ARC Models; New range of 4mm scale products

[sjgardiner]

I just received my 14" Barclay in the mail today, taken a very quick look at it, but the castings seem nice.  I've cleaned up the worst of the flash and test fitted everything, seems to be fine.  I am looking forward to starting on a build properly come November after my upcoming Honeymoon/Vacation to the UK for October and collecting the various detalil parts and the pug that i've ordered and had delivered to family.  I can't really properly start the build until i have the donor chasis for test fitting purposes.

 

I will post pictures of the project whenever i do get started on it.

 

Stephen

Edited September 26, 2014 by sjgardiner

[ARCModels]

Hello Stephen,

Thank you for your kind comment of my kit, I, as always when seeing my customers build my kits, am excited of this build project and will be looking forward to your comments during the building process, as every producer should know how much their customer is enjoying their product.

 

I hope you have a fantastic time on your honeymoon and hope you both all the best & hope you enjoy your stay over here.

 

Kind regards,

Adam.

[ARCModels]

I am pleased to inform you that the

 

'Bonnie Prince Charlie' 0-4-0st kit

 

is ready for pre-order

 

This kit is a starter kit designed to fit onto the Bachmann Thomas range 'Percy' 0-4-0st chassis and requires no additional items to complete.

This kit can also make sister loco 'Western Pride', a shunter that also worked in the Poole harbour area.

 

Please note that this kit is limited to 24 kits only, if you are interested, please see below on details of how to place an order

 

 

Thank you

Edited October 14, 2016 by ARCModels

[sleeper]

Hi Adam,

I've followed this post with interest and you are to be congratulated on the range you've produced to date. My only reservation is that you have chosen to model the bodies based on relatively expensive and obscure chassis, for example the L&Y pug & the Electrotren 0-6-0. Why wasn't it possible to have made a body to fit the cheap and cheerful Hornby 0-4-0 chassis? there must be hundreds of those kicking around and cheap too.

This is merely a thought, please don't take it as aggressive criticism.

[Butler Henderson]

Running qualities spring to mind on the choice of chassis.

[ARCModels]

Just to let you know, I have just 3 kits left of the Barclay 14" in Pre-War condition, contact me via email at arcmodels@fsmail.net to make a purchase or find them on ebay

 

I am also running low on the Barclay 14" in Post-War condition (see Model Rail issue 200 for a demonstration of how to build this kit), this kit will also feature in the upcoming Model Rail magazine, issue 202, where George Dent will complete the kit with his superb painting and weathering skills.

[ARCModels]

Calling all investors!

 

I have a wonderful opportunity for you to invest in my company, ARC Models, investors are entitled to lifetime discounts on all my products and you can see your chosen prototype produced in model kit form.

 

If you are interested, please contact me at arcmodels@fsmail.net to request an investors form

 

Thank you.

[ARCModels]

I am sorry to inform you that the RS&H 0-6-0t and all other future kits have been suspended to to funding issues, please see my other post for more information and if you are interested in becoming a potential investor.

 

I am truely sorry for this.

[Saunders_69023]

I am sorry to inform you that the RS&H 0-6-0t and all other future kits have been suspended to to funding issues, please see my other post for more information and if you are interested in becoming a potential investor.

 

I am truely sorry for this.

Regarding any pre-orders will these be honoured or will money be returned? :$

[ARCModels]

Regarding any pre-orders will these be honoured or will money be returned? :$

Any pre-orders will be honoured, so do not worry about this.

 

Thank you.

[sjgardiner]

I have been working on my 14" Post War Hunslet since i got back from the UK a month ago (that's scary that i got home Oct 27, it's already been a month, where does the time go!!).  I had the partially assembled locomotive out for a test run last night, have some fettling to do, something isn't aligned right between the motor/gears for the wheels, is grinding a little bit, but so far, it looks the part:

 

 

 

The cab is only partially assembled and temporarily mocked up so i can still access the motor to deal with the running issues.  I am hoping to fix the gauging of the wheels on the pug chassis to get a more pointwork friendly back to back, but it looks like this will foul the motion, so that is on the backburner of the project at the moment.

 

As can be seen, the handrails on the sides of the tank are not on, the coupling hooks are not in place, and i am putting on sprung buffers, which are partially installed.

 

Still a lot of work to do, but thus far, between the kit instructions and George Dent's article in Model Rail, i'm quite happy with how it has gone together.

 

-Stephen

[PGC]

I have been working on my 14" Post War Hunslet since i got back from the UK a month ago (that's scary that i got home Oct 27, it's already been a month, where does the time go!!).  I had the partially assembled locomotive out for a test run last night, have some fettling to do, something isn't aligned right between the motor/gears for the wheels, is grinding a little bit, but so far, it looks the part:

 

 

 

The cab is only partially assembled and temporarily mocked up so i can still access the motor to deal with the running issues.  I am hoping to fix the gauging of the wheels on the pug chassis to get a more pointwork friendly back to back, but it looks like this will foul the motion, so that is on the backburner of the project at the moment.

 

As can be seen, the handrails on the sides of the tank are not on, the coupling hooks are not in place, and i am putting on sprung buffers, which are partially installed.

 

Still a lot of work to do, but thus far, between the kit instructions and George Dent's article in Model Rail, i'm quite happy with how it has gone together.

 

-Stephen

 

This is turning out to be one nice looking loco.

 

When ARC first announced the kits, I asked about getting some different chassis (could the High Level Pug chassis be used, for example, in place of the the Hornby one?) for those of us who work in the finer gauges, and there seemed to be a reluctance to provide such facilities.

 

Seeing there now seem to be funding issues, I can't help but wonder if these would have materialised if the models had been made available to a wider market.

 

Phil

[sjgardiner]

This is turning out to be one nice looking loco.

 

When ARC first announced the kits, I asked about getting some different chassis (could the High Level Pug chassis be used, for example, in place of the the Hornby one?) for those of us who work in the finer gauges, and there seemed to be a reluctance to provide such facilities.

 

Seeing there now seem to be funding issues, I can't help but wonder if these would have materialised if the models had been made available to a wider market.

 

Phil

 

Thanks, hopefully it continues to become a nice looking loco once i finish the assembly/prep and move on to paint and decals!

 

If at the end of the day, i can't resolve the running issues, I'm not going to cry too too much as my end game on this project was more to learn skills and create something that looks good.  If it becomes a static display item, as long as i get the final appearance i want, i probably won't be too heartbroken.  I'm not sure how much of the issue i identified the other night is the Dapol/Hornby Pug's general running characteristics (it ran but had a bit of a herky/jerky motion at times) and how much of it is me having messed up the alignments on re-assembling it.  That will take some time to play with and see before moving on with construction.

 

-Stephen

[PenrithBeacon]

... 

Seeing there now seem to be funding issues, I can't help but wonder if these would have materialised if the models had been made available to a wider market.

 

Phil

Or that ARC would have been forthcoming with drawing and photo sources for the non-industrial specialist.

 

Still, it's done now, but I can't help but wonder just what sort of return on the investment the potential investor would have and just what sort of guarantees would be forthcoming to stop the investor turning into a donor.

 

Regards

[PGC]

Thanks, hopefully it continues to become a nice looking loco once i finish the assembly/prep and move on to paint and decals!

 

If at the end of the day, i can't resolve the running issues, I'm not going to cry too too much as my end game on this project was more to learn skills and create something that looks good.  If it becomes a static display item, as long as i get the final appearance i want, i probably won't be too heartbroken.  I'm not sure how much of the issue i identified the other night is the Dapol/Hornby Pug's general running characteristics (it ran but had a bit of a herky/jerky motion at times) and how much of it is me having messed up the alignments on re-assembling it.  That will take some time to play with and see before moving on with construction.

 

-Stephen

 

Hi Stephen

 

If there are running issues, there are plenty of people around who can help sort those, you only need to ask on RMWeb.

 

On the other hand, if you fancy selling it, let me know as I could rather fancy trying to fit a High Level Pug chassis underneath it.

 

Phil

[Corbs]

If anyone wants to see how George Dent's ARC Barclay turned out, take a look here, rather smart.

http://georgedentmodelmaker.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/andrew-barclay-pug-finished.html

[ARCModels]

Great news! Thanks to a very generous investment, the RS&H 0-6-0t is now fast approaching finalisation, as such and for the first time I can share with you all some pre-production images of the main body.

 

Please note, as this kit is still in the pre-production stage, I am very much interested in your feedback, I understand that these are so far the only images, so you may not get too much of an impression, but I will post more images soon.

All feedback will be analysed and any suggested alteration will be considered.

 

But anyway, here they are;

 

 

[PaulRhB]

The edge of the footplate looks realistically thin and rather nicely 'industrially' battered but how delicate is it?

[Gordon A]

It looks as if a bottom section of the boiler is missing?

 

Will you be including the chunky sand boxes on the Hams Hall RSH's that were situated in front of the side tanks?

 

Gordon A

Bristol

[ARCModels]

Absolutely, these distinctive sand boxes are separate fittings, so as to allow for as much detail as possible, more images are to follow which will feature these.

 

As for the boiler, although the boiler is not completely cylindrical to allow the chassis to be fitted, there is still more of the boiler than then images show, I am terribly sorry for this, blame my haste but, as stated above, more images will follow which will give a more detailed impression, these are after all, only the very first shots.

[sjgardiner]

If anyone wants to see how George Dent's ARC Barclay turned out, take a look here, rather smart.

http://georgedentmodelmaker.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/andrew-barclay-pug-finished.html

 

His looks quite good, hopefully mine will as well when it's done.  It's been a bit since my last update, as i was waiting on new stationary rollers arriving so i could work on the running issues in my apartment where i have no running line.  That has now happened, and i seem to have worked out the alignment issues with the motor/wheels and it is running much smoother now.  I've been able to mostly complete basic assembly, though the arrival of winter here means that since my paint booth is our balcony, it could be March or April when it warms up before i make any progress unless i pack up my gear and re-locate to paint at my parents in their heated garage.

 

Anyways, a couple of update shots below:

 

 

 

-Stephen

[Mad McCann]

I'd like to do my Barclay to EM. Not aware of any suitable chassis etch all the same.

[Gordon A]

I'd like to do my Barclay to EM. Not aware of any suitable chassis etch all the same.

 

 

 

Have a look at Agenoria kits.

 

Gordon A

Bristol

[rope runner]

Mercian kits might be a better shot, as they provide a few 4mm Barclay kits (or did until very recently) - they may also be able to provide coupling rods, cylinders etc

 

Though if you are competent enough to assemble square frames and work in EM, then for 5 or 6 hours more work you could just build an entire kit...

 

Paul A. 

[PGC]

The Barclay fits on a Hornby Pug chassis. High Level do a conversion kit for this chassis so I'm going to buy one of the ARC kits and see whether it fits on the High Level chassis (which I already have). Don't expect a report in the near future, I've got a lot of other items in the queue first!

 

Phil