October '25 update
- info
- Oct 10
- 4 min read
Hello again. A much overdue update and I’m pleased to say there is some good news on the new products front.
Firstly, I’m delighted to finally report some success with the Port Wynnstay O gauge kits. PW 706, the LNER / ex Great North of Scotland 10-ton van is now available again.
This distinctive and characterful van has undergone a little redesign work and is now supplied with 3D-printed axle guards. These have been produced in collaboration with Alex at GLR Bespoke Services. They are printed in tough ABS-style resin and require very little cleaning up. A hole for standard O gauge wheel bearings is provided and test builds using the new axle guards proved to be very straightforward compared to previous experiences with white metal units. These vans were produced shortly before grouping, with many lasting right through the LNER period and into BR ownership. Photographs reveal that they frequently ventured far from their home turf so could justifiably turn up on pretty much any layout set between WW1 and the early 1950s.
Also available again from the Port Wynnstay range is the small platelayer’s trolley, PW783. These were a very simple push-along trolley, provided to the local track gangs for getting tools and materials to site for routine maintenance work such as measured shovel packing or fishplate oiling. They would be lifted onto the track, loaded up and pushed along to the work site, then unloaded and lifted off to clear the track.
Intended as a static model, it provides an interesting addition to the lineside scene and would be quite at home set alongside a suitable platelayer’s hut or grounded van body. Whilst on the subject of grounded vans, kit BK14 has been revised and now makes use of the GNoS van body. This was previously available as a grounded body through the Port Wynnstay range, combined with a cast resin sleeper base. In kit BK14 it is now accompanied by a collection of scenic clutter, as tended to accrue around van bodies used as stores or workshops.
Also moving up the queue in the PW O gauge range are the three Caledonian vans: the 4-Wheel fish & fowl van, 6-Wheel milk van and the 15-ton 6-wheel van. Whilst doing a little background reading into the 15-ton van, it transpires that there were two similar diagrams: dia 80 and the longer 30’ dia115. The original kit appears to have been something of a hybrid between the two. The body is correct for the dia 115 with the ‘stretched’ centre section, but the running gear and roof detail appears to be from the earlier dia 80. The main difference being that the dia 115 was built on carriage-style axle guards with long springs carried on ‘J’ hangers, the dia 80 having the conventional smaller wagon axle guards. Given this, it is likely that the kit will get new 3D-printed axle guards and also therefore require some re-working underneath before it is re-released.
Turning now to the Port Wynnstay Narrow Gauge range, all the type 3 quarryman’s coaches have new 3D-printed chassis, as does the Welsh Highland Railway 4-ton coal wagon which is now in production again. A new chassis has also been produced for the Ffestiniog Railway Ashbury coaches, which I hope to be working towards re-release in the not-too-distant future.
Turning now to the 422 Modelmaking range, part of the 3D-printed chassis project with GLR has also included providing new units for the 4-wheel coaches. These have been only available as body kits for some years now, and as such, I am pleased that they will be back to full kits with chassis including metal wheels and brass bearings. Test builds of the new chassis have gone very well and they are proving to be easy to assemble and very sweet running. It is hoped that the chassis project will be extended next to the wagon and van fleet.
Finally, some news on the building range. The latest (and last?) bridge kit is now available, which depicts an occupation bridge.
Developed primarily as an over-bridge for narrow gauge carrying a farm track or lane across the railway, the upper deck is also sufficiently wide for a single-track standard gauge line.
Work on the station buildings range has resulted in trio of stone station structures now available to complement the BK10 stone station building kit.
Firstly, the existing stone waiting room kit BK20 has been reworked with narrower ends, which will hopefully make it more suited to modellers with limited space on their platforms. Along with this, there is a parcels office / platform store, BK33, together with a reworked BK21 kit, which now depicts an open waiting shelter with wooden benching and a small ticket office on the side.
Each of these kits can be used on their own or can be used as extensions to the stone station building by means of a modified end wall casting, which is available on request with BK10 as a free alternative part.
That’s it for news for now, our next outing with the stall is to 'Narrow Gauge Now' at Mansfield at the end of October. As the name implies, it is a narrow gauge focused show, so we will have all the latest products from both the 422 Modelmaking and Port Wynnstay narrow gauge rolling stock ranges, together with display models of the latest 7mm scale building kits to help with layout inspiration. Hope to see some of you there!
