severn Posted December 4, 2014 Share Posted December 4, 2014 (edited) Some of you may have seen in August, a project was launched on Kickstarter to design and produce new buildings kits in etched brass. The project called 'A House in Your Hand' was fully funded in 3 weeks, and has now completed its course with backers receiving their rewards in November! If you would like to see how it got started, the project link is here. Updates to the project as it progressed can be seen here. Many thanks to all the backers, and to the N Gauge Journal for helping to spread the word! Etched surfaces can give fine detail and relief to a model, allowing for fully textured brick courses and a high level of realism. They are designed to fold up like a card kit, with all the folds pre-etched to provide crisp corners. Only a small number of simple tools are needed, and they can be glued together using the tabs on each part, or if you prefer they can be soldered. So now I am pleased to announce that Severn Models kits are now available to the rest of the modelling community, via the new website at SevernModels.com The initial project has realised 11 new kits in N gauge / 2mm, including various houses, stables, a barn, shops, a church and sheds & outbuildings / lineside huts. Longer term there are plans for many more kits in 2mm, and also to look at other scales including small buildings in 4mm and 7mm, and also some wargaming scales. The Kickstarter backers are already blogging and posting about their kits on Twitter and Facebook, if you would like to see their progress : Twitter : @SevernModels Facebook : Severn Models I am inviting suggestions from modellers for what kits they would like to see, feel free to use the contact form on the website, or message me here on the forum. I started the project because I couldn't find buildings I wanted for my layout, so I would like to hear what you want but cannot find... tell me your wants and I might just create them! Happy kit-building! Andy Edited May 27, 2015 by severn 12 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
severn Posted December 8, 2014 Author Share Posted December 8, 2014 Kit N2, the Half Timbered House, looks a little flat in just brass finish, so I painted one up 18 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
davepallant Posted December 19, 2014 Share Posted December 19, 2014 (edited) A great model! It has clean sharp sides unlike some of the resin kits that by design have to have a little soft blobby feel to make them mouldable. Those photos make it look sharp enough to be OO! Dave Edited December 19, 2014 by davepallant Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
severn Posted December 19, 2014 Author Share Posted December 19, 2014 Thanks Dave! I found that quite a few buildings kits compromise a bit on 'crispness' compared to real buildings, whereas the etched brass keeps the lines nice and sharp. I'm in the process of painting up a few more, which I will post soon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Focalplane Posted December 31, 2014 Share Posted December 31, 2014 I too like the crisp nature of your models. OO gauge kits would be most welcome. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Kris Posted January 1, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 1, 2015 What a lovely model that half timbered house is. Shame I can't justify it on my layout. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
severn Posted January 3, 2015 Author Share Posted January 3, 2015 Here's a few photos of a newly painted example. This one is kit N4, a detached house with a classical style portico. I'll be working on some OO things soon, watch this space 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold scottystitch Posted January 14, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 14, 2015 Is there a prospect of you designing railway buildings? Perhaps some Caledonian Railway signal boxes? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Tim Dubya Posted January 14, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 14, 2015 Some 4mm kits would be most welcome, I'm sure. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nile_Griffith Posted January 14, 2015 Share Posted January 14, 2015 Think you might well have a good potential market for your etches. Personally I would like to see some 4mm examples as that my scale of choice. As pointed out, the brass etches do lend themselves to a much crisper and defined architectural line, something that the resin kits fail on. Also they support relief detail much better and although this can be chivied in some small part with laser cut card. I like the solidity of brass and its durability. What I was wondering on is the potential to develop a "Kit of parts" so to speak. Especially for 4mm. I appreciate that there are plenty of people out there doing brass etches for fences, barge boards, windows etc. But as modern image modeller it would be great to access a kit of parts that would allow me to construct for example, platform buildings or modern styled offices. Architectural designs that where in themselves quite modular but would benefit from being constructed from etched brass or a composite of etched brass and sheet plastic. But rest assured I'll be keeping an eye on how things progress. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
severn Posted January 17, 2015 Author Share Posted January 17, 2015 Thanks for your thoughts - it's good to hear what kind of things you are looking for so I can work on creating items that have a demand. I have some ideas about some modular buildings, so I will give it some more thought. I currently have two lineside buildings in 4mm going through the test-build phase at the moment, so I'll post photos here when there is something to see In 4mm I think most of my buildings will need to be rather small, otherwise the amount of brass required would make them rather expensive. Though one thing this does do is force me to innovate to minimise the metal for maximum details! Also in progress, design work on an N gauge / 2mm signal box... its very small, but I think you might like it Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Stubby47 Posted January 17, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 17, 2015 Rather than complete buildings in 4mm, how about some detail parts instead ? Such as : GWR style chimney stacks, stone window and door surrounds, doors and windows Brick arches for curved window tops Embellishments for shop fronts - awnings, ornate door pillars, shop name signboards Stu 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
severn Posted January 17, 2015 Author Share Posted January 17, 2015 Good plan, thanks - if there are some specific things you need, feel free to link to a few photos, or email me, I am always open to suggestions I have a sneak-peek for the 2mm crew... here's a card test build of the new signal box kit I'm working on. Coming soon in brass etch Excuse a few bits where the card is a bit fluffy! There's a few things I will be changing before it goes into brass, but it's almost there. It will be 3 layers of brass at the upper floor, giving texture both outside and inside, and set back windows for the effect that they slide. Inspired by one of McKenzie & Holland's standard box designs. At some point in the future I will do a small kit to furnish the interior with levers, stove, furniture, etc. I have tried to make the stairs in as few parts as I could manage, some fold while others are 2 layers stuck together. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhighlandline Posted January 22, 2015 Share Posted January 22, 2015 (edited) Excellent! I would've voted for a Scottish prototype, but this one could be just as useful. Btw., here's a picture of your bungalow completed. A superb model, though fitting the gables and painting the cornerstones was somewhat of a challenge. Edited January 22, 2015 by westhighlandline 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
severn Posted January 24, 2015 Author Share Posted January 24, 2015 That looks superb nestled into the scenery, and I'm glad you like it Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nelson Jackson Posted January 24, 2015 Share Posted January 24, 2015 These buildings look superb and the fact they are 2mm as well makes them more amazing, can't wait for the 4mm ones 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
severn Posted January 26, 2015 Author Share Posted January 26, 2015 I'm almost ready to 'test build' the two new kit lineside buildings in 4mm. If all goes to plan, they should be on sale in a few weeks! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Grafarman Posted January 26, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 26, 2015 Only a suggestion, and feel free to howl me out of the room, but would there be a possibility of ready-assembled and/or painted items like the kind chaps at P&D Marsh provide? I would welcome a classic Railway Hotel in N gauge (I can send you pictures of the one in Prestatyn for a start!) and a type 4 brick-based LNWR signal box too! David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
severn Posted January 28, 2015 Author Share Posted January 28, 2015 I have thought about offering ready built / painted, but to paint crisp details to do them justice does take a bit of time, which would likely make them rather costly. I try to never say never, so I will give it some more thought. In other news... brass testing is complete for the first two models in 4mm, so here's a few photos of the test builds D1 is a fairly generic lineside type building, brick walls with corrugated roof. Detailed down to mouldings on the window mullions, and a proper door handle! Includes a shovel and a pick, as they fitted on a spare patch of brass within the kit. D2 is detailed as a typical platelayers hut, built from sleepers with a brick chimney stack and corrugated roof. Details include ledge and brace timber for the inside of the door, and a coal store. These should be available in a couple of weeks, I'll post here again when they are ready 12 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Stubby47 Posted January 28, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 28, 2015 The 4mm stuff is excellent. Would you consider just selling the etchs for the coalstore, doors and windows and chimney ? Stu Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
severn Posted January 29, 2015 Author Share Posted January 29, 2015 I have some plans for accessory type etches, windows doors etc. I could also do coal stores and chimneys too, I'll put them on my list 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Focalplane Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 The two huts are very, very nice! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nile_Griffith Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 Have to say the 4mm stuff looks very exciting. Not quite my era or location type, but I do find myself trying to justify the purchase!!!!! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
severn Posted February 5, 2015 Author Share Posted February 5, 2015 The first stock of 4mm kits should be ready in about a week If you want to come have a look, they will be on show at: Milton Keynes Model Railway Society exhibition on 14th Feb Leamington & Warwick Model Railway Society exhibition 7th & 8th March Hopefully see some of you there, and soon I will try to add other dates & places! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
severn Posted February 16, 2015 Author Share Posted February 16, 2015 They're ready!! The two new kits in 4mm are in stock and ready to go at http://severnmodels.com I was at the Milton Keynes exhibition on Saturday for my very first show, it was really good to talk to people about what kits they are looking for. More requests for 'accessories' type kits so those will move higher up the priorities list! Leamington & Warwick show is next, on 7th & 8th March. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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