Hi folks,
I'm not sure where to post this - mods, feel free to move it if I've stuck it in the wrong place!
Sometime, somewhere, in my future, there's some sort of N gauge steel works - or steel stockholder, or something like that... It's one of those iconic rail-served industries. I love steel wagons - grubby, filthy-dirty they may be, but there's something fascinating about them. I've been collecting short rakes of different sorts for ages.
I was somewhat annoyed that Chivers Finelines stopped producing their kit for a BBA before I'd got around to ordering any. Anyway, with 'Slimrails' having started producing some of Chivers' range of N Gauge wagons, I decided to fire off an email to see if they were thinking of reintroducing the BBA kit to the range.
I received a very nice reply from Simon Chivers (son of Roger), to say that if I wanted any, they could make me some, which is really good news. I'm ordering eight next week, once I've got money in the account again!
Thought I'd let you know, so that if you wanted any you don't need to be moping around wishing you'd bought them when they were available and haunting eBay hoping someone will offer some for auction.
http://www.slimrails.co.uk/indexNgauge.html (http://www.slimrails.co.uk/indexNgauge.html)
Thanks for the heads up Phil. Looks to be some useful kits there.
Cheers
Dave
Alas, that URL no longer works. Does anyone know what has happened to the Chivers / Slimrails kits, e.g., the RC906 N Gauge LNER Extra LONG CCT?
Quote from: Chris in Prague on August 28, 2019, 02:28:20 PM
Alas, that URL no longer works. Does anyone know what has happened to the Chivers / Slimrails kits, e.g., the RC906 N Gauge LNER Extra LONG CCT?
Hi
They have closed unfortunately due to health/family reasons. There is a thread on RMWeb here
https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/146457-slimrails-part-of-finelines-to-close/&tab=comments#comment-3631365 (https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/146457-slimrails-part-of-finelines-to-close/&tab=comments#comment-3631365)
Cheers
Paul
Quote from: PaulCheffus on August 28, 2019, 02:33:12 PM
Quote from: Chris in Prague on August 28, 2019, 02:28:20 PM
Alas, that URL no longer works. Does anyone know what has happened to the Chivers / Slimrails kits, e.g., the RC906 N Gauge LNER Extra LONG CCT?
Hi
They have closed unfortunately due to health/family reasons. There is a thread on RMWeb here
https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/146457-slimrails-part-of-finelines-to-close/&tab=comments#comment-3631365 (https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/146457-slimrails-part-of-finelines-to-close/&tab=comments#comment-3631365)
Cheers
Paul
Many thanks, Paul. I wonder if there is any chance of the NGS taking over the kits?
so sorry to read of their closure,
have a number of their kits, mostly the OTAs, and I found the kits to be superb, as was the service.
Quote from: class37025 on August 28, 2019, 03:00:50 PM
so sorry to read of their closure,
have a number of their kits, mostly the OTAs, and I found the kits to be superb, as was the service.
Agreed; great kits and great service. I didn't even know they had closed.
Has anyone heard any more about the future ownership of the Chivers/Slimrails N gauge kits. These were some of the best on the market and it would be a shame for them to be lost to the market. I know the reasons behind the closure, I just wondered if there was any news about either Peco or the NGS taking them on?
Quote from: Southerngooner on May 22, 2020, 11:15:54 AM
Has anyone heard any more about the future ownership of the Chivers/Slimrails N gauge kits. These were some of the best on the market and it would be a shame for them to be lost to the market. I know the reasons behind the closure, I just wondered if there was any news about either Peco or the NGS taking them on?
Seconded! It would be a great loss if they were never to be available, again. Peco would be logical as I think they took over the 00 Gauge kits?
Hi guys,
My understanding is that the range is not for sale currently.
I suggest you keep watching for developments via the website.
Phil H
But which Website, please?
Quote from: Chris in Prague on May 22, 2020, 01:59:43 PM
But which Website, please?
Good question, I can't find a current website under "Chivers Finelines" or "Slimrails", could be just me.
Like others I hope they resurface, they are lovely kits.
Roy
Hello all,
Over the years I asked Roger Chivers on numerous occasions whether he would take on special commissions, or sell tooling to the NGS.
He always declined on the basis that he did not want to have deadlines imposed on him.
I have a rake of his BBAs and a rake of OTAs. They are beautiful mouldings but mine do not run well, and the couplers are problematic.
Cheers
Ben A.
I second the comments above that it would be a great loss if Roger's kits are never available again, they go together so well, probably some of the best in my opinion.
I have built various different Chivers kits over the years and have managed to get them to run fairly well with the exception of the bogies on the BBAs. I will persevere and try to get them to run better.
Keith.
Quote from: Crompton Power on May 22, 2020, 02:55:09 PMwith the exception of the bogies on the BBAs. I will persevere and try to get them to run better.
As someone who's got 12 in painting and 6, which were the final ones that Slimrails had in stock, still bagged up please could you expand on the running issues.
Thanks
I have heard this ..... https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/146457-slimrails-part-of-finelines-to-close/ (https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/146457-slimrails-part-of-finelines-to-close/) I thought .... https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/13251-important-changes-at-chivers-finelines/ (https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/13251-important-changes-at-chivers-finelines/) but Matthew ' s website does not work. May have to rethink plan b..... http://www.bhenterprises.co.uk/ (http://www.bhenterprises.co.uk/)
Hi
I cured the running issues with my BBAs by filling the axle bearing holes with plastic rod. Once it had gone hard I drilled a 1mm diameter hole in the centre into which I put a 2mm SA bearing and used their N gauge wheels. This results in a free running bogie.
Cheers
Paul
I had trouble with Chivers SR CCTs running when they first appeared, and never really solved it. Having come back to the hobby in the last ten years I bought an LNER Extra long CCT and the GWR Open C. After making them I had the same issue. I got a bit frustrated, but then remembered that changing the wheels supplied in Parkside kits (which also don't always run well) to new Farish wheelsets had cured the problem. I tried with the two Slimrails kits and bingo, they ran like a dream. I can only assume the points on the Romford(?) wheels supplied with both Parkside and Slimrails kits are less "sharp" than the Farish. The only slight mod was to do the usual squeezing together of the axleboxes which I have done on many chassis when runnnig is not as good as it should be. The two vehicles now run on James Street and have not caused any issues, unlike some 21T minerals which had not had the wheels changed and got very poor.
So, it looks like the n gauge kits are being reintroduced by five79. Fantastic news
That would be good news, but there is nothing on their website?
Quote from: Southerngooner on July 06, 2020, 07:11:51 AM
That would be good news, but there is nothing on their website?
From Facebook
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/96/2878-060720080948.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=96555)
Thank you for this. This is, indeed, very welcome news.
Quote from: Buzzard on July 06, 2020, 08:10:43 AM
From Facebook
To save searching: https://m.facebook.com/five79ng/ (https://m.facebook.com/five79ng/)
Good news indeed! Not sure when stuff will be available though? Seems there is a lot of sorting out of what is quite a big range, with N a small part.
I would certainly be pleased to see the return of the LNER Extra long CCT and would buy a couple of LNER horseboxes as they haven't been available for quite a while, but I guess it is a case of being patient.
Roy
I'm glad I bought the LNER CCT and GW Open C last year. Good timing, must have been one of their last orders! Lovely kits, the best available in N in my opinion.
Hi
It is indeed good news though I notice the BBA steel carrier is missing from the list.
Cheers
Paul
There are those of us that don't use farcebook so it's not much use until they get a website
Quote from: Dorsetmike on July 06, 2020, 11:43:56 AM
There are those of us that don't use farcebook so it's not much use until they get a website
http://five79.co.uk/ (http://five79.co.uk/)
Quote from: PaulCheffus on July 06, 2020, 11:05:48 AM
Hi
It is indeed good news though I notice the BBA steel carrier is missing from the list.
Cheers
Paul
I got a message last night from Matt to say that the omission is a mistake
A number of N-Gauge kits are now available:
https://www.five79.co.uk/N-GAUGE/ (https://www.five79.co.uk/N-GAUGE/)
Best
Scott.
Many thanks, Scott.
Produced reasonably successfully from these kits a Horsebox and Extra long CCT. and painted up nicely
Reamed out the axle boxes and put Brass Top hats in, Successfully spaced the CCT chassis and that runs on Mathieson 7mm Coach wheels. Didnt do so well with the Hosrsebox but that is running on peco 6mm spokes well enough
For Transfers - theres another post on the forum which is helpful for the Horsebox, probably going to use some NGS ones.
:dunce:
Any ideas for Transfers on the the CCT ?
i am in the BR Crimson era so guess it wont be much different from a BR/SR CCT
have built both the SSAs and OTAs, both superb kits IMHO.
I really love the quality of these kits, all we need is an enterprising individual/company to release suitable transfers for them.
Best wishes
Simon
Railtec 1371 ?? There are others available.
https://www.railtec-models.com/catalog.php?search_str=CCT (https://www.railtec-models.com/catalog.php?search_str=CCT)
I put Farish coach wheels into my CCT and it runs much better. I've since done the same to the Open C with similar results. For transfers for the CCT I used Cambridge Custom Transfers (another CCT!)
Dave
I've been looking at the ZCA seahorse, it says I need 6.2mm wheels, where do I source these from please?
Ian
I've just put together an OTA timber wagon. It's currently running on Peco wheels and I need to source couplings but looks really good. Three more to go.
Ten Commandments do very nice resin cast timber loads to finish the model off.
Quote from: ianwales on October 22, 2021, 07:03:02 PM
I've been looking at the ZCA seahorse, it says I need 6.2mm wheels, where do I source these from please?
Ian
Hi
https://www.hamodels.net/pn53-6-2mm-solid-disc-metal-wheels.html (https://www.hamodels.net/pn53-6-2mm-solid-disc-metal-wheels.html)
Cheers
Paul
If you use the Farish wagon wheels (new type) they have a much sharper point than the Parkside ones and roll a lot better
Save
Just ordered 3x "long low" plate wagons so I will have to find where my stash of Farish wagon wheels has gone. Mrs Twinklekev has been tidying up :help: