As mentioned in the last entry Leeds 600 was one of the next cars I fancied building, so what's Leeds 600 most RMwebers go? This is Leeds 600

picture from wikipedia and used and credited as such

It was a 1950's rebuild of an earlier Sunderland single decker, though how much was retained is debateable, it still exists but as it is at the Tramway Museum Societies Clay Cross storage facility it's currently not accessable.

So armed with plasticard, plastruct, solvent, filler, photos and drawings we currently have this

This is the very basic body shape, no detailing work done as yet as it still needs much in the way of fettling. Drive will be from the brilliant Halling C1 drive unit with all wheel pickup and drive http://www.halling.at/railwaymodel/accessories-info/c1.motorfahrwerk.php bogie centres are pretty much spot on and I can live with the fact that truck wheelbase is a couple of mm long. Here's the body shown sat on an unpowered C1 chassis, it's very low profile so if I can a pretty detailed interior will be built, all that needs altering is trimming the ends down to fit the Leeds body.

Now 600 was a one off, so I've got my version but it has been constucted with a view to resin casting. Hopefully it will end up as a kit available through East Lancs Model Tramway supplies, if I can get the master finished to the standard I require and there is enough interest it should end up available as a resin kit with etched brass lifeguards/advert boards etc, it will be basically attach doors/lifeguards/side boards paint and stick on r-t-r chassis. The castings will be professionally done to guarantee standard. If all of this happens and it is a sucess hopefully others will follow. I've started work on a Leeds 'Lance Corporal' and am contemplating Leeds 301 which was ex LCC no1 'Bluebird', all of these will be built as 'masters' but at the end of the day if no one wants a kit, I'll not be too bothered as I need to build them for my own use.

I've run the gist of this post before Andy regarding commercial gain/trading etc and he's very kindly said that he's no problem with it, once again many thanks.

I can now turn my blog into a Tram modelling wish list, which trams would anyone like as kits-c'mon r-t-r is never going to happen, more chance of a full Blue Pullman