M51625

class 24: Steve Beattie used to produce one of these initally a resin model, but more recently a brass kit, the kits/artwork/masters were sold to a company called highlander, and it looked promising for a short time but for whatever reason the kits have never reappeared.. does anyone know what went wrong? Class 31; there was a kit by David Parkin marketed under the modern motive power (MMP) brand, a very detailed kit with resin cast cabs, not for beginners very detailed and accurate, again this is out of production so 2nd hand ones are the only way. I managed to get one of these from a well known auction site a couple of years ago.

does anyone have a recommendation for a halfords match to coach roof grey for Maroon liveried stock?

try Roxey Mouldings, they have a selection of twin start worm gears Do you know the manufacturer of the one you have?

Kingsbridge gets my vote, maybe a little licence used, or even add the extension that never got built and you have a roundy-roundy as well. Out of curiosity has anyone drawn Kingsbridge in 7mm on templot or similar to see how much space is actually needed for a good representation?

each to their own, i find these kits, excellent, good quality etches, with a good fit, very nice castings and usually more than you need just in case, and very well laid out instructions. i'm not keen on wasted effort building parts you can't see, i don't see the point, but that is my preference, brake blocks, linkage etc, you can always add to suit beyond that, i suppose a more detailed kit would cost more, be more complex and put people off.. I can thoroughly recommend the queen mary brake van form this supplier, a very pleasant build.

condolences to the Ennis family, thoughts with you. I wish scorpio/seven all the best in these troubled times, good news that you are continuing, i will continue to build your kits..

hi, i'm a little further on than yourself, with a standard 9f, i agree those brackets are complex, but i thought they were well designed, took a couple of evenings to get them done, but very pleased with them, i think the instructions could have been a little clearer. Good luck, especially when it comes to the firebox, watch out for the wrapper sides, they are over length, and think about your motor, while its a big firebox, a lot of internal structure restricts what will fit.

As above, do you want a jinty, out of a box, or do you want to build a jinty from almost a flatpack? my personal interest is building kits, and enjoying the 100s of hours it takes to get a finished item, smaller kits take less, but its very rewarding when finished. I started with a conniossuer BR standard brake van back in 1997, and last year built a J39 from the same supplier, JIm certainly is very helpful, approachable and the majority of his instructions are available to download on his website, he has nothing to hide, i find his castings to be excellent quality, etches are well laid out and the instructions are great, i have not hestitation to recommend his range to you, of course you can upgrade parts but thats personal preference, for example i don't like his screw couplings so i fit others.. No connection with this suppier, just a regular customer, another brake van and a 4F on order..

Yes... Last year, 2 vehicles of a very similar weight, and length, cost over £2500 (+VAT) each to move from a railway based in the south to a Railway based in the Midlands..

slowly but surely, this was parked during the summer while i concentrated on a DMU project, back on with this now, transfers have arrived too.

finally, ready for paint, test run, loaded with lead, transfers ordered...

So i've decided that my next big build will be a 9F, i believe the options are: a, MOK, recently new to the market, expensive (in excess of £600) and a traditional etched kit with no whitemetal castings b, DJH, been around for a while, expensive (in excess of £600) a huge chunk of cast boiler and firebox and the rest to DJH standards, i have built a V2 and A4 from this supplier so know what to expect c, Scorpio/seven (are they still trading??) cost thought to be in line with most other large loco kits circa £350, but can't find a recent price list and the trader doesn't have an online presence, a newish kit of traditional etched brass with whitemetal and brass castings d, acme, no longer available, but seems the rights to the kit are for sale... e, Ragstone (formerly MMP) not available as a kit but lots of replacement castings available for any of the above as required f, anymore...? I've excluded RTR, i'm a kit builder, that is where my interest lies, i would be interested in opinions, thoughts and recommendations (good and bad) Thanks

steady if not rapid progress, everything has arrived for my next big project which awaits completing this. Chassis back together, motor fitted, rods currently being painted all will go back together when dry, just pickups needed. Work has started on the cab, tricky bit coming up involving the cab side windows, seems a lot of pieces, so need to study some detail shots.

on with the build. Forming the bonnet, straight forward enough, a little flimsy in places due to the different thickness but unavoidable, i decided to build a frame internally for strength and to add a little weight so box structure made from 4x2 (thats 4mm x 2mm brass) inside, still plenty of room for the motor and probably a little extra lead weight in due course. Picture shows progress and work has halted due to the soldering iron bit falling apart, unlikely to get a replacement before going away at the end of the week, so a deep clean and workbench tidy and a resumption at the end of the month.

Hmmm 27mm measured....

chassis buffer beam - buffer beam measures 155.5mm, running plate is 158mm, overhang a little excessive looking at photos, therefore its been trimmed, i now have approx 0.5mm overhang and i'm ok with that. ride height, check against quite a bit of my stock (various manufactures) but it does seem the buffer centre line is high, not going to do anything about it, on with the bonnet.

Ok, so i'm happy with the rods, and the cranks are all fitted and quartered, this is the first 8 coupled engine i've built and quite pleased with it, rolls nicely with no binding or tight spots. Crank pins to trim and tidy up, and then onto the body. Couple of minor issues, ride height seems a little high, and the running plate over hangs the buffer beams, so might need trimming down.

yep thats also getting the same treatment, hoping to have a rolling chassis this coming week. Holding off starting the body until the chassis is finished

Whilst gearing up for a bigger project, i thought i would bump this one up the build queue.. All seems to be going according to plan, etches all fit nicely.. Wheels and rods are the next step, i don't like the slaters crankpins as supplied so will be tapping then 10BA.

help.. As above, just finishing a slaters kit, painted in carmine livery, can anyone point me in the direction of the correct transfers, also if anyone knows a good reference photo that would be good. If anyone has some leftover part transfer sheets i'd be happy to come to some arrangements.. Thanks in anticipation.

+1, interested in a set of parts...

usually work in 12" to the foot and specifically derby built DMUs... This however will be n gauge, slowly been gathering BR(W) stock for a number of years and now have a little room in the study for a 'project'..

Can anyone point me in the direction of a track plan circa 1950s for Kingsbridge station? Might be tempted to have a go at this one, subject to space... Thanks

Sorry to see this place go. Used to be really busy, i worked here on saturdays while at university back in the late 90s, buses repainted in local liveries was a popular item, shifted loads of them.. Sad times, i wish Malcolm a happy retirement!

Quick update on progress, project was parked for 5 months while i focused something a little bigger, but back on with it now. Bogie under the cab all assembled, brake gear was tricky, castings were very poor so a lot of cleaning up needed, and the holes in the etched parts were over-sized. Steps all assembled and have been made to swing as the bogies need them to move to permit the loco to go around curves.. Sanding pipes not in the kit so MMP parts to the rescue. Current work sees the brake gear being fitted to the front bogie.