Worsley Works retiring and closing down. Irish items apparrently out of stock.

[Colin R]

On 7/5/2026 at 12:35 PM, Mayner said:

Pete McParlin had a similar experience with disappointing sales when he introduced an extensive range of Backwoods Miniatures 4mm Irish 3' gauge locos and stock during the 1990s and later shifted to British and American outline locos and stock. Peter told me that he only sold one Clogher Valley 0-4-2T locomotive. 

Well if that is true, then it is now sitting in my green box collection, now wonder i have never been able to find a second kit then.

Colin

 

 

 

 

 

[commerlad]

2 hours ago, Colin R said:

Well if that is true, then it is now sitting in my green box collection, now wonder i have never been able to find a second kit then.

Colin

I know for a fact that P McParlin sold only 1 is false.

Bob Hughes had 1,  & I have most of 1 (Bought 2nd hand off Ebay part built {or trod on})

 

Edited June 12 by commerlad

[Basil]

I have two of them... (bought directly from Pete no less)

Edited June 12 by Basil

[Mayner]

21 hours ago, commerlad said:

I know for a fact that P McParlin sold only 1 is false.

Bob Hughes had 1,  & I have most of 1 (Bought 2nd hand off Ebay part built {or trod on})

 

Interesting; I distinctly recall Pete McParlin telling me that he had only sold 1 CVR 0-4-2T during a conversation almost 30 years ago. During our conversation Pete spoke about poor demand for his Irish 00n3 kits and used the CVR loco to reinforce his point. At the time I was a regular customer and had no reason to doubt Pete's word.

Good that Backwoods Miniatures has sold at least four of the CVR loco kits (still currently listed on the website). 

A CVR 0-4-2T has been on my to-do list for several years, have to decide whether to scratchbuild the loco, prepare a set of etched parts or trial the 3D printed route. I assembled a pair of CVR Coaches and a Horsebox from Branchlines kits about 35 years ago & need a suitable loco.

Edited June 13 by Mayner

[commerlad]

13 hours ago, Mayner said:

Interesting; I distinctly recall Pete McParlin telling me that he had only sold 1 CVR 0-4-2T during a conversation almost 30 years ago. During our conversation Pete spoke about poor demand for his Irish 00n3 kits and used the CVR loco to reinforce his point. At the time I was a regular customer and had no reason to doubt Pete's word.

Good that Backwoods Miniatures has sold at least four of the CVR loco kits (still currently listed on the website). 

A CVR 0-4-2T has been on my to-do list for several years, have to decide whether to scratchbuild the loco, prepare a set of etched parts or trial the 3D printed route. I assembled a pair of CVR Coaches and a Horsebox from Branchlines kits about 35 years ago & need a suitable loco.

The kit may stil be listed on the Backwoods miniatures site but Pete gave up the range and sold it on to Neville Kent (NDrive) 

See.

Home | N-Drive Productions for narrow gauge kits and N gauge industrial locomotive kits

[Andy Cundick]

For what its worth i,ve got three of them i acquired over the years two running and one to finish Andy

[Colin R]

On 13/6/2026 at 10:44 PM, commerlad said:

The kit may stil be listed on the Backwoods miniatures site but Pete gave up the range and sold it on to Neville Kent (NDrive) 

See.

Home | N-Drive Productions for narrow gauge kits and N gauge industrial locomotive kits

I am not sure just how far Neville has got with getting this kit back into production, but I wouldn't mind finding a second one for sale. I know that there is a 3D print version available, but for now I would prefer a brass etech version.  

[Horsetan]

On 19/6/2026 at 10:25 PM, Colin R said:

I am not sure just how far Neville has got with getting this kit back into production, but I wouldn't mind finding a second one for sale. I know that there is a 3D print version available, but for now I would prefer a brass etech version.  

Neville's big problem with all of the Backwoods kits concerns wheels, as the original maker/supplier of the mostly plastic-centred, fine-profile wheelsets no longer exists.

From the one loco kit that has been re-released, it looks like the old-style coarse profile "steamroller" wheels - inherited from N-gauge in the 1980s and earlier - are now being used, so this retrograde step is likely to find its way into all of the kits over the next decade or so. Backwoods kits are going to look a bit odd with them, given that a big selling point was the fact that the running gear didn't look prehistoric. 

[Horsetan]

3 hours ago, Horsetan said:

....From the one loco kit that has been re-released, it looks like the old-style coarse profile "steamroller" wheels - inherited from N-gauge in the 1980s and earlier - are now being used, so this retrograde step is likely to find its way into all of the kits over the next decade or so. Backwoods kits are going to look a bit odd with them, given that a big selling point was the fact that the running gear didn't look prehistoric. 

The resulting hybrid of different parts looks a bit off...

[Turin60]

This is I'm afraid the future, unless some highly skilled person want's to sink an incredible amount of money into an enterprise guaranteed to give no appreciable return. Sorry, but the emphasis of the hobby has changed and not necessarily to the kit builder (or budding kit builder) advantage I'm afraid.

John Bruce.

[Mol_PMB]

Over on RMweb, a recent post suggests that someone has succeeded in acquiring some former Worsley etch tools (not Irish ones). 

https://www.rmweb.co.uk/topic/183040-blacksmith-models-the-david-geen-collection-worsley-works/page/4/#findComment-6231094

Has there been any progress on the Irish items? I imagine that it's still mired in confusion and may never be unravelled.

[Horsetan]

37 minutes ago, Mol_PMB said:

Over on RMweb, a recent post suggests that someone has succeeded in acquiring some former Worsley etch tools (not Irish ones). 

https://www.rmweb.co.uk/topic/183040-blacksmith-models-the-david-geen-collection-worsley-works/page/4/#findComment-6231094

 

Mark Seward seems to be able to find these half-forgotten things. He now has Blacksmith/Mallard, David Geen rolling stock, Haye Developments, the oul K's Milestones kits, and now a bit of Worsley Works. That's quite lot of things to have on your plate...

[Angus]

47 minutes ago, Mol_PMB said:

Over on RMweb, a recent post suggests that someone has succeeded in acquiring some former Worsley etch tools (not Irish ones). 

https://www.rmweb.co.uk/topic/183040-blacksmith-models-the-david-geen-collection-worsley-works/page/4/#findComment-6231094

Has there been any progress on the Irish items? I imagine that it's still mired in confusion and may never be unravelled.

Hi Mol,

 

I'm not sure that's what it says, unless you've got further information?

There's been quite a bit of confusion with people claiming to have taken on bits of Allen's range, but it usually turns out they've just bought Allen's stock of unsold etches.

The RMweb post refers to etches not artwork.

 

I would love to the Worsley work range reappear but losing hope as time passes.

 

Edited Wednesday at 08:48 by Angus

[Mol_PMB]

8 minutes ago, Angus said:

Hi Mol,

 

I'm not sure that's what it says, unless you've got further information?

There's been quite a bit of confusion with people claiming to have taken on bits of Allen's range, but it usually turns out they've just bought Allen's stock of unsold etches.

The RMweb post refers to etches not artwork.

 

I would love to the Worsley work range reappear but losing hope as time passes.

 

Hi Angus,

You may be right - could well be my misinterpretation. With other ranges they have acquired, Blacksmith do seem to have got the tools and have re-introduced kits previously unavailable, so I had assumed it was the same position here.

One wonders about the size of Allen's stock of unsold etches! Considering the breadth of the range, I had assumed that most were made in very small batches or to order. If he had several of every etch in every scale in stock, then he must have had a ton of brass in his shed. Perhaps he did?

[commerlad]

7 hours ago, Mol_PMB said:

Hi Angus,

You may be right - could well be my misinterpretation. With other ranges they have acquired, Blacksmith do seem to have got the tools and have re-introduced kits previously unavailable, so I had assumed it was the same position here.

One wonders about the size of Allen's stock of unsold etches! Considering the breadth of the range, I had assumed that most were made in very small batches or to order. If he had several of every etch in every scale in stock, then he must have had a ton of brass in his shed. Perhaps he did?

Allen did have quite a stock of Brass, I helped him move it into shows on a few occasions (And that was just selected ranges specific to specialist shows).

I am still trying to get Allen to give me a price. Last month's check on progress was met with a reply that he has no etches left (I knew that and the email sent included that it was to buy the rights and was not asking for kits) I have just phoned again and he said he was having problems, I can understand that. It just does not seem that he is actively seeking help to do anything with this.

Neville is still waiting for sheet numbers for things he paid for over a year ago.

A N Other is still trying to sort out between G & H and Allen to get sheet numbers for just 7 kits, Allen sent different list to the 2 relevant parties.

I really want this myself but the longer it goes on the less likely I actually see a fruitful outcome.

Edited Wednesday at 16:03 by commerlad

[Horsetan]

I've still got the popcorn out....

[commerlad]

Spoken to Mark at Blacksmith Models, similar story, Mismatched sheet numbers etc.

He is only buying Photo tools (No Stock) a couple at a time apparently seems to work better. He is only after GWR Standard Guage. But has ended up with tools for an 8 car LNER articulated set?

8 sets of Coach Sides, Tick. 7 sets of Bogies, Tick. 8 Sets of Coach ends, X No only 7. So to get parts to complete he has to run the whole lot again for 1 set of ends.

[Rob R]

I know a lot of time and effort is being put into this but is it not nearing the time to move on and draw up some new artwork, hopefully with some modern style tabs and slots etc, to aid assembly?

[commerlad]

2 hours ago, Rob R said:

I know a lot of time and effort is being put into this but is it not nearing the time to move on and draw up some new artwork, hopefully with some modern style tabs and slots etc, to aid assembly?

Would love to, but that is not really my skill set, much prefer holding an Iron.

[Mol_PMB]

3 hours ago, Rob R said:

I know a lot of time and effort is being put into this but is it not nearing the time to move on and draw up some new artwork, hopefully with some modern style tabs and slots etc, to aid assembly?

Hopefully I’ll be able to offer something with more modern design. But with more bits the price is higher. There’s much more to this than a pair of sides!

I’ll avoid duplicating what’s been available from WW though. 

[Colonel]

Indeed!

When you think about it, the majority of most models can be broken down into basic flat shapes and strips. Even a steam loco boiler is just a rectangle, rolled into a tube, though streamliners are another matter and likewise some diesels. 

 Many wagon bodies are just two sides, two ends, a floor and various amounts of strapping. Coaches can be far more complex though, with lots of repetitive marking and cutting out out, just to create a couple of sides.

 The real issue with scratchbuilding versus kit building is all the other bits:

• Buffers: so many different shapes and sizes
• Boiler fittings: chimney, dome, safety valves, etc
• Bogies, springs, axles boxes etc

 All such things are complex shapes and while they can be made, the amount of time needed becomes exponential compared to being able to buy a few whitemetal or brass castings.

 Now, while Allen's stuff gave us a start on creating a model, it still left the problem of making or sourcing all those difficult bits. And those difficult bits are getting harder to find, partly because of the boom in rtr, partly because many of  those who made them are no longer with us.

 For me, the ideal scenario would be for those with the skills to begin creating a library of CAD files for these complex parts. With the price of 3D printers now looking quite reasonable, I'd certainly buy one of I knew there were files out there that I could buy to print my own stuff - especially if such files were to be found in a few central places.

 I suspect the main problem with the above, is that there are not enough people that interested a scratch building to make it viable. Or are there...?

[Galteemore]

  Indeed David. I am actively scoping 3d printing myself. Now Laurie Griffin has shut up shop that’s my main source of loco castings gone…..mercifully I have enough in stock for the next 3 locos but after that…..

[Angus]

13 hours ago, Rob R said:

I know a lot of time and effort is being put into this but is it not nearing the time to move on and draw up some new artwork, hopefully with some modern style tabs and slots etc, to aid assembly?

It is a skill I need to develop, however, even the most productive person would take years if not decades to reproduce Allen's extensive range, across the wide range of scales he offered.

If I do develop the skills to produce etches, I would prefer to focus my time on adding previously unavailable items rather than replicating what had been a available.

[Horsetan]

5 hours ago, Galteemore said:

  Indeed David. I am actively scoping 3d printing myself. Now Laurie Griffin has shut up shop that’s my main source of loco castings gone…..mercifully I have enough in stock for the next 3 locos but after that…..

The wheel has come full circle. It used to be the fashion to replace plastic moulded detail with whitemetal/brass/copper/nickel-silver, but now we seem to be reverting to plastics, albeit 3D-printed 

[Mayner]

Lost wax brass casting produced using 3D modelling/printing techniques may be an option for producing detail parts. The main drawback with 3D printing is that resin printed parts tend to be extremely brittle (and easily damaged/break off) unless printed with a resin with an engineering resin with resilient qualities, expensive and in my experience difficult to achieve on a home printer

I used a jewellery industry supplier https://morrisandwatson.com/casting/3d-printing to produce some of the detail castings for my GSWR 52 Class loco kit from my own CAD work.

Ideal for a small/one off project where no suitable castings are available

[Colonel]

22 hours ago, Galteemore said:

  Indeed David. I am actively scoping 3d printing myself. Now Laurie Griffin has shut up shop that’s my main source of loco castings gone…..mercifully I have enough in stock for the next 3 locos but after that…..

Was only wondering the other day how long he might continue - being of a certain age.

 A vast resource for 7mm scale. Let's hope someone will come in to take over.

We really are close to a major tipping/watershed point in the hobby.