Albyn Posted June 9, 2020 Share Posted June 9, 2020 With the identity of some of the figures on the layout being Mastermodels, or very similar ones by Merit and Slaters, the connctions are explained in The Illustrated Kemlow Story - Including the Mastermodel Story by Paul Brookes came out in 2009. You can order a copy on ebay for £22.95 or by emailing mastermodels@btinternet.com as Paul accepts Paypal or a cheque. Via a mutual pal I was given Paul's telephone number and had a few words with him. He only has a few copies left so if you want one get one now! The book does explain that the three firms - Kemlow (makers of Mastermodels), Merit (J & L Randall) and Slaters were all based in Wood Green in the 1950s within a few hundred yards of each other. A lot of employees were temporary and moved between the firms. Basically the latter two firms did indeed copy the Kemlow figures, though the actual story is quite complicated and you really need to buy the book to find out some details of what happened and the fate of Mastermodels in the 1960s when they also began making items in plastic. The goods yard crane that I thought was Dinky is actually a 4mm version by Mastermodels, regards, Albyn 1 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
joppyuk1 Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 On 01/06/2020 at 20:23, Albyn said: Thanks for the photos. Some years back I bought a job lot of figures at a club stand and I think some maybe used by PDH. Slaters Huminiatures which he mentions using. Airfix Civilians that were probably used albeit modified. Airfix Wagon Train Lady? Merit seated passengers and bike? Just a slight caveat , I have a number of the old Airfix figures on a layout, and while recently trying to replace a 'pin up a leg' that had come away the entire leg broke off. I checked another figure I was about to paint and the same happened. The plastic has obviously got brittle over the years. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon attwood Posted April 22, 2023 Share Posted April 22, 2023 The 3.5 mm figures by Authenticast mentioned earlier were a sub brand of Comet, and were manufactured in Ireland for a short time until the factory was destroyed by fire. They are hollow cast, two are almost identical to the Hornby Dublo figures apart from not having HD on the base, and could be mistaken for piracies. the others are in a noticeably different style, designed by Holgar Eriksson and with his initials on the bases. As far as I know this picture shows the whole HO range, hopefully useful for identifying some of the Craigshire residents. 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunwurken Posted April 22, 2023 Share Posted April 22, 2023 Thank you @jon attwood for the info on Authenticast. I picked up your posts on Bernard TPM's "Plastic 00 Figures 1950-80 1950-60's" in the Collectable/Vintage area indeed it was discussion between Bernard and myself concerning the ancestry of the Craigshire population which led to Bernard starting the topic which he hoped would help others who, like myself, were having difficulty identifying the many different model figures available in the past. Your contribution has filled another of the voids. Thank you. Malcolm 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albyn Posted April 22, 2023 Share Posted April 22, 2023 A box of some of the Graham Farish Figures made by West's turned up on eBay and found their way to me in Cardiff 3 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon attwood Posted April 23, 2023 Share Posted April 23, 2023 Now I know who outbid me! If you hear of any more for sale please let me know, they are the biggest gap in my collection. Jon 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunwurken Posted July 6 Share Posted July 6 From Lord Craig, Craig Castle, Craigshire, Scotland. Today, 6th July 2024, marks the 75th anniversary of P D Hancock's Craig and Mertonford Light Railway. Readers of the 009 News and the Railway Modeller will be aware of this as articles have appeared in both magazines. How 4mm scale has changed over the years. When PD adopted the 4mm scale / 9mm track gauge combination no one had really done this before and there was extremely limited support from the trade in the post WW2 austerity era and most certainly no r-t-r products available to help him out with everything having to be handmade or adapted to suit. His book, Narrow Gauge Adventure, first published in 1975, (2nd Edn. 1980) is a classic and is fairly readily available on the second hand market. A large number of articles by PD published in the Railway Modeller between 1950 and 1993 can be viewed by subscribers on the RM digital archive. An index of all PD's articles in the RM and elsewhere is available, please pm me. Given that the layout was dismantled 37 years ago it is incredible that parts of Craigshire and the Railway are still extant. Much of what remains of this important historical layout is now in the care of the Edinburgh and Lothians MRC (P D Hancocks old club) and further information can be found on the club website. https://elmrc.org.uk/the-p-d-hancock-collection Malcolm MacLeod Lord Craig's PA. 5 5 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium St Enodoc Posted July 6 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 6 45 minutes ago, dunwurken said: From Lord Craig, Craig Castle, Craigshire, Scotland. Today, 6th July 2024, marks the 75th anniversary of P D Hancock's Craig and Mertonford Light Railway. Readers of the 009 News and the Railway Modeller will be aware of this as articles have appeared in both magazines. How 4mm scale has changed over the years. When PD adopted the 4mm scale / 9mm track gauge combination no one had really done this before and there was extremely limited support from the trade in the post WW2 austerity era and most certainly no r-t-r products available to help him out with everything having to be handmade or adapted to suit. His book, Narrow Gauge Adventure, first published in 1975, (2nd Edn. 1980) is a classic and is fairly readily available on the second hand market. A large number of articles by PD published in the Railway Modeller between 1950 and 1993 can be viewed by subscribers on the RM digital archive. An index of all PD's articles in the RM and elsewhere is available, please pm me. Given that the layout was dismantled 37 years ago it is incredible that parts of Craigshire and the Railway are still extant. Much of what remains of this important historical layout is now in the care of the Edinburgh and Lothians MRC (P D Hancocks old club) and further information can be found on the club website. https://elmrc.org.uk/the-p-d-hancock-collection Malcolm MacLeod Lord Craig's PA. PA? Not a very distinguished title, Malcolm. I imagine you more, given where you are, as a beadle? Anyway, congratulations to you, the rest of the PDH Collection team and the wider E&LMRC community. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunwurken Posted July 6 Share Posted July 6 7 hours ago, St Enodoc said: PA? Not a very distinguished title, Malcolm. I imagine you more, given where you are, as a beadle? Anyway, congratulations to you, the rest of the PDH Collection team and the wider E&LMRC community. Dogs body would be more accurate 😂😂 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
drduncan Posted July 7 Share Posted July 7 On 03/06/2020 at 15:58, Albyn said: I agree with your comments about the early colour photos - fascinating. I think the early first Craig is my favourite. Much as I like the pre=grouping standard gauge locos and stock, the extra standard gauge did rather clog the main layout up a bit and lost a lot of the scenic content and arrangement that made it look so attractive in such a small space. I like the trams and the castle but some of the early photos have a nice uncluttered look. The early narrow gauge locos are also the ones with the most charm. By the time of the later ones 009 was well established and other people were making similar things. However his writing is a lot of the charm. It really is very enjoyable to read. Although lots of modern layouts have back stories PDH''s is still the most readable. I do have scans of many of the Modeller articles which I'd be happy to forward. Can't really post them on a website without permission from PECO. regards, Albyn I’d very much appreciate seeming the scans. Duncan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockershovel Posted July 7 Share Posted July 7 On 22/04/2023 at 21:43, Albyn said: A box of some of the Graham Farish Figures made by West's turned up on eBay and found their way to me in Cardiff The portly sleeping gentleman certainly rings a bell! 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-UnitMad Posted July 7 Share Posted July 7 1 hour ago, rockershovel said: The portly sleeping gentleman certainly rings a bell! Agreed. I think he was positioned as sound asleep in front of the CMR Engine Shed office, on the Mk1 layout. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunwurken Posted July 9 Share Posted July 9 What is not appreciated is that there were four Graham Farish slumbering gentlemen on Craigshire. Details relating to the Yard Foreman are attached. Malcolm The Sleeping Yard Foreman of Craig.pdf 6 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albyn Posted July 9 Share Posted July 9 Thanks Malcolm for sorting out the sleeping Yard Foreman! Albyn Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewartingram Posted July 9 Share Posted July 9 He reminds me of Claude Greengrass from Heartbeat! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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