May 26 product news

Hello again. To kick off this post, a quick update on a couple of buildings that have been under development.

First of all a timber platform goods store building (BK35).

This features horizontal overlapping boards (weather board) and is intended to complement the North Eastern Waiting room kit BK24. Buildings of this style could be found employed in a number of roles around a station. For the purposes of this display model I have imagined it being used on a platform as a parcels office with a small goods store room behind the double doors. It could however just as easily be used as a porters room and barrow store at a larger station. Alternatively it could function in the station yard as a stores building or maintenance workshop.

The kit follows the same construction style as the NE waiting room, depicting the characteristic modular buildings used by that company, later inherited by the LNER and BR(NE) region. As such the display model is wearing a representation of the LNER green and cream colour scheme. The modular nature of these buildings readily lends themselves to modification or 'kit bashing' with a few simple cuts allowing sections to be moved around into new combinations perhaps with parts from other kits for a larger building.

A second building project has been this 'Tin Tabernacle' - a relatively low cost chapel often associated with isolated rural communities linked to industries such as mining or fishing.

This is not yet a kit, it is still at the development stage. The model shown in the photos is a combination of new castings for the main walls, combined with roof parts adapted from other kits, plus some scratch built details.

It is intended to have the model available for inspection at shows and I will be canvassing opinions from customers. If you cant get to a show but have some thoughts you would like to offer, please feel free to drop me a line using the contact form. If all goes well it could be a kit before too long.

Moving on now to developments in the narrow gauge stock list.

The reworking of the NG10 ventilated / milk van is almost complete, the first test build is shown below unpainted.

Similar work has been taking place on the NG11 Goods Brake Van shown below partially painted.

Finally, completing this trio of long wheelbase vans, the cattle wagon (NG19) is now available following its upgrade.

These vehicles are freelance designs intended to capture the feel of the larger common carrier narrow gauge lines and as such take their inspiration from designs once found on the Isle of Man and in Southern Ireland. These systems operated on 3 foot gauge, but to keep in proportion with O-16.5 track, the vans have been reduced in size slightly. Typically 92mm long by 42mm wide they would particularly suit a layout of 16.5mm gauge depicting a 2'6'' gauge prototype operation.

Previously only available as body kits, these now come complete with chassis and metal wheels. The patterns for the body castings have been slightly modified and detailed, and also include an all new floor casting to accommodate the 3d printed underframe. Coupling arrangements are left to the builder.

The next show is the 7mm Narrow Gauge Association annual show in Burton Upon Trent on Saturday June 13th. We aim to have many of the new products available, plus the usual show specials, bargain rummage boxes and possibly some ex-display buildings for sale. Hope to see many of you there.