B17/3 (or is it B17/5?)

Tom Quayle · Post by **Tom Quayle** » Fri May 12, 2006 9:22 am

Having read the masterclass on the 'Footballers' in steam railway and looking at the pic in the locomotives area (great job Richard) I would like to know if a kit is avalable to produce a B17/3 (or as I like to call them 'Baby A4s'). Or is it going to be a case of a Hornby B17 with a cut and shut A4 body. I can see this being a difficult project

LNERandBR · Post by **LNERandBR** » Fri May 12, 2006 10:50 am

Its the B17/5 which was streamlined and the masterclass article is in Model Rail.

61650GTFC · Post by **61650GTFC** » Fri May 12, 2006 12:03 pm

As far as i know there are no kits available (I have looked myself). I think it would be difficulty to get the streamlined casing and the arched running plate to line up. I know it is possible though as ive seen a body for a b17 and a W1 made from shortend or lengthened hornby A4 bodies at a show years ago.

It may be worth checking out Isinglass drawings for a b17/5 drawing. I think a representation and not a true scale model would be possible and fairly cheap with an old hornby A4 body, comet or hornby b17 chassis and a scratchbuilt tender body on hornby or bachman chassis. I think the tender would be quite simple to make from plasticard.

61650GTFC · Post by **61650GTFC** » Fri May 12, 2006 12:10 pm

There is at least one good picture of a b17/5 in early BR days in the Big four remembered book. Most of the pictures i have seen are LNER so this must be quite rare as they didnt last in streamlined form very long

Tom Quayle · Post by **Tom Quayle** » Fri May 12, 2006 1:24 pm

1951 I think they were returned to normal spec

rob · Post by **rob** » Sat May 13, 2006 12:34 am

Tom ;I'm almost certain that Coopercraft/Mailcoach produced a resin body and tender kit for this and I think intended to produce the East Anglian rake as well.If I remember correctly it was designed for the Hornby chassis and (awful)tender drive system.It might be worth giving them a ring (afternoons) they're a helpful supplier and might be able to tell you more-most likely that its discontinued or didn't generate enough interest to be put into production;on the other hand it may just prove that I've inhaled enough paint and solder fumes in 15 years of LNER modelling to be suffering hallucinations..........it's an interesting project,best of luck and keep us posted!

Andrew Craig-Bennett · Sat May 13, 2006 1:28 am

I've also seen one based on a "cut and shut" A4 in 4mm scale. Thirty-five years ago and by the standards of those days it was just about acceptable.

PaulG · Post by **PaulG** » Sat May 13, 2006 11:08 pm

There is a colour photograph (albeit the loco was painted black by the LNER during the war!) of 61659 City of London with streamlined casing and "British Railways" on the tender at Liverpool Street in 1949, in "On Great Eastern Lines" by Peter Swinger.

The loco was repainted in July 1949 in LNER green, again with "British Railways" on the tender.

The streamlining was removed in April 1951.

Regards
Paul

rob · Post by **rob** » Mon May 22, 2006 12:32 am

Hello Tom,I don't know if this is any help but further to my hunch about Coopercraft I looked up my old catalogues and they listed a B17/5 kit in their 1997 catalogue.There were a number of options,one supplied with the Comet chassis kit and tender wheels(£112),one to fit the Hornby loco and tender drive(not supplied,£75).They also did the 6 coaches based on the Kirk kits but with resin sides.The whole lot could be supplied as a set if desired.I would guess it entered production because on the opposite page was a list of limited edition coaches also in resin and I have one of these-I regret I didn't buy more, particularly the Dia18&19 113' articulated sleeper first - that sounds impressive!There was only one item unpriced and listed as"coming soon" so AS the East Anglian was priced I'd say it was in production then.I enquired whether the coaches would be produced again about two years ago and there were no current plans so sadly I'd imagine the same goes for the loco kit.I know they did a resin kit for the B12/3 at this time and gather it was not that well reviewed,withdrawn for modification I think and never reappeared - it is also listed in this catalogue along with a projected B12/1 which I imagine never saw the light of day.I suppose there is only a limited market for a loco like the B17/5 but when you consider SEF seem to have a market for something as obscure as the GER Decapod I'm surprised the kit doesn't appear to have been a success.

61650GTFC · Post by **61650GTFC** » Thu May 25, 2006 10:47 am

Yours for the bargain price of £140

http://www.modelfair.com/cgi-bin/sh0003 ... aKIT100066

61650GTFC · Post by **61650GTFC** » Thu May 25, 2006 10:48 am

Ok so the link doesnt work. But Modelfair.com have got a B17/5 made from a combination of Hornby dublo and Triang parts.

rob · Post by **rob** » Fri May 26, 2006 11:50 pm

I'm trying to imagine it.No,its unimaginable....pity the link doesn't work,it would be worth a peep....seriously though...Tri-ang AND Hornby-Dublo?A B12 chassis and a chopped up A4 bodyshell and tender?Possibly as a Neverwazza hybrid but 140squid?!?

61650GTFC · Post by **61650GTFC** » Sat May 27, 2006 10:19 am

Try this it doesnt actually lookas bad asit sounds!

http://www.modelfair.com/acatalog/Kits_ ... tives.html

rob · Post by **rob** » Sun May 28, 2006 11:11 pm

Thanks for that,you're quite right it is better than it sounds and makes quite an interesting Neverwazza!There probably is a buyer out there,especially given the prices paid for oddities from Wrenn etc.

rob · Post by **rob** » Sun Jul 30, 2006 10:24 pm

Hello Tom,
I don't know if you are still interested but there appears to be a B17/5 kit back on the market,£50,resincast,loco body and tender for the Hornby model,try Golden Arrow models,01424 445334.Let us know how you get on,I might consider one myself eventually.Good luck!