new chassis for old white metal kit

[Colin RainsburyParticipant]

Hi all

I hope this will be a simple request, many moons ago I was given a very old GWR 4-4-0 three rail white metal body kit, I am not sure who made it, but recently i decide to try to make it run and I found a number of problems with it. since it was built by one Brian Bunce who was a member of the Erith Model Railway Society at the time.

35+ years later I would like to see it running again, so as chassis technology has gone on with leaps and bounds does anyone know if am EM GWR 4-4-0 County class etched chassis is available, it will need new wheels and motor, I will also need to do the same for the Tender chassis as well, I am convinced that it is currently three rail as there is no insulation on the tender wheel sets.

If anyone can help please get in touch

[Geoff StennerParticipant]

Difficult to help without seeing, but if three rail, it would probably have a centre collector shoe(s) on the loco. the uninsulated tender wheels wouldn’t matter.

Don’t SE Finecast do a kit for a 4-40 County, and might have a chassis?

[Colin RainsburyParticipant]

Hi Geoff that does look like the body shell I have and it is a reasonable price, I will try and take some photos a bit later, since it will be rebuilt to EM gauge beside chassis spacer bar section and EM axles, is there anything else I need to buy?

[Geoff StennerParticipant]

Hello,Colin. If, as you said, the tender wheels aren’t insulated, you’ll need to get one side at least insulated; both sides might be better as , if not, the tender body will be live to one rail.

If the loco WAS three rail, the driving wheels and bogie wheels may also be uninsulated both sides, so you’ll need to arrange the same thing as the tender. Possibly a brand new set of wheels all round to go with the new cassis might be a thought; spoiling the ship for a ‘happorth of tar comes to mind.

Only thing else I can think of is to try the chassis frames against the body and make any required mods. early on.

Hope that helps, and good luck with the project.

[Colin RainsburyParticipant]

Thanks Geoff I have email South East Finescale, somewhere I read that they have been taken over, but I am not sure by whom?

[Geoff StennerParticipant]

They are now run by Squires Tools, they of the large catalogue and stand at various shows.

[Colin RainsburyParticipant]

Thank you Geoff

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