Guildford Show Saturday December 2nd 2023
This is a late notice to thank all of you braved the cold and the M25 Junction 10 difficulties associated with getting to and being at the Guildford Show. The footfall seemed markedly less even than last year when the date clashed with the Warley Model Club show at the Birmingham NEC. Our stand was cold all day and the only occasion that I warmed up was in the afternoon in the Cafeteria upstairs. Still, it was very nice to see those of you who were able to come to the stand. We had a large display of locomotives including some second-hand ones in A1 condition. If you are in need of an A3 or A4 or Duchess please let me know.

If you are a Mr Martin Breakspear who called in late in the day on our stand, would you please contact me on 01737 242073 or 07484 617692 or email me on the following address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  THANK YOU.

Weloe Rolling Roads
We have run out of Scale 7 rolling roads and we apologise to customers who are waiting for delivery. We have ordered more S7 and O gauge rolling roads from Germany which hopefully will come in January. We still have some O gauge rolling roads in stock available for immediate delivery. 

COVID-19
Having suffered all year from the effects Long Covid, last week, somehow, I managed to catch the latest version of the virus. I still have it now, so the deliveries I had planned to make last week and the beginning of this week have had to be postponed. I still hope to come out of quarantine at least towards the end of this week. If this is successful, I will try to make some deliveries on Friday (22 Dec.) and Saturday (23 Dec.). 

Advent
I hope that you are all busy enjoying this Advent Season preparing for and building up to the Christmas and New Year holiday period. We in the South East have had a few dry days and some occasional sunshine to lift our spirits. In spite of coping with Covid I have managed to find a few minutes of spare time to work quietly on converting a few O gauge wagons to Scale 7. My main interest has been in tank wagons of which there are very good examples available in both kit and ready-to-run form. Is anyone (manufacturer) willing to make a high quality 100 ton bogie tank wagon? Railway modelling can be quite therapeutic, especially when one has Covid!

 John Borkowski/17 December 2023

STANIER JUBILEE 4-6-0

Just a brief note to update you on developments on the Stanier Jubilee 4-6-0. The feedback from you about this locomotive has been very positive. We have examined the possibility of adding the standard Jubilee locomotives to the LMS/BR 6P/7P large boiler express passenger locomotives build. The end result is that following discussions with the builder we have decided to proceed with a limited programme of 25 (extendable to 35 should demand be sufficient) standard LMS/BR 5XP/6P Jubilee tender locomotives. These will be added to the 10 LMS/BR Rebuilt Jubilee 6P/7P tender engines already our production programme.

Among the standard Jubilee expressions of interest, a number of you have requested 5552 'Silver Jubilee' in LMS polished black with chromed fittings after it had switched identity with 5642. This locomotive posing as 5552 had a separate top feed, a 6’ 6’’ wheelbase front bogie and larger 9 ton 4000 gallon tender. In addition to those who have already made expressions of interest, we have decided to offer 5 engine more slots in this special livery The remaining Jubilee slots will be available in LMS Crimson Lake, BR lined Black or BR lined Green, with engine names available to choice. We can also make double chimney engines such as Bahamas (already requested) and Connaught.

The table below is designed to assist you in choosing an individual engine type:

Description	Name	Livery 1 / Chimney	Livery 2	Livery 3	Livery 4	Livery 5
5552	Silver Jubilee	LMS Polished Black	LMS Maroon	BR Lined Black	BR Lined Green, Lion-over-Wheel	BR Lined Green, later totem
Short firebox	Many names available	Single chimney	LMS Maroon	BR Lined Black	BR Lined Green, Lion-over-Wheel	BR Lined Green, later totem
Short firebox	Bahamas	Double chimney				BR Lined Green, later totem
Long firebox	Many names available	Single chimney	LMS Maroon	BR Lined Black	BR Lined Green, Lion-over-Wheel	BR Lined Green, later totem
Long firebox	Connaught	Double chimney			BR Lined Green, Lion-over-Wheel

28XX/38XX
Due to a run of recent orders, stocks of unsold 28XX/38XX are down to the last few locomotives. All remaining items are O gauge. We can still convert one more engine to Scale 7 if required for a small additional charge. If you would like an engine please make contact as soon as possible as when they have gone there will be no repeat production.

ORDER DELIVERIES
In spite of an initiative to increase deliveries I continue to be running behind my target objectives. Since I caught COVID-19 for the second time last Christmas I have been struggling with my health and thanks to some more recent help from the NHS I have been undergoing some tests. Hopefully this will lead to discovery of what is wrong, and how can things be rectified. Meanwhile I will try to get as many orders delivered over the next few weeks

SWINDON SHOW
Just a brief note to thank all of you who came to the Swindon Show. We managed to pack everything into our faithful and now not so young BMW Mini Cooper S including five models for delivery to customers. There was a great deal of interest in our Western Diesels, three of which were on display and were much admired, especially by the all the children and younger people who passed our stand.

Coming to Swindon proved to be very interesting in a number of ways. Saturday weather was very hot and sticky and everyone there had get used to the heat (32 degrees C) inside the hall and high humidity. Sunday was also humid but a lot cooler (about 25 degrees C), but in the afternoon it was bit sticky. Star of the show was a superb model of the Hunslet railway works with fully working gantry (overhead) cranes, superb metal pillars and girders and a brass roof structure. There was even electrical cable trunking running up the metal pillars and working sliding entry doors. It really was work of art and science! A superb model missed by many visitors who had little appreciation of how good it was.

We were placed next to Greenwood Models run by my old friend Mike Green. Mike had some samples of his superb workmanship; he makes crossings (points, slips, diamond crossings etc.) and sleepers for straight and curved track using laser-cut plywood as well as traversers and turntables. Mike was kind enough to put one our locomotives Frankton Grange on display on his turntable and we had a customer’s King and our 47XX on the traverser. If you are building, or plan to build, a high-quality layout or diorama, it would be well worthwhile contacting Mike, as not only does he supply components and kits, but he also can make up crossing to order as ready-to-run trackwork in both O gauge and Scale 7. He is very kindly making up some B8 Scale 7 crossings for me to use on a diorama.

28XX/38XX 2-80 Tender Locomotives
Due to exceptional demand since the Stafford Show we have only 1 Black BR 28XX and 2 GWR plain Green 28XXs left. Only one green GWR 38XX is left. All the other 28XX/38XX models are reserved and awaiting delivery.

Collett Halls and Modified Halls
We have very few engines left, all BR livery, mainly BR Green. If you want a choice in Halls, please contact us soon if you want any choice of engine.

Panniers
We still have a good availablity of GWR and BR 57XX early cab and 8750 late cab engines. We can provide a choice in emblems (GWR: GREAT WESTERN, Shirtbutton or G W R; BR: BRITISH RAILWAYS, Lion over Wheel or Totem. You can choose from our number list or have another plate provided it is made by Severn Mill Nameplates. The latter is available at a modest extra cost £50.

Pre-owned locomotives
We can now offer a range of pristine Duchesses in BR Green BR Blue, LMS Crimson Lake, Streamlined Blue and Streamlined Maroon. Most of the models are unused, left in their original boxes or in some cases have been parked in display cases. So, in general they are in as-new condition.

When my webmaster completes his well-deserved and delayed holidays, we will get them photographed and put on the website. We will prepare lists and some pictures on a separate web page so that you could all see that is available. The O gauge models comprise some Masterpiece Models engines as well as other makes. Period covered includes the Big 4 (LMS, LNER and GWR, sadly few Southern) as well as BR. We still have a number of Dapol and Heljan BR diesels and a few steam locomotives both weathered and pristine some of which are fitted with DCC/Sound.

So, if you are interested in high quality Brass 7mm scale models, Heljan and Dapol 7mm steam or diesels, or just Hornby or Bachmann 4mm scale models or other 4mm models (perhaps for your children or grandchildren), please contact us to see if we can help out.

Trade Shows/Exhibitions
GUILDEX – STAFFORD 2nd/3rd September
A big thank you to all who attended the Stafford show that kept us busy for two days.

STEAM - SWINDON 9th/10th September
We will be at STEAM on Saturday and Sunday.

Scale 7 Meeting - Mark Village Hall (TA9 4NY) 7th October
If you can’t make STEAM Swindon this weekend, come to Mark to see us there.

We offer by far the largest choice of new Brass 7mm scale O gauge and Scale 7 ready-to-run engines:
• Duchesses, Castles, Halls, Modified Halls,
• Granges, 47XX and 28XX 2-8-0s,
• 45XX Prairies, 57XX and 8750 Panniers,
• Class 52 Western Diesels
• plus Weloe premium quality rolling roads.
You can now purchase all of these items now from stock.

Our collection plus the Rolling Roads is now too big to transport everything to shows.

LMS Engines: Jubilees

We have received a request from a number of customers to make 5552 Silver Jubilee in black livery with chrome finishes. We can now offer this to any customer who would like one at a modest premium to cover the cost of chrome plating.
If you fancy something special and this locomotive appeals to you, please send in a reservation.