MODELLING PRODUCTS

NOW THE GOOD NEWS!

MARK HUGHES MODELS

Are in the process of changing from white metal castings so their kits to make Blackpool Jubillee trams 761 and 762 now consist of lead freepewter castings and etched brass. Also included in the range is a Manx Electric Railway tram which is identical to some used by the Blackpool and Fleetwood Tramroad being similar in appearance to Box 40. Also in the range are accessories such as the concrete fencing used on the Blackpool tramway and a tram shelter.Mark doesn't have a website but his address etc.,can be found on the contacts page.

Corgi produce diecast models of Blackpool Balloon and Bruch Railcoach trams in a variety of liveries. These are non-motorised models and whilst to 4mm scale the wheels are set to protofour (18.83mm gauge) instead of the 16.5mm gauge track used byOO scale modellers. They won't fit onto standard OO/HO model railway track. It is possible to motorise them to OO standards using the Tramalan or David Voice motorising units or the specially designed ABS motorising kit as well as the Bachmann chassis and adaptors mentioned below.

BLACKPOOL IN THE BOX

Len has kindly been given permission by Blackpool Transport Services Ltd., toproduce waterslide transfers (decals) of their Blackpool Transport and Blackpool and Fleetwood Tramway logos as seen on the left and theirMetro Coastlines Twin Car Liveriesas seen on the right. These are now available from East Lancs Model Tramway Supplies. Like all Blackpool in the box products, these are being made availablein strictly limited quantities at non-profit making proces as a service to fellow modellers of the Blackpool scene.

This set of castings provides a simple, quick and easy way of motorising the Corgi die cast Blackpool Balloons and Railcoaches using the chassis, motor bogie and trailing bogie taken from a Bachmann PCC tram. These castings are used instead of the plasticard ones illustrated on the page describing how to motorise Corgi Trams. The castings have been reintroduced in lead free pewter to comply with WEEE and RoHS regulations and are available exclusively from Derek Lambelle, 40 Weston Road, Lichfield Staffs., WS13 7NT.

Bachmann PCC trams and Corgi trams are available from Blackpool Memorabilia, Front North Pier, Promenade, Blackpool, FY1 1NE and East Lancs Model Tramway Supplies. To view the page on motorising Corgi trams click on return to welcome page and then click on Motorising a Corgi Trams

Ready to run motorised Corgi trams which utilise the Bachmann PCC motors and chassis are available from Blackpool Memorabilia, address above, who will be happy to supply details of availability of types and/or liveries.

Have you read the item about converting a Tram City (Hadfield) Balloon into this version of 718 with its all over livery? Te process has now been upgraded and the livery is now printed on clear plastic film which means that the windows are now transparent and there's no need to cut them out. The film is stuck onto the plastic sides of the tram using double sided white carpet fixing tape. The remainder of the ram is painted in the usual manner with matching paint. This photograph is by courtesy of Alan Kirkman.

Similar pre-printed sides are now available for 724 in Metro Coastlines red livery.

BRYN KITS

Suitable for all model tramways using an overhead (whether "live" and operative or "dead" and decorative this etch is the answer to many modellers' prayers. Len has lost count of the number of times he's been asked "how do I connect the overhead wires on my continuous layout together? or similarly "how do I connect the overhead wires across layout joins? The answer was to get a piece of suitable channel file a "slope" on each side and drill suitable holes. The result was not always successful - depending upon the channel being the correct size and it was filed to the correct shape etc., etc. The answer has now arrived. Brynkits have introduced an etched Tramway Overhead Wire Joiners, the reference is 4TC1001. There are ten joiners on each etch. Full instructions are supplied with each pack but their use is almost self explanatory. The etched pieces just fold up into a channel and the centre pieces fold out at right anles to the etch for use with span wires or can be cut off if span wires are not in use. These joiners are suitable for use with both trolley poles and pantographs. Len will be using these on Blackpool in the box by soldering one to the overhead support nearest to each side of the baseboard join and connect across the join with a "sacrificial" piece of wire. This wire will be replaced as necessary, this method preventing any drop in the tension on the rest of the overhead. These etches are available from East Lancs Model Tramway Supplies or in case of difficulties, direct from Brynkits, at Cadmore, Rod Lane, Ilminster, Somerset, TA19 9ET.

This firm produces a range of 4mm scale card kits which includes buildings, buses and trams. Amongst the trams are several Blackpool prototypes including a Pantograph car, a Brush car and OMO in advertising liveries. Its possible to motorise these kits andif constructed with care can look most effective on a layout and, of course, avoid the complexities of painting and lining and advertising liveries. They will send a copy of their catalogue for four first class stamps and can be contacted at 23, Darris Road, Selly Park, Birmingham, B29 7QY.

JAMES MILLINGTON

A major problem for modellers of Blackpool trams has been solved. James Millington has produced a series of sdverts for use on 4mm scale model Blackpool trams. These comprise a series for use on the advert boxes carried on the roof of railcoaches plus a series of all over liveries for use on both single and double deck trams. The adverts are printed to a high quality and well detailed. The roof box adverts are simply sut out and glued to the roof box whilst the series for use on the all over liveried trams require that the tram be painted in matching colour(s) as shown on the full colour illustration of the tram on the sheets and the logos and wording are cut from the sheet and glued on. There are 3 images on each sheet, 1 for illustration and 2 for use but if you make a mistake you could always use the illustration to stick on the model. Althouth there are currently two sets of roof box adverts and 24 all over livery sheets James is still continuing toproduce additional liveries. Full details of availability and prices from James Millington, Ground Floor flat, 56 Seafield Road, Blackpool, FY1 2LS.

Although not modelling items, in order to produce good models accurate prototype information is vital. Tramalan have a range of "E-books" featuring the Blackpool Tramway under the general heading of Blackpool's Trams From The Inside.

NOT ONLY BUT ALSO

S.Kits of 16, Barrow Road, Sileby, Loughborough, LE12 7LP, have produced a whitemetal model of a "Gatso" speed enforcement camera in 4mm scale. Although not a tram or tramway model, there are a number of these cameras on the prom at Blackpool (as well as just about anywhere else in Britain where a road runs alongside the tramway) so these cameras are an essential addition to the modern tramway scene. Len has ordered some for Blackpool in the box.

Signs of The Times, P.O.Box 8247, Grantham, NG31 8WY, are stockists of the S.Kits range and also stock the Roger Smith range of road markings and road signs. Theis range covers road signs from pre 1965 up to the present day white and yellow lines, keep clear zig zag lines etc., so are suitable for most British based miodel tramways. Also of interest may be their own Signs of The Times Signage Pack Range which features railway, high street shops, health and safety signs as well as hazchem signs for lorries/tankers and more besides. These items can be seen on their website at www.usefulsigns.bizhosting.com

BLASTS FROM THE PAST

In the past a number of kits and models of Blackpool trams have been made available but have since disappeared from the market. Some were produced as limited editions whilst others didn't find favour with purchasers for various reasons. However, for a number of modellers, they may prove to be "just what they are looking for" and they do sometimes become available on the second hand market at prices which range from the very reasonable to HOW MUCH????? Its not possible to put a price on these items as they depend on the value each modeller places upon them. However, for completeness some of them are described here.

A rangeof etched brass kits designed by Ray Collins and sold under the brand name Model Tramcar Design included Toastrack cars.

A range of ceramic models by a firm called Woods included a pantograph car. These were available both formotorising and for static display using different base mouldings. The range also included the full fronted centre entrance doubledecker buses which were unique to Blackpool.

An etched brass kit for a pantograph car from PC MOdels. This range was bought by David Voice who reintroduced this kit for a while but it is now unavailable again.

The Blackpool in the Box range of kits which comprosed a whitemetal Coronation Class tram, Blackpool and Fleetwood Box 40 also in whitemetal and a clear resin bopdied Centenary class car with whitemetal fittings. These were all strictly limited editions and there are no plans to reintroduce them.

Lancastrian Transport Publications sold a card model of the steeple cab locomotive which hauled coal from the railway station to Thornton Gate and which is now preserved at the National Tramway Museum at Crich, Derbyshire (Now known as Crich Tramway Village). They also sold a range of assembled and painted Blackpool trams made from Hadfield plastic kits but production of these ceased when the Corgi diecast models appeared.

Modert Traction Kits (MTK) produced some etched brass kits of various Blackpool trams including the OMO, Jubillee Cars 761 and 762 and the Centenary class but there were doubts about their accuracy.

Produced in very limited numbers were ready to run models of Standard class and Coronation class trams by a firm called Anbrico. These are very rare models and none have been made available for sale for a considerable time.