brossard Posted January 17, 2018 Share Posted January 17, 2018 Over the last couple of days, I've been looking the subject product with little success. I did get a set of Springside irons but they are quite hopelessly fragile, plus Lizer, there was a hole in my bucket. The irons that come with the Minerva Pannier are quite good. Can I get a recommendation on these please? Thanks John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simond Posted January 18, 2018 Share Posted January 18, 2018 John, I’ve used commercial fire irons, but generally, I make my own. Thin wire, brass for preference, but copper stripped from mains cable will do, stretch it to straighten & harden it a bit, and some round-jaw & square-jaw pliers. You can fashion all sorts of prickers & pokers. Shovels are a little more challenging, but a few inches of copper shim will give you loads of fun, loads of scrap, and a couple of shovel blades. Easily soldered onto the brass wire handle. Buckets. There was an article in MRJ many moons back on making your own, but it’s a bit difficult. That nice Mr Klein will be pleased to sell you some! Photos later if I get a chance - I need to make some for my Dukedog, so cast an eye on my Porth Dinllaen thread. Best Simon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Holliday Posted January 18, 2018 Share Posted January 18, 2018 S & D Models have some nice 7mm detailing castings that might be of interest. http://www.sanddmodels.co.uk/products_43_accessories.htm Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jintyman Posted January 18, 2018 Share Posted January 18, 2018 Some of the Ixion fire irons are available on that charitable auction site here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ixion-Models-O-gauge-Locomotive-Firemans-Tools/273020973406?hash=item3f9151715e:g:DPMAAOSw7p5aUQJx I have a couple of sets of them and they are very good, and not brittle at all. Jinty 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greengiant Posted January 18, 2018 Share Posted January 18, 2018 LG Miniatures have them in lost wax brass, just search 'Fire irons' in their shop at: http://www.lgminiatures.co.uk/shop/ Martin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Welchester Posted January 18, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 18, 2018 Some of the Ixion fire irons are available on that charitable auction site here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ixion-Models-O-gauge-Locomotive-Firemans-Tools/273020973406?hash=item3f9151715e:g:DPMAAOSw7p5aUQJx I have a couple of sets of them and they are very good, and not brittle at all. Jinty Also available from Antics: https://anticsonline.uk/N425/N1322/N1647_/16325_.html Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffP Posted January 18, 2018 Share Posted January 18, 2018 Don't know if they still do, but DJH used to do two sets, plus lamps, oil cans etc. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brossard Posted January 18, 2018 Author Share Posted January 18, 2018 (edited) Wow, guys thanks soo much for helping me with this. You've given me a lot to mull over. Simon, it did cross my mind to make my own fire irons but the shovel looks to be something of a fiddle. I love the S&D selection of goodies but the fire iron set only has a short firemans shovel. I'll be contacting them for some other things. The LG stuff looks brilliant but the ordering page mentions the dreaded cheques. I'm in Canada so I don't want to mess about. They don't mention PayPal, anyone know if they will do it? Edit: I just heard from another member that LG do take PayPal. The Ixion kit looks like just the ticket and Antics have it too, which makes ordering easy. I emailed them the other day asking about the Springside set but they said they couldn't get them. I found the accessories section at DJH. Their fireirons look good, but the Ixion set is more comprehensive and less than half the price. Off topic but I recall seeing DJH had some very good looking water cranes but now I can't see them. John Edited January 18, 2018 by brossard Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Q663389 Posted January 21, 2018 Share Posted January 21, 2018 Wow, guys thanks soo much for helping me with this. You've given me a lot to mull over. Simon, it did cross my mind to make my own fire irons but the shovel looks to be something of a fiddle. I love the S&D selection of goodies but the fire iron set only has a short firemans shovel. I'll be contacting them for some other things. The LG stuff looks brilliant but the ordering page mentions the dreaded cheques. I'm in Canada so I don't want to mess about. They don't mention PayPal, anyone know if they will do it? Edit: I just heard from another member that LG do take PayPal. The Ixion kit looks like just the ticket and Antics have it too, which makes ordering easy. I emailed them the other day asking about the Springside set but they said they couldn't get them. I found the accessories section at DJH. Their fireirons look good, but the Ixion set is more comprehensive and less than half the price. Off topic but I recall seeing DJH had some very good looking water cranes but now I can't see them. John Hi John, Ex Piercy range, now withdrdrawn. All ex North Eastern . Lovely models. Alan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brossard Posted January 21, 2018 Author Share Posted January 21, 2018 Hi Alan, 3 sets of Ixion irons on order. There is a fire iron set on the DJH site but no clue as to whether it is Piercy or not. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Q663389 Posted January 21, 2018 Share Posted January 21, 2018 Hi Alan, 3 sets of Ixion irons on order. There is a fire iron set on the DJH site but no clue as to whether it is Piercy or not. John Hi John, I am not sure of the origins of the fire iron sets. I have all of the Piercy products and many of the DJH one's. If I recall correctly, all of the Piercy products included buckets, oil cans and fire irons. They are cast brass as are the lamps supplied by DJH. My favourite manufacturers. Regards Alan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brossard Posted January 21, 2018 Author Share Posted January 21, 2018 (edited) I agree about lost wax brass, a very good material but dear compared to plastic. Plastic works well and these things only have to sit on top of the loco tank. The Springside set I started with is whitemetal and way too fragile - I broke several pieces during handling. John Edited January 21, 2018 by brossard Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simond Posted January 29, 2018 Share Posted January 29, 2018 Found a photo. Work in progress (vide clip holding arm on whilst araldite sets!), but you get the idea. The tattier ones can go in the fireman’s hands, in the cab,where you can only glimpse them. The really good ones go on top of the tender! Best Simon 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brossard Posted January 29, 2018 Author Share Posted January 29, 2018 Nice work Simon. I got my three packs of Ixion irons, now I have more than I know what to do with. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Osgood Posted January 30, 2018 Share Posted January 30, 2018 I thought man traps were banned, Simon! My only concern is with the thickness of the Ixion irons - they look to be a scale 2 1/2" dia, wouldn't that be around twice scale size? Tony Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jintyman Posted January 30, 2018 Share Posted January 30, 2018 I've used the Ixion fire irons on pretty much all the locos I've done recently, including this Pannier 9648 for Talyllyn, which is still awaiting a touch of finishing. I think they look ok, and are excellent value for money@ around £5 a pack!!! Jinty 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simond Posted January 30, 2018 Share Posted January 30, 2018 I thought man traps were banned, Simon! My only concern is with the thickness of the Ixion irons - they look to be a scale 2 1/2" dia, wouldn't that be around twice scale size? Tony I don't know what a real one was, but I'd guess not more than 40mm (~1.5"), so 1mm or probably better, 0.8mm wire would be appropriate for DIY. As David says, the Ixion ones look fine. You get a lot of pokers and prickers for £5 worth of wire!!!! best Simon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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