Isinglass Models new N gauge carriage kits

[martyn]

Did you do any more of your own 3D prints, Roy?

Very good work on the isinglas ones.

Martyn

[Roy L S]

Did you do any more of your own 3D prints, Roy?

Very good work on the isinglas ones.

Martyn

Hi Martyn

Re: my own prints, I haven't done any more work on them to be honest, in fact I haven't done much CAD work or 3D printing for a fair while for a variety of reasons. Although superficially the coaches looked OK, I was having difficulty keeping the sides from distorting even though a fair bit thicker than the Isinglass ones. I know I can do better, but to be honest, even at my very best, my limited skills and equipment mean there can be no comparison to what Andy at Isinglass produces.

Re: the Isinglass kits, thank you for your kind comments. I hope that by showing pictures of completed models made by an average modeller such as I, it may encourage more people to purchase them and have a go, a kit complete with everything but wheels and glazing comes in at under £30 which I think very reasonable for a limited production model made in this way.

Of course the motivation is partly selfish -  the greater the take-up, the more likelihood there is that Andy will invest more time and effort in the N Gauge range of LNER coaches and other bits.

Roy

[EtchedPixels]

I still have a crapload of Dapol Gresley bogies (with footboards) if anyone needs them for this. If they do let me work out what to do about selling some.

[EtchedPixels]

A recent addition to the Isinglass N range of kits was some 51ft Gresley coaches including suburban types. For any modeller of the LNER or BR Eastern Region these are very welcome, there hasn't been a complete kit of any 51ft stock since the rarely found Ian Kirk ones from the early 70s and never any ready to run.

Could have fooled me  but good to see someone else has taken up making them

[thebrighton]

Could have fooled me  but good to see someone else has taken up making them

Indeed, I have a rake of your suburban's 

[martyn]

And me.

Ultima (prior to EP) also did at least the 51' BG.

I think Ultima full kits for other non-corridor diagrams came with Bill Bedford sides, the rest of the parts being Ultima.  I have some Thompson non-corridors from this source, as well as from EP. As yet, I'm not looking at the non corridor coaches, but the 52' bogie corridor coaches which initially were built for the GE section. As were all but one of the BGs.

Martyn

[Roy L S]

A recent addition to the Isinglass N range of kits was some 51ft Gresley coaches including suburban types. For any modeller of the LNER or BR Eastern Region these are very welcome, there hasn't been a complete kit of any 51ft stock since the rarely found Ian Kirk ones from the early 70s and never any ready to run.

Could have fooled me  but good to see someone else has taken up making them

My apologies Alan, I really should have remembered that you made kits of these coaches too, I now recall seeing them on the EP website, I would have bought some too but they were out of stock.

Roy

[EtchedPixels]

And me.

Ultima (prior to EP) also did at least the 51' BG.

I think Ultima full kits for other non-corridor diagrams came with Bill Bedford sides, the rest of the parts being Ultima.  I have some Thompson non-corridors from this source, as well as from EP. As yet, I'm not looking at the non corridor coaches, but the 52' bogie corridor coaches which initially were built for the GE section. As were all but one of the BGs.

Martyn

NC Thompsons were done in at least three forms
- Bill Bedford etches with some Ultima bits to make it up
- An etched Ultima kit for a 4 car set
- The 3D print / etched combos

The 52' bogie stock was afaik never done. It was apparently planned at some point before I took over because there's a resin roof casting master (with the 2mm SA now) and most of the other bits would have been reusable so it would just have needed some new etched or printed sides.

[martyn]

Thanks for the info.

I built-at least-two Thompson NC brake thirds from the Ultima/Bill Bedford combination in a kit supplied by Ultima. I also have Gresley composite, of which I'm not now certain of its origin, but most of the rest of my NCs are from your own range, both Thompson and Gresley.

The combination kits were one of the earliest sold by Ultima, I think, and may have been a bit of a test build.

The 50' BG is listed in the last Ultima catalogue produced (which I still have) but I never ordered or built one, so. I didn't know it wasn't actually produced.

Martyn

[Richard Taylor]

I believe Alan at Worsley Works did do a run of sides for the 52' Gresley corridor stock. Pretty sure I have some in the gloat box!

Richard

[ScottishModeller]

The 50' BG is listed in the last Ultima catalogue produced (which I still have) but I never ordered or built one, so. I didn't know it wasn't actually produced.

Martyn

Hi Martyn,

I have a couple of the 50ft BG to build for the breakdown train rake. I chose them because they are easier to modify with the larger doors I needed.

Phil H

[icairns]

Full Disclosure:  I am not a coach kit builder.  The last (and only) coach kit that I ever built was a BR bogie luggage van from Highfield Models in the late 1960s.  This was a card kit with coloured lithograph sides.** 

Reasons that I have not pursued coach building include the fiddliness of trying to get two coach sides, two coach ends, a floor/underframe, and a roof all nice and square and the fact that RTR coaches have generally been of very good quality. 

However, as I am running short of new projects, I decided to buy an Isinglass 52'-6" Gresley third open (diagram 216) kit (see photo below). 

I have to say I am very impressed for the following reasons:

1. The print is very clean with none of the annoying print lines characteristic of the old Shapeways prints. 

2. The print consists of both coach sides, the floor, and one end as a single piece. Only one coach end needs to be secured in position. 

3. The roof and underframe are clip-fits into the top of the coach and the underside of the floor respectively. 

4. The underframes have been designed to work with either Isinglass or NGS bogies. 

5. The bogies, underframe, coach interior, and a scale drawing can all be purchased separately so you do not pay for items you do not need.  (I purchased everything with my kit to see the overall quality of the kit). 

6. A Dapol underframe can be used on certain kits. 

7. Certain coach types available in 4mm scale not listed on the Isinglass N gauge products page can be ordered in N gauge. 

8. The instructions and the hints and tips for resin kits included with the kit are good. 

More details are available on the Isinglass website:  https://www.isinglass-models.co.uk/

Obviously, a lot of thought has gone into the design of these kits and I can thoroughly recommend them, especially to novice coach builders like me.

Ian

** I did mount the sides of the NGS Gresley D113 full brake kit on a Dapol Gresley coach (after removing the coach sides but leaving the Dapol coach ends in place).  The sides fitted perfectly. 

[cmason]

@icairns

Ian,

thanks for the review. It is encouraging as I too have generally avoided coach kits having attempted very few and rather tended to stick to wagons (I am also not a great one for loco kits and I very much admire those who can do those well).

Since I have been looking at the Isinglass site for a while your post may well push me over the edge to purchasing.

Of course it will still leave me with my perennial concern of painting teak (its like tartan paint, very difficult to apply with a single brush stroke  ) ,

Colin.

[martyn]

Thanks for the further update, Ian, and best wishes for the build.

I don't need any more coaches, but could be tempted by a 52'6" corridor one-these were built for the GE section which I model, and were long lasting.

The early builds were dual braked, and as time passed, the 'short' coaches became more widespread.

As you say, lots of general information on the website, and it seems they would listen to scaling down any of the 4mm designs.

Martyn

[icairns]

Of course it will still leave me with my perennial concern of painting teak (its like tartan paint, very difficult to apply with a single brush stroke

@cmason

Yes, I sympathize.  It seems that LNER modellers all have a different way of applying teak colour.  It's like their "secret sauce." 

I have a similar problem with my Isinglass coach kit for the BR era   According to the drawing notes that were included with the kit: 

"It is understood that all received BR crimson and cream livery but none the maroon." 

Living outside of the UK gives the perennial problem of trying to match BR Colours.  Shipping from the UK is not possible due to regulations. 

Unless anyone has any ideas, this will require more research and probably more trial-and-error purchases. 

Any suggestions for BR crimson and cream colours from paint brands that are available in the United States? 

Ian