AER_2263 Posted May 8, 2015 Share Posted May 8, 2015 Hello, I'm looking at trying out in 7mm standard gauge. Coming primarily from a 4mm and 7mm narrow gauge background I am not sure who the major kit suppliers in 7mm are. In 4mm we have the superb High Level range, Bradwell, Brassmasters, Finney etc etc. Can any members recommend some kits? Don't worry about complexity or a specific prototype, I'm not looking at building a 9F though! Something small, i.e. tank engine/shunter types, but most importantly - good quality - just to see how I get on with 7mm. So any thoughts from kit builders out there... Thanks in advance, Alastair Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Gerbil-Fritters Posted May 8, 2015 Share Posted May 8, 2015 Every time I get an urge to explore 7mm I keep arriving at the Tower Models Andrew Barclay kit. Advertised as a starter kit, got all the bits, seems a straightforward build. Connoisseur Models come highly recommended. There are other ranges out there from the frankly 'scratchbuilding aids' to pretty decent, Join GOG? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Accurascale Fran Posted May 8, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 8, 2015 I'd give connoisseur kits a go, great range of etched kits for beginners of small to medium engines and wagons http://www.jimmcgeown.com/ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold ROSSPOP Posted May 8, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 8, 2015 High Alastair Like you I have moved up from many years in 4mm... I would recommend.. Modern Outline Kits (MOK) best for instructions, quality of parts and ease of construction. Just Like The Real Thing. Scorpio Dave Andrews Connoisseur As some of the best kit manufacturers that I have built Regards john Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Nth Degree Posted May 8, 2015 Share Posted May 8, 2015 Which railway company or era do you model? There are many 7mm suppliers who specialise in a certain company or era, so that would help. I'll take a stab in the dark from the 4mm suppliers you've mentioned, you're GWR steam? In that case, Connoisseur don't have any GWR locos. JLTRT, Scorpio, Finney (although retired) and a few other suppliers have a good range of GWR. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Focalplane Posted May 8, 2015 Share Posted May 8, 2015 I too am considering the move up to O gauge so this thread is very useful. My reason for moving up is primarily one to do with my age and losing the ability to work with very small parts. Lamp brackets in 4mm are simply too small for my fingers and my eyesight. Unfortunately I have no room for a significant sized layout so I may have to think about moving house as well! As I spend a lot if time in southern France, O gauge has an additional attraction - going outdoors. That's a bit difficult in a second floor apartment though. As it is, however, I can spend a lot of time on my loggia balcony with a portable workbench. Great light and warm sun for 6 months of the year. The Connoisieur 4F looks like it could be a good project, but first I would have to sell my Brassmasters 4F kit, as yet untouched. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatB Posted May 8, 2015 Share Posted May 8, 2015 Another vote here for Connoisseur kits. If a bozo like me can successfully complete one they must be good. EverytEven if you don't go for one of Jim's offerings, his downloadable instruction manuals are a fantastic resource. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hartleymartin Posted May 8, 2015 Share Posted May 8, 2015 Tower Models Barclay and 02 beginner's kits are excellent. Of course, for a similar outlay to a kit you can get a couple of good RTR models too such as the Hudswell Clarke and Fowler diesel. There is also the Dapol Terrier due out soon and a Peckett E class from Minerva at the end of the year. Agenoria make a number of kits and their Hunslet Jazzer and a small hudswell clarke sode tank are described as their easiest kits. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimF51 Posted May 9, 2015 Share Posted May 9, 2015 Alastair, After months of reading info on the different UK scale/gauge options, I have settled on O, even though it is costlier, especially living in the US. My interest is pre-grouping, specifically the SER & SECR, which works well for me, as rolling stock and locos were smaller, giving me more options for using the space I have. The biggest plus is that one small manufacturer makes pretty much all the rolling stock I will need, locos, coaches and wagons. SERKits I'm sure there are other mfrs. out there, that cater to other specific railways, so it might help if you finalize which one holds your interest. Jim F Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AER_2263 Posted May 9, 2015 Author Share Posted May 9, 2015 Thanks to all for the replies, very useful. I'm off to look at the MOK, Agenoria and Connoisseur ranges to see what might be suitable... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Gerbil-Fritters Posted May 9, 2015 Share Posted May 9, 2015 Anyone comment on Mercian? SG6, their big Bagnall 0-6-0ST is the kind of chunky industrial I'd take a crack at if I had the testicular fortitude.... that and Agenoria's Bagnall Ironstone 0-6-0ST Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Focalplane Posted May 9, 2015 Share Posted May 9, 2015 Another vote here for Connoisseur kits. If a bozo like me can successfully complete one they must be good. Even if you don't go for one of Jim's offerings, his downloadable instruction manuals are a fantastic resource. I was simply going to press the I Agree button, but that might be taken as a reference to the second sentence! I have been busy downloading Jim's excellent manuals and instructions and storing them as PDFs on my iPad - perfect for browsing when traveling, etc. If only other manufacturers would do the same. Brassmasters and Comet do in 4mm while DJH seem to think it unimportant until you part with your money! The investment in publishing manuals and so on on a website must be well worth while in terms of potential sales. And I like Jim's candid statements on his own products - not everyone in the business is like that. Photos of his business set up are a nice touch. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Posted May 9, 2015 Share Posted May 9, 2015 Thanks to all for the replies, very useful. I'm off to look at the MOK, Agenoria and Connoisseur ranges to see what might be suitable... With the Agenoria kits the earlier designed Pete Stamper kits are considered better than the later ones. Any of the industrials before the Jinty (IIRC AG42) are recommended. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vicar47 Posted May 9, 2015 Share Posted May 9, 2015 I'm building the Connoisseur J68. It's my first brass kitfor 30years and my first 7mm loco ever. It's going fine, so another recomendation for Connoisseur. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hayfield Posted May 9, 2015 Share Posted May 9, 2015 I am opting for a Branchlines Beattie well tank. Whitemetal so should be quite easy to build Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jintyman Posted May 9, 2015 Share Posted May 9, 2015 Well I've been dabbling in OO for a few years after a return to railway modelling. I purchased a lot of different scales/gauges of stuff 5 years ago, including one of Jim McGowan's lovely Jinties. What a simple but lovely kit to build, I'd certainly recommend his kits. Now I'm moving into 7mm, I've also been looking at others, and the others that look good to me are the 48xx and 64xx from MOK and quite a few from JLTRT. Jinty ;-) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium ColinK Posted May 9, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 9, 2015 I'm currently building a Tower Models class 02 diesel shunter kit. It's my first O gauge model and my first attempt at building a loco and chassis. The kit is complete with motor, wheels and gears and I'm finding it an excellent introduction to O gauge and loco building. I had the chassis running in less than an hour. Seems like a good choice. Even so, I did have to ask others for advice eg on getting axles to turn freely and how to get gearwheel to fit. I'll start a loco building challenge thread in due course. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
a10driver Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 hi I have built 0 gauge kits from different makers have just finished a david Andrews BLACK 5 you carnt go wrong with a CONNOISSEUR kit as far as AGENORIA KITS go the new ones are not a patch on the old ones cheers a10 driver Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.