Locomotive Detailing

[Krizzy]

Another good source for detailing parts and materials is Mainly Trains. They have a comprehensive website for mail order.

Roger

[berryr99]

Thanks Roger - I am looking at that site now

Bob

[Tigger]

The one think I really liked about the Chivers' Kits was that they are very basic and leave the level of detailing up to the modeller.  I've spent very many enjoyable hours working out how to do the detailing and applying it - far more than building the basic kit!

[Graeme Dunbar]

I think Iain Rice in one of his books puts it something like building a model from a kit as opposed to assembling a kit.

[petersmith1942]

Yes I agree but the joy of Chivers and 5/79 is that they are very sound "basic" kits finely cast with no cleaning up and easy to assemble perfectly square prior to the fun of detailing
Peter Smith

[B.Meldon]

I totally agree with the above comments. Even some of the very basic early 009 kits can be made to look reasonable with the correct detail added. Here are a couple of examples.
The first is a WHR 590 on a Minitrix dock tank chassis:







The second is an FR England loco on a Flischmann 0-4-0:





Both of the above are very basic FR kits dating from the late 1960

[rod335]

Brian

By total coincidence, I was told by someone (very knowledgeable) at York last weekend who knew the guy who made the patterns for the Baldwin kit that they were actually cast by Bob Wills as spare space in the moulds for other (SG) locos.

Rod

[B.Meldon]

Brian

By total coincidence, I was told by someone (very knowledgeable) at York last weekend who knew the guy who made the patterns for the Baldwin kit that they were actually cast by Bob Wills as spare space in the moulds for other (SG) locos.

Rod

That's interesting Rod, obviously I can only go on what I am told. Very little was actually written down and many of those involved are no longer with us.

I find the history of the early 009 kits fascinating.

Brian Meldon

[rod335]

Brian

I was surprised by that information as well. I had always assumed (or had been told) the Baldwin kit was cast by George Mellor. It had the same appearance as his kits but that, I suppose, was due to the quality (?!) of the patterns.

Rod

[MickT]

I remember reading your thread on the Baldwin build a while ago Brian (on NGRM-online?) but didn't notice at the time how you have very cleverly disguised the cylinders and piston rod arrangement of the dock tank/T3 chassis and appear to have got it under the body without altering anything, yet at first and second glances everything looks complete and authentic! Well done indeed - I have a couple of butchered and bent original Baldwin bodies in the scrap box - now where can I find an un-assigned dock tank chassis!

I'm not sure about the statement you received that the casting was done by Wills Rod. May well be of course, but I've got an instruction leaflet from the Festiniog kit and it does state: (sic - as I don't have it immediately in front of me) : "made exclusively for the Festiniog Railway by GE Mellor, GEM Model Railways". Can't remember where I found the leaflet now or where it is but I only had it in front of me the other day, so I will commence a search and find mission to see if I can unearth it again just to make sure!

Mick

[rod335]

All I can say is that at the York show the subject came up with someone who unequivocally stated the casting was done by Bob Wills. He gave me the name of the person who made the patterns and even told me where the person lived. I can't remember the name, I think he said he lived in Surrey. I was as surprised as everyone else, I'd always thought they were cast by GEM. Of course, the source could have got it wrong about the caster. I think it was Chris(?) who runs a 16mm scale business from Tywyn who was my source, but I may be wrong about that.

Rod

[B.Meldon]

I remember reading your thread on the Baldwin build a while ago Brian (on NGRM-online?) but didn't notice at the time how you have very cleverly disguised the cylinders and piston rod arrangement of the dock tank/T3 chassis and appear to have got it under the body without altering anything, yet at first and second glances everything looks complete and authentic! Well done indeed - I have a couple of butchered and bent original Baldwin bodies in the scrap box - now where can I find an un-assigned dock tank chassis!..............

Mick

I actually built two of these FR 590

[tedp]

The Baldwin looks very good, Brian. The only thing I would change is the dock tank cylinders. These can be cut down so the piston rod is visible on the outside and the remains of the cylinders still grip it securely so they won't come adrift. I have done so in a freelance Western style loco. I'll hunt up a photo to show what I mean.