News & New Developments – June 2024

2024 is nearing its end already so time for a little update on what’s happening! 

I haven’t updated this page for a while, so here we go!  Tradition has it that the summer months are when “modeller” do other things, but again this year saw little sign of this with the orders continuing to pile in.  There was perhaps a short pause in September when perhaps many had spent their monthly modelling allowance at Guildex?  As ever now and then we are waiting for fresh stock, and we thank you for your patience when delivery is delayed.   Energy costs and material costs continue to be challenging, but most of the time we seem to have stock of what you are asking for.  Our suppliers continue to do their best to supply us within a reasonable timescale, for which we are very thankful.

The post service seems to be normal in most areas, but we are finding that some customers still experience delays, and there have been instances where our 1st Class stamped packets have taken up to 2 weeks to land on doormats.  I therefore emphasise that where ever possible you order your requirements in plenty of time, just in case!

NEW/IMPROVED ITEMS

3-063  L&YR Aspinwall and Hughes 0-6-0’s and 2-4-2T plus others, Double Brake Hangers & Brake Shoes £16.00/set 6 + 6.  Now Available, NEW PATTERNS.  This pattern of brake hanger and shoe seems to be a very commonly used item by the “Lanky” and although we list it suitable for the above locomotives, we believe it can find wider use.

3-030  LMS Black 5, loco’s 5000 to 5499, Brake Hangers & Single Brake Shoes.  £12.00/set 6 + 6.  Now available,  NEW PATTERNS/UPGRADED CASTINGS. 

10-034 LNWR Inside Cylinder Webb locomotive Rear Cylinder Covers c/w Valvechest Stuffing Boxes £10.00/set.  Now Available, NEW PATTERNS/UPGRADED CASTINGS.  Information was taken from GA’s for the Coal Tank, which will also suit most other 2 cylinder Webb inside cylinder locomotives.  

12-007  Stephenson’s Valvegear – “Add On” Indirect Valve Motion.  £40.00/set.  Recently RE-MASTERED and now with UPGRADED CASTINGS.  This set adds extra parts to the Stephensons Valvegear sets to enable locomotives with piston valves such as the MR/LMS 4F, LNER J39, & SR Maunsell N Class to be modelled with working inside motion. 

19-014  Oil Boxes, 5 outlet £7.00/pk of 4.  IMPROVED CASTING.

24-010  NER Small Safety Valve Cover, for the Smaller locomotives, such as E & H Classes.  This should be available soon and will then complete the range for NER loco’s.  As the others they will come complete with a Nickel Silver Balance Arm.

26-058  GWR early type ringed Smokebox Door  £15.00/eaNOW BRASS.

26-063  LSWR/HR/CR Drummond design Smokebox base Steamchest Cover  £8.00/ea.  NOW BRASS.  This item is the well known “piano front” shape and is probably suitable for many other locomotives. 

27-036  LSWR Adams X2/X6/A12/415 Radial Tank/T3/T6 4ft Leaf Springs £16.00/set of 4.  In real life these locomotives had very similar spring (maybe spring rates or thickness varied a little but are so nearly the same size it isn’t noticeable in 7mm scale.  UPGRADED CASTING.

27-038  LSWR Urie N15/S15/H16 & Rebuilt H15 locomotives.  X4 3′ 6″ Leaf Springs & X2 Double Coil Springs  £16.00/set  Please note this is a “re-jig of this item following a closer look at drawings for all these locomotives.

27-039  Now Deleted as it is subsumed into 27-038 above.

29-033  LSWR 4000G “Watercart” Tender Axleboxes & Springs.  £35.00/set of 8 + 8.  FURTHER UPGRADE OF PATTERNS & CASTINGS.

29-035  LSWR Beattie Tender Springs and Axleboxes.  £35.00/set of 6.  The whitemetal castings had run to the last few so we have taken the opportunity to again, upgrade these to cast brass.

34-035  GWR Saddle tank locomotives, Water Filler £10.00/ea.  UPGRADED NEW CASTING.   

35-020 NEW ITEM – SECR Roof mounted whistle £5.00/ea.

KIT NEWS – Our kit for the LSWR D15 now includes an alternative pair of Cab sides/Splasher sides.  When the artwork was drawn up it only had the early large cutaway cab/splasher sides which restrict its period to LSWR and very early period SR.  A new bit of kit in the workshop now allows us to turn out the later sides with a much smaller cutaway.  Apparently drivers complained about draughts.  So this alternative now extends its period through SR days and up to withdrawal by BR.  The price remains the same.