RMweb Premium John Isherwood Posted September 12, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 12, 2019 58 minutes ago, Tony Wright said: 'don't try a Jidenco as your first brass kit.' Sound advice, Jonathan. Though I'd take it further - don't try Jidenco as your two hundredth brass kit! Regards, Tony. A caution too far, Tony - I have built a number of Jidenco kits, and they are perfectly acceptable models of subjects that are otherwise unavailable. (I still have some, in Falcon Brass guise, to build). Have you built any yourself? Regards, John Isherwood. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Lecorbusier Posted September 12, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted September 12, 2019 33 minutes ago, john new said: On the counter to that, and related partially to my earlier post too, the great move to etched brass and away from glue together white metal body kits on r-t-r chassis was one of the things that aided the drift away from kits. The elite modellers were happy as were some of the upper middle ground as it improved quality. They have the skill set to do it. Beginners and lower middle standard were deterred. I tried a brass kit, was dissatisfied with it and have rarely tried brass since. It aided my drift in the early 1990s away from modelling into other railway related interests. I will have another go with brass as I’ve returned to the active modelling fold but card, plastic and resin for me will be a first choice. Horses for courses, but brass valve gear and all that fiddling with soldering pin heads requires watchmaking skills we don’t all have. I haven't been doing this lark long enough to comment. I always got the impression that the etched brass kits were more "and/also" made to fill gaps and compliment the white metal offerings ....rather than either/or to supplant them. I also got the impression that they were to give an option to lesser mortals who couldn't manage scratch building. But I may have that wrong. I have recently been scratch building some wagons from Plasticard, and I would observe that this process in many ways is every bit as demanding as constructing an etched brass kit. 7 1 12 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium t-b-g Posted September 12, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 12, 2019 15 minutes ago, Lecorbusier said: I haven't been doing this lark long enough to comment. I always got the impression that the etched brass kits were more "and/also" made to fill gaps and compliment the white metal offerings ....rather than either/or to supplant them. I also got the impression that they were to give an option to lesser mortals who couldn't manage scratch building. But I may have that wrong. I have recently been scratch building some wagons from Plasticard, and I would observe that this process in many ways is every bit as demanding as constructing an etched brass kit. Lovely work! I have built several wagons in a similar way, using etched/cast detailing bits. I find it hugely rewarding and such wagons are treasured much more than any kit or modified RTR. It is probably harder work than some kits but if you get a bad kit, building from scratch can sometimes be easier than trying to alter poorly designed and wrongly shaped bits into something that will go together and look like what it is supposed to be. I have long since given up worrying about technology or the future of the hobby. People have been predicting the demise of the hobby for as long as I can remember and it hasn't happened yet. I will continue making things the way I like doing it (a bit "old school") and those who want to use computers and modern technology can carry on their way. Those who wish to use RTR either out of the box or modified are fine to as long as they enjoy what they are doing. That is really all that matters. As long as there are people around who build models like yours, the hobby is alive and well! 7 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atso Posted September 12, 2019 Share Posted September 12, 2019 (edited) Following on from my 3D printed test models for the N Gauge C12 and N1, I've spend some time today working out the arrangement for the etched chassis for the N1. Nothing too special, just a straight worm and wheel arrangement providing a 25:1 reduction on an 11,000 rpm motor. The chassis itself will be split frame and built using the 2mm Association's methods. Edited September 12, 2019 by Atso 8 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold john new Posted September 12, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 12, 2019 (edited) 2 hours ago, Lecorbusier said: I haven't been doing this lark long enough to comment. I always got the impression that the etched brass kits were more "and/also" made to fill gaps and compliment the white metal offerings ....rather than either/or to supplant them. I also got the impression that they were to give an option to lesser mortals who couldn't manage scratch building. But I may have that wrong. I suspect elements of both our views are right and neither are 100% correct, user perception also varies. About 10 years ago now I scratch built a traverser out of brass tube and strip just before I drifted out of active modelling for a few years so I'm not averse to the materiaL as such. It is just most of the kit etches I see look to be very fiddly or for things like huts I would probably scratch build out of card. Edited September 12, 2019 by john new 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MJI Posted September 12, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 12, 2019 6 hours ago, Tony Wright said: Thanks Scott, And no prizes for guessing which one interests me more! I can see the one behind in any catalogue, model shop or at a show (hundreds of 'em). I can also own it, should I choose. But so what? I'm not saying the Bachmann EVENING STAR is not a good model (quite the contrary; Bachmann's 9F at source in many ways is superior to a DJH equivalent) but, to own one, all one needs is cash. That's not to decry those who cannot make one the right to own one, either, but one is personal property, the other is a personal creation, which, I hope, this thread is all about. Should anyone take the Bachmann 9F a stage further, by altering/detailing/weathering it, then that's also a personal creation, and there's great merit in that. But only if one does it oneself. That DoG of yours is beautiful. My compliments. Regards, Tony. My favourite 9F is Evening Star always wanted one. Managed to save up Christmas and Birthday money to buy a Bachmann (wages go on house and boring stuff like food). Just because I bought it does it mean it means less to me than my kit stuff. You can like all sources, RTR, converted RTR, kit, scratch. They are all mine. 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Popular Post jamie92208 Posted September 12, 2019 RMweb Premium Popular Post Share Posted September 12, 2019 (edited) After all the exquisite 2mm scale stuff that's been on show here I thought that perhaps readers might like something completely different, as a certain TV show used to say. Today I was invited over to a friends about 25 miles away. Over the past two years Richard has designed and built a large Gauge 1 layout in his garden. A double track main line with a station with platform loops and bays along with sidings and loco and good facilities. He has designed and built it himself. He has been an avid Gauge 1 collector for many years and has a range of live steam, battery electric and clockwork locos. Many of the steam locos are his own scratchbuilds and the Midland stock in particular is exquisite . We didn't run any steam today as the main propose was to put a lot of the old tinplate stock out and photograph it for forthcoming magazine articles. First up were three trains of LNWR stock. Here are a few of the locos in the station area. The Claughton had 7 tinplate bogie coaches behind it mainly Marklin and Carette. Various GNR locos appeared. Mainly clockwork but one was a steamer. The Saddle tank was a vintage Bing that had been stripped and repainted. This single was on a rake of vintage GNR tinplate stock. You can see the Claughton and it's train in the background. This beautiful 800 class Belpaire is one of Richards scratchbuilds. Here's a close up of the saddle tank Even the Great Western made an appearance with two train sets. Finally Richard wanted to pose these three 0-4-4 tanks together. The Midland one is another of his creations and the other two are vintage. All in all a great day was had by the three of us. Richard has promised that next time we will play trains and he will get his scale Midland and LMS stock out and we can run his Aster Duchess with 12 on and the Belpaire with a good rake of clerestories. I must add that Richard has just celebrated his 80th birthday and spent last Thursday trying to teach me how to use a lining pen to line my own locos. Jamie Edited September 12, 2019 by jamie92208 30 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Tony Wright Posted September 12, 2019 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted September 12, 2019 (edited) 3 hours ago, cctransuk said: A caution too far, Tony - I have built a number of Jidenco kits, and they are perfectly acceptable models of subjects that are otherwise unavailable. (I still have some, in Falcon Brass guise, to build). Have you built any yourself? Regards, John Isherwood. I have, and given up, John, Have you ever tried to build a Jidenco Claughton? I was given two to build on commission on one occasion. After some initial work, I handed them back. So much scratch-building would have been needed to replace the poor/ill-fitting parts that it would not have been economically viable. Would you believe the footplate in both the small- and large-boiler versions was just a flat piece of brass, with no apertures to take wheels or mechanism? Foolishly, some time later I attempted a Jidenco wagon (my memory fails me as to exactly which one). The fit of parts was very poor, and, once more, I gave up. Though it might count for nothing in the grand scheme of things, out of the over 500 locos I've built from kits, Jidenco's are the only ones to have beaten me! I'm delighted you find them 'perfectly acceptable models' All I can say is you're a much better modeller than I am. I congratulate you. If some of them are good, then your post will have set the record straight. My position is 'once bitten..............' Never again! In Jidenco's defence, how have others got on with the kits? Better than I have, I'll warrant. Regards, Tony. Edited September 12, 2019 by Tony Wright typo error 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Tony Wright Posted September 12, 2019 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted September 12, 2019 28 minutes ago, MJI said: My favourite 9F is Evening Star always wanted one. Managed to save up Christmas and Birthday money to buy a Bachmann (wages go on house and boring stuff like food). Just because I bought it does it mean it means less to me than my kit stuff. You can like all sources, RTR, converted RTR, kit, scratch. They are all mine. Of course they're all yours Martin, No one can (or shouldn't even try to) deny you that right. However, on a purely personal note, seeing something which someone has personally made, rather than just bought (whether it be RTR or commission) will always mean more to me. There's a personal story to listen to. Regards, Tony. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium John Isherwood Posted September 12, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 12, 2019 2 minutes ago, Tony Wright said: I have, and given up, John, Have you ever tried to build a Jidenco Claughton? I was given two to build on commission on one occasion. After some initial work, I handed them back. So much scratch-building would have been need to replace the poor/ill-fitting parts that it would not have been economically viable. Would you believe the footplate in both the small- and large-boiler versions was just a flat piece of brass, with no apertures to take wheels or mechanism? Foolishly, some time later I attempted a Jidenco wagon (my memory fails me as to exactly which one). The fit of parts was very poor, and, once more, I gave up. Though it might count for nothing in the grand scheme of things, out of the over 500 locos I've built from kits, Jidenco's are the only ones to have beaten me! I'm delighted you find them 'perfectly acceptable models' All I can say is you're a much better modeller than I am. I congratulate you. If some of them are good, then your post will have set the record straight. My position is 'once bitten..............' Never again! In Jidenco's defence, how have others got on with the kits? Better than I have, I'll warrant. Regards, Tony. Admittedly, my experience has been confined to wagon kits - I'll try and find them when I return from Portugal and post images. I can see that Jidenco / Falcon Brass kits are anathema to professional builders - but that is not a reason for the self-builder to reject them. If the alternative is scratchbuilding - which it usually is - then the pre-etched parts are a bonus, even if they need 'adjustment'. If a subject was only available as an Jidenco / Falcon Brass kit; (or scratchbuilt); I'd go for the kit any time. (I find that cutting out parts with a piercing saw is far more frustrating than 'adjusting' etched kit parts). Regards, John Isherwood. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Tony Wright Posted September 12, 2019 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted September 12, 2019 (edited) 20 minutes ago, cctransuk said: Admittedly, my experience has been confined to wagon kits - I'll try and find them when I return from Portugal and post images. I can see that Jidenco / Falcon Brass kits are anathema to professional builders - but that is not a reason for the self-builder to reject them. If the alternative is scratchbuilding - which it usually is - then the pre-etched parts are a bonus, even if they need 'adjustment'. If a subject was only available as an Jidenco / Falcon Brass kit; (or scratchbuilt); I'd go for the kit any time. (I find that cutting out parts with a piercing saw is far more frustrating than 'adjusting' etched kit parts). Regards, John Isherwood. Thanks John, And perhaps my initial comment was a bit too cynical. However, when one is (was) paid to build professionally, then time spent correcting ill-fitting parts is rarely catered for in extra payments. You make a very interesting point, regarding the difference between the 'professional' builder and the self-builder. Time spent by the latter is often enjoyed in a way not given to those who earn a crust by making models. Not that I didn't enjoy making models professionally (have you ever tried to teach 5C?), but there was always a maximum price one could ask for a model, and to take so much time 'correcting' a kit's mistakes, either in its prototype inaccuracies or poor fit of parts was never going to be economically viable. Strangely, I never built any of the 'high-end' kits, either; the Mitchell/Finney ones. Though their quality was/is unimpeachable, so much time would have been needed for me to erect them (assuming I could?) that the price would have been way too high. Imagine fashioning Gresley crossheads from umpteen sandwiches of etched brass! I've built one Brassmasters' kit - a Beames L&NWR 0-8-4T. The chassis was way too complicated for me - fully-sprung and so on. I made it rigid, in a fraction of the time. Are JIdenco/Falcon Brass kits anathema to professional builders? Clearly, from your experience some of the kits must be fine. If so, then my prejudice should be challenged. Will other professional modellers comment, please? Regards, Tony. Edited September 12, 2019 by Tony Wright Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwealleans Posted September 12, 2019 Share Posted September 12, 2019 (edited) I'm not a professional builder, but I have put together a very few Jidenco kits. I doubt any professional would have touched them with a bargepole and I wouldn't consider a loco after building the rolling stock kits. GC 6 wheel brake van as used on the Framlingham Branch. The instructions told you to fit the handrails, then a few steps later had you adding the corner overlays - which the handrails pass through. If you built this with the original solebar/axleguards you'd never get it to the right height as designed. I ended up changing the duckets, making end posts out of plastic and adding all kinds of detail to this. This GC composite had picture windows all along its length, so the one where the door between first and third class is hung had to be remade as two smaller windows. The bogies are also awful and I still haven't replaced them. Edit - forgot this GN fish van (right). I'm not sure anyone else has ever offered this vehicle. All the door strapping had to be replaced but apart from that I don't remember any major issues. Edited September 13, 2019 by jwealleans 9 2 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Barry Ten Posted September 12, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 12, 2019 Definitely not finescale modelling but here's what I've been working on on and off over the last few weeks. It's a Tri-ang Hornby Pannier body which I've backdated to non-topfeed condition, and added wire handrails and some other bits. The underlying 57XX chassis is a spare from Bachmann. It required a lot of "skirt" material to be cut away from beneath the panniers, but was otherwise a fairly straightforward fit. The body is from one of my oldest models and can't be far off 50 years old. Dimensionally, it's very good, the only real issue being the thickness of the cab side sheets, which I've attempted to thin down along their visible edges. The filler around the chimney and front of the pannier is to repair damage that happened in the 70s! Al 17 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Izzy Posted September 12, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 12, 2019 I have always thought Jidenco kits the perfect introduction to scratchbuilding. The biggest issue I felt was the use of too thin an etching material. Boilers to be rolled from half etched 10thou - to produce the boiler bands which of course were thus far too thick and the actual boiler fag paper thick - was useless. I once took on building a MR 3130 class 0-6-0. When I finished it I was so determined to use something of the kit that I did - the turned brass whistle. Never again ...... Izzy 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Popular Post Michael Edge Posted September 12, 2019 RMweb Premium Popular Post Share Posted September 12, 2019 My records show that I've built 17 locos from Jidenco/Falcon kits plus a couple for my own use, most of them are too far back to have been photographed digitally but here are two examples. In case anyone is wondering these are 3mm scale/TT gauge. 13 16 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrg1 Posted September 12, 2019 Share Posted September 12, 2019 1 hour ago, Tony Wright said: I have, and given up, John, Have you ever tried to build a Jidenco Claughton? I was given two to build on commission on one occasion. After some initial work, I handed them back. So much scratch-building would have been needed to replace the poor/ill-fitting parts that it would not have been economically viable. Would you believe the footplate in both the small- and large-boiler versions was just a flat piece of brass, with no apertures to take wheels or mechanism? Foolishly, some time later I attempted a Jidenco wagon (my memory fails me as to exactly which one). The fit of parts was very poor, and, once more, I gave up. Though it might count for nothing in the grand scheme of things, out of the over 500 locos I've built from kits, Jidenco's are the only ones to have beaten me! I'm delighted you find them 'perfectly acceptable models' All I can say is you're a much better modeller than I am. I congratulate you. If some of them are good, then your post will have set the record straight. My position is 'once bitten..............' Never again! In Jidenco's defence, how have others got on with the kits? Better than I have, I'll warrant. Regards, Tony. I thought it was just me. I bought a GWR Cordon gas tank wagon, and found that Falcon suggested that the tanks were made up from dowels, with the etched ends glued on. The frames for the seven tanks, apart from being unbuildable, if opened out to the correct diameter, would have broken through each other. Eventually, new frames were cut out, tanks scratched, and that meant that apart from the tank ends-turned down to the correct size-all the topsides were scratched. The underframe was detailed, and the model was now graces a GWR layout. I also had an LNER fruit van. The floor, sides and ends were one etching-with no fold lines. Scoring these in and soldering up showed the etches to be 2D, with much additional work to make them comparable to a Parkwood plastic kit. Closer inspection showed the body had warped. Unwarping saw the body split on the etch folds. The body can be viewed by interested modellers in the scrap bin, with the underframe in the spares stores. Never again. Never again. 1 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gr.king Posted September 12, 2019 Share Posted September 12, 2019 I suspect that some "notoriously unsatisfactory" kits can perhaps make good models in the hands of those who proceed warily, checking everything, trying temporary assemblies and making careful alterations compatible with other parts of the kit, when required. In the hand of those who "just build", soldering up solidly from square one, expecting everything to fit (or very nearly so), the same kits are bound to produce poor models or to prove impossible to assemble. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold queensquare Posted September 12, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 12, 2019 Currently on the bench at the moment is a Jidenco Brighton Atlantic in 3mm scale. I asked the customer for the etches before I agreed to take it on but all seems ok. The axle holes and coupling rods all match and the basic body shown here was fine and its by no means a simple prototype. I think the kits vary enormously with some being much better that others - Ive not come across a Claughton. The boiler unit is just resting on the footplate in the photo. With the lovely LNWR tinplate stuff at the top of this page I thought these may be of interest. Another of my customers brought them to last weekends Swindon show for me to have a look at - Bing push along, c.1911, 2mm scale (ish) - believed to be the first commercial 2mm.......... and yes I did put the tender the wrong way round. Jerry 13 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium St Enodoc Posted September 12, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 12, 2019 8 hours ago, Tony Wright said: 'Go back to magazines of the 60s, 70s and 80s and they are full of layouts that were largely RTR, and not very good at that.' Very true, Jerry. However, they tended to be in the Proprietary Modeller section of the mags, and, in my memory, were in a minority. Unlike today. Great 2mm modelling, by the way! Thanks for showing us. Regards, Tony. Up to a point, Lord Copper... There were some truly awful "proprietary" Railways of the Month in the 60s and 70s - I won't name them but folk of my vintage will be able to make their own lists - and yet there were also some that were really inspiring. One that made a very big impression was the Hillbury & Lington, from about 1963 (when I get home tonight I'll check the exact month) that was nearly all Tri-ang stock and SuperQuick buildings, yet it all seemed to fit together and look like a proper railway. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium St Enodoc Posted September 12, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 12, 2019 13 minutes ago, jrg1 said: I bought a GWR Cordon gas tank wagon Thanks for that. I've also got one of those, still in its box. Based on your comments, I think that's where it will remain. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium ArthurK Posted September 12, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 12, 2019 (edited) 2 hours ago, Tony Wright said: Thanks John, And perhaps my initial comment was a bit too cynical. However, when one is (was) paid to build professionally, then time spent correcting ill-fitting parts is rarely catered for in extra payments. You make a very interesting point, regarding the difference between the 'professional' builder and the self-builder. Time spent by the latter is often enjoyed in a way not given to those who earn a crust by making models. Not that I didn't enjoy making models professionally (have you ever tried to teach 5C?), but there was always a maximum price one could ask for a model, and to take so much time 'correcting' a kit's mistakes, either in its prototype inaccuracies or poor fit of parts was never going to be economically viable. Strangely, I never built any of the 'high-end' kits, either; the Mitchell/Finney ones. Though their quality was/is unimpeachable, so much time would have been needed for me to erect them (assuming I could?) that the price would have been way too high. Imagine fashioning Gresley crossheads from umpteen sandwiches of etched brass! I've built one Brassmasters' kit - a Beames L&NWR 0-8-4T. The chassis was way too complicated for me - fully-sprung and so on. I made it rigid, in a fraction of the time. Are JIdenco/Falcon Brass kits anathema to professional builders? Clearly, from your experience some of the kits must be fine. If so, then my prejudice should be challenged. Will other professional modellers comment, please? Regards, Tony. Whilst not a fan of Jidenco I feel that provided you were prepared to spend the time you could produce a reasonably acceptable result. I picked up two of their coaches (unbuilt) on a club secondhand stall. The first was this Barnham shown below. As Jonathan has remarked. the bogies were awful but I did get them to run (these were six-wheeled). The other was a sixty foot corridor third similar to the one in Jonathon's post. I built the body shell for that and decided I had no use for it and sold it on half built. I also built four NER ironstone hoppers. Again these were not easy builds but the result was acceptable, but might not pass close scrutiny. I will photograph these and post them on here later. Whilst we are talking awful (impossible) kits , I nominate MTK Gresley 61' 6" coaches. These were a preformed shell, beading included. It sounds an easy build until you find the bottom beading is under the the coach bottom!!! Enough said. I would rate these way below the Jidenco coaches. I must add that I have never bought or built a Jidenco loco kit. ArthurK Edited September 12, 2019 by ArthurK Grammar 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Popular Post Nick Mitchell Posted September 12, 2019 RMweb Premium Popular Post Share Posted September 12, 2019 2 hours ago, Tony Wright said: In Jidenco's defence, how have others got on with the kits? Better than I have, I'll warrant. Take one "unbuildable" Jidenco wagon kit, photographically reduce it to 2mm scale, and "hey presto" - it is even more difficult to build... but not impossible! The only components I couldn't use from the kit were some of the brake parts. 9 14 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Woodcock29 Posted September 12, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted September 12, 2019 Jidenco/Falcon Brass- urrrrrrr..... I'm sure I have posted the photo of this Falcon Brass L&Y steam railmotor before. I started it about 9-10 years ago for a friend and as I was still working at the time I ended up shelving it for 18 months or so but once I retired I got it out again to finish it. Its probably about 30% scratchbuilt - most of the underframe and coach steps, roof detail, interior of cab and coach, back of cab, coach bogie outer frame (to represent later mods), half the valve gear and other loco detailing. When the friend decided to sell some of his kit built locos I bought it even though it has no place on my layout. I do run it though on another friend's exhibition layouts. The biggest error by the kit designer was incorporating the rear cab sides sheets as part of the coach side etches - they should actually be flat whereas the body has tumblehome! Initially I just cut them off but in the end made new ones as the cut out wasn't the right shape. The valve gear was actually too small and some of the holes had broken out! So I made new parts from etched nickel silver brake rigging from the late Dave Cleal's range. There is an error in the beading/mouldings on the coach side but Jidenco's designer must have simply followed the Horwich drawings as the same error is evident in the blueprint I got from the L&YR Soc compared to the photos of the coaches as built - and I must say the L&YR Soc were extremely helpful in providing the coach drawing and a heap of photos of the locos, including a rear view not attached to a coach. Its powered by a Black Beetle motor bogie in the coach which I fitted by raising the level of the floor in the rear of the coach. Back in the 80s I built two Jidenco GN fish vans - the 6T and 5T (with clerestory roof) versions. The underframes were absolutely awful and if I was building them now they would be mostly replaced. I later discovered that the arrangement of the doors on the 5T version is completely wrong! I have also got two of the GC 6 wheel brake vans to build, as shown by Jonathan above. One of these is new and the other I acquired in a job lot and is part built but not square- urrrr! Andrew 18 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimwal Posted September 12, 2019 Share Posted September 12, 2019 Jidenco kits 4mm. I built an Ivatt 2mt 2-6-0. I used a Comet chassis as the Jidenco was poorly etched, particularly the valve gear. The body and tender weren't too bad but after completion I realised that the firebox and rear of the boiler were oversize. The tender tank was also 2mm too high. Some of the wagons possess inaccuracies as well. I've purchased fairly recently a Falcon Brass LNER ironstone hopper and an LMS ballast hopper wagon as shown in Mick's post above. They do look to be an improvement on the Jidenco ones. Modern Traction Kits, AKA Modern Trash Kits. Need we say more? confirmed when the proprietor named his 7mm range 'El Crappo'. (I believe he was noted as someone to be the first to preserve a main line diesel loco - a 'Warship') Needless to say the one thing it has taught me is to verify the accuracy of everything, don't assume it will always be right! 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MarkC Posted September 13, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 13, 2019 (edited) 4mm Jidenco/Falcon Brass? I built a Midland 0-4-4WT over 17 years ago, and it runs beautifully. It saw many shows as part of the fleet operating on my exhibition layout. What does let it down isn't the kit but my poor attempts to hand line it out back then. (It's in pre-1907 MR livery). I must strip it and repaint it properly at some time. At the same time I bought a Jidenco/FB MR steam railmotor and trailer. Whilst the coach parts were easy enough, the mechanicals beat me, and I have never got it to run. However, salvation may be at hand, as John Redrup will sell me a kit of his new version of the power unit. So this should be (finally) up and running ere long. Mark Edited September 13, 2019 by MarkC 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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