locomad2

Almost certain this is a K's motor supplied with the later K's white metal kits in mid 70's Packing was on a thick card with clear plastic so you could check all the parts, a backward step was the frame 6BA bolts were nylon which tended to break years later, never happened with the steel ones, also the nylon axle gear shown in picture tended to split with age. Motor shown didn't last long either the brush holders tended to fall out with loss of carbon brushes, myself replaced the lot with triang X04 motors, tough solid motors, easy to source, repair and rarely replaced

Your right its a Cornard kit made by a firm in Notts, did they make any other white metal kits ? Trader i purchased it from told us it he though it was a "Conrad" but it came without a box. The tender drive works quite well, smooth motor no grinding noise like the Hornby versions in late 80's & 90's.

Yes in this case had to remove about 10mm off the forward lug, i used a "dremmel" grinding machine slow speed with a circular saw attachment The other previous model i did about a decade ago i removed front lug using a fly cutter in a drill press

Good idea thanks, easier than grinding away

The body went into the garage tonight for some engineering work, buffers removed and holes drilled for replacement, bits used for front inside cylinder cover just under smokebox door, side cylinders cut off, somehow it didn't look right so chassis moved forward, almost same position as previous, looks ok now, going to leave side cylinder pipe from smokebox on will anyone notice ?

Picked up this rough looking white metal 2-8-0 kit from a toy fair recently I believe it might be a Conrad kit from 70's, its on a Jouef 2-8-0 chassis, tender driven can anyone confirm this ? its well built, looks the part, and performs very well, there are no pick ups on the loco chassis the whole tender mechanism is self contained. The tender chassis has two bo-bo type bogies one been driven, hence cope with quite tight curves Unfortunately i ripped off the white metal chassis to tender coupling trying to pull 40 HD wagons backwards

Buffer height almost prefect next to a airfix kit coal wagon I converted this some while back, its been shown somewhere on this site, its the same Dinky die cast body on a Hornby chassis with outside cylinder with piston rod, note chassis is slightly forward on the body to hide plastic clyinder behind chassis cylinder and involves removing the big front chassis supporting lug. both are good runners the extra weight really helps plus less likely to stall on insolfrog points.

Discovered recently the "Dinky" push a long 0-4-0 die cast body fits with no mods on to a simple Hornby 0-4-0 chassis Plan is to cut away the metal cylinder and have an inside cylinder 0-4-0 Some information - the "Dinky" push a long c1974 is the die cast version of the plastic Hornby Dublo 0-4-0 starter set c1964, which itself is quite rare. There are more die cast bodies knocking about, I've seen recently a trader at a toy fair trying to sell a "metal body" starter set with die cast chassis wagons, the original and genuine where all plastic in a polystyrene box.

Old "hoover" type belts fit the large ones

Seems to be a gut of really well made kit models at toy fairs recently, some at silly low prices, considering a new one might cost about £100, they are excellent value Picked up this Airfix / Kitmaster J96 recently, bit of TLC and it runs beautifully. Builder did an excellent job on the chassis, so simple, a X04 motor between 2 brass frames Only downside is the body lacks any weight, however when winter comes I've a few unbuilt bodies so will add weight in the tanks, and just replace the body. Also I will try to copy the simple chassis, the spaces are plastic block. Few years back picked up a few chassis blocks for J96's made out of one piece of aluminium block unfortunately not been able to ID the missing motors, this simple frame it will be easily to fit most well known motors

It's rare, however there has been a lot of fakes about or prehaps several different original types, had the coupling the later pin type? ( which easily drops out) same as 6 wheel mail coach, or the export screw type, I've seen both ?. Maybe someone retro fitted the screw type ? Also I've seen a few used ones, the "Rail cleaning Wagon" paintwork tends to come off, prehaps solvent gets on the side, also paint inside flakes off again solvents used. Still I avoided them, all silly prices. I've got a fake purchased for £5 loads on sale at Chester toy fair about 30 years ago, It's actual a Hornby Dublo metal mineral wagon with brass tubes fitted, the sign plates over the side doors fell off over the years. The cigarette filters used are the same size as the Wills kit one Unfortunately I've found that ordinary cigarettes now have a thinner filter and the "fat" ones no longer available, the roll your own are a lot thinner. This the filters are loose in the tube and tend to fall out. I think both the HD one and Wills better than the triang, you can extend life of filters by cutting the dirty end off and pushing though the rest of filter. I've used meths in past but now use IPA. Prehaps one day I will get a genuine one without reliasing its genuine, like the rare 0-4-0 starter set loco was told by a "know it all" trader it was a Playcraft one and sold cheap cause it was worthless. I've a fake one of those as well, Dinky 0-4-0 push a long on a cica1985 Hornby Chassis and that runs better cause its metal

Minefield! and watch out for lots of "Forgers" or was it put together on a Friday afternoon in a factory. Heres's a oddities and it's the rare "Hopper" again The Wrenn is the tarmac hopper but been stuck on a break van chassis yet the chassis is a wrenn The triang coupling has been removed and look at the clever way the peco coupling has been added. I think it looks like a engineering wagon, however not impressed with the retailer trying to sell them in a Wrenn box at £20, although some lot cheaper no box

This might explain the drop in price of the Hornby dublo breakdown van, some 40 years ago this was quite a rare item and considerable expensive. With a "glut" of bodies and easy to swop the chassis cheaper way to obtain a van. Plus about this time some quite convincing Replica boxes appeared on the market. I've noticed some boxes just don't "fade" like originals plus some original boxes had price marked by shop keepers in biro in old money, that ink doesn't fade either, while later ink does. Oh the Joy's of collecting

Genuine Wrenn wagons are a nightmare as mentioned before, there is a lot of "private" wagons about and I avoid ebay as tend to be overpriced and not quite "Genuine" although a lot of small batches of almost anything came out of the wrenn factory and more so the Dapol at Llangollen. Another reason there is lots of Wrenn unpainted and painted bodies on the 2nd hand market some with old imprints of Hornby Dublo transfers on the side. Easy now for anyone to print a name on the side, plus I've seen wrenn stickers for sale to attach names on sides of cement wagons. Take above wagon picked it up recently for £2.33 (part of group purchase) at a local north west toy fair recently. Could be genuine as "book" says made between 73-83, but the "Wall's" definitely hand painted although its good paint work. What's more it's on the "rarer" Breakdown" packing van body, such there must have been quite a "glut" of Hornby Dublo bodies. Still the wagon is reasonable quality although this version has the old hanger axles not the pin point

I missed this series last Sunday but plan to watch it on catch-up Iam amazed with the number of railway scenes filmed in the 60's while watching this excellent channel. Recently this last week the "Saint" had a chase in a breakdown crane yard, the "baddie" got killed when foot got stuck in points, and a short film about a gang using the noise from a nearby Black 5 to break into a warehouse

Looking at the body again working out dimensions for the chassis discovered that the Hornby Dublo drawing page 316 by Foster (bible) is 1/2 inch longer than this model, then discovered some 5 built with a 1 foot longer boiler, learn something new ever day. However body comforms to other drawing. Just so happens that suitable chassis i had is the longer version typical !

I've tried to do research on Steamcraft and it's still on going hopefully will get soon a copy of Model train collector March 2012 an article about David Taylor and Steamcraft of Southport Lancashire. My interest on OO steam goes back to my grandfather who after the War in late 1940's tried to construct "Dock tank" ? A 0-4-0 live steam featured in Model Engineer I've still got original article and some bits, at the time and after a few doubters claim it wasn't possible, ye it is I've seen a working model some 40 years ago at a Manchester show. Unfortunately lots of indoor events ban "live steam" worrying about H&S insurance etc etc, however did see one of Steamcraft locos , I think a King or castle, outside model railway show in a car park running round on HD 3 rail track pulling about 5 metal 3 rail H D coaches. From what I've seen YouTube, Google etc Steamcraft in OO made a Coronation, Princess, black 5, 8F, spam can, King, V2 and possible more. Quite a lot sold in USA . Apparently he set the company up with "back to work" loan or grant from Job centre. At first imported brass body's from Japan but been HO didn't sell well, then he started using brass plate OO bodies, the locos were not cheap at about £250 in 1982. The piston was osslating in smoke box driving a drive shaft to centre axle, boilers been copper silver soldered but other types existed too. Towards end of production bodies where sold to be completed as kits using electric motors either plate thin brass or cast brass. Seen a few adverts in model press about 1982 advertising these, Spam cans were brass cast and very similar to Wrenn bodies apparently an almost perfect fit.

Recently at a local toy fair i purchased a very fine V2 metal body and tender, it came with a ill fitting and wrongly added 4-6-2 triang chassis with X04 motor. I assumed it was a home made kit of some sort, very well made accurate, straight good looking kit body and tender my plan is to fit a well made chassis etc, I've the correct wheels, frame motor etc just need the value gear. 4-6-2 chassis will do something else. However while looking for model railway stuff on "you tube" noticed a clip about a "Steamcraft" V2 live OO locomotive I now believe this body from Live steam OO model, missing boiler, burner and chassis. Steamcraft products where made by David Taylor from Lancashire in early 80's I believe he made several batches OO steam models, King, Princesses, Spam Can and a V2, prehaps more. He also made narrow gauge O plus O gauge live steam You tube clip https://youtu.be/ThoV_hjR0Ew

I've a EMU, and a blue triang Pullman both with Knurled wheels and have no problem in the last 50 years running them over peco 100 track, points etc. Prehaps years ago pulled them out a little, so back to back slightly bigger, or older peco points had wider frogs, or even over the years worn a bit. Knurled wheels make a cracking noise, they sound reassuring "rough" plus they tend to clean the track as they skid though dead (insolfrog) frog.

I've done some research and your right it's early 60's, apparently sold RRP 35/- but often cheaper and in sets. Over 2 Million made. the motor is a M40 "large sausage" type (translation from French). As mentioned remarkable free running, hence doesn't stall on points etc like most 0-4-0 models, extremely low current, apparently could be run on 4.5v batteries, assume due to a large fly wheel inside the can. If you suddenly cut the current it still travels a few inches with the wheels revolving so stopping at speed is challenging. Grandkids will love it. Will be looking for a few more, 2 chassis without the connecting rods would make interesting bogies for Bo-Bo diesels with added weight

Acquired a Playcraft 0-4-0 recently working and complete, I have a few bodies but never had a chassis Opening it up quite surprised with the size of the can motor, plus quite solid brass gears axles etc Wheels are good too, tyres are brass too Runs very well taking very low voltage 3.2v and very low amps 0.01, ok on peco 100 points and doesn't tend to stall on insolfrog. Considering its about 50 years old it's in good condition it's outlasted many more expensive and more detailed locos expect it will continue to do so, yet purchased at a very low price, seems no-one interested in them Remember well this loco causing quite a stir in the Model press in early 1970's in days before mass media, YouTube, Facebook forums, etc, they almost had a monopoly on reviews. Consumer magazine "Which" did a review on model railways and described it as excellent value for money and very realistic "British outline model". At the time my father subscribed to "Which" and promptly cancelled subscription.

Found it sorry can't post link but here is a screen shot

Somewhere in "collectible" forum I posted details of my second magnetiser made from armature wire wrapped round a plastic tube, during covid. Basically it's two parts, two solenoids (magnet inbetween) and a strong DC current. Nothing wrong with Dodds magnetiser I've seen them at HRCA meets in use, my solenoids are almost the same, except I use car batteries or Arc welders for the current. Just keep your debit cards phone etc away from it in use, think my "guss"? Magnetic strength was 24k at 1/2 inch from source

Yes remember them well going back to early 70's, 3 day week, high risk days of power cuts. Dad rigged up 3 4.5v ever ready blue batteries in series using metal plates on screw terminals, think supplied with controller, up to layout using double pole switch to a HD battery controller, limited use in regular power cuts on high risk days and nights with no telly, under "tiller" lights, (which seemed brighter),we could at least keep occupied. One loco could be used, no cab control, no common return to dual controller. As about 8 wagons or 4 coaches was the maximum all locos seem to cope but some ran better on pure DC others didn't, triang smoke units ones tended to trip the 1 amp trip switch fitted. Don't remember the battery needed replacement, but do remember they had a cardboard casing, one battery leaked so all got thrown away by mid 70's then power got back to normal

Thanks for posting most interesting as I haven't got some of the catalogues I though I knew most things about HD interesting to learn about product number 1612, link switch ? page 23 of 1963 HD catalogue, Note to view cats you need to double click on each front page and convert from German to English