leslie10646 Posted January 23 Posted January 23 From my website: As of January 2026, I am ceasing to produce kits of several of my wagons. However, as three share the same 9ft wheelbase, it is my hope that we can recreate these through the medium of 3D printing and provide customers with an almost Ready to Run vehicle. The wagons are the GNR cattle wagon, its close cousin the SLNCR cattle wagon and finally the GNR 9 ton van (which, while sharing the same wheelbase, is slightly longer). A fourth wagon is also planned, the Railway Clearing House (RCH) 10 ton unfitted van, as it would have run on CIE. I have previously made a kit of this wagon in its GNR form, but the GSWR, GSR and MGWR produced wagons to the basic RCH pattern, with minor differences as they would have used existing components commonly used on their railways. There is photographic evidence of some of these vans being still in use in 1970, and probably later on CIE. I would intend to produce some in GNR livery also. Also, although maybe for 2027, now that drawings have surfaced of the GSR horsebox, courtesy of @Mol_PMB, at last this gap in the wagon stock might be filled. (I haven’t forgotten the GNR one, which would be more up my street, but we’ll see how 2026 pans out!). In this project, I am working with Enda Byrne of CK Prints, who already sells my kits and wagons in the Republic of Ireland. I heartily recommend his excellent wagons to you. See: https://ckprints.ie/page/wagons 15 1
popeye Posted January 23 Posted January 23 I think 3D printing is the way forward for small runs of niche models. Keep her lit 4
Turin60 Posted January 23 Posted January 23 Leslie, will these be available direct from yourself this the wrong side of the Irish Sea, I ask this as I have only just started modelling the Irish prototype. John Bruce. 1
leslie10646 Posted January 23 Author Posted January 23 For now, the idea is that I sell in UK and Enda sells in RoI (Europe if you like!). I have small stocks of CK Prints stuff here already (see my website)) and will carry more in due course - for example the forthcoming Ranks wagons. That said, you all know how to make God laugh? Tell him your plans ....... Or as Napolean said, the plan of a battle changes the moment the first shot is fired. 2 1
Turin60 Posted January 23 Posted January 23 Thanks for clarifying that Leslie, might still bump into you at Southampton tomorrow? John Bruce. 1
leslie10646 Posted January 23 Author Posted January 23 Sorry John, you won't. I'm struggling back to health after a bad couple of months and have done very little walking - so lente, lente ..... A pity as there are good layouts and traders there, but getting fully right comes first. I hope that you enjoy it. give my best to @Colonel and @Andy Cundick. 6
Turin60 Posted January 24 Posted January 24 Thanks for that Leslie, hope you're back up & running soon. Best given to both of the above even though Andy did not have his GWR broad gauge layout there due to a slight mishap when packing his car, so was running North British instead! Oh the life of the exhibitor! John Bruce. 3 1
leslie10646 Posted January 24 Author Posted January 24 Commiserations, Andy. I hope that the damage isn't too bad. Haven't seen the North British layout, so I did miss out regardless!
Andy Cundick Posted January 27 Posted January 27 Stock box versus gravity no need to say who won, fortunately it was only the two locos,so as Lochty was at the front of the pile and hadn't been to Southampton since 2022 that went instead it did mean it had bit of a run before Tonbridge next month as for Marlborough it will be at Swindon on the 7th of March Andy. 1
leslie10646 Posted January 27 Author Posted January 27 Swindon, 7 March - I was about to put it in the diary, but that's the date of the huge Abrail exhibition which is pretty unmissable! Do these exhibition managers not liaise? The two venues are about twenty miles apart? 2
leslie10646 Posted March 3 Author Posted March 3 Right, as Enda has stuck these things up on YouTube, we'd better give you the link! The first dozen of the "Joint" wagons: We're waiting for the transfers (nudge, nudge, Des) and I would remind you that the wagons will be sold WITHOUT couplings; people may prefer Kadees, or even three link(!); never fear, I'll have a supply of tension locks with me at Bangor which I will sell on at cost to those who need them). The couplings are on these to allow testing - which you can see here! You can see that they survive going through a fairly small radius point, forwards and reverse! They also are fine careering round Enda's Past Avenue layout and speeds well above cattle train speeds! https://youtu.be/D67iB5CwFOU?is=6NG91QajDQUQStBa Thanks, Leslie and Enda 10
leslie10646 Posted March 3 Author Posted March 3 (edited) Just to show you a side view. Owners of my previous cattle wagons will note the neat roofs. These were a bit of an Achilles Heel with the kits. GNR above, SLNCR below: Personally, I think that Enda has done a great job - in a fraction of the time resin kits took from inception to reality! He's done a year's development in three weeks! Maybe there is some progress in the World? Edited March 3 by leslie10646 13 2
Patrick Davey Posted March 3 Posted March 3 Very nice Leslie!! Pity Clogherhead didn't have cattle traffic 1 1
Horsetan Posted March 3 Posted March 3 51 minutes ago, Turin60 said: Leslie, are these for 16.5mm or 21mm gauge? 16.5 Nothing stopping you seeing if conversion to 21mm is possible, though
leslie10646 Posted March 3 Author Posted March 3 Ivan is right, up to a point, John. The wagons are scale width, but on a 16.5mm chassis. I persuaded Enda to produce a 9ft chassis, with the intention of planting different bodies on them, as he has done. I feel sure that Enda can produce a 21mm gauge chassis OK (he must answer definitively), but he'd want to see a decent order. I have guaranteed him up front for a large batch. I'll discuss with Enda off-line and post his reply - he's too busy with the next wagon - and working his printer to death ........ 3 1
Mayner Posted March 4 Posted March 4 I 36 minutes ago, leslie10646 said: Ivan is right, The wagons are scale width, but on a 16.5mm chassis. I persuaded Enda to produce a 9ft chassis, with the intention of planting different bodies on them, as he has done. I feel sure that Enda can produce a 21mm gauge chassis OK (he must answer definitively), but he'd want to see a decent order. I have guaranteed him up front for a large batch. I'll discuss with Enda off-line and post his reply - he's too busy with the next wagon - and working his printer to death ........ Several years ago I produced an etched brass 'fold up" rigid chassis for assembling Leslie's resin GN Cattle Wagons and Vans to 21mm gauge but only got round to assembling one of each type, but never got round to fitting brake gear! An etched brass chassis or W Irons may be an option for assembling Leslie's C-K Prints GN & SLNCR 3D printed wagons to 21mm gauge, there appears to be insufficient space to produce a workable 3D printed chassis without increasing the width of the wagon/underframe. If anyone is interested I can supply the fold up underframe frets direct from my supplier in the UK. Cattle wagons are supplied in frets of 16 wagons, GN/IRCH Vans in frets of 8 wagons, I would need to check pricing. 5 3
Turin60 Posted March 4 Posted March 4 I must admit I am currently experimenting with a widened set of etched brass W irons to see about fitting them to one of Leslies earlier wagons, not for the possible advantages of compensation but for the look and strength of the thing! If successful then I'll get some proper old style RCH pattern to give a slightly lighter appearance. John Bruce.
Mayner Posted March 5 Posted March 5 10 hours ago, Turin60 said: I must admit I am currently experimenting with a widened set of etched brass W irons to see about fitting them to one of Leslies earlier wagons, not for the possible advantages of compensation but for the look and strength of the thing! If successful then I'll get some proper old style RCH pattern to give a slightly lighter appearance. John Bruce. Studio Scale Models produced etched brass W irons suitable for 21mm gauge and a brake gear fret with long handbrake lever and single brake shoe typical of Irish unfitted wagons. May be worth contacting Des although not listed as separate parts the Convertible wagons which use these parts are still listed on the SSM website. 1
Mol_PMB Posted March 5 Posted March 5 50 minutes ago, Mayner said: Studio Scale Models produced etched brass W irons suitable for 21mm gauge and a brake gear fret with long handbrake lever and single brake shoe typical of Irish unfitted wagons. May be worth contacting Des although not listed as separate parts the Convertible wagons which use these parts are still listed on the SSM website. I tried to buy some of the 21mm gauge W irons from Des last year. When they turned up they were normal OO gauge ones which weren't anything like wide enough for 21mm. I could have bought them much more cheaply and quickly from other sources. Sigh. At least they turned up eventually, unlike my more recent order paid for in January which I must chase (again).
Mayner Posted March 5 Posted March 5 29 minutes ago, Mol_PMB said: I tried to buy some of the 21mm gauge W irons from Des last year. When they turned up they were normal OO gauge ones which weren't anything like wide enough for 21mm. I could have bought them much more cheaply and quickly from other sources. Sigh. At least they turned up eventually, unlike my more recent order paid for in January which I must chase (again). Pity I still have a stash of SSM 21mm gauge W Irons and brake gear parts possibly bought when Paul Greene still operated the business. At this stage I don't know if I'll ever get to use the W Irons.
Horsetan Posted March 5 Posted March 5 2 hours ago, Mol_PMB said: I tried to buy some of the 21mm gauge W irons from Des last year. When they turned up they were normal OO gauge ones which weren't anything like wide enough for 21mm. I could have bought them much more cheaply and quickly from other sources. Sigh.... If Des is away doing his day job in theatreland, it could be some time before he gets back. Bill Bedford used to produce sprung W-irons for 21mm but, when he transferred the production to Eileen's Emporium (also now long defunct) the 21mm irons didn't resurface. They are probably long lost now. The alternative, I suppose is to start with a P4-compatible W-iron and then graft in a section to widen it. 1
leslie10646 Posted March 5 Author Posted March 5 I'm pretty certain that the scale Four Society Stores sells them, see: https://www.scalefour.org/stores/stores.html Back to my wagons for the hundreds who model on 16.5mm, I hope that Des is back soon as we need his decals for the new wagons!!!!!! 2
Horsetan Posted March 5 Posted March 5 1 hour ago, leslie10646 said: I'm pretty certain that the scale Four Society Stores sells them, see: https://www.scalefour.org/stores/stores.html A very limited range of Bedford W-irons are in S4 Stores, but not the 5'3" ones which I think are long lost.
Mol_PMB Posted March 5 Posted March 5 I can easily knock up some etch artwork. In fact I think I have already drafted out a couple of Irish W iron types. I do need to clear the decks a bit first though as I have a bit of a backlog of projects on the go. 2 2
Horsetan Posted March 5 Posted March 5 1 hour ago, leslie10646 said: Tut, tut, they are shown on the website ....... Those are MJT, not Bill Bedford.
leslie10646 Posted March 5 Author Posted March 5 2 hours ago, Mol_PMB said: I can easily knock up some etch artwork. In fact I think I have already drafted out a couple of Irish W iron types. I do need to clear the decks a bit first though as I have a bit of a backlog of projects on the go. Delighted to know, Paul, that I have added to your backlog ......... 1
Turin60 Posted March 7 Posted March 7 (edited) Scalefour stores are for members only except at Scaleforum (where you are teated as a guest) and so on, except if you have a friend who is a member and can do some shopping for you, hopefully I have some 21mm gauge axles on the way to me! Working to EM standards I don't mind doing some work on the W irons. John Bruce. Edited March 7 by Turin60 missing observation. 1
leslie10646 Posted March 17 Author Posted March 17 Happy, St Patrick's Day, all. (A good Co. Antrim, Saint!!!!!) Enda sent me my present this morning - the prototype of our next wagon! Minor adjustments and we'll have three wagons to tempt you at Bangor! 5
leslie10646 Posted March 24 Author Posted March 24 (edited) Enda has worked his magic again! The 3D printed GNR 9 ton van - on sale at Bangor this weekend at £40 introductory price. Edited March 25 by leslie10646 9 1
leslie10646 Posted March 25 Author Posted March 25 I am repeating myself here, but to make sure that the word is out ...... Just a heads up to the kit builders. I will have VERY few kits at Bangor. As things stand, I think that I may have had my last kit from my producer. A fairly big order went in three months ago, but I got no feedback until I was told a month ago that the moulds were inaccessible and that production of my latest batch wasn't possible. Bearing in mind that some kits do not sell in numbers to make the cost of 3D printing viable, some wagons may now be in the collectable bracket! This is what I have, which you can PM me to either reserve and pick up, or I will extract from the box and post it to you later. Unhappily, it may be that when they're gone, they're gone! Thanks Leslie 3 2
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