News

Castle Update July 23 2021

The designer is now working on the individual part drawings and making corrections were necessary. The main PART drawing contains drawings for every single component, of all 36 versions being made in this project, right down to the springs and washers! The builder has to compile spreadsheets with the number of castings and etches required across the versions. Once these are double checked they place the orders. The first parts to be ordered are normally the etches. The etches that requiring forming, such as the fireboxes, boilers etc will go the a press company. The formers having already been made for the pilot model. Hundreds of components will be delivered over the next few weeks and we will post photos here as they come in and assembly starts.

Delivery will start in December. I will be going to Korea for inspection before delivery as a project as complex as this must be checked. I am asking for two production samples to be painted and shipped ahead of the main shipping so the DCC settings can be checked and running quality can be checked.

We have been informed the STEAM exhibition at Swindon in September has been cancelled for 2021.

We still have a table booked for the Reading trade show in December this year, which will hopefully go ahead.

Castle update July 08 2021

This week sees the finalisation of the design work. We now have 36 versions to cover the variations in this project!

It's not been an easy process doing all this by Skype and email during the pandemic. As many of you know I would visit the factory several times a year and sit with my designer and work on all the various details. Having done a professional course on AutoCad it has allowed me to do some drawing corrections myself to assist the designer. And we now have drawings I am happy with.

I will need to know if you have a preference for a shed code so the plates can be sorted and etched.

Now they will begin organising the orders for the etched parts whilst some final changes are made to the part drawings for the patterns.

Below is an example of our Period 1, 1930's Castle and a late BR period 5 Castle, with double chimney and mechanical lubricator.

Below are all the brass wheel centres now machined. The crankpins and plain axles are now on order with the CNC company. After that, assembly and painting.

Castle Update May 24 2021

The pressed brass wheel centres have now been delivered. These will go to the wheel assembly man. He will machine these, add crankpins, add the CNC machined tyres and insulation, bearings and crank axles. Then we will have the finished wheelsets.

Castle update April 28 2021

Progress is being made on the wheels

today we have pictures of the assembled crank axles (these are CNC machined rather than castings) and CNC machined tyres awaiting the brass centres

Castle frames January 22 2021

Here we have all the Castle frames cleaned ready for painting. To keep the production moving along parts are sent for painting as they are made. And consist of many sub assemblies. This means the paint shop is not overwhelmed and the sub assemblies save a huge amount of time in masking parts.

Castle tender January 17 2021

photos from the paint shop. A last check on the lettering/crests for each order and the painter can complete his work.

Just a few completed tender bodies here!

and the frames. you can see the holes for the tender speaker. As always we will focus on getting the best out of DCC sound with the help of Cliff and Bryan

And a reminder of the production sample being test run. As you will know constant testing is how we insure the final models will perform as they should straight from the box. Speakers are in the tender and smokebox to give full effect to the magnificent Castle bark!

Thanks to Cliff for the video

Announcement January 16 2021

Announcement

January 16 2021

Our planned merger with Masterpiece Models will unfortunately not now go ahead as the Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted and delayed business world-wide. The collaborative projects envisioned under the merger are not supportable in the near future, so we have therefore taken the difficult decision to revert to our original project schedule.

I have had a positive Skype meeting with our long term established builder SMT. Normally we work on multiple projects simultaneously, but due to the current worldwide pandemic we will focus on one project at a time, with the decision made to focus first on the GWR Castle project. This is currently at an advanced stage, with tenders built and painted, and loco chassis progressing well. Once we complete the Castles we can then move on to the GWR 850, 80xxx and A3. Click here

The GWR 850 design work is ready for progressing once the Castle is completed. As soon as I have been vaccinated I will travel to Korea to SMT as so much more can be accomplished face to face with the builder. This will be my first visit since the pandemic arrived and caused us all so much upheaval in our lives.

The recent GWR K14/15 coach project has delivered some stunning work, constructed again by our builder Mr Song at SMT. As with all the models by Mr Song, they are thoroughly inspected before shipping, which ensures we have no issues. We have tested the latest coaches down to 5ft radius and they perform faultlessly, so now is the chance to secure what will be the last UK coach project built in Korea to the absolute highest of standards.

We hope you are all coping with the current climate. Rest assured Mr Song and I will do our very best with the Castle project to give you something to look forward to.