High Level Kits

Thanks again Jeremy. I've zoomed in and it looks like you can see enough detail to model the valvegear. I can always suppliment the info with photos from engines that held on local preserved railways. At this point, I've got to get the wheel problem sorted.

Jeremy, this might be a good start. Is ther much detail on the drawing, valve gear shape etc?... I'm assuming the 14 and 16s are very similar and am trying to figure out what differnces there are on the Hattons' model.

I think the archives will be the most likely source, but it's so diffiuclt to find out what's actually there. I have mailed Colin about wheels, requesting a 3' 6'', bang in the middle for 14 and 16''. Thanks for that drawing by the way. I'll see if I can determine if it's a 14'' or not.

I'm looking to do chassis kits for the Hattons' model so I really need something like a GA showing brakegear, linkages and valve gear.

Anyone got any decent drawings of either the 14 or 16 inch Barclays that Hattons are doing.

Yes, you've reminded me, on the 'to do' list is the gear planner. It's not too urgent as the profiles are the same within 0.5mm but I still need to get onto it at some point. One day, I'll get around to flywheels!...

Technical Bulletin: Anyone who’s bought a gearbox over the last 18 months will almost certainly have a new, modified version (Unless it was a SlimLiner or MicroMiser, which are unchanged). A 23 tooth ‘hybrid’ gear (brass centre, nylon teeth) is now used at the axle and this allows a grubscrew fixing throughout the full range of boxes. Previously, the Loctite fixing required on the axle gears was the most requested change for the gearboxes and, for many, a major influence in their choice of box. This new gear required a re-design of the boxes (although the range is basically the same) and this included re-working the boxes, tightening up tolerances and taking care of sideplay within the units to make a more precise job. The 23 tooth (instead of 20) means the old ratio’s have increased by 12%, so 40:1 becomes 45:1, 54:1 is now 60:1 etc. The instructions have all been redone in a more user-friendly format. Anyone needing info can, on request via e-mail, view any of the instructions in PDF form.

Well thank you. I do my best, but sometimes circumstances, long delivery times for parts etc, get in the way.

Things being the way they are these days,with longer delivery times on most of the services we use, the few Fowlers left in stock will be the last ones available before Christmas, so if any may be needed to go off to Santa then best to order soon. We also have some 1420s motors - these are particularly useful for mounting vertically in fireboxes on engines where you don't want to cut through the boiler.

The Fowlers are now ready for sale. If you've pre-ordered one, I'll be working through those this week. I can offer a choice of ratio... and motor, so may be in touch. Details on how to order are on the website. www.highlevelkits.co.uk

Richard, apologies, I missed your question... all the gearboxes can be supplied with 2mm, 3mm or 1/8in final drive gear, but the MicroMiser is 2mm only. If 60:1 is a big enough ratio, try the RRC+ for size...

Don't want to thread-crash, so here's a link... http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/85210-high-level-kits/page-13&do=findComment&comment=2865959

This links from the Hattons' Barclay thread. Loco kit built by Karl Crowther.

To achieve the correct buffer height, you may need to trim a bit off the frames Gordon, as the Hornby footplate will be thicker than the etched one for which the chassis was intended.

What are you planning on doing for a mechanism Porcy?...

Hattons' Dave replied to my mail and said that Hattons aren't really geared up for handling spares and only receive complete locos from the supplier, so bodies-only are pretty much ruled out. In spite of this, the body looks so good, and the response to a possible chassis kit has been very encouraging, so it's still a possibility...

I would certainly consider extra bits to cover more variants although the NCB cabs look tricky to fold up... Doing both sizes would make sense.

The drive from the motor goes to the jackshaft, which is linked to, and drives, the rear wheels via the long outer conn rods. The front wheels take a separate drive from the gearbox, so they don't need to be coupled to anything else. This means you can do away with the front crankpin. The side rods are fastened to the back of the conn rods. The reason for this is that the side rod runs close behind the conn rod, and there is virtually no room for a crankpin fastener, let alone a realistically achievable amount of sideplay. It also simplifies assembly.

More news on the Fowler 70HP 0-4-0 DM... The photos show the final product which will be on display at Scalefourum this year. We’ve just taken delivery of etches, lost waxes are due, so about three weeks from now would be realistic for delivery. All castings are brass, as are the body etchings, with the chassis in slightly thicker, nickel silver. The mechanism is unorthodox, with the jackshaft coupled to the rear wheels, and also gears driving the front wheels, so they can run without any crankpins to avoid clearance problems. The gear ratio is 108:1 for super-slow running, although 80, or even 60:1 can also be supplied on request. The kit is priced at £110, which includes the gearbox. We can supply the 1020 motor and Alan Gibson Y9 wheels are needed to finish off the loco. You can place your order, register your interest, or make enquiries at Scalefourum, where the model will be on display, or drop us a line at enquiries@highlevelkits.co.uk

High Level Fowler 70HP 0-4-0 DM We’ve just taken delivery of etches for the latest High Level loco kit, the first full kit for a few years. Lost waxes are in the pipeline, so about three weeks from now would be realistic for delivery. All castings are brass, as are the body etchings, with the chassis in slightly thicker, nickel silver. The mechanism is unorthodox, with the jackshaft coupled to the rear wheels, and also gears driving the front wheels, so they can run without any crankpins to avoid clearance problems. The gear ratio is 108:1 for super-slow running, although 80, or even 60:1 can also be supplied on request. The kit is priced at £110, which includes the gearbox. We can supply the 1020 motor and Alan Gibson Y9 wheels are needed to finish off the loco. You can place your order, register your interest, or make enquiries at Scalefourum, where the model will be on display, or drop us a line at enquiries@highlevelkits.co.uk

That's my thinking, that it would be sales they wouldn't otherwise be getting.

It would be bad form to post pics of High Level engines on Hattons’ thread for their new product, but here’s one to illustrate what ‘nothing’ under the boiler looks like. This Black Hawthorn (built by the late John Hayes) illustrates it pretty well. I've e mailed Hattons to ask about the possibility of buying bodies only, but I would imagine they're pretty busy at the moment. John built a few High Level kits which I can post pictures of if anyone’s interested?...

David, it would depend on the availabilty of the bodies.

The bottom of the boiler would probably be etched, like on High Level loco kits.

If bodies can be made available separately, I’d like to do a chassis for this, for EM/P4, or for anyone who has an issue with the solid block under the boiler. This would be a kit, not ready to run.