Chivers Finelines

Is that the standard kit? With no 3rd party parts? If so, would very much like to use a copy of that image on the website if possible. All the best, Matt Chivers

Just need buffers and weights, and there will be ZCA’sand OCA’s ready to go. OTA will be September time at a guess. Not as yet, I’m the workshop Mon/Tue/Thurs/Fri each week. And work from home Wed/Sat/Sun which is when I pack kits and when time permits work on the website. It’s coming. Beautiful! Hope you enjoyed the build.

You did read the first post didn’t you?

Thanks to all who have purchased their Pigeon vans, these is still plenty in stock. Some where sent out Saturday and another batch going Monday morning. Depending on demand I hope to post purchases at least twice week. There is no order to which kit is next in the production line, but currently it’s dictated by what parts are left on the shelves so some kits may take longer to return than others. They are coming though, and if they return and run out of stock, they will be put back into stock as soon as possible. Putting all the kits back into production is a huge task but I will get there! My aim is to have everything on the shelf ready to go with little waiting time. Massive thank you to all who have supported the return and purchased kits. There should be some more Re-releases this coming week!! All the best, Matt Chivers.

Hello fellow modellers. Its been a while since our last engagement on this forum so I hope its still ok to post in small suppliers. The rumors of our demise have been greatly exaggerated, but the rumors seen on our Facebook page are true! Chivers Finelines is BACK! Trading under the name Five79. My father Roger Chivers is still retired and my brother Simon (slimrails) is spending his free time with his wife and children, hopefully he will join me in the future, but for now its just me. I'm pleased to announced the first kit from the 4mm Range is back available for purcase: RC416 - LNER dia 120 4w BY Pigeon Brake Van kit. *Post & Packaging £3.80 per order. I am aiming to get near all the range back into production, which is well over 100 products, below is the list of kits I'm currently working on, this is not a complete list, As you can see, its a pretty big list i'm working through, Prices will be released as the kits are, and we won't be doing pre-order. We are aiming to send products out within 3 working days of payment, obviously this is subject to change. Thank you for all who have supported the Chivers brand for the last 40 years, All the best, Matt Chivers Five79

On behalf of NGRM-Online, We would like to thank all whom nominated and voted for us, it truly is an honour to be listed among some amazing websites. Huge Congratulations to @SouthernRegionSteam, you deserve it, as a regular on NGRM we have watched you become a very talented modeller and it’s great to see you have been given the recognition you truly deserve. All the best, Matt, Chief button presser @ NGRM-Online.

Well A quick visit today..... And your answer Ian is, Sort of........ Its sort of smashed a little bit!! More images of the visit....... The above picture is of the bridge I'm modelling for the single line line. The above pictures are the opposite side to those I posted last week in post #12 Swallowed..... the lonely relay box slowly vanishing beneath the undergrowth. This is looking towards longridge the bit my bridge is based on in the background. In the foreground the steel girder bridge over the old Lancaster Canal can be seen. The bridge over the old Lancaster Canal, this led to a wharf which is no longer there, rail served too. Who'd know but rail enthusiasts that Black 5s, 8F's etc used to rule here. There was one chap who saw me take a picture, intrigued in what I was taking a picture came and looked, made a funny face and walked off!! Clearly not knowing what he was looking at!!!!! Matt.

Thanks Jason. Very helpful. Your cobbles look the color I recall them looking in Preston as a kid, with the brown hue your talking about, every thing was so dirty looking, not like now, now it seems sparkling clean. Matt.

Grab holes in the back? Or handles maybe. Looking very good, followed this as I did with Bacup, impressive work as usual. The cobble sheet, who's are they again?? Are they embossed?? Oh and one last question, how did you get the lovely cobble color?!? Thanks in advanced, Matt.

In pink fluorescent

Of lithium, French

With a huge...

I had chance to nip to Maudland street to get some reference pictures of the bridges, unfortunately there was a gang of pot smoking teenagers (trust me the smell gave it away) at the bridge I wanted to get pictures of, so I took pictures of the bridge next to the former Maudland goods yard. I didn't want the teenagers getting paranoid of me taking pictures! I will go back and get pictures of the Maudland station bridge when I get chance. Matt

Hi Ian, The single line to the left is based on Maudland curve, but with a narrower bridge, which leads to off seen industry, this gives the opportunity to run small industrial locos. To the right, the double track width bridge which will only contain one line, is based on Deepdale station area. That side will contain the terrace house backs as Deepdale section. My father would agree with you regarding using finer scale track, but I'm happy using the easier peco option, there are some easy techniques I've seen to improve its looks a little. Matt.

So I managed a little bit of work on the layout today, woodwork! Building up the base of the roads In between the bridges and a start on the retaining walls. Hope the pictures aren't too big!! Matt.

Thanks John, very useful information. I have the book you mention along with the Hindle one, they get read on a regular basis. There are some fantastic pictures of the railways around the Docks on Flickr, unbelievable what was once reality, now nothing exists! Yes the Preston club is still going strong, have a very good show every year, which seems to get better each year. My friend Martin Sutcliffe is a long time member and supporter of the group. All the best Matt

Thanks Mike, the railway was a 6 1/2 mile line, quick history information here https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preston_and_Longridge_Railway Thanks Ian, yes I've come across your thread, I'm glad I'm not the only one inspired by the line. Unfortunatly not much has happened on the layout, been busy tidy the garage up, been doing a lot of mental design and planning. Hope to get some work over the weekend. Oh and I'm in the South rings of Preston. Matt.

Hi Chris. Thanks for the reply, much appreciated. I will take a look at your link over the weekend. Things have developed a little further, cork down, couple more cardboard mockup buildings. I've mainly been giving the garage a major de-clutter, where the layout lives, I've begun hording I believe!! Try and get some pictures. All the best Matt.

Hello fellow modellers. I've been on here for a long time but always been more of a lurker than a poster, reading up on some of the fantastic layouts such as Bacup, which have inspired me to break away from my normal modelling of narrow gauge to have a go at standard gauge. This is not the first time I've dipped my toes into standard gauge, I have had few failed starts with layouts such as a GWR and a 1980s based. The latter being for a former RMweb challenge. I think it was about early 2014, When I began the planning of the new project, no rushing into it like my previous failed attempts! I had come to the conclusion that a railway based around Preston would be best, as I know it so well spending my life in and out of the place. This led me to research the Longridge branch. I found urban sections such as Mauldland and Deepdale the most inspiring with its tracks winding its way through the various buildings. Preston and local areas have a wonderful mix of architecture in stone and brick making an interesting range of modelling potential. The layout will be Inspired by the Longridge branch, where unlike the real branch mine will still have a passenger service as i'm going to date the layout in mid to late 60's. Although this passenger service is mainly morning and afternoon only, majority of the trains will be freight. Basing the layout around Preston I can use shed codes locos from the local area, so it wouldn't be uncommon to get the same locos off the Longridge branch, black fives, WD Austerity, 8Fs etc, even send the metrovic on a local working from Preston station! Here are some links to some of its inspiration... https://www.flickr.com/photos/rpsmithbarney/sets/72157609402305862/ http://townarchive.longridgestation.co.uk/archive/1940/ http://www.railbrit.co.uk/location.php?loc=Preston%20and%20Longridge%20Railway The scenic section of baseboards are built using 2"x1" softwood framing with a 3/8" ply on top. This section is 12' x 30". Having these boards I printed out the designed track plan, and I'm in the process of mocking up buildings to get a 3D visualisation of what it looks like. Enjoy.

The C&W building is an absolutely stunning piece of modelling.

I concur with that. It's a fantastic layout. It has for me, made me look at what I want to build in a model railway, in a big way. Not only has the model got its railway element, but also a fantastic architectural part, which I have realised I have massive interest in modelling. Like Edwin there are many techniques I've pick up from this thread, so many thanks for sharing.

Thanks Geoff, that was very helpful, My Dad and myself have spent a good hour on your " The Chronicles of Penhydd" Blog and have enjoyed reading it, we have both saved the web link in our favorites. Thanks again we look forward to updates on your Blog about the layout. Matt.

Lovely Layout Geoff, very inspiring. What's the overall size?? It looks huge, but I have a feeling it's not as big as it looks. All the best, Matt.

Everytime it said they failed, not recieved any back, I'm sure we shall be flooded with pm's when Andy gets all the problems ironed out. Good news is I have recieved the email with no Problem!! Thankyou very much for the permission. Matt.

Hi, I keep trying to send you a PM, but it keeps failing!! its reguarding this picture.... Would there be any chance I could have permission to use it? to promote the re-released Chivers Kit?? Many thanks Matt Chivers