Well here is a question for everyone.

Some time ago I acquired some of these old cardborard kits - a bunch of LNER coaches and an LMS brake van. I realsie that they are kind of part of the history of N Gauge and some folks might say I should preserve them in their unbuilt state - however having recently started on a steady stream of kitbuilding various items of whitemetal, plastic and then wooden (Osborns laser cut) rolling stock I decide it might be fun to put one of these together. Starting with kit VB.4, the LMS Brake Van (picture below). Hopefully I can keep a steady enough hand with the scalpel to cut this out cleanly (I only have the one so I am thinking I might photocopy it to make a practice run before I cut the actual kit... ) .

The question I have is that the kit specifies the use of PECO Underframe NR 120. Now when I look that up on the PECO website that is the 9ft steelframed chassis kit. That is definitely the wrong length. So I am sitting wondering if back in ancient history PECO used the same part number to represent a different underframe.

Anybody got any thoughts on that? Maybe someone with access to a copy of an ancient catalogue?

Cheers,

Colin.

Peco .NR-122B is the one you need...

https://railsofsheffield.com/products/14048/peco-nr-122b-n-gauge-15ft-wheelbase-steel-type-brake-van-chassis-kit

PLD is correct:  you should use the Peco 15' w/b brake van underframe (current catalogue no. NR-122B) for this kit.

For some reason, over the years, Peco renumbered and re-used catalogue numbers for some of their N gauge wagon underframes

NR-120 was originally the catalogue number for the 15' w/b wagon underframe and this number was used between 1968 and 1971 (the same timeframe as your Highfield card kit).

Starting in 1971, the 15' w/b wagon underframe became NR-122.

In 1972, Peco introduced NR-122B, the 15' w/b brake van underframe which, as stated previously, is the best chassis for the Highfield LMS brake van kit (and some of Highfield's 4-wheel coaching stock).

Starting in 1994, the NR-120 number became the chassis number for the 9' w/b steel type underframe.

Ian

Quote from: cmason on October 18, 2020, 09:20:47 AM
Some time ago I acquired some of these old cardborard kits - a bunch of LNER coaches and an LMS brake van. I realsie that they are kind of part of the history of N Gauge and some folks might say I should preserve them in their unbuilt state - however having recently started on a steady stream of kitbuilding various items of whitemetal, plastic and then wooden (Osborns laser cut) rolling stock I decide it might be fun to put one of these together. Starting with kit VB.4, the LMS Brake Van (picture below). Hopefully I can keep a steady enough hand with the scalpel to cut this out cleanly (I only have the one so I am thinking I might photocopy it to make a practice run before I cut the actual kit... ) .

If you have the facilities, you could scan it, print the scan onto decent card (or copy using a colour photocopier, provided it doesn't alter the dimensions) and build that, thereby keeping the original in its uncut state.

Quote from: chrism on October 19, 2020, 06:32:58 AM

Quote from: cmason on October 18, 2020, 09:20:47 AM
Some time ago I acquired some of these old cardborard kits - a bunch of LNER coaches and an LMS brake van. I realsie that they are kind of part of the history of N Gauge and some folks might say I should preserve them in their unbuilt state - however having recently started on a steady stream of kitbuilding various items of whitemetal, plastic and then wooden (Osborns laser cut) rolling stock I decide it might be fun to put one of these together. Starting with kit VB.4, the LMS Brake Van (picture below). Hopefully I can keep a steady enough hand with the scalpel to cut this out cleanly (I only have the one so I am thinking I might photocopy it to make a practice run before I cut the actual kit... ) .

If you have the facilities, you could scan it, print the scan onto decent card (or copy using a colour photocopier, provided it doesn't alter the dimensions) and build that, thereby keeping the original in its uncut state.

This I am certainly considering for the base card - however the lithographed images I would need to find a much higher quality copier than what I have to hand....however it is a museum piece so part of me really wants to preserve it as original ( I haev a few N-Gauge museum pieces - just got my 40plus year old Grafar Hall running smoothly again recently... ).

Cheers,

Colin.

Yes, it's a common quandary.... use it or keep it because it's an historical collectors item!

I'm at the point where I'd be tempted to use it, because my place is getting clogged up with stuff like that!

Make a high quality digital scan of it and then build the kit

Hi, @cmason:

Just checking in to find out what you did with your Highfield Models card kits.  Did you ever build the LMS brake van or any of the LNER coaches?

If so, I would love to see some photos.

Ian

Hi Ian,

Ah yes - I did start on that "branch" of kit construction - but I was running into significant issues in terms of accurately cutting out the parts - made a bit of a mess of two of the kits you printed - so I paused activity and went on to other things with an intention to loop back when I can identify a cutting method that would be more accurate.

I did suggest to Maurice@Osborns that there might be a good service model in turning his laser cutting skills to cutting out these kits but he was not keen ( he basically only wants to use these on 100% in house produced products ). And of course I donot know how much collateral damage a laser cust might leave.

Generally on pre-grouping - I have yet to build the NER birdcages. I did buy an additional Langley kit and am planning to build it as "non-autotrailer" version. Other thing which has come up is some of the pre-grouping 3D prints - especially by Simon Dawson https://www.shapeways.com/shops/recreation21?page%5Blimit%5D=48&page%5Bnumber%5D=8&page%5Border%5D=asc&s=0&section=1%2F148+N+gauge - for example he has North Sunderland ex-NER coaches.

One thing on the Highfield - building the inner body. I replace the card solebars with styrene strip which made a very neat strong job.

Anyway - really interested if you have thoughts on very neat cutting out of the prints,

Cheers,

Colin. 

Please stick at it - I too would love to see a finished article! 

Not Highfield, but some "generic" coaches in card to fit a Peco 15' chassis for those who want to give card modelling a go, with some pictures of completed units.

https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/70126-a-frivolous-exercise-in-n-gauge-modelling-free-card-kits-for-4-wheel-coaches/

Mark

Is this a task for a Silhouette cutter? No personal experience but several people seem to use them eg @rogerdB on Wrenton.

Mike

I used to use one when I started doing my vinyls at home. They would make short work of cutting out the windows on Highfield kits.

Quote from: Bealman on August 24, 2021, 06:07:13 AM
Please stick at it

What glue would you recommend?