NiuModels

In 1931 O2 No. 3499 was selected for feed water heater trials and fitted with a Gresham feed water heater. Although returning good improvement in coal consumption the equipment was not extended to other members of the class and was removed in 1937.

J36 asymmetric buffer beam plough now available - £5.50 each. To order, email to info@niumodels.co.uk Designed for the Hornby J36, but will also fit the Hornby Q6 and Oxford J27 with a small amount of modification to the fixing brackets.

Test print of the asymmetric buffer beam plough. Show here fitted to the Hornby J36, along side the symmetrical plough that comes with the model. The asymmetric ploughs were used on double track sections to sweep the snow away from the 6ft into the cess. They were widely distributed though the NE area and fitted to J21, J27, J36 and Q6 classes.

I'm a fan of the TenCommandmentsModels wagon.

It does lend itself nicely to that. What would be the best track cleaning system to use?

Something else new. Replacement centre steps for the Heljan Class14 loco. Set of 2 steps £3.50. Email us at info@niumodels.co.uk

Following on from E3173 Zebedee’s nose cone, we had a request for a few more parts for the stock used on the WVML high speed trials in the early 70’s, in particularly parts for coach E5625. E5625 was a Mk2D TSO. The was allocated to the British Rail Research Division in 1971 to trial the new revolutionary ‘DOC2’ bogies that would become the BT10 bogie used on the Mk3 stock. The coach was also fitted with a end viewing panel and basic driving controls, which would eventually become the DBSO’s introduced onto the Glasgow-Edinburgh line in 1979. E5625 ‘DOC2’ bogie kit now available and includes 1 pair of bogies, wheels, couplings, brake discs and coach end plate. The bogies are a direct replacement for the Mk2D bogies on the Airfix/Bachmann model. Kits are £19.50 and will be available shortly on eBay. Alternatively you can email us directly info@niumodels.co.uk

LNER Diagram 19 and Diagram 20 Independent Snowploughs. Price is £35.00 each or £65.00 for a pair. (+P&P) To pre-order, please email us at info@niumodels.co.uk

It's been a long road to get here, but we're finally ready to release out snowplough kits. LNER Diagram 19 and Diagram 20 Independent Snowploughs. The U19 and U20 ploughs were introduced in 1908 and remained in service until 1973 and appeared in all four liveries. Three U19’s were built at York and four U20’s were built at Darlington and operated in pairs of two U19’s and two U20’s. The U19 wooden ploughs shown in NER and late BR liveries, while the U20 metal ploughs shown big LNER and early BR liveries. The models are supplied as resin kits and come complete with body, chassis, glazing, wheels, couplings and decals. Decals cover all ploughs of the type for all four liveries. Price is £35.00 each or £65.00 for a pair. (+P&P) To pre-order, please email us at info@niumodels.co.uk

Following on from the ‘stainless steel’ cab side numbers we are doing for E3173, we had a couple customer requested for A4 Stainless Steel numbers and letters for the Coronation A4’s. Photos below are a set we’ve produced for 4498 ‘Sir Nigel Gresley’ and fitted to the Hornby ‘Great Snipe’ model. The numbers and tender letters attached to a support frame which sets height and spacing. Once glued in place, they sit 0.5mm proud of the body. The kit includes a pair of cab side numbers and a pair of LNER tender letters. Numbers are available for all 10 A4’s that carried stainless numbers. Price £5.50 per kit (+ p&p) To order email us at info@niumodels.co.uk

The K5 is working its way up the list. We'll be getting back to that one soon.

The number 2 end cab forward of the doors needs removing. Also the the buffers needs removing from the number 2 end of the chassis.

Both the plough models will be out at the end of the month.

We have another completed today. BR Class 13 conversion kit. The Class 13 was introduced in 1965 and used at Tinsley Yard for hump shunting. 3 locos where built and where basically a pair of Class 08 shunters permanently coupled in 'master and slave' formation, with the slave unit having had its cab removed. This is designed to fit on the Hornby ‘super detailed’ model. Parts include slave cab, buffer beam plates and coupling rod. It will be available at the end of the month. Price TBC.

I've no firm data on that other then Zebedee was use as test loco between 1970 and 1973.

Weathered model.

We're slowly working our way through the pipeline projects and this week we finished off the High Speed Nose Cone kit for 'Zebedee'. In 1970 Class 86 No. E3173 (86 204), nickname 'Zebedee', was selected by the British Rail Research Division for high speed trials and fitted with a fibreglass nose cone as part of aerodynamic testing for the APT projects. This is kit is one we've developed from a customers request. It included nose cone, camera box and 'stainless' logo and cab side numbers. It fits onto the Hornby class 86 'Phoenix' model, replacing the No.2 cab end. The kit will be on sale shortly, priced at £15.50. (+P&P) If you're interested in one, drop us a email to info@niumodels.co.uk

First full assembly of the Coastal Defence Train. There are a couple minor alterations required to the wagon under frames to improved the printing, but apart from that it went together very nicely. The kit will include armoured F4 loco body, which is designed to fit on the Bachmann L&YR 2-4-2 loco chassis. Along with the four wagons, which will come with wheels and couplings. Price is still to be confirmed, but is expected to be around the £90 mark. If you are interested in the kit, drop us an email with title ‘Coastal Defence Train’ to info@niumodels.co.uk

J36 tender cabs are back in stock. Two versions available. Metal cab as fitted to No. 176 ‘French’ & Wooden cab as fitted to No. 248 ‘Mons’. The kit includes cab, side steps, rear steps and now coal rail boards. Price is £15.50 each (plus p&p) Available either direct from us (email info@niumodels.co.uk) or shortly on eBay.

J15 Tender Cabs back in stock. £9.50 each. Email us at info@niumodels.co.uk to order one.

The second test print on the LNER Armoured F4 loco body came off the printer this morning. The model is based on loco No. 7072, which was one of fifteen F4’s loaned to the Army between 1939 & 1945 to haul Coastal Defence Trains. No. 7072 formed Armoured Train ‘B’ and worked in the Canterbury area. The body is designed to fit on the Bachmann L&YR 2-4-2 chassis, so it not a true scale reproduction of the F4 loco as it is 4mm longer then an accurate F4 to accommodate the longer chassis. This additional length has been taken up in the boiler and armoured cladding. While it might not be for the purist, it is a reasonable compromise. We also working on the 4 wagons that made up the rest of the Coastal Defence Train and hope to have the full kit available in a few months.

That could be an interesting direction to take that layout in...

Decals include; LNER lettering, Railgun name and wagon weight. I'm hoping it's a 'yes' for the plough.

In other good news, we have a new kit available in limited numbers. LNER Ammunition Wagon for the Oxford Rail 'Boche-Buster' Railgun. The kit has be drawn up in 3D CAD from LNER drawings and is 3D resin printed. I comes with wheels, sprung buffers, couplings and fixing screws. The decals cover makings for all four railguns:- - H.M.G. Boche-Buster - H.M.G. Scene-Shifter - H.M.G. Gladiator - H.M.G. Peace-Maker The kit is show here assembled and painted in drab olive as used with H.M.G. Gladiator during WW2. Price is £40.00, and is available in limited numbers direct from us. To pre-order send us an email title 'Ammo Wagon Pre-order' to info@niumodels.co.uk

Thanks for your kind words. It is appreciated. Things are slowly improving, but it's going to be a long haul. On the good news front the replacement BR Class 08 Steps and LNER Front Loco Steps are back available on Ebay. BR Class 08 Steps - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224814845297 LNER Front Loco Steps - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224814853402