Thanks John, I think after all these years I get as much ( sometimes more maybe )pleasure from trying to scratch build or improve a model as I do from running them.

I have a Jamieson Black five which will get lookad at as well.

Cheers ,

Jim.

Back in the day, the metal kits like those gave you a chance to put on greater detail  that the mass produced models didn't quite have.

At any exhibition I go to , it`s always the bare metal models that I look at first. you see the work that`s been put in before the paint covers it and it then looks like any other model.

Each to our own though.

Regarding remembering something? That`s a major problem with me as well. My layout`s in my garage and the number of times I put things down and half an hour later I`m scratching my head looking for it beggars belief.

All good fun though.

Cheers just now,

Jim.

Stunning model - beautifully made!

 

I have recently picked up a Jamieson Black 5 and a Jubilee kit. I opened the box and realised just how basic the kits are and therefore might be beyond my capability. 

 

Any hints/tips? I have Archers rivets on their way to me, a couple of Mashima motors, a spare Comet chassis for the Black 5, with motion gear etc, 

Hi Ian, you`ve found what I did when I also opened the box. At the time of building, ( early seventies ) I never had a tool to show any riveting detail so both my kits are pretty plain in that area. I made one later that I used when scratch building my Duchess.

As for hints or tips, the usual things really. Drawings that have measurements you can work from. I built my own chassis but maybe a Comet chassis could be adapted. At least you have motors, which is a good start but building these kits takes a while, depending on your engineering skills of course and you will probably have to make some of the detail yourself. When building mine there where a lot of model shops around to get bits and pieces from but, sadly, most of those are gone.

From your blog it sounds as though you have a doubt but I would have a go. I`ve learned a lot from a challenge like that and many on here will help.

My Black five kit is in the process of being modified ( mainly the tender ) and the motor is the old Romford Bulldog, but as I managed to dcc the Coronation kit , things look promising for the Five.

The motion gear is a bit fiddly but worth it in the end.

I hope  some of the above may have helped. It`ll be interesting to see how you get on.

Best of luck,

Jim.

Back in the late sixties, built a 78xx Grange from a Jamieson kit.  There was a lot of work in it because of the necessary detailing, but it was very enjoyable. 

Of course living in Reading, I was able to buy the kit from EAMES who I believe produced the kits.  There was no problem getting all the bits and pieces I needed they had just about everything .  What didn't have I made .

They were a great company to deal with, but sadly gone many years ago.

I don't know if I would attempt one now, but you never know, if a gwr kit showed up at a show, I might be tempted.

I must say that when I opened the box all those years ago I was taken aback, I but nothing daunted I got on with it and soon it began to look like a model loco.

Don't be put off yet Black 5  have a go...

Oh btw  I think I spend as much time looking for tools etc that I have just down as I do building my models..

Rob