dikitriki

Probably so as a one-off. They have since been productionised as part of the W1 kit, so are available as a discrete etch. Richard

Finney7 do a complete valve gear etch for £45 plus P&P. Page W1-26 shows you what you get: http://finney7.co.uk/Downloads/LNER_W1_A3_Pages.pdf Richard

Hi Tim, I posted a few pics of the pipework behind the footsteps, or rather my interpretation thereof, on page 4. If you want any more, give me a shout. Cheers, Richard

Hi Adam, T9 is £349, (optional) hornblock pack £9.50, 6 wheel tender £160, watercart tender £180. Please note that while we have the engines packed, the tenders will not be out until the end of March. P&P fully insured, next day delivery (UK) is £14 for either engine or tender separately or £26 for the both. Richard

Hi, With Kettering looming, we are pretty sure we will have the new W1 available, along with the L11 and T9 wide and narrow cab engines. We are not likely to be able to restock the LNER 8 wheel tender for the W1 in time, we've had a bit of a run on those. The Drummond tenders will be available in about a month when we have the new patterns for the springs and axleboxes. Looking forward to seeing you there! Richard

Hi Rich, A well-made rivet press will last you a lifetime. I have used the GW Models rivet press for years, either free-hand or using the table and it's a super product. The use of a proper press will minimise the distortion caused by rivet forming, though there is inevitably some working back to true required. Richard

Thanks, The new kits are etched in nickel silver rather than brass. Though by special order, we can make any kit available in nickel silver. Regarding the 8 wheel tender. Our instructions are on-line, so you can have a good look to see whether you think you can do it. There's only one way to find out Richard

Hi Rich, This is the first new kit we have designed under the Finney7 label. It sets the standard for Finney7 kits to come, but is a step up in detail from the original Martin Finey kits (well-detailed in any event) which have hitherto formed our range. Everything you see in the photos is included in the kit, with the usual exception of wheels, gears and motor etc. Richard

Hi, This workbench is to show our Finney7 partners' kit builds. The latest is by Mick Davies of the W1 in its rebuilt form. Richard

Hi, We're on the final stage of detailing now, middle cylinder drain cocks and linkages 'n all. It will be on sale early March, and may even make the Kettering show. Richard

Hi Jeff, Not as yet. Guilplates do them I believe. Richard

Hi Jeff, Mini7E perhaps, but I don't know yet. You might loose a bit of the rear brake cylinder. You'll have to wait until the instructions are published, and then overlay an ABC motor/gearbox template over it. Richard

We're continuing with the W1 test build. All being well, it will be available in March. All brake rigging is present, including the top run and rear cylinder. Note also the resin brake shoes. The 2 to 1 gear works. The motor and gearbox fits without any compromise of the surrounding detail (Finney7 SDMP Rford 40:1 and Canon 1833) And a check of the casing fit. Richard

Hi, We now have our new W1 kit in production. The production casing, castings and etches have all been done, and we are just working through a final test build so we can photograph it and produce the instructions. We aim to have it ready for the Kettering show in March 2019. What do you get in the box? A one-piece resin casing. Whitemetal, brass and nickel silver castings, most of which are shown on the display board. All nickel-silver etches with over 600 parts. Motion, 2 sets to an etch, one per kit: Chassis and the monster 'everything else' etch: The etches are broken up into more manageable sub sets which are designed to fit into the box. The layout is such that for each sub section you only need that part of the etch. For example in the upper/mid left is the bogie, Bissel, brake and Cartazzi etch; in the upper right is the cab core structure whilst at far left upper/lower are the cab detail sheets. The idea is to try and de-clutter the work bench during the build but there are exceptions, cylinder formers and slide bars on the footplate section, these being here to reduce the footprint and make sure all etches do not exceed the box dimensions....a rather important factor. What we should end up with in a few weeks is something like this. The specification is as follows: Body casing – resin casting, Footplate and cab - 0.375mm nickel silver etch, Chassis – 0.45mm nickel silver etch with overlays and frame bracing for strength, Motion – 0.7mm nickel silver etch, White metal, nickel silver and brass castings, Machined buffers, Insulated brake shoes, Sundries pack - wire, tube, nuts and bolts, Full colour instructions, mostly A3 format including photographs of the kit build. Cost: Engine £660, Tender £180. Richard

And a nice little model it is too.....I did add a few extra details as is my wont. Richard

I've looked at the Finney7 instructions as I'm also interested in the M7 and a T9 for my proposed LSWR region layout; they are very impressive! So pleased that Richard and the guys have managed to keep the Finney brand going, as I have an old 47xx kit from that stable, and by the time I get round to it the instructions may have been updated?? Regards, Deano. The GW instructions are all being updated - in fact they are largely rewritten already. You may be interested in the upgrade kit for the cylinders, slidebars, slidebar support brackets and crossheads which will be a retro-fit to the older MF kits. (28xx,47xx, 51xx, Hall) Richard

Hi, Telford is looming, and in order to assist 7mm modellers everywhere with their purchasing decisions, a little update..... In matters LNER, we are expecting to have the Gresley A1 and A3 and the iconic A4 available. We have reworked the patterns and had new moulds made, and there are a few new castings to enhance what were already first class kits. The instructions have also been completely reworked in line with our previous offerings. We are also pleased to report that the W1 is now in production with a new pattern produced for what will be a resin cast casing. However, we intend to do a final test build and the illustrated instructions need to be written, so the release is a little while away. Moving on to GW matters, the test build of the Hall has been completed. This showed that it was a very fine model, but that aspects of the motion could be made easier to build. Accordingly we have produced (and are testing) a revised cylinders and motion kit. This will be included in our kit, and made available for those who have original, unbuilt, Finney kits (or any other brand) and wish to upgrade. The test build of the 61xx is also underway and is looking very smart. We are at the stage of reworking the castings for the GW range, and would like to thank customers for their patience. We have also put a lot of development work in to the 94xx ‘starter kit’ where we are reconciling the twin aims of fidelity to the standards you have come to expect from Finney7 and ease of build. Again, some way away, but the finishing line is in sight. There's more information on the website finney7.co.uk Finally, a reminder that all the castings included in our kits are avaialble separately, contact me through the website. Richard

Hi David, There's been a lot going on, but nothing physical to see. All the patterns have been prepared, except for those on the backhead, and with a fair wind, we hope to have a set to show at Telford. There is a now bit of a hiatus due to a 3-month overseas secondment. We don't as yet have a likely price. Richard

Hi Peter (PAD), I think you are misreading Peter B's photo. The pipes are not under the footplate, but running between the top of the splasher and bottom of a cover that is clamped over them in 3 places. The giveaway is that the front and back faces of the front splasher (only) on all Duchesses are proud of the top. In t'other Peter's photo, they are flush, which means there must have been a decorative cover clamped over the pipes. I cannot see this as being anything other than a preservation affectation, but I am very happy to be proved wrong. Richard

Dusk at Heyside Richard

Hi, We're moving forward with the B1 - bogie, chassis and body etches almost there. We start on the castings development in the new year. I'm taking reservations for the B1 (no deposit at this stage) - contact me via PM or through the web site. From left field, we also quite well along with an NER A7 4-6-2 which is at the test etch stage. Richard

Hi Peter, Yes, both bolts each side need to be withdrawn, and it's still a PITA to get the rocker and valve rod out. I must admit I didn't know the rocker arm was inclined, and given the etches, it would be tricky to duplicate it. I'll settle for it working properly! Richard

Hi Peter, You're right, the rocker mechanism is simplified. Without the adjusters top and bottom, the end of the rocker would be describing an arc, whereas the spindle motion is linear. In fact it is the one end of the adjusters which are attached to the valve spindle, and the other end is attached to the rocker only. Richard

Hi, I've gone as far as I want before Telford, and I'm very pleased with progress. It will be on the Finney7 stand at Telford if you wish to have a closer look. See you there! Richard

Hi, I've fitted the boiler to the footplate, formed and fitted the transverse water tube covers - they were a bit of a faff with all the various curves and planes - and added some smokebox front details: Cab interior and roof before Telford....hopefully. Richard