Newsletter Last updated 06/03/2026
I'm having nothing but trouble with my email address so I've changed it to a new address. It's on the Home Page where the old address used to be. If you've been trying to contact me since the 26th of February I won't have received your email. Please resend the email using the new address and I'll do my best to get back to you ASAP.
Initial deliveries of our CR class 782 have commenced so now we can get back to catching up on all the other orders that are currently in the pipeline.
Hopefully we'll be able to find time to complete the outstanding work on the GER class B74/77 and have some good news for all the people who've expressed an interest in owning one of these loco's
23/02/2026. GER B74 Pug running light engine. This shot shows the truly massive proportions of the loco. Photo courtesy of George Falkner , February 2026
GER B74/B77 Update. We are now working on the instructions for this kit. The chassis diagrams are almost complete along with the parts lists. That only leaves the body diagrams to complete. The kit will be available in OO, EM and Scale 4 gauges. The B74 and the B77 are two separate kits so you'll need to specify which kit you want.
GER class B74/B77, LNER class Y4
Progress so far. Image of the GER B74 courtesy of George Falkner, all rights reserved.
25/01/2026 George showed me a photo of the finished and painted model at our EMGS Group meeting and promised me not only a copy of the photo but a link to a video clip of the B74 in action. A copy of the photo and the said link will appear in these pages as soon as I have it.
02/01/2026 We always knew that the correct size driving weren't available. Tests have shown that fitting a fitting a 3'-6 " wheel works on straight or curved track but introduce turnouts into the equation and you'll have problems. When George fitted drain cocks to the cylinders he found that these fouled on the turnouts. Perhaps a P4 wheel on EM axles would solve this problem, the 3'-8" tyre being a scale 3'-8" in diameter
I'm experimenting with a GER 4'-0" x 10 spoke wheel that in OO/EM gauge wouldn't be a lot over scale and certainly not noticeable. It may mean a slight alteration to the artwork on the frame drawing but this shouldn't amount to more than 0.3mm to the depth of the frames and an alteration to the brake shoe profile.
GER class B74 / B77, LNER class Y4. George Falkner and I are collaborating on this kit. My role is the design and actually producing the kit and George will actually do the building from the early etched parts that I managed to squeeze onto other sheets.
George has been good with detailed feedback and I've incorporated all the changes that he feels are necessary into the production drawing. I didn't have enough space to provide all the parts needed and this has resulted in George having to scratch build some parts of the valve gear.
You will be able to see from the photo that there are a lot of 3D parts used in the construction of this kit. The tanks have been left hollow for either a DCC chip and speaker or the modeller can use the space for adding weight to the model.
George has been a very busy boy since I last saw him. Not only has he finishes the B74 but he's taken it on tour in the last couple of weeks and its been to:
1. Visited Expo EM for a run around the test track.
2. Run on Roy Jackson's Retford.... Although the spectacle of a B74 taking a massive train down the mainline is a crazy spectacle.
3. Run on Geoff Kents Black Lion Crossing.
4 Visited Tony Wrights Little Bytham layout.
Next is a few more tweeks and then it's off to the paint shop for finishing.
19/11/2025 The C.R. class 782 was collected today and the fold up preformed parts have had the fit in the footplate etch checked and found to be correct. We have been in touch with the company that does our etching and approved the rest of the outstanding sheets on the order.
It'll be touch an go to get the initial orders out by mid December but that's the plan. We have everything under control at this end. It'll be bought in supplies that's the only cloud on the horizon.
NER News.
We've taken the opportunity to redesign our NER OO Tender chassis due to an increase in recent demand for this product.
We've also upgraded our Coupling rod etch to bring it into line with the fret that's supplied with our OO J25 chassis kit. These rods will fit Kit built J26/J27 loco's and now have a prototypical joint instead of the two pieces of the rod pivoting on the centre crankpin. The old style rods will still be available for a while until the current stocks are exhausted.
C.R. News
23/02/2026 Deliveries of the class 782 have commenced. I haven't heard from a few customers so I would suggest that you check all your email folders because all customers have been notified. The emails weren't returned as undeliverable so you'll have the request for payment somewhere on your device.
09/11/2025 The films for the CR Class 782 are with the etching company and a Test Etch sheet is on order to verify the fit of the folded up, pre-formed parts in the slots in the footplate. Once the films have been approved, the remaining sheets to fill the the advance orders will be placed on order.
The diagrams, parts lists and explanation sheets have all been finalised and an initial copy of the complete set of instructions has been printed.
We've had the first batch of 3D printed parts delivered and we are pleased with the quality of the parts.
On Monday we will start modifying wheel sets for those who have ordered modified wheels with their kits. The only thing that will be holding us up from starting making deliveries will be the new lost wax castings. We estimate that they should be ready in another 2 weeks.
26/10/2025 We are Quietly Confident that all the bugs that were in the initial design have been found, removed or been subject to a redesign to make them work. These changes have been subject to 3D Modelling in order to find any potential future problems.
Yesterday was our yearly "Workshop Wise" event. I haven't seen the attendance figures but from where I was sitting doing a 782 chassis test build, it appeared to be very busy and the Organising Committee should be congratulated on hosting a most enjoyable event.
The 782 artwork is just about finished with all the i's dotted and the t's crossed. The film files should be sent early this week and the films received the next day. After inspection, they'll be taken to the Etching Company and a Test Etch produced so that it can be inspected by me before proceeding with a production quantity.
After I'm in possession of the production etches, initial deliveries can commence. That's the plan anyway. Lets hope all goes according to plan.
(28/09/2025) CR class 782 continuing progress. Much of the time since the last update has been taken up with filling existing class 439 orders and preparing class 782 kit documentation.
The six pages of loco chassis diagrams as well as the notes in the assembly instructions are complete as well as five pages of the loco body assembly diagrams as well as updating the assembly instructions. There's still a bit of work to do to complete the body diagrams, probably three or four pages still to complete. I'll be continuing work on these diagrams today and into next week.
Next will come the ordering of the 3D printed parts before the weather turns colder. While these are on order I'll spend the time making lost wax casting masters for the kit and getting them off to Slater's to have the castings made. These are long lead time items.
I've taken the opportunity to order a large quantity of the 782 driving wheels with my last 439 wheel order so that won't be a problem and the advance orders are well covered on that score.
I must say that the orders for the McIntosh class 439 caught me a bit flat footed and led to a considerable delay in filling some of the orders. I was pleasantly surprised by the number of P4 modellers who've ordered this kit.
(10/09/2025) Caledonian Railway Class 782. Progress so far. You may recall that I mentioned unexpected circumstances delaying work on the development of this kit. Well we've just had an unexpected circumstance. I've lost the complete content to date of this Newsletter.
I can practically remember verbatim what I had written on the CR class 782 so here goes.
After a few "False dawns" and a couple of chassis redesigns at last I can see light at the end of the tunnel. Although considering the day that I'm having, it's probably a freight train coming the other way.
Up until lunchtime today everything was going really well and so I decided it was time to update the site. That's when things went pear shaped. Progress to date. Six pages of chassis assembly diagrams and the matching assembly instructions are complete with perhaps one diagram left. The Loco Chassis and Loco Body Parts and Packing lists are complete.
The alternate inside brake gear has been drawn and modelled. I have a photo of one class 782 No. 56375 with this gear and on such a large class i doubt it was the only one. I believe there's a photo in Bob Essery's and Philip Jenkinson's book on LMS liveries that has a photo of two class 29's standing bunker to bunker that have the same brakes.
Our original intention was to produce a kit that you could build a class 782 and a non condensing class 29 from. Unfortunately this won't be possible due to space constraints but I intend to produce the extra parts that will be needed to convert a 782 to a class 29 if there proves to be a demand for such a conversion.
Computer generated 3D rendered image of the proposed CR class 782 0-6-0T tank engine body. The colours are only to make it easier to see the level of detail. We intend to include all the LMS modifications that could be seen on the class in BR days. ©52F Models 2025, all rights reserved.