Mk1 Unpainted models/Kits?

[BrakeCoach]

I wonder if there are there any kits or unpainted models of Mk1s that can be painted up for an unreleased or fictional livery. Are they a thing? Or is the only option to make custom models is just to repaint/decal existing farish models?

Thanks,
BrakeCoach

[njee20]

Simple answer is no. Unpainted models just don't sell well enough to be viable. Stripping coaches is pretty trivial if you want to repaint, or use older Farish coaches with clear shells, you can apply vinyls if they do them for your chosen livery. Not much help for fictitious liveries.

[railsquid]

Never heard of or encountered such a thing as a Mk1 kit. The market has been pretty well served from the early days of British N gauge with Lima, Minitrix and the various Farish incarnations.

Lima coaches can be had by the bucketload for experimentation purposes etc., though the scale is all wrong.

[crewearpley40]

Afraid I am with nick and railsquid on that one. You can normally find old mk 1 stock in departmental use, on preserved heritage railways. Maybe find one on e bay and as nick stripping, add vinyls. Sorry cannot be more helpful

[PLD]

Ulitma / Etched Pixels do (did?) a range of etched brass sides for mk1s. Generally used with an old style Farish mk1. or a scratch-built underframe...
https://www.ultima-models.co.uk/catalogue/old-sides.html

[Platy767]

Back in the old days there was a range of BR Mk1 Coach Kits from Fleetline.

Here is a picture of a Corridor Composite Coach kit I splashed across the table.

It has brass sides, black plastic roof and floor, clear plastic sides, bogies and wheels, white metal ends, underframe fittings and roof vents.






It cost me GBP 5.35 from the Engine Shed.
Mark

[Bealman]

I've never seen those! What date are we talking here?

[Platy767]

I've never seen those! What date are we talking here?

I was at IMREX in 1992 and I had ordered it and a few other bits and pieces before that. I think maybe 1989 or 1990.

My first 2mm Scale Association membership card expired in 3/91 and my initial NGS card expired in Jan91 and I had the kit before I was a member of either (IIRC).

Actually, I think these, or something similar might still be available from BH Enterprises.

PS.
Another kind forum member has let me know that Ray from BH Enterprises is unwell so perhaps a contact with forum member @Bob Tidbury might be better.

Mark

[martyn]

I think the Fleetline Mk1 kits mentioned by Platy767 were originally issued by MTK (Modern Traction Kits).

The etched sides were quite good, but the castings were not in the same class, and the underframe was 'basic'. No interiors.

I did build some of these in the mid 70s as it was the only way to get different types of Mk1s; the first one I built was a BG, I think, and I also made a few more. Not sure where they are now.....

I still have, unused, a fair supply of their Mk1 bogies, and some of my Poole Mk1s have been fitted with them. They also produced Gresley bogies, which I used under my LNER non-suburbans.

IIRC, they were bought out by Fleetline, approx mid 80s,and some may have then gone to BHE-I don't know.

I bought mine from Model Junction, Bury St Edmunds; I think I still have a very old W+T catalogue, which may have them in, so I'll try and find it.

I can't now recall if MTH made any N gauge DMU kits; I think they did, though, as well as a couple of loco kits.

See also PLD's reply #4; Ultima certainly produced Mk1 sides to go on the Poole Mk1s, but they don't appear in the current Etched Pixels catalogue. I had a very small part in doing research on Mk1s for Colin when he still owned Ultima.

Martyn

[Steven B]

The kits made from white metal ends and clear plastic sides should still be available from BH Enterprises. They take a lot of work to get something that looks good.

The other options are:
Original Farish coached using TP Models replacement window strips - the coaches appear on eBay regularly but the TPM inserts are near impossible to find.

Clear body shell - Poole era Farish and early Chinese production.

Both of the above types can be used with etched sides (Etched Pixels, BH Enterprises or Worsley Works) or vinyls (Electra Railway Graphics).
The early type with removable window strips can just about be used for a repaint as there's relief on the window frames to help with masking. On the slightly later type you're going to struggle on Mk1 and non-aircon Mk2s. Aircon Mk2, Mk3 & Mk4 are do-able but you probably want machine cut paint masks for neatness.

The current Blue-Ribbon range is the easiest for repainting, but probably works less well than the basic clear body shells for vinyls. The big issue is cost - unless you're after some of the less popular types (BFK, FK, FO) then it can get quite expensive.

@BrakeCoach what have you got planed?


Steven B.

[tunneroner61]

There's also Worsley Works 'scratch aids' http://www.worsleyworks.co.uk/N/n_gauge_br_coaches.htm

[Dancess]

I have some of the TPM sides for the Poole productions somewhere unused, not sure what they are, what coaches do you want to produce?

[Bob Tidbury]

Platy 767.
I have sent you a PM
Ray of B H E is still not very well and is only able to go downthe shed for short periods at a time if he feels up,to,it .
The injection moulding machine is still out of action but he has a newer one waiting to be installed ONCE HE IS WELL .
AS A RESULT SOME ORDERS WILL TAKE A WHILE TO BE SENT  OUT .
SO PLEASE BE PATIENT .
I WILL POST AN UPDATE AS  SOON AS I KNOW WHAT THE SITUATION IS .
REGARDS
Bob Tidbury 

[BrakeCoach]

The kits made from white metal ends and clear plastic sides should still be available from BH Enterprises. They take a lot of work to get something that looks good.

The other options are:
Original Farish coached using TP Models replacement window strips - the coaches appear on eBay regularly but the TPM inserts are near impossible to find.

Clear body shell - Poole era Farish and early Chinese production.

Both of the above types can be used with etched sides (Etched Pixels, BH Enterprises or Worsley Works) or vinyls (Electra Railway Graphics).
The early type with removable window strips can just about be used for a repaint as there's relief on the window frames to help with masking. On the slightly later type you're going to struggle on Mk1 and non-aircon Mk2s. Aircon Mk2, Mk3 & Mk4 are do-able but you probably want machine cut paint masks for neatness.

The current Blue-Ribbon range is the easiest for repainting, but probably works less well than the basic clear body shells for vinyls. The big issue is cost - unless you're after some of the less popular types (BFK, FK, FO) then it can get quite expensive.

@BrakeCoach what have you got planed?


Steven B.

I'm thinking of making some of those coaches in the Railway Series with light umber and a yellow stripe, probably a fictional pre-rail blue regional livery? Like the ones here https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/Enterprising_Engines/Gallery?file=SuperRescueRS4.png https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/Enterprising_Engines/Gallery?file=LittleWesternRS5.png

I recently saw that Etched Pixels sell Mk1 coach sides in requests (though I think they won't ship anything until upcoming April?)
I assume the older farish mk1s can get the sides replaced with the etched ones?

[martyn]

The Ultima/Etched Pixels design of replacement sides was deliberately sized to fit the Poole/early Chinese coach body.

I don't know if they accurately fit the Blue Ribband Chinese Mk1s.

They are not listed in the current version of the EP online catalogue, though the designs must still be available for etching, possibly on request.

The former MTK/Fleetline ones are marginally too small to fit the original Farish design, IIRC both in length and height.

BHE still list their range as being available, but bear in mind that the proprietor is currently unwell.

http://nebula.wsimg.com/3bca648b6ecbd726f85397a45941e554?AccessKeyId=8C7C2C110638425F2686&disposition=0&alloworigin=1

I don't know how they size against Farish Mk1 s.



Martyn