Quainton Road Models

David Howes tells me that the Quainton Road Models GC six-wheel fish van to diagram 49 is now in production, and the first batch is selling well.

Having moved during 2010, up to date contact details are:
Quainton Road Models
Chyanbre
Polyphant
Launceston
Cornwall
PL15 7PT
Quainton.Road.Models@mac.com

He is now working on on a MS&L 29ft six-wheel brake van - a new kit. Following that there will more six-wheelers - significantly enhanced and improved versions of the simpler etched sides/ends he marketed in the 1990s.

Suggestions for other kits are invited.

People modelling the GCR in 7mm are truly blessed to have so many kits available and/or promised. It is fast getting to the point where the only thing outstanding will be a cast figurine of Sir Sam Fay! And maybe even that will come.

GCR Name and Number Plates

A good range of loco name and number plates, very reasonably priced, are available from Severn Mill Nameplates. The range includes most, if not all, of the classes for which there are kits. (Of course many of the earlier classes don't need numberplates, or only need them for certain locos - please do consult photos.) For some classes, for example class 1 (Sam Fay) every engine is catered for. Does anyone have a model of all six? Lucky you!

An alternative supplier is Guilplates who unfortunately don't have a website as such, so you will have to send off for their list by post or ask for it at one of the exhibitions they attend.

Bill Bedford Kits

Bill Bedford has a new website.

The 7mm stuff is now slightly harder to find, but go into 'Products' and then 'Made to Order Lists'.

There are a wide range of items available but they cannot be accused of being cheap. It's good that they are to be had though, for all that.

GC Cattle Wagons

I understand from Simon Spare that his GC cattle wagon kits are more or less ready to go out. Cost £25 each plus post with a choice of grease or oil axleboxes.

Both fitted and unfitted versions originally had grease boxes but they would have slowly been upgraded, especially the fitted ones. Don't ask me exactly when.

There's a photo on the GCRS Yahoo website and they look to be another excellent product.

Please note for these wagons you will need 'GCR' and 'number' plates NOT the usual lettering. Now how shall we procure those??? Photos of these wagons in GC days (to show you what I mean) are quite rare. There is a partial on p 73 of Locomotives of the Great Central Railway, volume 2, by E.M. Johnson, that shows enough if you look at it carefully.

J9/10 kit

I was looking on the Tower Models site recently and noticed that in their section for Gladiator Models this kit is now listed although still 'to be announced'.

Unfortunately the Gladiator Models site is down at the moment so no cross-referencing is possible.

As a 'J9/10' is proposed (that is GC classes 9B/9D/9E/9H) some interesting variations may be possible, as discussed in my earlier post. Anyone with a GC or CLC layout is going to be able to justify at least one of these, and really I think three or four would be more the thing.

I'm looking forward to this becoming available!

Signalling Record Society

On the subject of online resources, the Signalling Record Society lists among its publications a Signal Box Register for the GCR, listing 'basic physical and chronological details of every known signalbox.' It's only £4-20 plus p&p which can't be bad, given that I paid £3 for a pint of ordinary bitter the other day!

If you haven't got a copy of the 1914 Appendix they can also supply that for £12-30 plus p&p, which again is excellent value.

Finally, if you check out their list of available photos there are lots of GCR boxes among them. Oh, and there's even a list of signal box diagrams that includes some on the GC.

Great Central Drawings Online

Some of you may be unaware that there is an online source of Great Central Drawings.

Some of the smaller items would make very nice castings or etchings, preferably in 7mm scale!!!