, pre war auto coaches and some more brown vehicles. While this won't be possible overnight, it Is not unreasonable to hope for many of these items over the next few years given what is available to modellers of other regions, especially the Southern.
It's disappointing that Hornby didn't extend their grouping non-corridor range and that Bachmann haven't released any GWR carriages (unless you count the superb Hawksworth auto coach) since the Collett sunshine stock which is an old mainline tooling.
If the demand is there to release many of these items in 0 gauge as Dapol have discovered, then surely there is demand in 00 for an up to date range?

Edited January 31, 2018 by GWR8700

[Neal Ball]

Let's not stop at toplights.

Non corridors, an extension of the Bow Ender range, B sets, pre war auto coaches and some more brown vehicles. While this won't be possible overnight, it Is not unreasonable to hope for many of these items over the next few years given what is available to modellers of other regions, especially the Southern.

It's disappointing that Hornby didn't extend their grouping non-corridor range and that Bachmann haven't released any GWR carriages (unless you count the superb Hawksworth auto coach) since the Collett sunshine stock which is an old mainline tooling.

If the demand is there to release many of these items in 0 gauge as Dapol have discovered, then surely there is demand in 00 for an up to date range?

 

 

It does strike as a bit odd that Bachmann have not done any new GWR carriages yet. Instead as you say relying on models that are some 30+ years old.

 

Hopefully as they are not shown in this years catalogue, might mean something new is coming for 2019.

[GWR8700]

It does strike as a bit odd that Bachmann have not done any new GWR carriages yet. Instead as you say relying on models that are some 30+ years old.

 

Hopefully as they are not shown in this years catalogue, might mean something new is coming for 2019.

I certainly hope so! Although I was very happy that Dapol announced the large prairie and 43xx, it was disappointing that the two big manufacturers announced almost no pre war GWR items. It'll help me save for the Dapol release, but I hope it's not the sign of a general trend from Bachmann or Hornby.

[johnlambert]

Another vote for some N gauge toplight coaches here. For the Birmingham suburban layout I'd like to build I think I'd need a selection of gangwayed and non-gangwayed coaches. Ideally coaches suited to the post-Second World War period, both pre-nationalisation and early British Railways.

[Coach bogie]

There are FOUR Slater's toplights on eBay 16/2/18, starting bid £45.00.( and various Mallard/Blacksmith from the same seller).

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/slaters-coach-kit-for-a-GWR-57ft-toplight-composite-coach-E88/232667601937?hash=item362c11dc11:g:ASQAAOSwhxhahsm6

 

Mike Wiltshire

[rovex]

There are FOUR Slater's toplights on eBay 16/2/18, starting bid £45.00.( and various Mallard/Blacksmith from the same seller).

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/slaters-coach-kit-for-a-GWR-57ft-toplight-composite-coach-E88/232667601937?hash=item362c11dc11:g:ASQAAOSwhxhahsm6

 

Mike Wiltshire

Yes. I'm having a bit of a clear out ☺

[St Enodoc]

Yes. I'm having a bit of a clear out ☺

Shame - I'm after a couple of TKs (or SKs if you prefer).

[Ozexpatriate]

Great poll Neal. Apparently I'm very late to the party. I'm sorry I missed it earlier.

 

I'd probably actually buy just about anything that was produced in terms of GWR toplights, but put my votes where my preferences were, rather than ticking all the boxes indiscriminately, which helps no one.

[Neal Ball]

Great poll Neal. Apparently I'm very late to the party. I'm sorry I missed it earlier.

 

I'd probably actually buy just about anything that was produced in terms of GWR toplights, but put my votes where my preferences were, rather than ticking all the boxes indiscriminately, which helps no one.

 

 

Thanks for the comments.

 

We now have 122 votes. Hopefully we will get some new carriages from Bachmann soon....

[wiggoforgold]

I have a project in mind that involves a toplight down graded to a camping coach, but I feel that rtr may be about more than I need....if the price was right however...

[81C]

I was surprised to see this at Kidderminster yesterday.