Unknown Etched Brass J39 Kit

[AJCT]

I'm hoping the collective expertise around here can help me identify the origin of an etched brass kit in 4mm scale, for an LNER J39 0-6-0, which I've acquired from the estate of a fellow modeller.  I say "4mm scale" as that's what these etches are, but they have 2 sets of Register Marks which I understand would enable the artwork to be etched to either 0 Gauge 1:43.5 or 00 Gauge 1:76.2.  Apart from these, there are no markings at all to identify the origin of the etches.

The "Loco" etch is 7.8" x 6.5" and the "Tender" etch (which is for the 4200 gallon version) is 9.8" x 6.6".  They're both flat etches which I'd have thought would rule them out as being from either the Pro-Scale or Anchoridge boxed kits.

As you can see there's a part missing from the "Loco" etch: there's no boiler (though I'd have said the gap was too small for an unrolled one) or other castings like chimney, dome or smokebox door.

Any help appreciated !

 

Alasdair

[Blue Max]

Could it be the Micro Metalsmiths (of Kirbymoorside) kit, I seem to recall they had a cast firebox, boiler, smokebox. They made a really nice high precision reduction gearbox attached to a quality coreless motor long before these type of motors became popular, with drive shaft to a final drive gearbox.

Quite a few of these kits and drivetrain components ended up at what must have been the UK's smallest by square footage model railway retailer ever - Bob Denny's at Sawley Junction, 3 people in the shop and you couldn't move - sadly now long gone.

I bought up all of the motors and drive trains from the proprietor and still have a few sets left, I don't think I will ever get such a bargain of such high quality components again.

 

 

[AJCT]

Thanks for that... any chance you could post a pic of the J39 motor / drive train in case one turns up among my late friend's effects ?

Does anyone have an assembled example of the J39 kit, of which they could post a pic?

 

Alasdair

Edited November 25, 2021 by AJCT
Spelling

[Daddyman]

Doesn't look as fine as I remember the Kirkbymoorside one, but I may be wrong. I think Porcy Main managed to get one built, and has shown it on here. I daresay he'll be along shortly... 

[Paul Cram]

As requested

[AJCT]

2 hours ago, Paul Cram said:

As requested

 

Many thanks for that, Paul: I think you've identified as MD1s a couple of motor/gearbox units I bought several years ago from another fellow-modeller's collection - long before the recent  acquisition of the J39 etches.

I'm assuming one way of using the MD1 is to mount it in the tender and drive the loco via a cardan shaft and UJs - possibly a bit beyond my skill set at the moment...!

Anyway, if the opportunity arises for another look though my recently-departed friend's collection I'll have a better idea of what I'm looking for in terms of drive-train components.

 

Cheers -

 

Alasdair