Thursday 26 May 2011

Ambis Engineering

Great news - Ambis Engineering are back. They supply an extremely useful range of bits and pieces for wagons. See MRJ 207 for more details.
The contact address is Ambis Engineering Products, 27 Stanhope Gardens, Ilford, Essex, IG1 3LQ. Strictly mail order only.
The 7mm scale products can also be had from Hobby Holidays. However, the products don't seem to show on the Hobby Holidays website yet.

Sunday 27 February 2011

Premier Components

At the Bolton Show yesterday I managed to pick up the Premier Components Catalogue and I notice that they have several GC-related items.

Loco Frame kits including coupling rods and, for outside cylinder engines, connecting rods. LNER classes O4, B4 (Immingham), D10/11 (Director). The frames are made from 1.2mm profile milled brass and screw together. Requirements for pick up holes and plunger units should be given with your order.

Tender Frame kit: Robinson 4000 gallon tender.

Coupling rods (profile milled nickel-silver). LNER classes A5, D9, D10/11, B4, B5, B8, C4/5, O4. Normally these are supplied in rigid form, but can be provided jointed at extra cost.

Premier Components also supply excellent three-link and screw couplers. 'Excellent' in the sense they are robust and pre-assembled, not necessarily for extreme accuracy to prototype. These have become my standard fitting.

There are also various detail items in the catalogue that may be useful - Wakefield Lubricators for example.

Premier Components are at 14 Swanlow Avenue, Swanlow Park, Winsford, Cheshire, CW7 1PB. Their trading arrangements are unusual. You just send for what you want and they send it back with an invoice for you to pay. I hope such trust is not abused.

Sunday 6 February 2011

J9/J10 Livery (GC 9B/9D/9E/9H class)

After the study of many more photos, I have revised my opinion on this question. It still remains an opinion, not a fact.

I suspect that most, if not all, were fully lined out during the Robinson period. However during World War I the lining was left off. Of course this would only apply to locos as they were shopped, they would not go in just to have the lining painted out.

If anyone has more certain information (or even a different opinion based on the evidence) I'd be very glad to hear it.

Wednesday 26 January 2011

Quainton Road Models

David Howes tells me that the Quainton Road Models GC six-wheel fish van to diagram 49 is now in production, and the first batch is selling well.

Having moved during 2010, up to date contact details are:
Quainton Road Models
Chyanbre
Polyphant
Launceston
Cornwall
PL15 7PT
Quainton.Road.Models@mac.com

He is now working on on a MS&L 29ft six-wheel brake van - a new kit. Following that there will more six-wheelers - significantly enhanced and improved versions of the simpler etched sides/ends he marketed in the 1990s.

Suggestions for other kits are invited.

People modelling the GCR in 7mm are truly blessed to have so many kits available and/or promised. It is fast getting to the point where the only thing outstanding will be a cast figurine of Sir Sam Fay! And maybe even that will come.