0 Gauge Irish Kit Maker

[Corusman]

I have a 0 gauge loco I bought as a kit in the 1980s at Telford. The maker was an Irish gentleman who cut the loco parts out of tinplate.

can anyone remember his name. He mostly did English locos but had this Irish 0-6-0 on his stand at an unresistable price.

Any idea what the prototype was?

Bill

 

[Broithe]

This looks plausible?
 

 

https://transportsofdelight.smugmug.com/RAILWAYS/IRISH-RAILWAYS/MIDLAND-GREAT-WESTERN-RAILWAY/i-P5F4CVZ/

[Westcorkrailway]

1 hour ago, Corusman said:

I have a 0 gauge loco I bought as a kit in the 1980s at Telford. The maker was an Irish gentleman who cut the loco parts out of tinplate.

can anyone remember his name. He mostly did English locos but had this Irish 0-6-0 on his stand at an unresistable price.

Any idea what the prototype was?

Bill

 

MGWR J26. One of the most versitile locos in Ireland. And one I intend to eventually make in 00 gauge 

[Garfield]

Looks like the work of the McGowan brothers, aka Leinster Models.

@WRENNEIRE may know more...

[Galteemore]

Looks like a Leinster E class. Nice red livery too. Is that a Biblical name ? Exodus 15:27 springs to mind…

Edited February 4, 2022 by Galteemore

[Joe Keegan]

6 hours ago, Corusman said:

I have a 0 gauge loco I bought as a kit in the 1980s at Telford. The maker was an Irish gentleman who cut the loco parts out of tinplate.

can anyone remember his name. He mostly did English locos but had this Irish 0-6-0 on his stand at an unresistable price.

Any idea what the prototype was?

Bill

 

Ciaran Mc Gowan of Leinster Models .

MGWR J26 or the Bat .

[David Holman]

Far from sure about that chimney! However, Leinster kits didn't come with any fittings or castings. Really cheap too and some decent models resulted.

Edited February 5, 2022 by David Holman

[WRENNEIRE]

A Leinster Model kit for a BAT 
Some extra bits in the pic

 

 

[murrayec]

My chassis for one based off a Leinster Kit

I must get back to this project......

Eoin

[David Holman]

Suspect that a Leinster kit that has been breathed on by Eoin will be a bit special.

 Also noticeable how complete the kit shown was, including chimney dome and other bits. They real!y were good value if you were prepared to put the work in and back in the day, that was indeed what we had to do, learning a lot in the process.

[Galteemore]

The last of them ended up in Suffolk, in the hands of a one-off character called Peter Hunt, former proprietor of an infamous model shop - Chuffs, later reincarnated as Perfect Miniatures. His adverts in the gauge O Guild were absolute classics of British humour. A sample is below.

I bought some books and card kits when he closed up, but up until a few years ago he was still offering Bats - this ad is from 2018. Long gone now - I’d have bought them if I’d had more sense. He actually came to my house with the stuff and was a most entertaining chap. 

As Mr H says, an ideal model both as it stood and as a vehicle for detailing. Thankfully Roger Crombleholme still offers a reasonably priced version of the E/J26.

Edited February 5, 2022 by Galteemore

[David Holman]

He does indeed. Roger's Alphagraphix J26 is a lovely kit. My first Irish loco, it was built and painted in just 40 hours and was a treat to make.