AndIan Models Update

Hello All,


I would firstly like to say thank you to all of you that has supported the release of our first kit by purchasing one of the LWW wagons and to those who have taken an interest in our future releases.

Our first kit, The LWW Well Wagon, had shocked both myself and co partner Andrew with its 1st run sell out after just 2 days of announcement. I am happy to say that we now have a second run of the LWW kits ready for sale. Again, we only have done a limited run of 60 kits. The price of the LWW has stayed the same as the first release at $80 per kit posted to anywhere in Australia. They can be purchased direct from us at AndIan Models andian.models@gmail.com . I also have them on EBay under the model toy trains section http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/AndIan-Models-NSWGR-LWW-Well-wagon-etched-kit-2nd-run-/180692145219?pt=AU_Toys_Hobbies_Model_Railways&hash=item2a12175443.

We have also made arrangements with both Joe at Casula Hobbies, and Warren at Gwydir Valley Models to have limited stock available through their shops. We will try and continue to have this model available by producing future runs, though these runs will only be commenced after all stock has been exhausted.

The Turret tender project has made a significant step forward. One of the biggest issues we faced with the tender is the manufacturing and/or availability of the detailing components for the tender. It was suggested at first that we would need to have new masters made. The bogies were also an issue as the very unique 2TM bogie is not available. We did however find that an American ‘Kegel’ bogie used under a K4 Pacific is identical and was available from Bachmann or Bowser as spare parts. The Bachmann bogie was passable but the width was a concern and as they were also made in delrin limiting modification.
There have been a couple early brass models imported years back both by Bergs and Classic. As we have quite a good repour with Joe we asked him if we could possibly use the castings from his Classic tender. If you are unfamiliar with the classic brass models, I can tell you that they are regarded as the ‘Rolls Royce’ of brass and are very well detailed. Joe agreed to Loan me a tender to see if the details were appropriate, of course they were, and allowed me to strip the tender of its castings so we could have them reproduced. This also means that our tender will have brass bogies (from the classic tender) and as we speak the details have been sent back to Joe, as he will be having them cast by his own caster. Big thanks to Joe. We have made some alterations to the drawing for etched body to suit the castings. Final alterations will be made after the castings are complete, then we can proceed with having the etches done.

We have also received the sample etches of our Two and Three lever lever frames. These are based on the standard NSWGR design. Along with these are some compensators, cranks, Roding chairs and pulleys. Unfortunately, there were a few cock ups with the drawing of the two lever frame. Also some of the Roding chairs and pulley wheels, once reduced from the full sized CAD drawings, are just too fine and will also need alteration. We have sent a few of these to both Ian Millard and Andrew Campbell (Bowen Creek) for their opinions. As you are probably aware Ian had produced these in his IR models range and are used on Bowen Creek. We thought it would be a good idea to have both these exceptional modellers look at these and give us their opinions as to what can be improved. The completed three lever frame and Roding details below are what is to be expected.

Andrew has also been playing around with another 3D printing model that will be included in our Range. The model is a BLV Louvre van. Built around the turn of the century, the wagon is 36’ long and features three opening doors along the side. The wagon sits atop a queen post steel underframe with arch bar bogies. We have had an initial sample produced, witch I have displayed on our Exhibition Layout at the last couple shows, to trial yet another prototyping manufacturer. The below photo is of BLV 15593 Preserved at the Dorrigo Steam Railway and Museum. We had a visit last weekend to double check a few measurements before the drawing can be finalised. It will then be sent to be printed. Upon return, we will have the master reproduce in urethane and made available to you all. Very exciting. The BLV will most likely take over the Tender and lever frame projects making this our second model available. This may also determine the fate of the SL/NZLA project as the trialling of the printing quality for the BLV is a sort of trial for the SL/NZLA.

Plans are also in the pipeline for a NSWGR four wheel water Gin. We have been kindly donated a beautiful plan and several photographs of the Water gin from Phil Collins. We have also measured and photographed the Water Gin at the Dorrigo Museum. Lucky for me the Water gin at Dorrigo is the actual one used on the Merriwa branch, L391. Our initial idea is to have a detailed etched brass underframe with cast urethane tank along with etched ladder and brass detail castings. Should be very nice indeed and a must for any model railway.





Water Gin L553 from Phil Colins collection

There are a couple other dreamt about models we would like to produce. SFX and SBX passenger cars and possibly a bitumen tank wagon. All of which are quite some time away.

If you wish to be added to our growing email list for future updates please send us an email. andian.models@gmail.com

Cheers

Ian