Narrower Gauge Bogies

Producing kits - much like a lot of other aspects of modelling, I suppose - is a continual process of refinement.

Customers who buy the NG-Y ballast wagon kit will find there has been a welcome redesign of the fold-up brass bogies.

The middle section along the top has been narrowed ever so slightly. This has the effect that the shouldered brass bearings can now be fixed flush inside the bogie, rather than having to be left sticking out a little to retain the wheelsets in the optimum position, as in the first generation of kits.

This should make an already simple and robust design even easier to assemble and my CAD design genius at Narrow Plant and I  hope that builders will appreciate the change.

Box Of Bits

It's not a lot to look at but this is the result of 3 days of hard graft resin casting.

Contained within this humble Tupperware box are more than a hundred castings which will make up 7 complete NG-Y ballast wagons.

Yes, folks, production has commenced in earnest.

To start with I am making up the kits for customers who have placed advanced orders and then I will turn my attention to providing some to sell from stock via the FR shop and Narrow Planet's trade stand at exhibitions.

It's a slow process, however. Such is the complexity of this model I can only produce, on average, 2 kits per day.

But, as British Rail used to say, we're getting there.

Pony's Missing Pieces

Himself has received a new fret from Mercian Models with the bits which were missing from our England engine kit.

As you can see it's quite a big piece of brass and a very complicated etch. (click on the image if you want a closer look)

Some of most crucial missing bits were the main frames which you can see at the top right.

They have been designed to make both a Small England with a 4'6 wheelbase and the later Large type with a 5' wheelbase which is why there are 2 holes on the right hand side of each frame.. You apparently fill in the hole you don't require.

Interesting...

You might also note there seem to be more than enough coupling and connecting rods to make more than one engine.

Once again two different lengths are provided for the different design of engines, but also there are double the amount there because you are required to laminate them due to the brass being so thin.

Once again this looks, erm, interesting.

We will, as ever, keep you posted.

Pony Trap

Some developments to report in our struggle to mechanize our Welsh Pony kit.

You will recall our Mercian Models kit was saddled with a gearbox and motor which didn't fit, and no chassis frames to attempt to mount them in anyway.

Trevor, from Mercian has been in touch promising to send the missing etches and offering to put us in touch with other modellers who have successfully completed the kit.

It will be fascinating to find out how much they had to adapt it to make it work.

We have also had an offer of assistance from Brian Madge, who has recently brought some Quarry Hunslet kits to the market - we used one for our replacement Britomart - who has suggested ways one of his belt drive design chassis might be adapted to fit the bodyshell.

We'll update you all when we've decided how to proceed.

Shrink To Fit

I've got another building to build for Bron Hebog. Or, to be more accurate, a building to re-build.

This detached double garage is part of the Oberon Wood development.

It sits next to the two houses I have already built. Anyone taking the footpath towards the footbridge across the cutting will have had to pass by it.

It was made a couple of years ago to some rough dimensions worked out by Himself.

However we have discovered that it does not match with the houses designed by the Artistic Director - it would appear to have been built to a somewhat larger scale.

So my mission is to design and make a slightly smaller one, ideally in time for us taking Bron Hebog to show in Dinas Goods Shed on the WHR in September.

It's a relatively simple structure so the chances are good.

Did You Spot The Difference?

Ok, I'll put everyone who's been puzzling over what's different about the FR's latest 'superbarn' 108 out of their misery.

It's the handrails beside the vestibules.

For whatever reason, be it aesthetic, practical or just to save some cash, 108 only has them on one side of the doors whereas the previous carriages have them on both.

Here's the proof.

Goes to show that as a modeller you can't let your guard down for a moment - you've got to watch them like hawks.

Chinese Puzzle

Our Welsh Pony project has moved onto the mechanical stage - and progress has come to a grinding halt!

Himself approached this kit knowing it had a reputation for being difficult, mainly on account of it being a scaled-down version of the 7mm scale kit.

It may, however, be the first one he has ever had to declare unbuildable - it is currently configuration at least.

Part of the problem is illustrated below in this picture of the motor / gearbox which appears to be more like one of those Chinese ring puzzles you get in a Christmas cracker than a drive unit.

The long shaft you see in the centre is suppose to pass through the bearing at the top - but as you can see from the picture there's absolutely no way that gearbox is going to fit onto it with the amount of clearance available. In fact the cog jams solid against the side of the motor.

What's more the entire assembly is also then expected to fit up inside the saddle tank in its transverse position.

Guess what? It doesn't!

(Not so much of an issue on the 7mm kit, I should imagine)

Right at the moment, though, this is the least of our worries because it transpires that the kit we were supplied with does not have a chassis.

That's right, I'll type that again. There is no chassis!

Himself has checked, double checked, and checked once again all the etches in the box but there is nothing in there that can be put together to get our Large England on the move. There are only components to make one of the small 4'6" wheelbase locomotives, despite the claims that the kit will do for both.

Attempts to contact Merican Models to seek their advice have also proved unsuccessful, which is most disappointing.

We appear to be rather stuck!