Sources of Pantographs....?

[PostModN66]

There are three types of Pantograph that appear on British outline models (proper sprung ones I am talking about here, not cosmetic plastic ones).  I assume that they are bought in, rather than manufactured by the loco manufacturers.  Does anyone know who makes them?

The three types are:

1) the long standing Farish one that appears on class 87, 90 and 91 (I think).  This is not a problem - available from BR lines.

2) the "Dapol 86" one that includes a representation of the support beams.  This was phased out when Dapol started supplying 86s with more accurate plastic pans  I have e-mailed Dapol a couple of times about the possibility of supplying these as spares, but no reply....

3) a "finer" type that appears on the Farish class 350, and on my CJM class 92.  This is quite fragile; if you put your thumbnail under the end to unlatch it from its clip, it easily breaks.

Anyone know who manufactures any of these (particularly 2 and 3)?

Cheers  Jon 

[njee20]

Is "Farish" and "Dapol" too obvious...?! The Farish one isn't that fragile, less fragile than a Dapol OHLE mast, I can assure you! 

[PostModN66]

Is "Farish" and "Dapol" too obvious...?! The Farish one isn't that fragile, less fragile than a Dapol OHLE mast, I can assure you! 

Well, it's possible.....guess I could ask Bachmann about the number 3 type, but it seems hard to get any kind of response from Dapol!

..........Actually, come to think of it is unlikely that Farish made it as the CJM 92 came out a long time before the 350, so it is unlikely that Farish would be manufacturing this just for CJM at the time, but I could still ask...

My guess is though that they are made by a third party - maybe some continental or even Japanese manufacturer.

Cheers  Jon 

PS: maybe you need to make your own masts from good old-fashioned soldered brass!! 

[Yet_Another]

Possibly Sommerfeldt?

http://www.blackwells-miniatures.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=34_169&zenid=01ac115aac1b727e4fdd64e822b9f33d

[PostModN66]

Possibly Sommerfeldt?

http://www.blackwells-miniatures.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=34_169&zenid=01ac115aac1b727e4fdd64e822b9f33d

Thanks for this Yet_Another - at first glance I couldn't spot the ones I'm familiar with ; but one of these might be even better!

They're quite a hefty price though 

Cheers  Jon 

[Luke Piewalker]

Dapol sell twin packs with one Stone-Faiveley and one Brecknell-Willis

http://www.ehattons.com/40657/Dapol_Nspare3_Replacement_scale_pantographs_pair_blister_packed/StockDetail.aspx

Other retailers are available

I'm pretty sure my CJM 89 has a Sommerfeldt, and I believe the Farish ones are Sommerfeldt too.

[PostModN66]

Dapol sell twin packs with one Stone-Faiveley and one Brecknell-Willis

http://www.ehattons.com/40657/Dapol_Nspare3_Replacement_scale_pantographs_pair_blister_packed/StockDetail.aspx

Other retailers are available

I'm pretty sure my CJM 89 has a Sommerfeldt, and I believe the Farish ones are Sommerfeldt too.

Hi Luke.....

We did a swap a little while ago, don't know if you remember... I have loads of the Brecknell-Willis ones (or is it the Stone-Faiveley)...I'm trying to get rid of the blighters!

I think you may well be right about the number 1 type being Sommerfeldt...looking at some of the pictures on the link Yet_Another posted, a couple of them do look like the original Farish ones, but with some extra structure underneath.

The biggest mystery is the Dapol ones though.....it must be some kind of a secret as they won't even answer my emails!

Cheers

Jon 

[Rabbitaway]

Jon

I have one spare Dapol one from an early 86

Would swap for one of your spare fine Dapol plastic ones

Thanks

[PostModN66]

Jon

I have one spare Dapol one from an early 86

Would swap for one of your spare fine Dapol plastic ones

Thanks

Fab!!! Pity we didn't think of it before, we could have swapped them at Egham!

I'll PM you with my address.

Cheers  Jon 

[Luke Piewalker]

Dapol sell twin packs with one Stone-Faiveley and one Brecknell-Willis

http://www.ehattons.com/40657/Dapol_Nspare3_Replacement_scale_pantographs_pair_blister_packed/StockDetail.aspx

Other retailers are available

I'm pretty sure my CJM 89 has a Sommerfeldt, and I believe the Farish ones are Sommerfeldt too.

Hi Luke.....

We did a swap a little while ago, don't know if you remember... I have loads of the Brecknell-Willis ones (or is it the Stone-Faiveley)...I'm trying to get rid of the blighters!

I think you may well be right about the number 1 type being Sommerfeldt...looking at some of the pictures on the link Yet_Another posted, a couple of them do look like the original Farish ones, but with some extra structure underneath.

The biggest mystery is the Dapol ones though.....it must be some kind of a secret as they won't even answer my emails!

Cheers

Jon 

Ah yes.

The cross shaped structure at the bottom is a separate piece (unless I'm getting confused again) on the Sommerfeldt ones.

[scruff]

I believe... BUT..... Don't quote me on this...... That the early Dapol ones are made by Tomix.

I may also have some early Dapol ones to swap, but I need to find them first!

Cheers
Mark

[PostModN66]

I believe... BUT..... Don't quote me on this...... That the early Dapol ones are made by Tomix.

I may also have some early Dapol ones to swap, but I need to find them first!

Cheers
Mark

Hi Mark,

Seems like I did quote you.....!! 

I will investigate the Tomix angle; if you can find yours I would be delighted to do swaps.

Cheers Jon 

[red_death]

In real life stock 3 types have been used:

Cross arm - older AC locos even upto cl86/7 as delivered
Stone Faiveley- some 86s
Brecknell Willis - cl 90/91/92 and the 87 s were changed to this

Dapol do models of the latter two though the Brecknell Willis is a bit over scale.

Farish bought in Sommerfeldt pantographs which are not really British style but not too different to stone Faiveley IIRC. No one has done a British cross arm but Tomix or Sommerfeldt supply something reasonably similar.

[DJM Dave]

I believe... BUT..... Don't quote me on this...... That the early Dapol ones are made by Tomix.

I may also have some early Dapol ones to swap, but I need to find them first!

Cheers
Mark

You would of course be wrong.

The first pantographs on the 86 were by sommerfeldt
Then I decided something a bit more scale and prototypical was needed and had both plastic styles tooled in China.
This whole plastic panto option was way cheaper than getting more sommerfeldts for the second class 86 run, at the time.

Cheers
Dave

[scruff]

Thanks Dave,

I think my wires were well and truly crossed

I know where I got Tomix from now... Couplings!

Cheers
Mark