The LNER Encyclopedia

daveinstoke · Post by **daveinstoke** » Wed May 31, 2006 9:13 pm

Has anyone built any of the DJH kits ? if so how good are they in 00 . I do fancy the Ivatt class 2 ! However comet models all so have one , which if any would be the better kit ! I must admit this would be for the new layout that I am planning.
Thanks
Dave.

Bullhead · Post by **Bullhead** » Wed May 31, 2006 9:31 pm

DJH kits go together quite well - I've built the BR standard 3MT 2-6-0 (3 times!), BR standard 4MT 2-6-0, WD Austerity 2-8-0, BR standard 4MT 2-6-4T, D20 4-4-0, and A1 and A3 4-6-2s. They come with all the components you need except for a motor and gearbox; the standard Romford wheels can usefully be replaced too.

However, with the exception of the 3MT 2-6-0 and the D20, all the 4mm DJH kits I've built in the last 20 years or so have subsequently been produced ready-to-run by either Bachmann or Hornby: these run well, look good, and are substantially cheaper than a kit. And, of course, Bachmann announced an Ivatt 2MT 2-6-0 as part of their 2006-07 production programme.

Colombo · Post by **Colombo** » Wed May 31, 2006 9:49 pm

Dave,

Like Bullhead, I also have seen most of my kit built locos covered by Bachman or Hornby, for example I have built a B1, D49, K3, WD and an Ivatt Class 4.

On the other hand none of my pre-grouping locos have yet been covered so in future I shall only be building these. I have an A5, a J25 and a Midland 3F. I would like to build an A8, a B16 and a Q6.

I may also risk an A2/2 Thomson rebuild of a P2 as unusual locos may not get covered.

DJH kits are excellent and I am pleased with my W.D. which was built after The Bachman was introduced and so it had to be at least as good and if not better. I think it is better in fact, but you need to be very careful round the cylinders or you could build it too wide.

Best choose a pre-grouping type.

Colombo

daveinstoke · Post by **daveinstoke** » Wed May 31, 2006 9:55 pm

I must admit I get the fun from building the loco's as well plus it's been 25 years since I bought a kit , & I am aware of the advances made with the ready to run loco's. But as you are aware old habits die hard , plus I am looking forward to building another loco after such a long time .
Dave.

Bullhead · Post by **Bullhead** » Wed May 31, 2006 9:57 pm

daveinstoke wrote:fun

End of debate. That's what the hobby's about!

daveinstoke · Post by **daveinstoke** » Wed May 31, 2006 10:00 pm

What other good freight loco kits are there now . other than the 8f & 9f .etc that I can use on a freight only layout I mentioned in my other post.
Dave.

Bullhead · Post by **Bullhead** » Wed May 31, 2006 10:17 pm

daveinstoke wrote:What other good freight loco kits are there now . other than the 8f & 9f .etc that I can use on a freight only layout I mentioned in my other post.
Dave.

I don't suppose it's still in production, but DJH used to do an ex-NER Q7 0-8-0 which is probably still available from specialist suppliers, and Dave Bradwell does a top-notch J27 (as well as the definitive WD Austerity) - see his site at http://www.scalefour.org/bradwell/locos.htm for pictures and details.

61650GTFC · Post by **61650GTFC** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 9:19 am

Although not an expert kit builder I have built a lot of them. I have found DJH kits to be excellent and they go together as easily as any other kit Ive made. Earlier kits like the B16 are quite basic being virtually all whitemetal but make into nice models with some extra details. Newer kits like the A2/2 and A2/3 are more complex with etched brass cabs and tenders. The Thompson A2's incidently are suprsingly some of the easiest kits Ive ever made. Many of the valve gear links are already riveted. Ive had more trouble with some much more simple models. Also for an extra charge DJH will assemble the valve gear on some of their other kits.

Rlangham · Post by **Rlangham** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 7:52 pm

Bachmann are coming out with an Ivatt 2MT 2-6-0 this year so if you don't fancy building the kit that's always an option (cheaper as well) - now if only Bachmann would come out with a J21, J79, Q6 and G5

rob · Post by **rob** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 10:15 pm

With regards to the Q7 mentioned by Bullhead it is still in production-I just finished painting mine last weekend!She is no.633 and a powerful looking machine. DJH kits are readily available direct or from Tower Models but they've stopped supplying the trade.They are very efficent and you will usually have your kit within 10 days or so.As regards availability,a lot of kits are being discontinued,usually because an improved RTR version comes along-the GresleyA1/A3 and I think the PeppercornA1 are recent deletions,others may include the C2 Klondyke and I think the elegant H1 and possibly the rebuilt A8.Some are issued as limited editions from time to time,but I can see DJH calling time on the whole 4mm range before too long and concentrating on 7mm for the same reasons as D&S-buy now if you're interested in thse excellent kits!
They are not without their howlers-famously the boilers on their Gresley A1/A3 and the two Peppercorn pacifics do not slope down towards the spectacle plate requiring a lot of remedial work,they have invented strange upright posts on the coalrails of all their GNR tenders which have to be filed off and the aforementioned Q7 has a flush spectacle plate which has to be recessed for a reasonable representation of the class.However they are excellent taken overall and the older type,mainly the NER locos in plain whitemetal with simple brass chassis are incredible value for money in my view-they include wheels which add a lot to most kits eventual price,are well cast and you can add all the detail you like if you're a finescale type.I have built the Q7,C7,two J10's and two J50's.Apart from the J50's,billed as beginners kits but with a bizarre chassis arrangement which caused me more trouble than any other I've built,they really are straightforward.A hint with the Q7 is
if you have smaller radius curves reverse the top hat bearings on the middle wheels so the flange is inside and you should get around 3rd radius curves-mine does,which gives an insight into what sort of modeller I am!

Bullhead · Post by **Bullhead** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 9:09 am

There are some examples of DJH kits which have been professionally finished by the excellent John Brighton on his website at http://www.steamline.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/page2.html.

The clickable thumbnails in the gallery will take you to large-sized images of, amongst other things, BR standards and an A3 which show pretty conclusively how DJH kits are capable of being made into first-class quality models in the right hands.

I had hotlinked some of these into this post but have subsequently edited them out, as they were too large.

Colombo · Post by **Colombo** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 5:39 pm

Bullhead,

Would it be possible to reduce the size of your images please, so that we can all enjoy them without having to scroll across.

Colombo

Bullhead · Post by **Bullhead** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 6:42 pm

Colombo wrote:Bullhead,

Would it be possible to reduce the size of your images please, so that we can all enjoy them without having to scroll across.

Colombo

Pics removed, but a link to the builder's site remains.

Colombo · Post by **Colombo** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 7:59 pm

Bullhead,

I have resized some of John Brighton's images for you. I agree with you, they are really great models. One advantage of DJH over RTR is that bits don't drop off so readily.

Colombo

Post by **richard** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 8:22 pm

As an aside, the image attachment software does have a facility for thumbnailing, but last time I looked it required an image manipulation tool to be installed. I'll have another look to see how viable this is. If I can get it work, all images bigger thana certain size will be thumbnailed, and a reader can click on the thumbnail to see the full image.

Richard