gwr castle build

G

garrettman

New Member
Hello guys new to this, i've just had a 1980's o gauge kit no maker off fleebay i thought at the rite price ?? under £70 no chassis, no castings wheels etc, the boiler rolled, firebox formed, mudgaurds rolled cab roof rolled solebars solid brass shaped too, tender body rolled and top flange bent over inside tender bent to size approx, cab sides windows cut out brass elbow pipes brass tuned chimney and centre brass valve nice jobby too
a few other bits included b/band a brass disc i think is the smoke box door ?? not sure
all for less than 70 smackers must be a bargain ???
just gorra build it guys :
OH !! AND NO INSTRUCTIONS : OOOPS !!
HELP PLEASE GUYS CAN ANYONE SUPPLY SOME PLEASE :
I'D LIKE TO TRY AND BUILD IT BUT IT WILL TAKE TIME I KNOW :
 
Scale7JB

Scale7JB

Western Thunderer
Hi, have you built any brass kits before, as this sounds like something that a modeller with a fair modicum of experience would struggle to put together and resemble a Castle.

I hate to be defeatist or negative, but I've spoken to a few modellers whilst demonstrating at shows in the past who have bought 'cheap kits' only to find out that the kits that go together easily and cleanly are the expensive ones or just those with a very good reputation.

Also do bare in mind that's it's the castings that are the expensive bits, not the etches. I made the same mistake many years back and found out the hard way.

Do you have any photos of your win?

JB.
 
Steph Dale

Steph Dale

Western Thunderer
JB,

Interesting you say that, I wonder if this is one of the hand - cut kits of yore. In which case it'll be a bit of a challenge...

Steph
 
Steph Dale

Steph Dale

Western Thunderer
Yep, 'cos if it is he's got all the instructions he was going to get. I.e. none... :(

However, I have seen good models made from the hand cut kits. With skill and enthusiasm anything is possible.

Steph
 
simond

simond

Western Thunderer
Steph, to correct your last statement, "Skill, enthusiasm, patience, a fully equipped workshop, drawings, knowledge, time and money...". :)

Ok, Garrettman, please post some pictures of your win, and we can try to make some constructive comments.

A chassis is easy. There are multiple routes but I'd suggest a call to Bill at Premier Components who will be able to supply loco and tender frames, bogie, spacers, and coupling & connecting rods. Warren Shepherd will be able to supply castings for the cylinder covers and slidebars, and all the detail parts you'll want for loco and tender. Slaters can supply wheels. There are various motor & gearbox options, including Finney 7, Dragon models, MSC, ABC & Premier.

Best
Simon
 
adrian

adrian

Flying Squad
simond said:
Ok, Garrettman, please post some pictures of your win, and we can try to make some constructive comments.
Click to expand...
+1 - post some photos and there are plenty of people on here that can guide you better than any set of instructions will be able to do. My current project (for which I will post soon) I have just binned the instructions because they are worse than useless - they are incorrect and misleading so in to the bin they went.
 
simond

simond

Western Thunderer
Well, the photo on the box looks like a Castle...

Garrettman, assuming this is your win, and if you've no experience building brass kits, I'd put this one on the shelf, build a couple of wagon kits whilst you gather the tools you'll need, and gain a bit of experience, and come back to it better armed to tackle its challenges.

There are a number of very good books about building brass locos, in the Wild Swan range - I'd suggest you look there too.

You could dive in and do this, but it will be a difficult & frustrating exercise.

But there are plenty of modellers who will help, as Adrian says.
Best
Simon
 
adrian

adrian

Flying Squad
daifly said:
I suspect it might be this box of bits!
Dave
Click to expand...
I suspect you may be right. There were a couple of people producing these sorts of "kits", although if I remember correctly CCW and Firmco were more tinplate than brass. So my suspicion is it's origin is F.H. Smith. (circa 1970s)

Screen Shot 2017-05-07 at 08.14.00.png
To be fair he advertises them as a set of parts rather than a kit, I don't recollect there being much if any in the way of instructions with them. The purchaser was assumed to have sufficient experience of building locos that they could work out for themselves what each component was used for. To be honest I'd go with Simon's advice if this is the "kit" in question.
 
simond

simond

Western Thunderer
I wonder what happened to the said Mr Smith. If he started in 1947, at say, 20, he'd be 90-odd now.

There's still a G0G-affiliated group up in Birchington, indeed there was an open day last weekend, to which I was intending to go until MrsD pointed out that we'd already got shuttle tickets.

I rather like the "if it's wrong, take it off, clean it and have another go" approach. Jan (Lyndhurstman) was talking about SIAS recently. Very pragmatic!

Best
Simon
 
Dog Star

Dog Star

Western Thunderer
simond said:
There are various motor & gearbox options, including Finney 7, Dragon models, MSC, ABC & Premier.
Click to expand...
Please do not forget the range from Slater's Plastikard.

All gears cut in "one go" so run true... all gearbox parts cut in "one go" with jigged assembly... spur and skew gears...

Sound like a convert? Yes, I am so impressed with the smoothness of the gear train that a 40:1 version has been bought for a current project.
 
W

whizzo

New Member
HI I think Mr smith , passed some years ago -- and a son ??? carried on the business for a while - but not sure - now ?? regards Dave
 
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