SPAM (Society for the Preservation of Ancient Models) thread

[madchadbrad]

[quote author=Roy L S link=msg=879828 date=1773690210

I am proud owner of 11 BR maroon Minitrix Gresley coaches, there were only ever 1,000 made of each type in the livery and for a time they fetched crazy money. They are beautiful coaches and were way ahead of their time when released back in the late 80s. I could never part with them regardless of value (or not) I value them for what they are.

Roy
[/quote]

I have a rake of minitrix teak coaches but just one of the maroon Gresley brake comps. They add variety to the Dapol Gresley brake comp as the minitrix ones have a longer baggage section.

[madchadbrad]

I have some of the Lima ones which are a bit more common. Never even seen one of the Farish ones in blue.

One of these? I think they only did just the one coach!
https://flic.kr/p/hTDYmH
I have only ever found this one umber and cream Pullman from Lima:
https://flic.kr/p/i2SRYQ

[EtchedPixels]

The CIWL livery version in my case, where the single coach style and some UK full brakes and a 71 did nicely for the Night Ferry.

[Webbo]

Hi folks

There is a chapter of SPAM down here in Australia too. OZSPAM

Here is my current project a Minitrix K4. This was my very first N scale locomotive acquired in about 1976. The K4 Minitrix is not considered by the N Scale Encyclopedia to be a fine runner due to sub standard pickup issues. Adding to its running difficulties, my pulsed power supply used in its early days damaged the motor I think. I'm now determined to get this little beast running as best as I can. So far, I've cleaned all the contacts, lubricated it, and added a bit of wiring to help things along. Still a pretty ordinary runner though better than when I started my refurbishments. My next planned improvements include replacing the motor with a coreless motor, adding a simple capacitor 'keep alive' system in the tender, and replacing its pathetic headlight with a LED.



A bit more about the K4 model. Interestingly, the K4 locomotive was largely used as the inspiration for the design of the A1 and A3 by Sir Nigel Gresley. It would seem that some of the fine looks of the Flying Scotsman have been inherited from the K4. Also, the Minitrix K4 shares the same motor and chassis as the first version Minitrix Britannia and it's an upgrade kit for this loco that I'm going to install. (TRAMFABRIEK).

Webbo

[TeddytheSpoon]

Entering the SPAM game! Admittedly, I've been sitting on these for a while, but just got around to photographing them. Added a couple of Minitrix locos to the collection: a late Britannia and the trusty Dock Tank. Also includes a collection of (mostly) period-appropriate coaches and wagons too!



The Britannia was a birthday present and works reasonably well. I knew the Minitrix locos were rather, erm, impressionist, but I didn't realise quite how high it sits above the coaches... Still, I rather like it!

The Dock Tank is in a more sorry state and doesn't really run - although I suspect all it needs is a good clean. Even if the motor is kaput, though, it doesn't really matter as I plan to swap to a Micromotor and add a Zimo DCC chip in the process. (Which combined are nearly twice what the engine was on eBay, and that included a few of the wagons! Oh well, can't put a price on happiness...) The Britannia will get chipped as well, eventually.

[grumbeast]

@TeddytheSpoon  Fantastic models! Welcome to SPAM!   I used to have one of the Dock tanks but unfortunately is has been lost to the mists of time.

Graham

[Dorsetmike]

My oldest was originally, 1974, a Fleischmann 7161 which rapidly became an ex LSWR S15 class thanks to a Langley kit still got it has had one replacement motor. Does 52 years count as ancient in N gauge?

[ntpntpntp]

@Dorsetmike ah the old P8 / BR 38 loco.  Yeah they've been around forever.

[cmason]

Well, last week after several attempts in recent months to acquire various lots of ancient UK origin models on Yahoo Japan Auctions and always being outbid I finally acquired not one, but two objects of desire.  Although I am definitely a follower of the principles of the Dean of the Faculty of Non Collectors John @Train Waiting , in this case I could not help myself from acquiring both of these fine Peco Jubilees in what I believe may be nearly BNIB/Mint condition, almost as they were when they left the warehouse in Beer at a time many complete orbits of the sun ago.



Although on closer inspection, despite appearing to have hardly been run, one of them has had its coupling changed to a USAean type with the hanging down bent pin thingy for magnetic uncoupling. As you will note these are complete with a full set of Methfix transfers and optional double chimneys.



This evening I ran them both. A sticky start at first having clearly been a long time in their boxes - however once they got going they ran very well.

I do have a question to the collective expertise of the Forum. The manual refers to them as Jubilee Locomotive "MKIII" - is their some history of different variants over time? Was there a MKI and MKII?

Anyway, I am very pleased with this acquisition - and fear not they will be regularly run, pulling trains, not left sad and lonely in their boxes as part of a collection. This will be alongside another Jubilee I purchased not long back, that being one restored by @Ozymandias of this parish,

Have Fun!

Colin.   



   

[chrism]

I do have a question to the collective expertise of the Forum. The manual refers to them as Jubilee Locomotive "MKIII" - is their some history of different variants over time? Was there a MKI and MKII?

Roy L S seems to have covered the variations here;

https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?msg=867222

The gear coupled ones of which he speaks had their coupling rods only fixed firmly to the centre wheels, with forked ends engaging over the leading wheels' crankpins. The rods only "hovered" over the trailing wheels with a dummy boss stamped into the rod.

[Train Waiting]

[...] Anyway, I am very pleased with this acquisition - and fear not they will be regularly run, pulling trains, not left sad and lonely in their boxes as part of a collection. [...]

Simply SuperSpiffing, Colin.

Proper job!

It would be difficult to imagine an endeavour more aligned with the objects of both SPAM* and the Faculty of Non-Collectors. Tiny trains are meant to be played with, not left languishing in boxes.

*SPAM - The Society for the Preservation of Ancient Models.

Congratulations on your aquisition.

With all good wishes.

John
Dean of the Faculty of Non-Collectors

[ntpntpntp]

@cmason   yup, I always considered them the "Rolls Royce" of British N steam locos back in the day.  Look after them, don't strain the motor as the commutator melts if overloaded, and watch out for brittle plastic especially the tender underframes. (Peters Spares probably still have replacements).

I remember original one cost me £26 in 1979 (I blew most of my week's wages from my summer job on the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway )

When I migrated to European N I sold it off with all my other related locos and stock, but of course since then I've bought three (along with old Mx Warships and 27s) just because I loved them as models. One of them has had a motor-transplant with a coreless type now fitted.
 

[cmason]

I do have a question to the collective expertise of the Forum. The manual refers to them as Jubilee Locomotive "MKIII" - is their some history of different variants over time? Was there a MKI and MKII?

Roy L S seems to have covered the variations here;

https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?msg=867222

The gear coupled ones of which he speaks had their coupling rods only fixed firmly to the centre wheels, with forked ends engaging over the leading wheels' crankpins. The rods only "hovered" over the trailing wheels with a dummy boss stamped into the rod.

Thanks @chrism - very interesting - so a jewel case MkIII dates these to 1977/8 when I was in the lower 6th form. Coming up to 50 years ago,

Colin.

[madchadbrad]

I acquired a LMS black Jubilee "Renown" at a toy fair when I lived in Geneva ... ... I was hoping to build it a train of Howarth Stanier coach kits but the project t got sidelined by life in general and I had to wait until Farish finally produced their Stanier coaches before I could finally run it with a proper train ... by which time the layout was in storage in the garage and infested by mice and spiders ... so the dining table oval had to suffice! https://flic.kr/p/qzv44o

[Dorsetmike]

My first Jubilee cost me £12 second hand, can't remember where it came from though