Popular Post Andy Y Posted March 7, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted March 7, 2015 MINERVA MODEL RAILWAYS – A NEW 0 GAUGE MANUFACTURER IS LAUNCHED AND ANNOUNCES FIRST LOCOMOTIVE Minerva Model Railways is a new independent company formed by Chris Basten and Chris Klein, two experienced railway modellers. Minerva will deliver good quality ready-to-run 0 Gauge model locomotives at a value-for-money price in sensible time-frames. The models will only be available direct from Minerva Models via mail and telephone order, the Minerva website and from the Minerva Models’ stand at selected model railway shows. THE PECKETT E CLASS 0-4-0 SADDLETANK LOCOMOTIVE Minerva’s first locomotive will be the Peckett E class 0-4-0 saddletank locomotive. Several examples were supplied to the Swansea Harbour Trust, via various acquisitions and directly and passed into GWR and British Railways ownership. Many others were supplied direct to industry and were sold on and thus could be seen in nearly every corner of the UK into the 1960s and even 1970s. Many similar engines built by Peckett survive in preservation today, both in the UK and in other parts of the world. Minerva’s model includes two additional dome variations and a bell that were found on the Great Western engines, together with the original Peckett dome. Extra moulded toolboxes and an etched brass fret with works’ plates, running numbers, lamp irons and cab-side shutters. Technical Specification · An injection-moulded, painted, ready-to-run body with full rivet detail · Over 200 individual components · Die cast metal chassis · Fine scale wheels · Four-wheel electrical pickup · High-torque flywheel-equipped motor, driving the rear axle · 40:1 precision gearbox for slow, smooth running · DCC and sound ready, with provision for easy speaker installation · Cab detail · Sprung buffers · Hook draw-gear with three-link couplings · Choice of three liveries: Lined medium green, unlined GWR green, unlined black. The Peckett will be available in time for Christmas 2015. The retail price is expected to be £255 including VAT, but advanced orders will be taken until 7th September 2015 for a discounted price of £235 including VAT, postage and packing. Further information is available from the Minerva Models website www.minervamodelrailways.co.uk and you can follow us on Facebook. You can also contact us via e-mail sales@minervamodelrailways.co.uk 20 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Y Posted March 7, 2015 Author Share Posted March 7, 2015 Now in public domain. Chris tells me that this is at the stage where all the final drawings have been approved and the tooling is now given the go ahead. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
69843 Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 This is wonderful news. I may have to start an O gauge collection up very shortly Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackRat Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 Nice one! I'm sure with the limited space available these days, O gauge shunting planks etc will abound! I wish them well, and may yet buy one! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bigbee Line Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 Eastwood Cement Works at Lewes, here we come. Looks very nice. An excellent choice. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Young Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 Very suitable. Seeing as Tutbury, where I live used to have a pair of Pecketts shunting the plaster mill, I'll be putting an order in for one. Cheers, Andrew Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve fay Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 Great choice guys well done Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJM Dave Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 Well done to the 2 Chris's, and what a great choice of locomotive. Best wishes to both of you and every sucess to Minerva Models. Knowing your pedigree, how about an 08 and correct Terrier next? Cheers Dave 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alfsboy Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 A wise choice and should sell in buckets.Good luck with it . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianthesnail96 Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 Fantastic. Absolutely perfect for me, thanks gents! The only thing I can complain about at this point is that I can only afford to pre order one, given the projected delivery date... which isn't exactly Minerva's fault, especially given the very reasonable price. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 40-something Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 Marvellous news to see another rtr 7mm supplier! Can I wish for an industrial or small BR shunter? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
two tone green Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 Me please, can I have one. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CME and Bottlewasher Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 Good news for many and I wish the fellows well with their new venture - nice looking loco. Hope this wont affect Ixion? Still, waiting, as a modeller of the so called 'modern image', for some smaller locos of the Ixion, Manerva ethos to appear (love the esoteric names BTW) from someone, anyone - up to BoBo size? Kindest regards, CME. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJS1977 Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 Good news for many and I wish the fellows well with their new venture - nice looking loco. Hope this wont affect Ixion? Still, waiting, as a modeller of the so called 'modern image', for some smaller locos of the Ixion, Manerva ethos to appear (love the esoteric names BTW) from someone, anyone - up to BoBo size? Kindest regards, CME. If it's any help,I know where a Peckett just like this one can often be seen steaming into a Network rail station... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted March 7, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 7, 2015 What does this mean for the future of Ixion as a matter of interest? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
south_tyne Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 Great news and a lovely prototype. Can anyone recommend a resource for finding a little more about the prototype locomotives and where they were based/worked? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
switcher 1 Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 Brilliant choice, should sell well.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve fay Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 Plenty of pictures in the red dragon and other old friends book if it's the GW version based at Swansea East dock Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CME and Bottlewasher Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 (edited) If it's any help,I know where a Peckett just like this one can often be seen steaming into a Network rail station... Hi RJS, Thanks, but as we are modelling ex MSWJR under WR custodianship circa 1965-1976 doesnt help us/me any. If money was no object then I would splash the cash on this and other Ixion locos, yet I have to stay true to our/my aims/layout needs and it is such a shame that Dapol peed on the lamppost that is a 7mm scale 08 marked its territory with the 08 et al. I would have much, much rather seen Ixion or Minerva doing something along those lines (eg BR diesel shunters, Rustons or an BR 02 et al). Cant understand the en-masse continued fascination with kettles either LOL (caveat, I like kettles too, but given that the interest in 7mm is now falling to the custodianship of my age group and we are late 40s and early 50's our nostalgia is for loco hauled trains using diesels and electrics). It would be interesting to know, from the two Chris', why they chose the direct marketing strategy instead of using the normal model shop network? The direct marketing strategy has its strengths in terms of margins etc etc., yet I feel it has hampered the likes of Lionheart when endeavouring to compete with the likes of Dapol (who market using the duplication principle ie via numerous model shops and other outlets). IOWs, Dapol has, to date, churned out substandard 7mm models (in terms of accuracy) and Lionheart has produced superb 7mm scale models (ie their wagons are competitively priced - even if their locos are in the top price bracket), yet Lionheart must have lost sales on eg their POW's, to an inferior, but more widely distributed, product such as Dapol's (I now see that Lionheart have limited distribution through Tower Models) - akin to Betamax vs VHS (sort of). ATVB CME Edited March 7, 2015 by CME and Bottlewasher Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianthesnail96 Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 Aaaand in with the wishlisting already. Seems a little unfair when the existence of the company has been public knowledge for less than a day! Especially when it's all been done to death on the "what would you like from Ixion" thread in the 7mm section. I know I'm biased, since this does meet my requirements rather nicely indeed, but I imagine Minerva will be running a "one engine in steam" policy as Ixion does and should they want suggestions in the future they will ask for them, but that won't be for a little while yet. While I'm sure this choice does reflect the interests of the owners one suspects that they've probably paid attention to the market research and noted that three people asking loudly and repetitively for the same engine does not necessarily make it more viable than a larger number of people going "yeah, I'd probably buy one of them", and as such have gone for a bit of a "jack of all trades". I'm suprised that no-one has asked if they can do it in N gauge yet though... 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derbys65 Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 (edited) Had a word and met chris today. I am def ordering one , £235 if ordered before telford 255 after, due around november?. 3 options, Great to meet chris klein, lovely chap. Other chris mentioned Ixion was concentrating on Australian ho locos . I wish them all the very best in this new venture. If ive got anything wrong please correct me. Enjoyed the show and spent less than £200 lol Apologies as also just seen they have order form and price on their website and top of page here, whoops! Edited March 7, 2015 by Derbys65 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Metr0Land Posted March 7, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 7, 2015 Minerva logo.png MINERVA MODEL RAILWAYS – A NEW 0 GAUGE MANUFACTURER IS LAUNCHED AND ANNOUNCES FIRST LOCOMOTIVE Technical Specification · An injection-moulded, painted, ready-to-run body with full rivet detail I wish them well. Initial signs are good. Over 6 hours on here and no-one's challenged the number of rivets! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Osgood Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 Great news and a lovely prototype. Can anyone recommend a resource for finding a little more about the prototype locomotives and where they were based/worked? ST - I thought I had a full Peckett Works List somewhere but I can't find it at present. Meanwhile there are some good Peckett photos here: http://www.martynbane.co.uk/peckett/locos.htm This shows a selection E class locos from 1903. Peckett updated the design to E1 in 1950 - there is a photo of 2108 the first E1 here too. Looks like Ebbw Vale, both collieries and steelworks, were E users. The recent IRS book of Peckett Works Photos by Andrew Smith depict official snaps of 1465 of 1917 (one of a pair supplied to Woolwich Arsenal), also 2108 of 1950. If anyone knows any more about numbers of E class, and owners, I too would be very interested. Tony Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold NeilHB Posted March 7, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 7, 2015 Very very happy about this - had a lovely chat with Mr Klein on the stand today at Kettering - order duly placed for a green 'un! Have to say a very nice touch with the option of the different safety valves etc. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Osgood Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 Found it!! Peckett & Sons Locomotive Works List complied by Frank Jux and published by Ind Loco Soc 1987. May still be available. More info anon. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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