5&9Models' Blog

An interesting vehicle. Would they have been worked with the verandah to the outside of the train and turned at the destination ? 

Looking forward to your forthcoming layout based on Birmingham Curzon St...

3 hours ago, Dave John said:

An interesting vehicle. Would they have been worked with the verandah to the outside of the train and turned at the destination ? 

 

Really interesting question and one which I’ve mulled over, asked various people, and drawn no firm conclusions. I would have thought the veranda should face the train so the brakesman can see what’s going on. However, the dumb buffers are that end and therefore would most likely face the other way with the spring buffers on the train side. Turning it wouldn’t be an issue as it would easily fit onto any wagon turntable. I suppose the veranda facing backwards would enable the brakesman to see the faster passenger train closing in behind him blissfully unaware that he hadn’t yet cleared the time interval for that section!!!

1 hour ago, Ravenser said:

Looking forward to your forthcoming layout based on Birmingham Curzon St...

Ah yes, if I wasn’t modelling Bricklayers Arms I would without doubt be modelling Curzon St. If BA goes pear shaped, or by some miracle I actually finish it then Birmingham is my next project.

Very nice. Are Simon's kits broadly available?

1 hour ago, Mikkel said:

Very nice. Are Simon's kits broadly available?

They’re not Simon’s kits, he makes the masters, sends them to me and I make the moulds and do the casting, write the instructions, sort the etched parts etc., and pack them up. He gets paid in free kits and castings and he hasn’t complained yet... In answer to your question: yes, they’re available from me (5and9models).

The same arrangement would apply to anyone.

Let’s say ‘Bob’ sends me a master, I make the mould, cast it up and supply ‘Bob’ with as many castings as he needs from it. If he needs more than two or three then we would need to talk about materials costs, but my ‘payment’ would be permission to include the kit from ‘Bob’s’ masters in my 5and9models range. ‘Bob’ gets his master turned into the kits he needs and I’m out of pocket until I’ve sold enough of his kits to start to cover costs! It’s not exactly a great business model but then it’s not my business (I already have a day job) so it’s not so important.

Thanks Chris, and thanks for contributing to the hobby in this way. I asked because I couldn't find the kit on your site, so I thought Simon might have his own range. I'm a bit clueless about this exciting world of early stock, but keep coming back to it  

 

 

I’m afraid my website is hopelessly out of date. At some point I’ll get round to adding these new kits. I have some others I’m working on at the moment so perhaps I’ll add a batch when these are done.