Hello everyone. I have been really interested in the Ffestiniog recently after submerging myself into the Talyllyn and Corris Railway books. I wanted to build one of their locomotives (Prince kit is on the way) and I really found Linda and Blanche visually appealing. I know Parkside Dundas once offered these kits, but since Parkside went to PECO and Dundas branched off, are these kits (Blance/Linda) available anymore?
Quote from: M.Melton on April 12, 2018, 15:43
Hello everyone. I have been really interested in the Ffestiniog recently after submerging myself into the Talyllyn and Corris Railway books. I wanted to build one of their locomotives (Prince kit is on the way) and I really found Linda and Blanche visually appealing. I know Parkside Dundas once offered these kits, but since Parkside went to PECO and Dundas branched off, are these kits (Blance/Linda) available anymore?
Not currently listed on Dundas Models website shop.
Garry
I think you will find that it is not the Parkside to Peco change that has stopped the production of the Linda/Blanche kit, but it is because they can no longer get the chassis made or even some of the components required for the chassis.
Sadly, the Langley 'Prince' kit is not that good. The shape of the tank and cab roof is wrong, the chimney is the wrong size and the outside edge of the cab roof is incorrect. Also, the kit was designed for the Ibertren chassis and if you use the Fleischmann chassis the body then sits too high above the rails.
It is possible to make a good job of the kit, but it takes a lot of work, but as there is nothing else available now there is no other choice!
Brian Meldon
Thank you both. That is unfortunate about the Blanche and Linda kits.
I've built the Prince kit before with the Fleischmann chassis. I am dreading the modifications I had to make for the last one! I remember having to replace the wheels too.
With respect to the Dundas Linda/Blanche kit they do appear on eBay (I have a feeling there is one listed on their at the moment which I think is one of the originals and includes the Ibertren chassis)* so it may be worth keeping an eye out.
I'm assuming that Andrew Hastie still has the moulds to make the kits in either version, but there may be a minimum number of orders needed to get a production run done.
Golden Arrow models also did an chassis kit (or an etched brass fret at least) for the loco that iirc used Farish gears (available from BR lines) but again you may need to speak to Chris Meachin about availability on that one. But it will have the correct outside frames.
*Edit: it is item number 162984278983 but be quick as it finishes at noon today!
If I remember correctly, the white metal kits that where produced for use with the Malcolm Savage chassis differ from the original kits that used the Ibertren chassis.
With the original chassis, the best way to alter the Ibertren chassis was to change the axles with new silver steel axles, which then allowed you to
produce an outside frame loco.
Using Brian Clarkes cranks or making your own and making false frames with plastercard or other material.
Sadly very few of the new chassis were produced, so no point in having the kits made.
Stan.
Perhaps I hadn't been clear but if enquiring with Andrew about a run of kits it is the earlier (Ibertren chassis) version that M.Melton wants.
I can't imagine that Andrew would have destroyed any of the moulds for either kit, but there may be a minimum order for it to be worth his while in filling the moulds with white metal (and that may be to do with the etches supplied with the kit).