The 9J (J11) - Devil in the details.

I am, on and off, researching a 9J (J11) to build. I thought I had figured out the tender options - I was wrong! - but now I have noticed something else. As with the Q4s, the presence of an external exhaust pipe along the RH side does not necessarily signify a superheated engine. The early boilers had internal exhaust pipes, but after a certain date external exhaust pipes were fitted. And as boilers were swapped about (a lot) it is impossible to be sure whether or not the model ought to have one unless you have a dated photo showing the RH side.

This warning is probably not relevant to anyone modelling the LNER era or later - you can pretty much assume an external pipe - but for those of us working in the mid to late GC era it's another flipping nightmare. Sadly good photos of 9Js in GC condition are not two a penny. The very early ones are only useful if you are modelling that era. The later ones beg the question as to whether the same boiler was carried at the date being modelled - if not, did the earlier boiler have the external pipe? Yeadon is only of limited assistance - it gives the date of boiler changes - and the RCTS books still less on this matter.

GC single bolster wagons

These GCR single bolster wagons have been completed after lying around for a lot, lot longer than I care to admit. A recent burst of enthusiasm got them more or less finished, though in all honesty some more lettering, and some additional weathering still needs to be done. (The safety loops also need adding to the brakes,)

If anyone would like something similar an improved version of the kit may be had from Dragon Models (Wales) and I recommend the product. They are basically white metal. The chains, etc., were procured from Parkside Dundas and the number and 'to carry' plates came from Guilplates.

Gladiator Models

Current website - a fair bit of GC interest on here.

New book on GC loco liveries.

John Quick's book on GCR loco liveries is now available and recommended to anyone with a serious interest in modelling the GCR.

It can be obtained from its publishers Black Dwarf Lightmoor as well as from any of your favourite specialist bookshops.

Reading this book helps to understand just how complex and difficult the subject matter is. Possibly the best single research book on the GCR ever and certainly the best published for many years.

Great Central Models.

Nothing to do with 7mm scale modelling, but it is Great Central:

Great Central Models - finescale 4mm kits of Robinson 4-6-0s.

GCR Buffer Stop

Ragstone Models (Andy Beaton) now have a 7mm scale GCR buffer stop available. It looks extremely good. A much-needed addition, and much more accurate than even the best modified PECO version!  I shall be buying some at Telford.

 

The above photo shows the prototype.

 

 

 

This is the model.

 

(Photos courtesy A. Beaton.)

EDIT - Having got my mitts on three of these at Telford I can assure you all that they are every bit as good as they look and well worth the price of £10.

Diagram 17 van, Connoisseur kit.

Great Central Diagram 17 Covered Goods from the Connoisseur kit. This kit is etched brass and not that difficult to build - the worst part is probably filing two chunks out of the roof to accommodate the shape of the doors. The etchings and castings are very good indeed, and I find myself hoping that some day Jim at Connoisseur will decide that some of the castings (at least) would work very well with another GC kit. A diagram 7 open would be nice.

The models still needs a few touches, most notably weathering. Even in pre-grouping days, no one cleaned goods wagons - certainly not externally.

A recommended kit, suitable for GC, LNER or early BR periods. And indeed for the CLC, though I think the brakes might need some changes.