Phil Radley

[Arun Sharma]

Others who knew Phil Radley better or for longer will be well placed to add to this note.

Phil died suddenly at home on 11 November with his wife Pat next to him. He had been ill for only a short while and I had spoken with him only 2-3 days previously.

Phil was the mould maker and white metal spinner at the Harrow Model Shop [in both of its incarnations] until its closure. He was left the mould tools and set up in business as Radley Models continuing to produce the range of London Transport [mainly underground rail vehicles] that the shop had been famous for. Later these would be cast in resin via CMA in Birmingham though the few white metal bodies that he continued to provide were rightly prized.

Until around 2000 most of Phil's LT output was in 4mm but after seeing a trial 7mm etch that I had made of a 1934 Standard Stock tube car, we agreed that I would design a range of 7mm LT road and rail vehicles that could be reproduced in resin and that would be marketed by Radley Models - a business that he cheerfully ran from his home in Ringwood.

He was an excellent modeller with a fine eye for detail and many of his kits were built for sale as RTR. As really the only producer of such underground models, many of his RTR battery locomotive models were used as plinthed presentation models for LT staff on retirement and that led in turn to occasional access to measure items of LT rolling stock for new designs in 4mm and 7mm. 

Under his overarching interest in matters LT, other kit/model designers joined his loose grouping of like-minded souls who were more interested in designing rather than marketing and new models and kits continued to came out regularly.

 

Phil will be sorely missed. Rest in Peace.

[Tony Teague]

Have only just seen this very sad news.

I had met Phil many times but can't say that I knew hime well, nevertheless he was a gentleman, knowledgable, and always very helpful.

Another small supplier lost to us, although it is to be hoped that the Radley Models range will survive.

My condolences to his wife and family.

Tony