High Level Kits

Hello The Johnster. It is high priority to find an alternative to Mashimas; at this stage, we’re still considering options, and will change gearbox fixings to suit if needed.

I understand that highly detailed models can be intimidating, and your response to the problems you anticipate is not unique. Because we tend to push these particular aspects of the products - this is what a lot of modellers who build chassis tend to like, and the standard of RTR is ever-increasing and we have to keep up with this, plus it looks impressive -  but most of the tricky stuff can be regarded as ‘optional’ as the kits can be assembles in a more basic format. They come with a custom gearbox, so the major headache of finding a gearbox to fit does not exist and so this simplifies matters considerably.

Would a basic chassis for 94XX interest you?

Just in case you didn’t know, High Level Kits do a 94xx chassis. It’s highly detailed and involves a fair bit of work (hopefully enjoyable) but it does lift the model to a new level. It’s designed to fit the Lima body, but with the anticipated Bachmann version also taken into account. Tim Shackleton had little bother with the Wills kit, as shown on our website home page.

PDF of instructions can be viewed on request.

I've built up the High Level drive unit etch for the Harton 0-4-0 No2/10. It went together easily and fits perfectly, I didn't have the small Mashima Chris would normally supply with this so fitted one of the cheap (99p) Chinese motors off Ebay. This is the one that comes with a brass worm fitted but once removed the High Level worm fits on the shaft.

WP_20170525_10_18_17_Pro.jpg

The motor does match the fixing holes in the gearbox but this leaves it tilted to one side and in this position it won't fit in the loco body. Just to get it working quickly I soldered the motor casing to the gearbox. Wheels are Gibson 8 spoke Lowmac, pickups are p/b wire on small pieces of pcb on the outside of the inner frames, I don't really like pickups on the wheel treads but this is the easiest option here.

WP_20170525_10_18_28_Pro.jpg

Viewed from one end, the motor drives directly on one (fixed) axle.

WP_20170525_10_18_45_Pro.jpg

The other axle is held in our usual swinging arms, driven by a chain of gears down one side. The axle rocks under a knife edge rigged up from the end spacer. The etch has provision for a central spacer but the HL drive unit fouls this. Running is just about perfect as usual and the motor is almost silent. It doesn't run very fast but it isn't supposed to - in marked contrast to the Tenshodo bogie fitted in the past.

 

Once Chris has got this in production we'll offer it as an alternative, rather than selling the kit complete as we have done with the small Rustons.

Chris here - I'm just making a film tool for the production version of this, which is pretty identical to this one as Mike had no issues with it. It'll be a couple of quid cheaper than the other Quads as it has one gear less. They should be ready in about 3 weeks as I have to do instructions for them...

Andrew Barclay built a lot of their locomotives as stock items. They would usually have a model of 10, 12, 14, 16 & 18" locomotives 'ready to go', or nearly so, at Caledonia Works. The larger sized locomotives would be both in 4 wheel, and 6 wheel versions. This meant that clients could receive a 'new' locomotive within the week, delivered anywhere in the UK.  Barclay's could also 'loan' locomotives to a client, to keep the business moving. 

 

Special orders, such as odd sized cylinders, or reduced height locomotives, or non-standard gauge, might take longer. I can well remember the tracks across the road at Kilmarnock, which ran out at a gauge of approximately 7'. Laid into this was a multitude of other tracks, which allowed Barclay to roll most, if not all of the principal gauges of the world. That was some 30 years ago. I guess it's all gone now.

 

A properly set up Barclay is quite a potent machine, and will stand it's ground against larger machines. It doesn't help to wear dentures, the loco will 'take them out' for you! But, it will get the job done. Writing this, I'm trying to imagine a 10" loco in 4mm. I can only conjure up the expression 'A Watchmakers Art'.

 

Ian

We have the technology!...

Hi Chris,

 

I had trouble finding drawings at Glasgow Archive.

 

You will need to find the 'Loco Bundles Books', as well as the large 3 volumes they let you have. The Bundles books list all the locomotives, and what 'type' they are. Once you find the 10" drawings, then you scoot through the bundles books, and it should list all the locomotives made on that bundle. The erecting GA's stayed at Kilmarnock until quite recently. They're in the system somewhere, but I don't know where!

 

The bundles book number is GD329/5/20/14 1A-O

 

Hope that helps,

 

Ian

Ian, thanks very much. That sounds like really hard work - the complications of tracking Barclay stuff down have been putting me off! It's a start though!...

Thank you, people have been very patient. The stock did arrive, but there was much less than expected of some types so delivery of the remainder has be re-scheduled for June.

This week has been spent trying to get to the bottom of the pile - when I get there, I'll be able to count up how many motors are left... 

I’d just like to update customers on the motor situation, especially those with on-going orders.

Initially, I was given an estimated shipping date of around mid March for the current batch, but this was subsequently moved on to mid April. Now, it’s not looking like that’s going to happen either and, with the time it takes for our super-efficient  Customs to handle things factored in (see above) it’s now looking increasingly unlikely I’ll have them in time for Expo EM (13 & 14 May)  although I’m still hoping otherwise...

I’d just like to let anyone who’s ordered motors know, that I haven’t’ forgotten about them. I won’t be taking any money from anyone’s account,  until the orders are ready to go, unless the motors were ordered at shows and this was agreed at the time.

The delivery dates I gave to customers when they ordered were based on the information I had and, at the time, I had no reason to doubt this. I’ve tried to contact the supplier in Japan for a revised delivery estimate, but have had nothing back yet...  I think things may be a bit ‘up in the air’ over there.

I will update you on the situation as soon as it changes, or if I get any more info from Japan. I appreciate your patience, and apologies for the delay.

Chris Gibbon.

Adam, tracking down Barclays can be difficult as they often just make alterations to an existing design, and the drawing says refer to another drawing number. A GA would be what I'm looking for.

Having said that, I'll have a trawl through those links, and thanks.

Interesting. I'll wait until the fuss dies down and see if I can get my hands on one.

I'm still on the look-out for a drawing of a tiny 10'' Barclay, one of the older type. There's one on the Chasewater Railway:

http://www.chasewaterrailway.co.uk/galleries/spring-gala-2011/

Thanks to both of the above for registering interest and vote of confidence. I'll see you on the circiut next year and we can discuss the pros and cons of the Peckett. Hopefully, I'll have the Fowler on show and perhaps even a new stand, complete with moat, with electrified fence and light-sensitive guilletine for roving hands with light fingers!

l have a 4mm Finney M7 kit which was designed to use a Portescap motor but the replacement gearbox sides for use with one are missing from the etch.

 

Does anyone have a recommendation for a suitable High Level gearbox/Mashima motor combination please.

 

Many thanks.

I usually recommend the RoadRunner plus for M7s as the L-shape allows the motor to use the full length of the tanks. If it’s EM/P4 then a 1424, but for OO a 1024 will play it safe and clear the flanges, but you may wish to check this using the planner as there may be room to lift the motor high enough to allow the bigger 1424.

It’s a market with constantly changing trends and, as RTR improves, you have to weigh up the benefits of putting a new chassis under any particular prototype, and how well it will be received. The other side of the coin is that a good chassis and a superb, modern plastic body can make a fine model.

I doubt the old Airfix 14xx chassis, as supplied RTR, would be anywhere near as good as the one under the Peckett, but it’ll be interesting to see if anyone fancies putting a High Level chassis for this engine under the Hattons’ version of the 1400?...  Cost, and the thought of junking the new chassis might put them off, or they may be happy with the Hattons’ one, as is... but I can change the fixings on the kit if there’s enough interest?...

Hello and seasonal greetings to anyone who reads this thread...

Thanks for the kind comments. To be honest, these are difficult times to run the business, what with one thing and another so, if I can turn an order around quickly I will, but there just seem to be a mountain of problems stacking up, none of which are insurmountable, but added together they slow things down a lot.

I’ve been looking at the Peckett with great interest Capt! It looks like as superb job (looks just like my old Black Hawthorn with the body off!!) and I need to figure out whether enough customers would see any point in replacing the chassis. OO modellers do make up a reasonable portion of chassis sales so, if it runs well as it is, then I can count them out. More EM, and some P4 modellers are tempted by drop-in wheelsets, but I would like to do a chassis for this engine, just to have one on the stand.

In the New Year, I’ll be finishing off the GWR Fowler diesel-electric. This’ll be highly detailed and will contain more castings than usual.

Best wishes to everyone.

Chris

Finally got them David, though I think joy might be putting it a bit strong!

All the time it's taken to get them, the exchange rate has gone against me and, even though they were paid for 3 months ago, Customs showed they can be on the ball if they want to, and charged me VAT at today's rate, but they have finally conceeded to let me have my own property which is something I suppose.

High Level News:

We have a small batch of 94xxs for sale, but will be re-ordering soon.

GWR Fowler Diesel is coming along slowly and the Armstrong D10 Demonstrator (Google it!...) is in for test etch Number 1

Gerry Beales splendid Dean Goods posted here....

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/117209-p4-dean-goods/

Just an update on the motor delivery for those waiting to hear from me. Customs have had the motors for over two weeks now, and claim that I haven't sent them any info as  requested (although I have proof I did for what good it'll do me) and now threaten to send them back to Japan. With no phone numbers working, I’m forced to correspond by firing off an email, in the hope that they can be bothered to pick it up.

The shipment was made Via Parcel Force, who, for whatever reason, let UPS handle some of their stuff. I would say that their service was nothing short of a disgrace.

Better news, the 94XX should be ready for sale in the next week or so. The etches just need a look over and it’s ready to go...

Can you give us an update your exhibition callendar so that I can work out when I am likely to be able to get my hands on one? From your web site, your last published engagement was railex last May. :-)

More apologies are due for laxness, My shows are the same each year, so Newcastle this weekend (a local show) but other than that the EM North, Expo EM, S4 North and S4 at Aylesbury, plus the two Railexes (the original in Aylesbury and NE version) and that's it.

So the next show after this weekend is Scalefour North 2017.

So does anyone know how much this new 94xx chassis kit is?

Sorry Horsetan, so busy not even me, but it'll be in line with the rest of the range, so £42 for the chassis (which includes hornblocks, gearbox and sandboxes) and the motor (14 series) would be extra.

The etchers are dragging their feet otherwise they'd be ready now, but another week or so and they should be.

 

and from my experience it seems like the Post Office have a monopoly on collecting the additional duty which means a trip to their local distribution point to pay the duty before your goods are released, and why o why do they take into account the shipping costs when calculating duty???

 

 

British bureaucracy at its finest.

 

Don't get me started.

 

That was the good old days and I was happy enough to do that. Now, If it's over a certain amount, a letter turns up and you have to fill in a form, post it back before (hopefully) they'll allow you to cough up.

I'm sitting on a good few orders for gearboxes and motors at the moment and, in a lot of instances, have quoted an estimated time for delivery to customers. This was based on information from Japan saying the goods have been shipped. Unfortunately, Customs have now introduced a new part of the import process which adds a significant amount of time.

In the past, if Customs at Coventry intervene, it's never been good - the last time, it took 4 times as long for the parcel to get from Coventry to me, than it did to get from Japan to Coventry. The Japanese wanted to know if I’d got it, and there it was just sitting there doing nothing as the process slowly grinded away. It was embarrassing!  Any misunderstandings, mistakes or things that differ from the norm are impossible to sort out as they are not contactable by phone and, as far as I can gather, accountable to no one for their balls-ups. The idea of finding and extracting information from the HMRC website is just a joke!...

I'm hoping to get my hands on the motors in the next couple of week - apologies for the delay.

On a more positve note, I can take orders for 94XXs is anyone wants one?...

I'm posting this pic here so as not to confuse the issue. This is an unpainted version of the Y5 built by John Hayes - the one stolen was painted as per the images in this thread:

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/115035-thief-at-em-north/&do=findComment&comment=2437529

Another one on the future shopping list.

 

I did ask Chris whether he might think about a chassis for the 15xx. Initially he sounded interested, until he realised that it had Walschaerts outside.....

It's not so much the valve gear Horsetan, but the lack of a suitable body. There have been some 'talks' on the subject and I'm not ruling it out as it's a personal favourite.

Hello Abadacus Zokonta,

To order, customers have been contacting me via e mail, or phone, and I've been keeping the mails is a folder for the GT3. The contact details with phone number are on the High Level Website so the procedure would be to use the same method as you would for ordering any other product from us.

The idea/request for the GT3 chassis was not mine, so I've only really been involved in designing the etches, according to a customer's brief, so I'm uncertain where to get all the bits from. I was working on the assumption that we would be including the 'hubcaps', but most of the customer's seem to have these and, as they are the only part holding up sending out the kits, I'm inclined to send the kits out without them and will forward them on to anyone who gets back to me and says they don't have them.

The first batch has now all been accounted for, reservations-wise, but some of these customers haven't got back to me yet to confirm. I'll give it a month or so, and then will make any remaining kits available to anyone else who wants one. If everyone who said they wanted one actually comes forward, then additional customers will have a short wait until I can order a second batch.

Chris.

Latest on the GT3, as posted in the thread on 'Hints and Tips'

I've just e mailed GT3 customers to say that the kits are almost ready for packing/delivery.

If you're on the mailing list but, for some reason, didn't get the mail, then please ring 0191 3882112 to sort out which version you want. I've reserved one for each person on the list but if anyone decides to bail out then that absolutely fine, but please let me know so I can allocate the etch to someone else.

Thanks,

Chris.

I've just e mailed GT3 customers to say that the kits are almost ready for packing/delivery.

If you're on the mailing list but, for some reason, didn't get the mail, then please ring 0191 3882112 to sort out which version you want. I've reserved one for each person on the list but if anyone decides to bail out then that absolutely fine, but please let me know so I can allocate the etch to someone else.

Thanks,

Chris.