Newsletter

52F Models Newsletter

52F Models Online Newsletter, last revised 17/05/2022.

We may be making a foray onto Great Eastern metals. One prospective customer showed us a model of a GE Class P55, LNER/BR class F4. This was an old white metal bodied kit finished in early BR livery. The chassis left a lot to be desired but seeing as the kit was probably from the 1960's, the chassis followed RTR practice for that time. My interest was piqued when I realised that T.W. Wordsell designed the F4 and used it as the basis for his NER class A, LNER class F8

I've designed a prototypical chassis for the F4 which when modelled would run a R 750mm curve. This chap is an EM gauge modeller so this shouldn't be a problem.

An NER class L, LNER J73 is on the cards too but this kit is in the early stages of development with the basic concept being just completed. Initially developed for the specialised task of hauling traffic on the steeply graded lines radiating either side of the Tyne, they found their way to Teeside ad Hull in the South and Berwick in the North. Built at Gateshead works between 1891-92, most of the class of 10 had a life of over 60 years, the last survivor being scrapped in 1960.

Seen at the 2019 Workshop Wise event, this beautiful C15 built for one of our customer's from a 52F Models kit. Graham has really done the model justice with this lovely build and paint job.

What have we at 52F Models been up to during this pandemic? Doing what we do best. Designing and developing new kits to bring to the market place. Our long awaited A8 kit with both large and small boiler is now available. We are at the Test Build stage for our new NER class O, LNER/BR class G5 and about to test build an NBR class G7. (See next paragraph.)

While we were held up fulfilling orders, we haven't been resting on our laurels. We have used our enforced idleness to good effect. We have been working on four new projects, three for NBR Modellers' and one NER model. The NBR models are the Matthew Holmes designed 0-4-4T Passenger tank (LNER Class G7). This is at the final modelling stage and only about a month away from having the test etches produced.

The next is our long overdue WP Reid D30. The more I redesign the chassis the better this kit gets. The final iteration of the artwork is almost complete.

The next NBR kit is a J35 loco and a Holmes 3525g Tender. We've been developing this kit by stealth, using spare space on etched sheets as test etches for the production parts. We are now at the artwork stage for this one though the use of 3D modelling is allowing us to tweek the design before we get serious about spending money.

The push- pull version of the NER class O, LNER/BR G5. is progressing well and is now in the test build phase of development . There's still the matter of white metal but that's in hand. I'm still working on the lost wax masters but I don't see a major problem.

The LNER/BR class A8 loco kit is available at long last. If anyone would like one of these kits or express an interest in owning one, just drop us an email and we'll get back to you

NBR Class C16 for OO gauge modellers.

We have produced this kit and it is now available. The first orders have now been dispatched. While in the design stage, we decided to incorporate a few changes that will simplify the assembly process while not detracting in any way from the high level of detail on the body and chassis. The improvements to the design will be what's been proven to work and will provide an overall benefit in running or ease of assembly.

Slater's Plasticard have supplied us with lost wax brass castings. We were delighted to see that they were of the same high standard as those previously supplied.

New Chassis kit for LNER/BR Class J25.

This new chassis is to meet the demand from OO modellers' for a chassis to improve the running and the detail of their J25 white metal kit built locos. Although specifically produced for the Late Dave Alexander's excellent model we see no reason why this chassis couldn't be used for other manufacturers offerings for the J25. The kit includes our very popular Mk3 NER tender chassis. This tender chassis is considerably lighter than the item supplied and as a result enhances the pulling power of the locomotive by reducing the tender overall weight. The price is the same as the EM/P4 version of this chassis and is available by mail direct from 52F Models.

New OO gauge chassis for the LNER/BR class J77.

This is an entirely new chassis and incorporates all the features that we've proved over the last 12 years.

H1 Chassis kit.

I was doing a chassis building demonstration over the weekend of the 28th and 29th of July at RailEx NE. It was nice to see old customers and acquaintances and discuss the latest developments in chassis and kit design. It was there that a customer who I'd developed a chassis for a DJH Class D, LNER class H1 reported that he was pleased with the chassis performance. He was so enthusiastic that I've decided to market this kit and make it generally available. (See the NER class D, LNER class H1 tab)

It incorporates several new features such as fold in horn cheeks and custom made horn blocks for both the bogie wheels and the driving wheels. The gearbox is now slimline and can be fitted along with the horn blocks, axle and wheels. The horn blocks are held in place with the loco springs.

The chassis is compensated and load bearing on all 12-wheels so no matter what you do, it cant tip up and detract from the tractive effort. At the front and rear of the chassis the bogies work in a prototypical fashion and do their job. No acres of daylight at the front and rear of the chassis.

Latest news for NER modeller's

News for NER modeller's . We have taken the opportunity to produce a revised chassis for the NER class 290, LNER/BR class J77 in OO gauge.

We are pleased to announce that we now have a chassis for the NER class D, LNER class H1. this chassis is available in both OO and EM/P4 gauges

We have produced the promised NBR class M, LNER class G9 as a kit. It's only available in EM/P4 at the moment but if there's sufficient interest a OO version will follow.

The kit features compensation for all eight wheels. The chassis is load bearing for optimum weight distribution. It can't be bunker heavy, a fault common to all 0-4-4T tank engines.

Custom made horn blocks allows wheel assembly and quartering away from the chassis. You can even fit the custom gearbox to the drive axle along with the horn blocks and quarter the wheels before fitting them as an assembly. The wheels are held in place with a keeper plate that holds the springs and is readily detachable by removal of two 10BA screws.

All etched parts are 0.38mm nickel silver. All the white metal parts and lost wax castings are included to allow any version to be built.

Development almost complete LNER/BR class A8 4-6-2T

These are the first phots of the partially completed "Test Build" body. This shot shows the driver's side of the loco with the folding cab doors in the closed position. The boiler fitted is the diagram 63B with the dome placed 1'-9" nearer the firebox. Diagram 63A / 63C boiler will be supplied with the kit. The beading has been fitted to the cab opening. This is a pre-formed part and will allow the door opening handrails to be fitted prototypically.

Latest NBR news.

W.P. Reid designed Class D30 4-4-0 loco and tender kit.

The final prototype for the D30 has been built. We hope the production castings are as good as the samples All the castings that would have been white metal items will now be supplied as lost wax brass items. That was the plan, it looks like the castings are going to be a mixture of white metal and lost wax brass.

The tender has been built by a friend and has NBR springs and axle boxes on one side and we've used LNER springs and axle boxes on the other. The the lost wax castings look really nice and are a cut above what's currently available. You can even read NBR on the axle boxes. The lost wax castings for the NBR tender coping initially looked very nice. On assembly shrinkage proved to be a greater problem than anticipated. I am having to remake one of the masters to compensate for the accumulated shrinkage. Two pieces need to be 1.2mm longer.

There will be a choice of lost wax NBR springs and axle boxes or LNER springs and axleboxes. You will need to specify which which item you require when you order the kit. These lost wax brass castings aren't cheap so it's an either or situation in order to keep the cost down.

The NBR Reid Tender has been problematical in the design through to prototype phase. Incorporating so many new features into the design was never going to be easy but if you go to the Reid 4,235g tender tab you'll see that nearly all of the problems with the lost wax tender coping castings have been sorted.

There was very little point in finishing of the D30 while the design of the tender was proving problematical. Now we will be concentrating on snagging the loco and chassis design. We have been unable to use the original wheel we thought would be ideal for the purpose and we've had to select a modified King Arthur wheel as a substitute. This looks great on the chassis but when the chassis is offered up to the body there are clearance issues with the driving wheels and the splashers.

© Peter Stanger 2015, all rights reserved. This is the first photo of our D30 loco built from our first test etches. We are particularly pleased by the way that the etched parts have assembled with no fettling required to achieve the results that you see in the photo. We have modelled all the parts that can be seen above the footplate significantly enhancing the detail under the boiler. The body features sliding cab windows but they can't be seen in this shot. The boiler and the smokebox wrapper will be pre-formed by us to ensure that these parts fit correctly