I am pleased to show on this post the progress made on the Kernow Model Rail Centre ex LSWR Gate Stock sets, with some pictures and video of the 2nd Engineering Prototypes (EPs). The purpose of such EPs are to check the toiling and the options within tooling to represent the variations being produced.
Although some will feel that it has been a bit of a while since both the initial announcement back in 2011 (but please bear in mind the manufacturer has changed in that time and the resources available to Kernow Model Rail Centre for such commissions) and the tooling starting for the first Engineering Prototypes (EPs) at the end of 2014, I can assure you that work and modifications since the first EPs have been undergone in that time to try and ensure the greatest of accuracy within the production constraints and costs of producing such models.
With thanks to Kernow Model Rail Centre I have been able to have a look over the EP of their K1002 which will eventually be Set 373 in Southern unlined malachite green. There will also be three other variations of the 1914 Gate Stock namely: K1001 Set Number 374 in lined Southern Olive Green, K1003 Set 363 in BR lined crimson and finally K1004 in BR Green with tooling to reflect the additional steel plating fitted to this set for this period.
All are as per their condition post being modified by the Southern Railway around 1929/30 to their adopted air control (as opposed to mechanical via wires and pulleys) and the driving cab changed to the standard SR 4 window style.
Although it would be nice to have been able to produce a variant in original London South Western Railway (LSWR) condition the commercial consideration of possible sales verses the additional tooling costs precluded such an option (but I am sure some talented pre-grouping modellers might be able to do a conversion and I can provide details / reference information if required).
The video below taken on the Hinton Parva layout of the High Wycombe and District MRS and shows the set running pushed and pulled through a series of point work.
There are still a small number of known additions and slight corrections to be made to the tooling, but these models are really looking the part, all versions of the EPs are being checked over to pick up any other minor corrections needed and extensively test run. Once these tests have been completed and Kernow Model Rail Centre are happy with the running qualities we will move to decorated samples.
The livery artwork is being worked on at present and I have provided some advice to assist Kernow Model Rail Centre with this, they have already completed the box design.
An actual delivery date can not be given at this stage as this will only be known once livery samples have been approved and the model is actually in production.
All the 2nd EPs will be on display on the Kernow Model Rail Centre stand number A75 at the Warley National Model Railway Exhibtion at the NEC this weekend.
I will also be at the Warley Exhibtion all weekend as the ‘unhired’ help playing trains on the Hornby Magazine‘s latest layout Grosvenor Square (just turn a blind eye to the fact that it is a BR Western Region!) on stand A36 so please come and say hello.
Look out for a post show report of anything of a Southern / BR(s) interest that crops up.
Stunning looking carriages, I look forward to the SR green pair I have on order to go with my Kernow O2.
Hornby Magazine and BR Western Region, you are a brave man!
Glenn
They look mouth watering! I’ve had the Crimson set on order for a while and have an O2 and an M7 waiting for it.
Having seen the 1st EP my expectations are high. My order for a crimson set went in on 13/1/2014. Hopefully the wait won’t be as long as for the USA tank.