Wright writes.....

[Northmoor]

9 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

Very 'odd' John,

 

Though I have no knowledge of the Genesis kits. 

 

With the death of the proprietor, it looks like that's the end of the range; though I've been told there's a 'shed-full' of stuff to go through. How big a shed, I have no idea; but we'll see.

 

I'll report accordingly when I've been to see what's there.

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

I think some of the kits in the Genesis range may now be available as RTR which probably kills off any future re-release, but I sincerely hope someone (suitable) is able to acquire any tooling from the estate.  

[Tony Wright]

Now in service, the V2 and the A4 have been hard at work.........

 

 

 

 

 

13 bogies and a horse box.

 

 

 

And, on the 'Flying Scotsman', both trains a mixture of modified RTR and metal kit-builds; heavy! 

 

This is very different from the last time I saw 60010 in the flesh (I didn't attend The Great Gathering); that was late-on at Darlington, minus her chimney! 

 

The Pro-Scale A4 makes an interesting comparison with..........

 

 

One of my South Easter Finecast A4s, also painted by Ian Rathbone.

 

In basic body-form the Pro-Scale A4 is superior to the SEF one, but I think the RTR Hornby body is the most-accurate (other than, perhaps, the Finney one). However, RTR A4s are of no use to me because they just won't pull Bytham's heavier trains (as Gilbert Barnatt witnessed last week when one just polished the rails on 13 kit-builds!). OK, this lightweight eight car 'Tees-Tyne Pullman' is well within a Hornby A4's ability, but this hardly typical of LB's rakes. 

 

Anyway, as has been shown on this thread by many, making something for oneself is much more personal. 

 

Thank you, Ian, for such wonderful painting.

 

 

Edited September 5, 2023 by Tony Wright
to add something

[Tony Teague]

I have a number of (unmade or part made) Genesis kits for Warwells and Warflats; I think at the time they were the only game in town for these but they have since appeared RTR as others have observed.

Being in pewter they have good weight, hwever, I have never checked the dimensions and so can't say whether these are good models or not - but I'll try to fish them out later and investigate!

Tony

[Tony Wright]

1 hour ago, Tony Teague said:

I have a number of (unmade or part made) Genesis kits for Warwells and Warflats; I think at the time they were the only game in town for these but they have since appeared RTR as others have observed.

Being in pewter they have good weight, hwever, I have never checked the dimensions and so can't say whether these are good models or not - but I'll try to fish them out later and investigate!

Tony

Thanks Tony,

 

I must admit to being entirely ignorant of Genesis kits - I'll be in for a learning experience.

 

Though it's impossible for me to predict what I might find, I imagine the actual one-man business has ceased with the proprietor's death. So, it could be loads of un-built kits (I know he had some finished models his widow wishes to sell); we'll see. As for any tools/moulds/etches????

 

As I say, I'll report accordingly.

 

Kind regards,

 

Tony. 

[Richard_A]

If there are any of the warwell and warflat kits left, could you keep me in mind for them Tony, please? 

[Tony Teague]

I managed to locate two of what I think were three Warwells which it seems I had built but they were never really finished - no decals, and I had a lot of trouble with the white metal bogies which seemed too wide to fit the axles, so the bogie sides were temporarily squeezed in so as to hold the wheels in place.

 

 

I think I probably put them in the "can't be bothered" pile - so they were put in a drawer and have not emerged since!

 

 

The bodies look a bit wide to me, although they do match the width of the cast resin tanks that are sat on them.

 

 

I also located the Warflat kits which are unmade and sitting in my drawer full of roundtuit kits; I just need to check the era for the originals as I have a feeling these may be too late for my 1938 - 48 layout - in which case I might make them available to @rka for a donation to Tony's CRUK fund:

 

 

I will now look for some research materials and check dates as well as dimensions.

 

Tony

[melmoth]

I seem to remember that Genesis produced some detailing parts for the Triang Blue Pullman (replacement ends for the driving units) and a kit for a diesel brake tender.

[sjp23480]

12 minutes ago, melmoth said:

diesel brake tender.

Also available RTR from Dapol/Model Rail I think?

[Richard_A]

1 hour ago, Tony Teague said:

I managed to locate two of what I think were three Warwells which it seems I had built but they were never really finished - no decals, and I had a lot of trouble with the white metal bogies which seemed too wide to fit the axles, so the bogie sides were temporarily squeezed in so as to hold the wheels in place.

 

 

I think I probably put them in the "can't be bothered" pile - so they were put in a drawer and have not emerged since!

 

 

The bodies look a bit wide to me, although they do match the width of the cast resin tanks that are sat on them.

 

 

I also located the Warflat kits which are unmade and sitting in my drawer full of roundtuit kits; I just need to check the era for the originals as I have a feeling these may be too late for my 1938 - 48 layout - in which case I might make them available to @rka for a donation to Tony's CRUK fund:

 

 

I will now look for some research materials and check dates as well as dimensions.

 

Tony

I might take you up on the offer. 

[grahame]

I made some N/2mm  Warwells and Warflats from NGS kits a while back. They were fairly straightforward and I'm pleased with the results:

 

 

 

 

[Tony Wright]

1 hour ago, rka said:

If there are any of the warwell and warflat kits left, could you keep me in mind for them Tony, please? 

Will do.

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

[Barry Ten]

1 hour ago, melmoth said:

I seem to remember that Genesis produced some detailing parts for the Triang Blue Pullman (replacement ends for the driving units)

 

I used Chris Leigh castings for the bogies, and Genesis ones for the ends (they were a tiny bit crisper than Chris's castings) but I think Genesis offered the bogies as well. I suspect they all had their origin in the same mouldings.

Edited September 6, 2023 by Barry Ten

[St Enodoc]

3 hours ago, Tony Teague said:

I have a number of (unmade or part made) Genesis kits for Warwells and Warflats; I think at the time they were the only game in town for these but they have since appeared RTR as others have observed.

Being in pewter they have good weight, hwever, I have never checked the dimensions and so can't say whether these are good models or not - but I'll try to fish them out later and investigate!

Tony

I have an unbuilt BR Girder WG pair but to be frank I've no idea where it is at the moment. If it turns up, I'll check it out.

[Ken.W]

On 10/02/2023 at 14:13, Bucoops said:

Good timing with coming back to 3D printing. FK3D have designed a GER 8ft Bogie and LNER 1st/3rd corridor seats -

 

 

 

 

 

For someone who was VERY sceptical about 3D printed parts I seem to have been thoroughly converted...

 

I just came across this post yesterday when googling for fk3d prints.

 

A while ago I'd bought a set of buffet car tubular steel chairs from him, which are really good and was looking to order more. This is them in a coach I'm currently working on...

 

 

The backing plates the seats came on also made good table tops for the undersized looking Southern Pride tables.

 

Besides the seats he also now has a number of useful LNER Coach parts, including the Stills boiler and cash register for the counter, and the peculiar shaped kitchen roof vents which I've not previously found available anywhere. Also three styles of battery boxes and dynamos. 

 

The coach is the 1934 conversion of a D.27 RTO into a buffet as D.185, which l came across on the Steve Banks website.

Isinglass D27 kit, besides the interior the conversion consists of paneling in 3½ windows

[Tony Wright]

Just a little note: I've just managed to add some more ballast into a Hornby Grange (given that its haulage powers were very limited). There was precious little spare space, but 'Liquid Gravity' certainly helped. 

 

My note, though, is in the form of a question. Why are so many RTR locomotives so difficult to get apart? The body/chassis fit on this Grange was very tight, and ominous cracking noises filled me with dread, though no harm was done. 

 

Any loco I make has its body secured to its frames by two 8BA CH screws, one fore, one aft; underneath the smokebox saddle and cab respectively. The fixing 8BA nuts in the body are very securely soldered in place. Once undone, the body just lifts off - literally. There is no friction between the units. Is this (very simple) methodology beyond model products made in China?

 

As for getting modern diesel-/electric-outline models apart, well..........

[Barry Ten]

1 hour ago, Tony Wright said:

Just a little note: I've just managed to add some more ballast into a Hornby Grange (given that its haulage powers were very limited). There was precious little spare space, but 'Liquid Gravity' certainly helped. 

 

My note, though, is in the form of a question. Why are so many RTR locomotives so difficult to get apart? The body/chassis fit on this Grange was very tight, and ominous cracking noises filled me with dread, though no harm was done. 

 

 

I think the Grange, Arthur and Schools are among the worst offenders for this - perhaps it was a phase Hornby were going through with over-tight body fittings? You certainly need a stiff drink to get into them, and then another once you've got them back together.

[Dunsignalling]

32 minutes ago, Barry Ten said:

 

I think the Grange, Arthur and Schools are among the worst offenders for this - perhaps it was a phase Hornby were going through with over-tight body fittings? You certainly need a stiff drink to get into them, and then another once you've got them back together.

They always seem far harder to reassemble than they did to dismantle.

 

It's almost as if the chassis relaxes like a Victorian lady liberated from her tight corset! 😄

Edited September 6, 2023 by Dunsignalling

[cctransuk]

3 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

Just a little note: I've just managed to add some more ballast into a Hornby Grange (given that its haulage powers were very limited). There was precious little spare space, but 'Liquid Gravity' certainly helped. 

 

My note, though, is in the form of a question. Why are so many RTR locomotives so difficult to get apart? The body/chassis fit on this Grange was very tight, and ominous cracking noises filled me with dread, though no harm was done. 

 

Any loco I make has its body secured to its frames by two 8BA CH screws, one fore, one aft; underneath the smokebox saddle and cab respectively. The fixing 8BA nuts in the body are very securely soldered in place. Once undone, the body just lifts off - literally. There is no friction between the units. Is this (very simple) methodology beyond model products made in China?

 

As for getting modern diesel-/electric-outline models apart, well..........

 

Tony,

 

In my experience, the time when RTR loco bodies became difficult / impossible to remove, and adhesive weight was compromised, coincided with the introduction of sound-equipped models.

 

What will happen when smoke generation becomes more widespread I dread to think!

 

CJI.

[Steamport Southport]

7 hours ago, sjp23480 said:

Also available RTR from Dapol/Model Rail I think?

 

Hornby Magazine.

 

Genesis did different variants though. I think there was four in the range including the angled type and ones of different lengths and bogies. I have a feeling they were resin bodies with pewter bogies.

 

Also the very useful WD Ramp wagons. Surprised no one has made those RTR when both Oxford and Hattons made the Warwells. 

 

There was also some snowploughs. Ex SR Schools tender and the type usually fitted to LMS 4Fs.

 

 

Jason

[melmoth]

59 minutes ago, cctransuk said:

 

Tony,

 

In my experience, the time when RTR loco bodies became difficult / impossible to remove, and adhesive weight was compromised, coincided with the introduction of sound-equipped models.

 

What will happen when smoke generation becomes more widespread I dread to think!

 

CJI.

 

Possibly, but the examples that @Barry Ten supplies were all, I think, well before that.

[Tony Wright]

Having painted my most-recently-built V2 myself, I thought (in the spirit of self-reliance) I'll weather it myself............

 

 

My method is apparent in this studio shot (which takes absolutely no prisoners!). I use a mixture of matt enamels (black/leather/tank grey) applied with a sable (Winsor & Newton's No. 4), employing dry-brushing and thinners. The dodge (if it is a dodge) is to apply the weathering as if affected by gravity. Occasionally random strokes work very well (or, I hope so). 

 

Studio lighting does show up the slightest blemish, but under the LED layout lighting, the effects look more natural..........

 

As the loco bowls through Little Bytham on a typical working. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Always use prototype pictures (preferably colour) for weathering guidance. I found a very good one on page 30 of Working Steam Gresley V2s, by Gavin Morrison, Ian Allan, 2002. Though the loco is dirty, the front numberplate is bright (most of my model numberplates are from Ian Wilson's Pacific range, which give both styles of '6s' and '9s').

 

Little Bytham's period depicted is on the cusp of the the V2s being painted BR lined green. Though most of the V2s I have are in green, a few remain in black. Including..........

 

 

This Nu-Cast example, which I painted and Geoff Haynes weathered.

 

 

And this ex-Gamston Crownline one, built/painted/weathered by John Houlden.

 

I've built a couple of Crownline V2s, but disliked the resin boiler and having to alter the proportions of the cab (I think the windows are the wrong proportions). 

 

 

 

On this example, I used a Nu-Cast boiler (when one could buy such things from Autocom) and made new cabsides. 

 

Ian Rathbone painted it.

 

 

I made this example by using Graeme King's excellent resin-moulded body, Comet frames and a Bachmann tender.

 

I painted/weathered this one using my methods described. 

 

Five BR black V2s? Probably enough; enough to complement the dozen or more painted BR green.

 

All Bytham's V2s are built from kits in one form or another (including moulded-resin and 3D-printed bodies), mainly running on Comet's excellent frames. 

 

I don't own any RTR ones. 

 

 

Edited September 6, 2023 by Tony Wright
to add something

[Clive Mortimore]

6 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

As for getting modern diesel-/electric-outline models apart, well..........

Hello Tony

 

Mrs M says you can borrow her hammer.

 

 

As primary a diesel modeller I agree the manufacturers seem to have designed them to baffle the most diehard of us. I undo the four screws in the ends of the  model , no it is still in one piece. Ah there are four more just inside of the apertures for the drive units. To get at them the screw driver has to pass through the corner of the bogie. On taking out the third one I then spend half an hour on my hands and knees looking for it. Fourth one out and a little push and shoving and I am in a position to disable the lights. As a green era modeller I don't need lighting the girls of 93 Serachlight Regiment Royal Artillery would be proud of. Anyhow back to the model locomotive, after I have put it on the wrong way round I find the screws which at first sight seem the same all round are not as the end ones don't do up once I have fiddled around getting them in the holes through the bogie. It is at his point where Mrs M's hammer seems a good choice of weapon.

Edited September 6, 2023 by Clive Mortimore

[Willie Whizz]

Just to clarify then, when did V2s start to appear in lined Green, please, and by what point were the black ones largely gone?  Did the change coincide with the change from ‘early’ to ‘late’ crest or was that a separate issue?  Thanks. 

[john new]

2 hours ago, Clive Mortimore said:

Hello Tony

 

Mrs M says you can borrow her hammer.

 

 

As primary a diesel modeller I agree the manufacturers seem to have designed them to baffle the most diehard of us. I undo the four screws in the ends of the  model , no it is still in one piece. Ah there are four more just inside of the apertures for the drive units. To get at them the screw driver has to pass through the corner of the bogie. On taking out the third one I then spend half an hour on my hands and knees looking for it. Fourth one out and a little push and shoving and I am in a position to disable the lights. As a green era modeller I don't need lighting the girls of 93 Serachlight Regiment Royal Artillery would be proud of. Anyhow back to the model locomotive, after I have put it on the wrong way round I find the screws which at first sight seem the same all round are not as the end ones don't do up once I have fiddled around getting them in the holes through the bogie. It is at his point where Mrs M's hammer seems a good choice of weapon.

To say nothing of body screws hidden underneath the couplings, and on the Bachman 08 handrails to be removed. The worst that I have had to take top off is theDAPOL B4, where half the chassis comes apart as well.

Edited September 6, 2023 by john new

[DougN]

On 06/09/2023 at 05:17, Tony Wright said:

 

 

"but I think the RTR Hornby body is the most-accurate (other than, perhaps, the Finney one)"

 

 

I understand that John Brighton's view is The Hornby RTR body for the A4 is as good as you can get this even out does the Finney due to the time it would take to complete and finish it.  however the chassis and under side is definitely improved with the Finney Chassis etc. 

 

Still love the look of your V2's. My time seems to be taken on other things at the moment so I don't seem to be getting any modelling done. Though I keep promising myself to get back to my 2 Finney V2's.