The LNER Encyclopedia

The modern more easily available woods like Sapele, and Utile, have a somewhat coarser grain
than old growth Mahogany, and one will often see them used as window ledges etc, as well
as for furniture, but they are still less coarse grained than Oak!

Paul

Having started this thread much earlier this year I have been really interested in the range and depth of replies that has resulted.

However, and despite being lost down in the South Pacific I have taken the perhaps fruitless step of contacting both Hornby and Bachmann to see if the depth of interest in the sort of clerestory coaches in a typical set would have them consider adding these to their ranges. I am not entirely hopeful of a positive outcome but this has been prompted by my pre-ordering TMCs G5 of which there are a few photos showing this working the type of coaches in this sort of set.

I have also included in my email to them the set of a G5 working a Hexham to Newcastle train with clerestory carriages as provided by JASd17.

Maybe my optimism is ill-founded but I wonder if a few more appeals to these people from like minded NE modellers would have any effect - the more who ask the merrier.

Graeme Leary
New Zealand

Did you get any reply from Hornby or Bachmann regarding the clerestory coaches ?

Apologies for delayed reply.

Both Hornby and Bachmann said they'd pass my query to their 'Research and Development (or something like that) departments so probably a 'no'.

Have also asked Hattons and TMC, with no joy and currently with Rails of Sheffield, pointing out these NER clerestory carriages are particularly suitable for their A5, due out sometime in the near future, as well as TMC's G5, due next year.

Can only hope they can see some merit (and sales!) in these important carriages.

Graeme Leary

Just in case it's of interest, I'm giving a talk on modelling NER carriages for the NERA on the 29th of this month. It's on Zoom and is open to non-members. I'll be focusing mainly on the LNER period, but there'll inevitably be a bit on the NER period too.
Sign-up link here:
https://ner.org.uk/whats-on/

Hello,

Just a thought but maybe one of the smaller manufacturers might be willing to do this for you.

On my mind is Isinglass / Thatcham Create who already sell many 3D printed LNER (and predecessor) passenger coaches.

Hope this helps,

Simon

Thanks Simon,

I did put the idea to Andy Egerson just over a year ago and he said it was 'highly unlikely'. I've also hopefully planted the seed of an idea with Accurascale, Rapido plus the larger retailers who frequently commission models for their own exclusive ranges. Not much luck I'm afraid but my forum and LNER Society contacts are telling me I should get a grip and learn to solder, then work on the etched brass clerestory kits that are available. That might be the only option.

And obviously no interest from Hornby and Bachmann who seem intent on producing models that, to NER/LNER modellers have little interest.

Graeme

Hello Graeme,

Most likely no-one sees models of the NER / LNER Tyneside Electric trains as being commercially viable. It might be that with financial sponsorship this situation could change, but there would either need to be a crowdfunding effort or someone who could afford to effectively give a manufacturer a blank cheque to do this.

Alas, I am not able to assist in either of those scenarios.

As for soldering and etched brass kits, I do not have that skill but might one day try to learn how to do this as there are some Micheal Edge NER electric locomotive kits that very much interest me.

Simon

Like a lot of other folks I'd love a D116 (or two) with a G6.
The D&S kit seems nowdays to only be available as photos of what other kit builders have made.

I don't know if anyone else is producing NER kits nowadays, apart from some etched sidesm but D&S NER coach kits are becoming harder to find and very much more expensive..

I've seen a magazine description that the D116 is just a converted D14 3rd.- with the obvious difference being the porthole ends.

D&S 171 is the Dia 14 kit, ... but does anyone make the coach ends separately that might allow this or any other kit to be converted to the D116 ?

I hope it makes sense, and I may well be miles off beam...but surely anyone making NER coach kits might want to add the option of coach end conversions to allow a D116 to emerge from its chrysalis..and it'd surely increase the relatively small market for NER coaches even a wee bit..

Worsley Works do a number of etched 4mm Body only NER Clerestory kits. He also sell replacement roofs for the D&S kits with plastic Roofs.

Langley do a dreadful 4mm Clerestory Autocoach. I have built one and I wouldnt touch another one , awful design and very overpriced.