Wright writes.....

[Richard_A]

2 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

I can't recall if this BTH Type 1 was built from an A1 kit or a Dave Alexander one (or neither). Rob Kinsey (the builder/painter) will no doubt tell me............

 

 

Running on a ballast train on Stoke Summit.

 

Another diesel produced from etched sides over a modified RTR donor was..............

 

 

LION, seen here awkwardly photographed with a (short) telephoto lens during Bytham's early days (a technique not to be repeated).

 

Were these Craftsman or A1 etches/castings? Either way, the donor (I believe) was a Lima Brush Type 4. 

 

This loco is now re-gauged to EM to run on Retford. 

 

 

The bth type 1 could be a dave alexander one, I believe mtk and techcad produced kits as well, the lion is likely to be a craftsman Models conversion kit. 

[Tony Wright]

33 minutes ago, Richard_A said:

The bth type 1 could be a dave alexander one, I believe mtk and techcad produced kits as well, the lion is likely to be a craftsman Models conversion kit. 

Thanks Richard,

 

Rob Kinsey had emailed me to confirm that the BTH was built from A Dave Alexander kit. 

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

[Tony Wright]

Although certainly not obscure, Comet loco kits are not numerous. 

 

I've built three - the Ivatt 'Mickey Mouse' 2-6-0 (for which I have no digital images), the Caprotti Black Five (seen some pages back) and.......

 

 

The Royal Scot, which, if memory serves was easy to build. 

 

The only thing I changed were the front buffers - the ones supplied were way too puny.

 

 

After this, it went off to Ian Rathbone for painting, and, as SHERWOOD FORESTER, ran on Charwelton. It became the property of a friend.

 

Though not a complete kit, I also built/painted/weathered the Hornby/Comet 8F combination........

 

 

 

As good as any way of obtaining an 8F, I'd say. 

 

How many Comet loco frames I've built, I've lost count! They're excellent in my view.

 

 

 

 

[Tony Wright]

One rather obscure coach kit manufacturer was ROCOM...........

 

 

As far as I'm aware, the firm only offered two etched brass kits; the one above - a 'short', GE-section TO - and a 'short' brake third. 

 

Has anyone else built these kits?

 

 

[Tony Wright]

Three more examples of DC Kits' products................

 

 

 

 

 

[Richard_A]

13 minutes ago, Tony Wright said:

Although certainly not obscure, Comet loco kits are not numerous. 

 

I've built three - the Ivatt 'Mickey Mouse' 2-6-0 (for which I have no digital images), the Caprotti Black Five (seen some pages back) and.......

 

 

The Royal Scot, which, if memory serves was easy to build. 

 

The only thing I changed were the front buffers - the ones supplied were way too puny.

 

 

After this, it went off to Ian Rathbone for painting, and, as SHERWOOD FORESTER, ran on Charwelton. It became the property of a friend.

 

Though not a complete kit, I also built/painted/weathered the Hornby/Comet 8F combination........

 

 

 

As good as any way of obtaining an 8F, I'd say. 

 

How many Comet loco frames I've built, I've lost count! They're excellent in my view.

 

 

 

 

Comet have cancelled the 8f "kit" apparently they can't get hold of the locomotive bodies anymore. 

[jwealleans]

23 minutes ago, Tony Wright said:

the Ivatt 'Mickey Mouse' 2-6-0 (for which I have no digital images)

 

Not the greatest picture, but the late Graham Varley built one which we ran on Thurston.

 

 

It was a lovely thing (though we used to wind him up if anyone asked about it by loudly telling them it was a detailed Triang one).    I believe he sold it on and have no idea where it might be now.

 

 

 

[mozzer models]

My work of DC kits Kits class 128 & 129

4mm BR class 128 WR DMU built from a DC kits kit by brian mosby, on Flickr

4mm BR class 129 WR DMU built from a DC kits kit by brian mosby, on Flickr

 

& a Class 105

4mm BR class 105 DMU built from a DC kits kit by brian mosby, on Flickr

Edited July 14 by mozzer models

[mozzer models]

Its a bit of a  Mucky Pigeon

4mm BR ex-LNER 32ft 4 wheel brake van built from the Chivers kit by brian mosby, on Flickr

 

& in Teak

4mm LNER 32ft 4 wheel brake van also know as a pigeon brake van built from the Chivers Finelines by brian mosby, on Flickr

4mm LNER 32ft 4 wheel brake van also know as a pigeon brake van built from the Chivers Finelines2 by brian mosby, on Flickr

IMG_20190910_183515 by brian mosby, on Flickr

 

[Mike 84C]

Not sure if I'm allowed to mention this on WW but, I was at Lincoln T&T fair today and one of the traders had 21 Ian Kirk LNER teak coaches all made up and some needing a bit of tlc but the teak finishing was very good. He also had a fair number of Kit built LNE loco's and various unmade loco kits. Pm me if any of this is of interest.

[Chuffer Davies]

5 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

 

 

Does anyone else have motorised Kitmaster/Airfix locos? 

 

 

Hi Tony,

A few years ago, just as a fun project after the intensity of building a Malcolm Mitchell brass kit, I had a go at motorising the Airfix Ciy of Truro. I was inevitably influenced by the level of detail associated with the brass kit, but it was a concious decision not to correct the dimensional errors of the Airfix product. It was great fun and probably the nearest I have ever come to completing a project in the kind of timescale typically achieved by you Tony.

 

I used my standard approach to fitting outside cranks (a recent WW topic).  I used Markit's cranks but I drilled out the treaded hole to 2.5mm.  I then turned a 2.5mm shoulder on the axle ends and finally used Loctite 603 to secure the cranks to the axles.  This gives a very strong bond and I have never had one fail.  The other features are a split frame scratch built chassis on the loco and a split frame tender chassis but with the front two axles assembled as a swinging bogie ala Mike Sharman's suggestion.  The tender is then weighted and hung on the drawbar to increase the tractive potential of the loco. 

 

This is also the only loco I have ever painted myself, as I couldn't with a clear conscience ask Ian R to paint this one.  I used Land Rover rattle can green for the Brunswick Green and then brush painted the matt black emulsion paint over the green where required.  I was amazed that the finish wasn't a total disaster which is how my attempts at painting usually turn out.

 

A thouroughly enjoyable 'Rule 1 applies' project.

 

Frank

Edited July 14 by Chuffer Davies
spelling correction

[Tony Teague]

11 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

Chivers (not mentioned before?)........

 

 

Chivers also did a couple of loco kits that I am aware of:

 

 

An ex-LBSCR Billinton D3, and

 

 

an ex-SECR J class - an unusual prototype; both of these built for me by Chris Philips.

 

Oddly, for an SR layout, I also have a couple of Chivers' LMS express fish vans; I made up the kits which were weathered by Mick Bonwick.

 

 

Finally, no-one has mentioned MARC Models, which is certainly now defunct and made models of many obscure prototypes across all regions; this is his SR Bulleid cinema coach & generator van:

 

 

He (Mike Radford) also produced in conjunction with Model rail magazine, a more or less complete set of kits to make up the SNCF Night Ferry stock:

 

 

Tony

 

 

[sjp23480]

On obscure lines, would you consider adding Britannia Pacific models to the list. They are still trading https://www.britanniapacific.co.uk/index.htm

They seem to specialise in EMU and DMU variants. I have one of their snowploughs which are no longer available. 

Steve

[JamesSpooner]

I’m not sure to what extent these count as obscure but the first carriage is a mixture of Mousa etched brass sides, married to MJT underpinnings, ends and roof, hauled by an Alan Gibson F5 running on a scratchbuilt ‘flexichas’ chassis.  The second coach is a standard Comet kit.

 

Nigel

 

[Tony Wright]

17 hours ago, Woodcock29 said:

Tony

A slight correction - the Bill Bedford GN Dia 277 BT is 3D printed in resin not cast. I have the similar Dia 129 luggage lavatory composite.

Andrew

Good morning Andrew,

 

If the Mousa carriages are 3D-printed, why was it necessary for me to remove (what looks like casting) flash from around the window reveals? 

 

 

 

I've not noticed this necessity on 3D-prints in the past. Yes, some cleaning up, but not removal of flash.

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

[Tony Wright]

8 hours ago, Tony Teague said:

 

Chivers also did a couple of loco kits that I am aware of:

 

 

An ex-LBSCR Billinton D3, and

 

 

an ex-SECR J class - an unusual prototype; both of these built for me by Chris Philips.

 

Oddly, for an SR layout, I also have a couple of Chivers' LMS express fish vans; I made up the kits which were weathered by Mick Bonwick.

 

 

Finally, no-one has mentioned MARC Models, which is certainly now defunct and made models of many obscure prototypes across all regions; this is his SR Bulleid cinema coach & generator van:

 

 

He (Mike Radford) also produced in conjunction with Model rail magazine, a more or less complete set of kits to make up the SNCF Night Ferry stock:

 

 

Tony

 

 

Thanks for those Tony,

 

Yes, MARC Models - I should have remembered.

 

For my 60th birthday (was it that long ago?), a friend gave me this.......................

 

 

BZ; built by Mike Radford from one of his own kits. I think it's a lovely thing.

 

Geoff Haynes built/painted this complete Silver Jubilee set from MARC Models kits................

 

 

For a customer, altering the Hornby A4 to suit as well.  

 

 

The most impressive part of the set is the dining triplet. 

 

After the War, the SJ rake never ran as a whole again, though the catering triplet was used in a Newcastle express for over a decade........

 

 

John Houlden built/painted this Marc Models set to run on his Gamston Bank, altering it to suit its post-War condition. 

 

In fairness, the etch brass product probably makes up better...........

 

 

Than my own ex-Silver Jubilee triplet diner, built from Mailcoach (clear plastic parts), MJT and Comet components.

 

I still have the twin 1st artic from the Silver Jubilee to build, from MARC Models, which Mike kindly gave me. I must get on with it.

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

 

 

[Tony Wright]

I mentioned recently my helping a widow in finding buyers for her late husband's model railway collection. 

 

It's mainly RTR (with a few kit-built wagons), with some items 'Expertly Weathered' by TMC. Including this..........

 

 

Hornby diesel-electric shunter (later classified 08?). 

 

The actual paperwork from TMC was in the box, dating from a few years ago, with an invoice for about £40.00 (which also included fitting a driver). I assume that's for the service, and not including the cost of the model as well (what's the cost of a new Hornby 08, from four years ago? What's a new one cost now?). 

 

The reason I'm mentioning this is that it's suggested TMC weathering does not necessarily impact on the price of a model when it's sold-on second-hand.

 

I have to say, the weathering is consistent and subtle.

 

I've fitted the extra bits on the buffer beams, removing the tension-locks.

 

I wonder what this might be worth now? Any ideas, please?

 

 

[Barclay]

Motorising Airfix kits? A very important part of my developing in the hobby and turning away from RTR.

The pug was done in 00 when I was a teenager, and more recently converted to EM. It has a Bristol Models chassis and Sharman wheels. Getting a bit wonky now!

The diesel shunter was my first EM loco., when I was 18 or 19. It's had some mods, not entirely enough to truly represent an LMS engine, and a replacement Impetus chassis bought secondhand to replace the original, my first scratchbuild, which was plagued by loose Gibson cranks.

The Austerity has a Perseverance chassis and Gibson wheels. A more recent model, perhaps 15-20 years old now.

 

 

 

[Captain Kernow]

3 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

I mentioned recently my helping a widow in finding buyers for her late husband's model railway collection. 

 

It's mainly RTR (with a few kit-built wagons), with some items 'Expertly Weathered' by TMC. Including this..........

 

 

Hornby diesel-electric shunter (later classified 08?). 

 

The actual paperwork from TMC was in the box, dating from a few years ago, with an invoice for about £40.00 (which also included fitting a driver). I assume that's for the service, and not including the cost of the model as well (what's the cost of a new Hornby 08, from four years ago? What's a new one cost now?). 

 

The reason I'm mentioning this is that it's suggested TMC weathering does not necessarily impact on the price of a model when it's sold-on second-hand.

 

I have to say, the weathering is consistent and subtle.

 

I've fitted the extra bits on the buffer beams, removing the tension-locks.

 

I wonder what this might be worth now? Any ideas, please?

 

 

Good morning, Tony.

 

A near equivalent may be this Hornby 08 in BR black livery, advertised by Kernow Models just one penny shy of £170 - https://www.kernowmodelrailcentre.com/p/74197/R30121-WSL-Hornby-Class-08-0-6-0-Diesel-Shunter-number-13079

 

[Captain Kernow]

15 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

Although certainly not obscure, Comet loco kits are not numerous. 

 

Though not a complete kit, I also built/painted/weathered the Hornby/Comet 8F combination........

 

As good as any way of obtaining an 8F, I'd say. 

 

I would certainly agree, I very much enjoyed building my version of the kit with the Hornby body about 20 years ago:

 

Here it is, with the front of my Bachmann WD 2-8-0 in view on the left (modified to a W.R. example and also weathered by me):

 

My 8F is numbered as 48706, which was one of the last 8Fs in use on the Somerset and Dorset in March 1966.

 

 

Edited July 15 by Captain Kernow

[Compound2632]

3 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

The reason I'm mentioning this is that it's suggested TMC weathering does not necessarily impact on the price of a model when it's sold-on second-hand.

 

Ah now, you see, it's been 'expertly weathered' by a recognised business, with certificate to match, so retains its value. If the same model had been weathered by the owner himself, to no matter what standard of excellence, it would be heavily devalued. It's the name that matters, not the degree of craftsmanship. 

 

Forgive my cynicism.

[Tony Wright]

2 hours ago, Captain Kernow said:

Good morning, Tony.

 

A near equivalent may be this Hornby 08 in BR black livery, advertised by Kernow Models just one penny shy of £170 - https://www.kernowmodelrailcentre.com/p/74197/R30121-WSL-Hornby-Class-08-0-6-0-Diesel-Shunter-number-13079

 

Thanks Captain,

 

I take it that's straight DC, not DCC? If so, that seems a high price for what's basically an 0-6-0 (I'm not being critical of Kernow here, but that's their market price, and it's reduced from RRP). Which brings me again to the question, what might the model I've shown be worth? 

 

No wonder the current RTR market prices are perceived as being beyond the pocket of many 'modellers'. In my view, it doesn't bode well for the future of the hobby; certainly not for younger modellers and those with more-limited means. 

 

Regards,

 

Tony.

 

 

[Tony Wright]

2 hours ago, Compound2632 said:

 

Ah now, you see, it's been 'expertly weathered' by a recognised business, with certificate to match, so retains its value. If the same model had been weathered by the owner himself, to no matter what standard of excellence, it would be heavily devalued. It's the name that matters, not the degree of craftsmanship. 

 

Forgive my cynicism.

Good afternoon Stephen,

 

There's no need to forgive cynicism - it's to be applauded on many occasions.

 

I take your point, and the model in question has the 'paperwork'. That said, what if it were a 'limited edition', or a model (with that number) only produced for a short time? Might it then be collectable? Meaning that by weathering it (however well), then the opposite of value retention will apply. 

 

I have to say that some 'factory-applied' weathering (not TMC's) seems to be no more than someone squirting dirty thinners at the underside of a model, often leaving a 'shadow' where the motion has masked the wheels. 

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

[robertcwp]

7 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

Thanks for those Tony,

 

Yes, MARC Models - I should have remembered.

 

For my 60th birthday (was it that long ago?), a friend gave me this.......................

 

 

BZ; built by Mike Radford from one of his own kits. I think it's a lovely thing.

 

Geoff Haynes built/painted this complete Silver Jubilee set from MARC Models kits................

 

 

For a customer, altering the Hornby A4 to suit as well.  

 

 

The most impressive part of the set is the dining triplet. 

 

After the War, the SJ rake never ran as a whole again, though the catering triplet was used in a Newcastle express for over a decade........

 

 

John Houlden built/painted this Marc Models set to run on his Gamston Bank, altering it to suit its post-War condition. 

 

In fairness, the etch brass product probably makes up better...........

 

 

Than my own ex-Silver Jubilee triplet diner, built from Mailcoach (clear plastic parts), MJT and Comet components.

 

I still have the twin 1st artic from the Silver Jubilee to build, from MARC Models, which Mike kindly gave me. I must get on with it.

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

 

 

There is a Silver Jubilee dining triplet on Retford, which I think is from the Rupert Brown range. It's certainly metal.

[cb900f]

Tony I know you don't touch e bay, but to give you an idea.

 

Having just looked at previously sold Hornby 08s the successful selling price varied between approx £40 and £120. That is for the detailed 08 not the 1960s variant.

 

I would hazard a guess at a value of around £85.

 

Pete