Fen End Pit's Blog

Yes, Dave's kits always have beautiful etchings - so good in fact, one's almost tempted to just frame the etches and display them rather than build them! Instructions very comprehensice and thorough, with excellent diagrams. I've got three of his kits to build (eventually) - WD, B1 chassis and 9F chassis. I've been a bit put off starting for various reasons - not least that I'm not at all sure about tender mounted motors with shaft drive to the loco, as per Dave's design intent, and certainly the WD will require some fair modification to the fold-up inner frames to allow a loco mounted motor and gearbox.

 

Anyway, you J39 chassis looks very good, so far, and best of luck with it. Hopefully, you'll keep us updated with your progress.

 

Dave.

You'll enjoy building this! I did one a few years back and it all went together very well, though you DO need to read the instructions. I also found that some of DB's sketches can take a while to figure out (particularly the dummy inside valve gear one). There's some pictures of mine on my workbench if you're interested.

 

As with Dave Holt, I've got some other DB kits stockpiled: WD, B1 chassis (and hopefully in the not too distant future a Q6) in my case.

 

 

Also admit to having a Bradwell stockpile: J27, N2, K1, B1, WD, Peppercorn A1 and 9F!

 

By putting these kits alongside each other, you can see how Dave refined his method of leaf-springing over the years, with the J27, J39 and B1 being the earliest.

 

I really ought to make a start on the N2; it really does look that simple.