dikitriki

Hi Chris, Engine only £25 Tender only £10 If bought with our BLP £30 for a full set. This offer is extended to those who have previously bought the Finney7 BLP when the overlays were not available. P&P £3.50 Richard

Slight change of tack: After many requests, the Bulleid wheel overlays for Slater's wheels, both BLP and MN have been signed off. They will be available in a couple of weeks once the production run lands. Richard

Hi, We're pressing on with the B1 test build.... Richard

Hi, We now have the etches for the cab and boiler/footplate for the new B1. We hope to have the chassis available as well for the GOG Doncaster show in June, so you might see a complete model as far as the etches are concerned. The production etches will be in nickel silver too. Richard

In that case, the spirit of Martin will live on, though the division of subset etches was never so clear cut in 7mm given the size of the components and the constraints of box sizes. However, I would put accuracy, quality, completeness, fit of parts as far more important that the items on your list. Richard

Hi, Thats an almost impossible question to answer, as without asking him, we don't know how Martin would design a particular model. And his approach changed over time. We think we will be taking the best of Martin's design philosophy and tweaking it for the better to suit our needs. For sure, we believe that the new kits have to be at least as good, if not better than those Martin produced. Turning it round, what etch design aspects do you consider constitute the Martin Finney style? Richard

Hi, First of all, an announcement that our next new kit will be the Thompson B1. We have already crawled over the existing examples and been up to the NRM to acquire the necessary drawings, so we are ready to go. In fact, the cab has already been drawn and is off to the etchers for a test etch. Second, a thank you to all those purchasers of our Bulleid Light Pacific who have waited patiently for the tender springs and axleboxes. Our new masters have been cast, and we have had back the first test casts to approve the production run. We are now awaiting delivery and they will be processed as soon as we have them. The axleboxes are shown below. It was important we got this right as it was as much about our development and production processes as about the specific castings. Finally, we have a stand at the Leigh show tomorrow, so come and say hello! Richard

Hello Rich, The BG Rover - the only BG model Martin did - is being produced at the moment. It is labour and time intensive to produce as we have to have pewter castings that have to be cleaned up by us then sent away for plating in gold, copper and nickel as necessary. We should have the kits out within the next 3 months. There are still a few left unreserved, and if you want one from this batch, we would ask for a deposit of £150. The details are on the attached pdf. It will not be a one-off run, but it won't always be in stock. Richard Finney7 BG Rover.pdf

Hi, The Princess Coronation (Duchess) and tender is being packed - we are just awaiting delivery of the resin boiler and smokebox - so we are now taking deposits (£100) to secure one of the first batch. We have available now supplies of the first new kit - the Drummond boiler Adams' Radial - which has a new boiler, cab front, backhead, and new castings for the different cab and boiler fittings. We have restocked our ball-bearing gearboxes, and are quietly working on our 1/32 scale Bulleid Light Pacific. Still a long way away, but looking immense! Richard

Hi Peter, I think you are too modest - you are definitely challenging for a Champions' league spot. 'Professional Builder' is many things to many people, and to my mind does not in and of itself encompass excellence. The only one of the 3 mentioned who is a professional builder in the sense of it being his main occupation is Tony. Nick is a professional in the sense he is paid for his work, but it is a spare time occupation for him and Mick is not a professional in any sense, other than approach, though he is of course one of the partners in Finney7, and mighty happy I am he is. Richard

....and the test build has just arrived: Richard

Nickel silver rod - the ends are on the etch, bottom right and adjacent the combination lever. Or you can try getting spares from DJH. Richard

That shouldn't be a problem if enough people are interested. Richard

Hi, I'm a bit late replying to this, but we have only in the last day or so sorted out the layout of the valve gear on our W1 test etch, or more particularly that the valve gear will be on its own etch, and can therefore be made available as a spare part from our kit. For those that don't know, Finney7 is working on a 7mm scale rebuilt W1. The valve gear is all but identical to that of the A3 and A4. It will be in 0.7mm nickel silver, and with the addition of our valve guides, will provide you with all you need to build a faithful rendition of the full valve gear, including the lubricator drive. Obviously, it may need some fettling to suit the Hachette model, but at least you will have an accurate starting point. The valve gear etch is shown below: We haven't got prices yet, but I would expect the valve gear etch to be available at around £50. Richard Lambert Finney7

Hi David, Can I remind you that our revised Bulleid Light Pacific instructions are available to download from our website www.finney7.co.uk Cheers, Richard Lambert Finney7

Here's another pic of 80016 Richard

Hi, Last call for Bulleid Light Pacifics before Reading. We have only 3 left, and only 5500 gallon tenders remaining. The body casing mould is life-expired so it will be a while before they reappear. The new moulds for the Princess Coronation white-metal components are now being made, and we have produced a master for the Semi chimney.....bit of a giveaway that as to what is forthcoming. Richard

Hi Jeff, Martin used Adrian Swain to cast his whitemetal. Adrian, apart from health issues, does not wish to continue casting, and his moulds are not usable by other casters. So, no option, but rest assured the white-metal castings are better than ever on the evidence of the work we have had done thus far. Richard

Hi Jeff, They are next, after the Princess Coronation. Again, we will have to have new whitemetal moulds made, and we expect to start the process in the New Year. We're aiming for Kettering, but no guarantees. Richard

Hi, We now have a huge pile of components for the Bulleid Light Pacifics, so packing will commence later this week. They will be available for collection at Reading, or posted beforehand, and I will be contacting all those who have paid a deposit for collection of the balance and to see what optional extras are required. We only have a handful of the pacifics unallocated, and only two 4500 gallon tenders left, so if you want one and haven't already ordered, now's your chance! The website http://finney7.co.uk/ has had a further update - more instructions added and extra components for the BLP. A reminder that any castings from the current production kits are available separately, though there will be a lead time of about 28 days, other than those mentioned on the website. We are also restocking the M7, Adams' Radial and T3 which should be available at Reading. The Princess Coronation is next off the blocks, hopefully for Bristol, and we will be working on a semi smokebox as an option. Hope to see you at Reading. Richard

Hi, We've updated our website Finney7.co.uk and added some more instructions for those interested. Plenty of information, and not just for 7mm modellers either. There's lots of little detailing etches shown under 'sundries', the full range of SDMP gearboxes is now available, and there are just a few Bulleids left in the batch for the Reading trade show, Richard

Hi CME, I am impressed with your use of PVCu to create a neat edge at ground level - Photos 3 and 4 of post 318. Can I please ask what thickness PVCu you used, what paint you used, and how you secured it to the ground.....or is it to the board? Many thanks. Yours, Richard Lambert

Hey, that's cheating. What happened to burnt fingers and constant repositioning? (Mutter, mutter)

Hi, All of our kit production will be done in batches of varying numbers according to the interest shown and what we think will sell. The limiting factor on the Bulleid Light Pacific batch is the mould for the casing. It will only do this batch, after which we will have to refurbish the master and have a new mould made which is a fair cost - we would probably wait for orders to catch up before commissioning another mould. I have only 7 kits unallocated at the moment, so if you want one, contact me! As an aside, hasn't Mick Davies made a fantastic job of the test build above for the instructions - it makes me want one, and no, I haven't got one of this batch. We are also working on a museum quality 1/32 BLP kit, which will be something special. Richard

Hi, Guildex at Telford was hard work but fun. Thank you everyone who came by to say hello. We much appreciated the goodwill - and not a little relief - that the range was getting back into production. Of our original production, we have one each of the T3, M7 and Adams Radial left, and 2 Adams 6 wheel tenders. We are now commencing production of the Bulleid Light Pacific for delivery at the Reading trade show in early December. We have been advised that the resin casing mould will do this one batch, so if you want a BLP now, reserve one! We are taking reservations with a deposit of £100 to secure one from this run - contact me via the website please. We will need to know what tender you want, or if you don't know, the name of your loco and the period modelled; we will then ensure you get the correct tender. We are also commencing production of the Broad Gauge Rover. This will be available in the middle of 2017. Again, a deposit of £100 secures one of the first batch. Richard Edit: Radial now sold