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Since I have rekindled my interest in model railways I have seen several of the Mailcoach range advertised on the well know auction site.

In my earlier years these seemed to pass me by.

 

Has anyone a full list of their previous range please.

I have seen another website showing several kits but there only seems to be a few of the kits that have surfaced recently.

Of note I saw a 66 foot LNER sleeper coach advertised in the last few days.

Obviously these are all rare now but seems no history is available.

Cannot remember ever seeing a trade stand at a show offering these models years ago.

 

thanks

Peter

Edited by Peter Eaton
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I might have a list somewhere.

 

They were made by Ian Kirk (for someone else). Most of the range consisted of steel body stock rather than the teak coaches in the main range and a few vans.

 

There was three full sets of coaches.

 

Silver Jubilee

Coronation

East Anglian (with or without a resin bodied B17 Streamlined 4-6-0)

 

 

Don't buy any from Cooper Craft.

 

 

Jason

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Not a full list just what I had to hand.

 

It seems as though some of the Ian Kirk kits have been branded as Mailcoach as well. Those weren't part of the original Mailcoach range

 

Coronation set

 

MC10  D228  Brake Third/Kitchen Third

MC11  D229  First/First

MC12  D230  Kitchen/Third

MC13  D231  Third/Brake Third

MC14  D232  Observation Car

 

MC15  D?    Thompson Corridor Composite

MC19  D?    Thompson Full Brake

 

Tourist Stock

 

MC16           Articulated Twin Open Third

MC17           Buffet Car

MC18           Brake Third Open

 

MC08      GWR K22 Full Brake

MC05      GWR P16 Monster Van

 

 

 

 

Jason

Edited by Steamport Southport
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Thanks.

 

If visiting future exhibitions do any members run these set on layouts ?

Silver Jubilee

Coronation

East Anglian

 

cannot recall seeing these at past shows visited. Visited a good few in Notts / Derby area in past 40 years !

Peter

 

Did not know Philip Green & Mike Ashley are modellers of railways?

Did see Mike Ashley had a good boozing session just down the road in Alfreton a while back!  & not invited.

 

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9 minutes ago, Tim Dubya said:

Andrew at WM Collectables has quite a few of Kirk and Mailcoach kits.  

 

http://www.wmcollectables.co.uk/index.php?pg=dc

 

I've bought a couple of kits from him recently and can only say what  excellent service he provides.

 

 

Prices are high though. Very much at the top end of what they go for on eBay.

 

If you are prepared to pay those sort of prices I would be looking to see if there was something a bit better such as an etched kit. I think most of the carriages are available elsewhere. However they are easy to build which is the main attraction I suppose.

 

If you look around you'll find most of them at exhibitions for about £20 to £25 maximum. When they were available the full Coronation set was only £110 for a 9 coach train with the Beaver Car. That was only about ten years ago when the problems with Cooper Craft started.

 

You just have to be patient as they do turn up.

 

 

 

Jason

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8 hours ago, Peter Eaton said:

Thanks.

 

If visiting future exhibitions do any members run these set on layouts ?

Silver Jubilee

Coronation

East Anglian

 

cannot recall seeing these at past shows visited. Visited a good few in Notts / Derby area in past 40 years !

Peter

 

Did not know Philip Green & Mike Ashley are modellers of railways?

Did see Mike Ashley had a good boozing session just down the road in Alfreton a while back!  & not invited.

 

Two of the three can be seen on Grantham: https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/58826-grantham-the-streamliner-years/&do=findComment&comment=1321315.

 

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9 hours ago, Steamport Southport said:

 

Prices are high though. Very much at the top end of what they go for on eBay.

 

If you are prepared to pay those sort of prices I would be looking to see if there was something a bit better such as an etched kit. I think most of the carriages are available elsewhere. However they are easy to build which is the main attraction I suppose.

 

If you look around you'll find most of them at exhibitions for about £20 to £25 maximum. When they were available the full Coronation set was only £110 for a 9 coach train with the Beaver Car. That was only about ten years ago when the problems with Cooper Craft started.

 

You just have to be patient as they do turn up.

 

 

 

Jason

Exactly, he's certainly priced to the top of the market.

 

I have a Kirk Dining Triplet in my cupboard, from when they were last produced a few years ago. Cost of £34 bought from H&A of Wellingborough.

 

As you say, at these prices it would be better to go for a quality etched brass kit, higher quality outcome too.

 

John.

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Gentlemen.

Thanks again.

The 182 pages of ''Grantham'' looks like my next big read !

 

So much interesting inspirational content on here.

One day hopefully can contribute to as well with a build....

 

Grantham, miss my 70s visits to see the mighty Deltic's wiz  through.

Even now think the trip over from Nottingham sitting behind the driver in the class 114 DMU with fond memories.

 

assume the Grantham layout will still be soon actively on the layout circuit.

 

Peter

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On 12/07/2020 at 22:37, John Tomlinson said:

Exactly, he's certainly priced to the top of the market.

 

I understand that Andrew prices according to current market value, from studying the form ;)

My two purchases were bargains as far as I'm concerned, a Phoenix Maunsell Pull-Push set and a Branchlines SECR 4 wheeler Birdcage PBV.  £35 and £27:50 respectively, the SECR Van still sealed, the PP set opened to add Comet underframe detailing kits!

 

Screenshot_20200714-142708.png

 

 

Edited by Tim Dubya
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