Highfield Models LNER Suburban Coach Liveries?

[icairns]

There are some vintage Highfield Models' kits up for sale on eBay at the moment:
 
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/125815068014?hash=item1d4b29956e:g:L80AAOSwn8BkDIGR&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAwLj9alSUtWEwCEf0hVlmWftWwj6R4mz%2Bi%2BKJZfPT3tQhY8jor%2F%2BSPI0bB0ZvlolZDjWfYFVWEAn25Xgtm0dWovdi5zAtoxlYoMccx53HTwSlTmHKkmATeFcoAFwobdirPLk1d%2Bx83Ij%2Fh52R83x%2FgLdM0dKqnxPPkEb9xS2n9BYqQZIa8mptleGiqQflZCxsHwXxHeqqTsG9er96mEy2C2LCV%2Bo8ge9MEDnRRApwi1vyIZgDdrWvswFCClOeLAXbhA%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR8Co2dnbYQ

I am interested to know:

1) What is the livery of the three LNER coaches?  It looks like a dark maroon.

2) What is the heritage of the prototype of these coaches?  Ex-GER?

Ian

[Richard Taylor]

Ian

Within the limits of printing ink the livery is meant to be LNER teak brown paint (as used on secondary stock.). Being printed on a yellow background (for the lining & lettering) and being in plastic bags makes the ink look more maroon in the photos.

As for prototype: anyone's guess. I suspect that Peter Middleton intended them to be either Gresley non-corridor stock or possibly - given his personal modelling interests in N gauge - ex-NER. If the latter then a dark maroon shade would ironically be appropriate.

I had a load of these plus his card wagon kits when I started out in N in 1978, sourced from the "odds and sods" rummage box kept behind the model railway counter in Precious' Toys And Models in Low Petergate in York.  Memories!

Richard

[icairns]

@Richard Taylor Thank you for your reply.  I think you may be correct in your comments.

In order to see if I could unearth any more information, I contacted Colin Allbright because I know he is very interested in vintage N gauge models and has a large collection of kits and models produced by Highfield Models. 

Colin's (abridged) reply to me was:

"Looking through my collection, the three types of suburban coaches are definitely not maroon.
The NE Clerestory kit is. I would say the colour is a teak shade, varies slightly between samples due to poor colour printing control but definitely brown not maroon."

So, there we have it!

I think the Highfield LNER suburbans are meant to be like the LNER coaches shown in the following link (scroll down to see individual coaches):

https://www.steamsoundssupreme.com/mt-gresley-nc-twinpack

The colour is what I would probably describe as "dark teak."

Ian