News
GWR Passenger brake vans March 18 2022
We now have only 5 1898 K14 non-corridor PBV's and 4 1927 K14 non-corridor PBV's remaining. All 1927 livery K15 PBV's are sold out.
1898 K15
1927 K14
Castle Update March 06 2022
The decals have now been made. These have been designed directly from our AutoCAD designs. They are screen printed on “reverse” decal papers. This leaves only the lines on the models with no backing. Some areas will be hand lined as required.
the masking for painting is also designed from our drawings and cut on a plotter.
Castle Update March 05 2022
Assembly work continues, with the cabs and boilers now being fitted to the footplates.
Castle Update February 22 2022
SMT continue to make steady progress on the project. Bogies are now back from the painters and ready for assembly. Boiler units are now having lost wax brass details added, footplate detailing is nearing completion and cab sub assemblies are now having side window handrails added etc.
painted bogies ready for wheels
boiler units being detailed
footplate detailing nearing completion
bags of assembled cab steps ready for attaching to the footplates
BR version under construction
Castle Update February 11 2022
Progress continues on the Castle project by Mr Song and his dedicated team at SMT.
Balance weights are being fitted to the driving wheels and axle centres are now painted. The wheel is first painted then pressed onto the axle, centres are painted after this process.
Detailing of the 140 cabs continues with internal bracing, cab seat brackets, prep pipe valves etc using detailed lost wax castings.
Splashers are being added to the footplates, all 840 of them! The painted and lined front of the splasher is applied separately, this gives a far better finish and means they are not trying to line behind various pipes etc
More progress pictures next week.
Castle Update January 28 2022
Work continues on detailing the footplates and a Period 5 late BR version is under construction to allow us to check the details. This is very important for me as I am unable to be in Korea for my usual inspections.
detailing of the footplates
BR version under construction to allow us to check the details.
Castle update January 24 2022
Connecting rods assembled to the crossheads ready for nickel plating along with the slidebars. These will be done whilst the cylinders are at the paint shop.
Castle Update January 21 2022
Work continues on the various loco body sub-assemblies. And bogies, cylinders are at the paint shop. More updates soon.
Bogies have been bead blasted ready for painting.
one of the 280 outside cylinders also bead blasted and now at the paint shop
this shot shows the rear of the cylinders, cut away to allow for the extra bogie swing. If not for this you would need very large radius curves! As you can see it's been neatly done. Not just hacked out!
back heads under construction
cab detailing continues with internal ribbing and ATC bell boxes added
footplate detailing, with front cylinder coves and buffers being added
coupling rods being assembled. These go for nickel plating. Same as all of our previous projects.
Castle update January 06 2022
Progress continues on the Castle project. Mr Song and his staff at SMT are working hard.
Frames are now painted and assembly is starting. Cabs, boilers and footplates are now having detail parts added.
Recent orders that have not been invoiced for the interim payment will be sent an invoice shortly. We are very happy to see such good progress and it's a great start to 2022!
Thanks to all our customers for your continued support.
all frames are painted
lots of painted springs
frames under assembly
boilers now being details
cabs being detailed
footplates being detailed
Castle Update December 23 2021
Our exclusive builder, SMT is busy making the footplates and cabs.
We wish everyone a pleasant holiday season and best wishes for the New Year. Thank you for your continued support.
Castle Update November 27 2021
The frames at the paint shop and more parts have been delivered from the press shop. All the wheels have been painted now.
lots of frames in the process of being painted
fireboxes pressed to shape
all the wheels are now painted
riveted valences
Castle Update November 17 2021
GWR PBV 1927 livery low stock. November 16 2021
We have low stock of the 1927 K14 (non-corridor) and K15 (Corridor) PBV left. All models are on offer at £1050 inc VAT until December 31st.
1927 K14 Now only 4 remaining.
1927 K15 only 1 remaining
Castle update November 16 2021
The frames have gone off for painting now. Here we have the arrival of more riveted and formed parts from the press shop. Also all the cylinders are being completed and prepared for painting and lining.
smokeboxes all ready. The perforations are to let the sound out, rather than just rely on the chimney orifice. This is something we have done before in an effort to give you the best sound quality. A second speaker is fitted in the tender.
pressed rivets!
various components including the front drop plates
a few outside cylinders!
painted lost wax brass loco lamps November 15 2021
I've found a small number of GWR red and LNER/BR white loco lamps.
Castle Update November 04 2021
More parts are in from the press shop. And the final job of fitting the sandboxes to the frames before painting. This job had to wait until all versions were finalised.
boilers rolled and ready for assembly
cab roofs, riveted and shaped
sanboxes being soldered to frames. These are now to be cleaned ready for painting
Castle Update October 28 2021
Just off a Skype call with our builder. The loco frames are of for painting next week and the soldering starts on the bodies, now all the riveting and shaping has been done. Look forward to regular updates!
pressed rivets give a much better look than etched rivets.
CASTLE UPDATE low stock on Period 2 and 4 October 27 2021
LOW STOCK click here
We only have 2 period 2, GWR 1934-39 Castles remaining.
- 5009 Shrewsbury Castle Collett 4000g Tender
- 5070 Sir Daniel Gooch Collett 4000g Tender
We only have 1 period 4, BR 1948-56 Castle remaining
- 5063 Earl Baldwin Collett 4000g Tender
Castle Update October 26 2021
Tender and bogie wheels have come in from the paint shop.
more updates soon now that parts are coming in for assembly after shaping/ riveting or painting
Castle Update September 15 2021
Etches have started to come in now. Parts are cut out and send for rolling, pressing and riveting. These have to be carefully sorted according to the many variants. Many hours of preparation work is required for such large complex project.
Here we have mostly cab parts. With 6 different cab variants we have to label everything carefully!
cabs, fireboxes, footplates etc
some of the many sheets of etches.
these are the cab roof rain strips. These are cut out and shaped.
Castle Update August 28 2021
First photos from SMT are the waxes and brass castings plus the loco tires being painted. These are inserted into simple holes in a plastic sheet, this saves extra clean up.
Castle Update August 12 2021
After a Skype meeting today the builder has confirmed that etching work for the loco superstructures will start this coming Monday (16th.)
As soon as the parts start getting delivered we will post pictures and keep you updated on a regular basis.
Castle update August 11 2021
The individual part drawings are complete and checked. Etched parts can be ordered now (after the work to make the etching films) and necessary parts sent for rolling and pressing, such as boilers, fireboxes etc
Work is also starting on revising lost wax patterns and making new patterns for the extra detail I have added.
As parts appear I will post them here.
Below, a lovely study of 5000 Launceston Castle in early BR.
