LMS 'Porthole' Coaches

NeilMac · March 28, 2014, 10:59:23 AM

With the imminent release of Bachmann's 57 and 60ft LMS 'porthole' coaches, I wonder if BachFar will consider modelling these in N gauge; at least the 57-footers.

REFaust has already pondered this about half way down this page...

http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=480.msg3444#msg3444

...but I was thinking that they could possibly get away with simply tooling up new body sides, to be fitted to the existing Stanier chassis, and using some of the existing interiors, roofs and coach ends - or do you think that would be too much of a compromise?

Cheers,
Neil

joe cassidy · March 28, 2014, 12:51:25 PM

Before looking at the porthole coaches I hope that they will first of all exploit the 50' chassis by releasing a Kitchen car.

Sales of the porthole stock are likely to be less than those of the earlier coaches because the porthole stock was introduced around nationalisation, not during the "glory days" of the LMS.

Best regards,

Joe

Karhedron · March 28, 2014, 01:00:58 PM

I am not quite so sure. Farish seem keen on Nationalisation stock such as the Bulleids and forthcoming Hawksworths. Also there are the 00 gauge Thompson coaches which I would not be at all suprised to see go through the shrink-ray. With the Mk1 range now quite comprehensive and Mk2 stock in the works, I would not be at all suprised to see them casting their eyes back in time a little. Remember that a lot of late-40s stock was still in service during the transition era which seems to be very much a modelling sweet-spot.

joe cassidy · March 28, 2014, 01:08:05 PM

The other thing that might limit sales is that, unlike Bulleids, full rakes of porthole stock would have been uncommon - they would have run in mixed rakes with earlier Staniers, and/or BR Mk1s.

This was the problem that Dapol encountered when they released the first batch of Gresley coaches in BR maroon livery.

Best regards,

Joe

Karhedron · March 28, 2014, 01:23:31 PM

The same is true of the Hawksworths, they were generally mashed up with earlier Collett stock, particularly catering vehicles. In any case, I doubt that this would bother Farish too much since they also sell the Staniers. A mixed rake is still money in the till for them.

However I have to admit that I think Thompson stock is more likely since Farish do not offer LNER coaches at the moment to go with their shiny new pacifics. I am sure they would rather sell their own coaches than drive sales of Dapol's Gresleys.

Speaking of which, there were 2 problems with the Gresleys. Firstly, the bogies were mounted too far in on the first batch which put some people off (this has been improved to some extent on more recent batches). Secondly, they flooded the market with Maroons and did not do any Teaks or crimson/creams in the first run. I still think that if the original batch had been split evenly between all 3 liveries, they would not have had to flog it off cheaply at the open days.

CarriageShed · March 28, 2014, 01:27:29 PM

Porthole stock's no good for us pre-war modellers, so I have no particular opinion about whether they will release it or not. I'd much rather see some decent 1920s/early 1930s stock to replace the ancient Poole-era Farish 'standards'.

Karhedron · March 28, 2014, 01:38:37 PM

The problem with earlier stock for most regions is that designs become increasingly varied with small builds, each slightly different to the last. I am not an expert on the LMS but I know that this is a problem with the GWR and one of the reasons why pre-collett stock is not available RTR. The GWR "Toplight" family actually covers a large number of diagrams with differences between each one. They are not even available RTR in 00 gauge so I am not holding my breath to see anything before the late 1920s in N gauge.

Dr Al · March 28, 2014, 05:06:08 PM

Quote from: joe cassidy on March 28, 2014, 01:08:05 PM
This was the problem that Dapol encountered when they released the first batch of Gresley coaches in BR maroon livery.

Also these coaches did have criticism for the bogie positioning in the chassis, which was improved (but not fully corrected due to the close coupling mechanism) on later batches.

Cheers,
Alan

joe cassidy · March 28, 2014, 05:45:35 PM

Perhaps a 63' composite coach might also be on Farish's "to do" list ?

There were a lot of them around.

I have some of the Mike Howarth versions (kit built) but I would gladly replace them by RTR.

Best regards,

Joe

PLD · March 28, 2014, 07:38:21 PM

Personally, I prefer Farish to expand the existing Pre-war Stanier range first particularly with the 60ft stock. The 60ft CK was the most common of all Stanier types yet we don't have one yet!

joe cassidy · March 28, 2014, 07:53:56 PM

I think I was probably referring to the 60' CK in my earlier post (diagram 1916/1925).

Sorry !

Joe

davecttr · March 29, 2014, 08:51:22 AM

Apparently the porthole stock never carried LMS livery and was initially in the BR 'blood & custard' and later BR Maroon. The premier trains quickly changed to Mk1 stock but LMS stuff was still in use in the 60's.

Karhedron · March 29, 2014, 10:18:52 AM

A few items of Porthole stock even survived into blue/grey. Check out the leading vehicle in this train.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/110691393@N07/12178224643/in/set-72157638438054524

GlenEglise · November 08, 2020, 10:05:58 PM

That is a cracker!

I am certainly looking for an LMS 60 ft Porthole Composite for a Branch Line train.

I had hoped BachFar would have done them by now...........

martyn · November 09, 2020, 09:31:53 AM

The good news......

Etched Pixels/Ultima do a range of etched brass sides for LMS Porthole stock (I've built two).

The bad news

The EP shop is currently closed
The 60' CK is out of stock
They rely on Howarth underframes for completion, which are no longer produced, though EP may have a suitable one to build and modify.

A possibility for the future?

Martyn