Michael Edge

We got the J63 out in time for Scaleforum (just!) and they sold like the proverbial hot cakes. Price is £60, we'll pack some more for Manchester this weekend. Unlike the other GC etches we have sold this one has been worked up into a full kit with all the mouldings in addition to the n/s etch. The builder has to supply motor/gearbox/wheels/buffers. The suggested drive arrangement is a High Level Roadrunner+ on the leading axle and it can be built rigid or fully compensated. buffers are from Kean Maygib, alternative oval heads are on the etch. I haven't been able to come up with an economical way of producing the safety valves and whistle, so only the moulded base and etched safety valve lever are included in the kit. Michael Edge

I didn't notice the fixed distants either, I think I'd better post all the other signal photos on RMweb before you get to build them. Michael Edge

Nice to see this one under way Steve, don't forget that the arms on the LH doll can be fixed, that route doesn't exist on the layout.

We are expecting some etches this week so will ahve one for you at the weekend. The basic ecth will be the same, I haven't updated it yet but I will have some additional parts which will be on the revised etch. Michael Edge

Someone got wires crossed there, no updates on the Princess etch yet Wires crossed there, we said the J63 should be available at Scaleforum, the updated Princess is still some way off. Meanwhile for those of you who have ordered the existing version (which will be at Scaleforum) I have done some of the missing parts as an additional etch - no extra cost.Michael Edge

We have done one test etch model in 4mm of the Tyne & Wear locos which were quite different (a cancelled export order actually), no immediate plans to put it into production though. Michael Edge Judith Edge kits

These two locos are in our wishlist for future kits but I haven't measured one yet. Not really a Hudswell design, they have a lot in common with Brush DEs which we are also interested in.

Yes, the last MDHB locos, far too late for running under the LOR. The first Hudswells (different type) appeared just after the LOR closed but before it was all demolished. I've not built one of these yet, HO or 4mm or 3mm but we have etches in 3mm and 1:87 scales.

The final selection is a spin off from my work in 9mm scale for New Zealand, the Ruston 165DE is a complete kit for either standard gauge (BR PWM650) or 3'6"/metre gauge with outside cranks. The Hitachi 0-4-0 is a scale down of etches for this New Zealand shunter. Both these are the original 9mm scale models. We also have some etches (no mouldings) for BR 0-6-0DM 11001 and Mersey Docks Hudswell 0-6-0DM

more HO kits This is the Spanish version of YE Taurus, my test etch build and a completed model from Spain. This has since become our second best selling kit (after the NER ES1 Bo-Bo). For the Portuguese market we have this Sentinel unfinished test etch model, this can be built in 16.5mm gauge or correct 5'6"

We have had some enquiries recently about kits we produce for HO scale. All these have been scaled to 1:87 from our existing kits, mostly to order from overseas customers. Ruston 165DS/DE This was originally done to special order for a South Australian 5'3" gauge example but the frames are normal standard gauge. This is a fully produced kit in stock at £45. This is one I built recently as a 165DE for a Swedish customer. Sentinel 0-4-0DH chain drive This is also a production kit in stock at £42. The wheelbase (nothing else) has been stretched to fit the shortest available Tenshodo power bogie (not supplied). More to follow Michael Edge

The large Avonside had quite a few errors in it but I didn't correct them at the time and may not be able to remember now. If I have some space on a test etch i'll do another one.Ii don't know what shade of green MDHB used, mine are painted with Humbrol No.2.

It's probably easier to build in 00, one of the glitches is that the cylinder ends have 00 size cutouts in them. Frames are designed to be assembled on temporary screwed spacers, L shaped spacers soldered in and then screwed ones moved/removed. This is my usual practice when not designing complete kits, it's easy enough to make up spacers and fit them where needed and it saves drawing time and space on the etch. While these etches were done with an EM gauge order in mind most of my work and my own models are 00 gauge. Mike

As I have posted elsewhere, we are willing to order some more of the present Princess etches at £45 although I do intend to revise it eventually. Any definite orders can probably be supplied in September - please let us know if you want one. Meanwhile another photo of one of the original pair, as before painted by Graham Varley.

I wouldn't disagreee with that, although there isn't much news at the moment. Michael Edge

I use Gibson wheels but not crankpin system, I drill and tap them 10BA and fit Romford crankpins. a thin slice of 1mm I.D. tube is the fastener. I never use loose bushes, these only add additional slop in the system and the fasteners add to the overall width - nuts are almost always impossible behind crossheads without recessing them into the rods. The reason I mentioned the clearance on my 00 model as more than 1mm is that your EM wheels should be exactly 1mm wider each side. Cylinders in my kits are where they should be, only the wheel gauge varies - if you use Romford wheels you will have more trouble because they are thicker, in fact Romford at EM gauge are often overscale on tread width Never allow any sideplay in wheels behind crossheads, you shouldn't have any on an 0-4-0 anyway. I never dismantle frames for painting, they are sprayed with wheels, brakes, sandpipes and cylinders in position. I do sometimes leave out the slidebars if this is convenient but probably wouldn't in this case as they are easily scraped clean. You can see the difference in wheel gauge by the number of Romford crankpin washers behind the con rod. Hope this helps. Mike

I've just measured my 00 one and there's more than 1mm clearance between the crankpin fastener and the back of the crosshead. Don't worry about the pin in the crosshead, it never coincides with the coupling rod. What sort of wheels and crankpins are you using?

The next LOR kit is still some way from production. I do want to revise the Princess etch but in the meantime we would be happy to sell some more of the existing one at £45. We can take definite orders (don't send any money yet though) for our next etch delivery in September. The Hunslet saddle tanks are a lot easier to form, without rivets they are full thickness (brass) and have half etched lines for the sharper radius lower bends. I find the large radius curve over the top quite easy to make, the lower ones are much more difficult. Michael Edge

The handrail pillars we supply are from Markits, I think the shortest 4mm ones in his list. I was sure I had seen a photo of a Bank Hall Kitson with an LOR blast deflector but I think I was mistaken - apparently they were not supposed to work on the MD&HB system because they didn't have a bell fitted.

You've been sent the wrong buffers then, 4903 are LMS/BR standard with square base. Sounds like you have 4902 or 4904. Glad to see the motor fits well, we'll add that to the instructions

I hadn't noticed the different chimney but the injector cover disappeared regularly - probably too much trouble to put them back on shed.

I think I've got some spare buffer heads, if not they are on another sheet waiting to be etched (as a separate item). They aren't the same diameter as the large heads we usually sell.

It would but I can't half etch from both sides and the tank wrapper has half etched rivets. Don't mention the awful 1/3rd etching used by a few manufacturers - it really doesn't work, you can't get clean folds with it and the rivets are poorly defined.

Boilers take up a lot of space on the etch and they are simple shapes with no detail. You should get the next one, "Princess Louise", later this year.

You've done a good job with the window beading - this is how we always did it before the days of etching and I think it often looks better.