Tony Wright Posted July 7 Author Share Posted July 7 1 hour ago, 31A said: Not only GW types, Tony..... I bought this many decades ago, as tender-only kit. It is mainly whitemetal but includes etched parts for coal rails, guard irons and brake gear, and the etch includes all the etched parts for the loco as well! As you can see, the instructions are those for the complete kit as well. I must have had some purpose in mind for it when I bought it, but whatever that was it remains unbuilt to this day. Good evening Steve, Thanks for that. Did the M&L range become part of Autocom? The reason I ask is that much of that range was absorbed into South Eastern Finecast and, latterly, Nu-Cast & Partners. I chatted to Dave Ellis about the prospect of reintroducing a D2/D3 (the previous M&L ones?) from the absorbed range, but, with Dave's retirement, that probably won't happen now. A pity. However, anyone contemplating building a D2 or D3 today should look no further than the London Road examples........... D2 built/painted by me. D3 built by me, painted/weathered by Geoff Haynes. Regards, Tony. 12 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Wright Posted July 7 Author Share Posted July 7 3 hours ago, copleyhill007 said: WSM also produced the N1 tank. Tony has one in his possession. Still in its box! I did have Dave, But I sold it for CRUK. I don't have a picture of a WSM N1. However.............. According to the picture's description, this one is built from a Little Engines kit (by whom, I can't remember). Little Engines' LNER range of kits was certainly not obscure. In fact, I have several and have photographed others. I'll dig them out. Regards, Tony. 14 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Michael Edge Posted July 7 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 7 I think M&L kits went to Gibson. 2 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Tony Teague Posted July 7 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 7 Tony If it would be of interest I have a number of Southern kit built locos by 'obscure' or lesser known manufacturers, most of which are now defunct; in particular I have several from Ace Products. As an example, this is a Billinton / ex-LB&SCR K class, built, painted & lined for me by Chris Phillips & then weathered by the late Mick Bonwick: I believe that it wasn't the easiest build but it seems to have made up well in the end! Tony 15 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium cctransuk Posted July 7 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 7 32 minutes ago, jwealleans said: Now I look again, it looks more like an F3 and the number is certainly an F3: that's the one I was planning on building as it was the last survivor. I'm not sure what's going on with that hatch behind the cab doors, though. Were any of the F3s adapted as fire-fighting locos during WW2? I've a feeling that I've seen similar hatches on such adaptations. CJI. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Tony Wright Posted July 7 Author Popular Post Share Posted July 7 (edited) A Little Engines' selection, part 1............. A J11 3, built/painted by Rob Kinsey, weathered by me. A J11/1 and J11/3, built/painted/weathered by John Houlden, mechanically-rebuilt by me. An A6 (nearer), builder/painter unknown. An A7. I built one of these for a friend of mine, but it's not this one. An A8 (nearer), builder/painter unknown. A J11/1, built/painted by me, weathered by Geoff Haynes. A D16/3, builder/painter unknown. More to follow............. Edited July 7 by Tony Wright to add something 23 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cb900f Posted July 7 Share Posted July 7 (edited) Would Craftsman or Jamieson now be classed as obscure ? Pete Edited July 7 by cb900f added to sentence Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Tony Wright Posted July 7 Author Popular Post Share Posted July 7 A further Little Engines' selection............ An N1 (nearer), builder/painter unknown. An O1, builder/painter unknown, weathered by me. An O4/3 from the Peter Lawson collection (now in Oz). An O4/8, also from the Peter Lawson collection, now on Little Bytham. An O4/3 (builder/painter unknown). Another O4/8 (builder/painter unknown). An O4/1, all Tony Geary's work (it's numbered as an O4/1). A WR ROD, from the Peter Lawson collection. An O4/1, mechanically rebuilt by me, cosmetically rebuilt by me, and painted/weathered by me. An O4/7 (builder/painter unknown). Another O4/7, built/painted by me, weathered by Geoff Haynes. And yet another O4/7, built/painted by Rob Kinsey, weathered by me. There are probably more Little Engines' subjects in the phot library............. 22 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Wright Posted July 7 Author Share Posted July 7 3 minutes ago, cb900f said: Would Craftsman now be classed as obscure ? Pete I don't know, Pete, What do others think? I'll see what I can find.............. Regards, Tony. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Bucoops Posted July 7 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 7 1 hour ago, jwealleans said: Now I look again, it looks more like an F3 and the number is certainly an F3: that's the one I was planning on building as it was the last survivor. I'm not sure what's going on with that hatch behind the cab doors, though. The spring arrangement is similar to the front so needed an access panel to inspect and lubricate etc. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Tony Wright Posted July 7 Author Popular Post Share Posted July 7 (edited) Craftsman kits? Seen last year, but of possible further interest, given the context........... Tony Geary's A5. Another Craftsman A5 (builder/painter unknown). A C12, built/painted by me. Another Craftsman C12, brought by I can't remember whom. A 1F from the late Brian Lee. And an 0-4-4T from the same source. And, a GWR 2-4-2T built by me. And, finally, a Kitmaster/Airfix Schools with Craftsman underpinnings (Barry Ten's work?). Edited July 7 by Tony Wright 22 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium polybear Posted July 7 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 7 Hello Tony. Do you think you could you describe your method for installing brake gear please - I'm in the process of building a Comet Jinty Chassis Kit (my first) and I'd like to be able to fit & remove the wheels (Markits) whilst still having the brake gear positioned as realistically as is practical whilst ideally not have to disturb it to do so - do any methods allow this please? Many thanks, Kind regards, Brian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Tony Wright Posted July 7 Author Popular Post Share Posted July 7 1 minute ago, polybear said: Hello Tony. Do you think you could you describe your method for installing brake gear please - I'm in the process of building a Comet Jinty Chassis Kit (my first) and I'd like to be able to fit & remove the wheels (Markits) whilst still having the brake gear positioned as realistically as is practical whilst ideally not have to disturb it to do so - do any methods allow this please? Many thanks, Kind regards, Brian Good evening Brian, I only solder-up brake gear after the wheels have been fitted in place. Should the need arise to subsequently remove the drivers, they're taken off one at a time from their axles, in a kind of wiggling motion. If still attached to an axle, they'll never come out. Brake cross members on a DJH A3 chassis soldered in place. And blocks soldered in place after the wheels are in place. The same process on a Little Engines O4/7. Close enough to the tyres on a DJH A1? Regards, Tony. 18 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Barry Ten Posted July 7 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 7 The Craftsman Schools pictured above is indeed mine. 3 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Chuffer Davies Posted July 7 Popular Post Share Posted July 7 (edited) 2 hours ago, polybear said: Hello Tony. Do you think you could you describe your method for installing brake gear please - I'm in the process of building a Comet Jinty Chassis Kit (my first) and I'd like to be able to fit & remove the wheels (Markits) whilst still having the brake gear positioned as realistically as is practical whilst ideally not have to disturb it to do so - do any methods allow this please? Many thanks, Kind regards, Brian Hi Brian, I would normally do as Tony does and solder the brake gear up solid. When I do I use 0.5mm wire to support the tops of the brake hangers and this gives a small amount of flex which allows a wheel and axle to be removed by easing the brake shoe past the flange of the wheel as it is extracted. This is not possible for locos or tenders that have outside brake pull rods. In that case I build up the hangers and cross shafts as a removable unit. The top supports for the hangers are again formed from 0.5mm wire but this time I place short brass tubes over the supports of a length to ensure the hanger is at the correct distance from the side of the frames so as to align the shoes with the wheel treads. The hangers can then be flexed away from their stub end supports and the assembly rotated away so as to permit the removal of the wheels for painting etc. The following pictures of a J52 chassis under construction should help to illustrate what I'm describing. The J52 Chassis With Outside Brake Pull Rods Trapping The Wheels: Brake Assembly Hinged At The Rear Cross Shaft Can be Released So To Permit Wheel Removal: Regards, Frank Edited July 7 by Chuffer Davies Spelling 11 1 4 1 12 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gr.king Posted July 7 Share Posted July 7 Obscure manufacturers? I remember the Ratio plastic loco kits too, and I wondered if Craftsman (now mentioned above) counted as obscure. How about Kingdom Kits, from Fife? I know only of their OO Robinson ex-GCR L1/L3 kit, which I thought was okay if you ignored the instructions and turned the six-coupled part of the chassis the other way around to get the correct wheelbase dimensions. Did they do any other OO locos? 2 6 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesSpooner Posted July 7 Share Posted July 7 8 hours ago, Tony Wright said: Thanks Mike, Bytham's platforms have been struck a few times by visiting locos with whirling outside cranks! Though I wouldn't put your kits in the 'obscure' category, you've certainly produced some interesting ones. Including......... This Hunslet diesel shunter, built by elder son Tom in his student days. He built it in EM and it now runs on Retford (Sandra Orpen says she'll paint it one day!). He had it on display at one show and one observer would not accept that he'd built it (he was 19). 'That's your dad's work' he was told. He couldn't have been more wrong! I believe a couple of these actual locos were at Sheffield, so it's just possible one made it to Retford. Regards, Tony. Some lovely models photographed there Tony. As a matter of interest did the Corris Falcon run, because in the photo it looks as though the rear driving wheel is lifted off the rails by the flange on the pony wheel holding up the cab? Nigel 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffordshire Posted July 7 Share Posted July 7 (edited) Another couple of photos of Agenoria/CSP kits of unusual locos ..... and a Warren Shepherd 15xx kit .. Edited July 7 by Staffordshire Added photo ... 14 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Bucoops Posted July 7 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 7 Some obscure, at least to me kit brands of old - Stelfox - all brass loco kits, including castings in 4mm. I'm aware of N7 and J17 kits. They also did a GER open wagon in plastic - which we recently found out was actually manufactured by Ian Kirk, who is considering resurrecting it - if you are interested, please contact him! Sheldrake - Douglas Sheldrake - known kits are all 7mm and GER oriented. T19 and D27 apparently exist, and I am fortunate to have two T26s (LNER E4). Early '80s origin so certainly can be improved upon but they look like they will build into a nice representation. Constructeon - only known kit is a 4mm BR Class 14 "Teddy bear". 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
26power Posted July 7 Share Posted July 7 46 minutes ago, gr.king said: Obscure manufacturers? I remember the Ratio plastic loco kits too, and I wondered if Craftsman (now mentioned above) counted as obscure. How about Kingdom Kits, from Fife? I know only of their OO Robinson ex-GCR L1/L3 kit, which I thought was okay if you ignored the instructions and turned the six-coupled part of the chassis the other way around to get the correct wheelbase dimensions. Did they do any other OO locos? Kingdom kits also did a Barclay 16” 0-4-0ST. Googling found this image of one them sold in an auction with one of the one you mention: https://www.vectis.co.uk/439-lot-468701 The search also came up with this of one built: https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/kit-built-andrew-barclay-4-industrial-237277872 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaScala Posted July 7 Share Posted July 7 12 hours ago, Tony Wright said: Small companies, making 'obscure' loco kits used to be quite common. However as a lessening demand, age, mortality, a decline in modelling skills and increasing costs take effect, then the disappearance of such ranges is inevitable. Mike Morris is still developing his range of SW models that are mixed media and right up to modern standards https://88d.uk/ He has the Barry B1 and this Rhymney Stephenson amongst others 10 1 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Michael Edge Posted July 8 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 8 I think this is the Kingdom kits AB 16in 0-4-0ST Photographed here at Herculaneum Dock, I built this for Cwmafon in 1991, from what I remember it was a really good kit. 12 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Wright Posted July 8 Author Share Posted July 8 7 hours ago, JamesSpooner said: Some lovely models photographed there Tony. As a matter of interest did the Corris Falcon run, because in the photo it looks as though the rear driving wheel is lifted off the rails by the flange on the pony wheel holding up the cab? Nigel Good morning Nigel, I don't know (I never tried it), but I doubt it, looking at how the rear drivers are elevated. I still can't recall who brought it. Regards, Tony. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Wright Posted July 8 Author Share Posted July 8 7 hours ago, Bucoops said: Some obscure, at least to me kit brands of old - Stelfox - all brass loco kits, including castings in 4mm. I'm aware of N7 and J17 kits. They also did a GER open wagon in plastic - which we recently found out was actually manufactured by Ian Kirk, who is considering resurrecting it - if you are interested, please contact him! Sheldrake - Douglas Sheldrake - known kits are all 7mm and GER oriented. T19 and D27 apparently exist, and I am fortunate to have two T26s (LNER E4). Early '80s origin so certainly can be improved upon but they look like they will build into a nice representation. Constructeon - only known kit is a 4mm BR Class 14 "Teddy bear". Good morning Rich, I believe Tony Geary used Stelfox cylinders/motion on the replacement chassis for his (original split-chassis) Bachmann B1s............... Regards, Tony. 17 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Wright Posted July 8 Author Share Posted July 8 'Obscure' loco kits? How about Bristol Models? Tommy Mann brought along this Austerity 2-10-0 he'd made from that source. 13 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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