Trade Reviews are published in the Association's publications Narrow Lines and Narrow News. The news reflected below is authored by our Trade Liaison Officer, Adrian Gray.

Trade News from the AGM & Exhibition

May 2009

Adrian Gray

Avalon Line (Howard Martin), Wiston Mill Farm, Crundale, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire SA62 4EH  Tel:- 01473 731298  hmartin@supanet.com   www.theavalonline.com  All orders post free in the UK, overseas at cost.  Also available through Association Sales for credit card purchases.

Simon Thomas’ etched brass models of R&ER ICL No1 are now available, though not as flat kits.  Simon has found a glitch in the artwork so the models are being provided ready-built with the problem corrected, but still at the £20 price already published. I think that this is an exemplary approach and commend Simon for it.  The artwork will be amended if a second batch is etched.

Backwoods Miniatures, (Peter McParlin) 11, Netherton Southside, Netherton, Morpeth, NE65 7EZ  Tel: 01669 630255  fax: 01669 630260  sales@backwoodsminiatures.com  www.backwoodsminiatues.com

Latest Bachmann bash is a resin-cast Mack AC style bonnet to customise the Bachmann Railbus and alter its snub-nosed appearance.  So up-to-date is this news that Pete hasn’t yet fixed the price!

EDM Models (Paul Martin) 19 Briar Avenue, Acomb, YORK, YO26 5BX 

Tel: 01904 331973 evenings  Email: paul@ngtrains.com  Web site: www.ngtrains.com

Just as I was about to close this issue Paul’s latest e-Newsletter arrived with news of the 2009 Stoney Creek Limited Edition building, a very attractive set of three buildings to make “The Station Scene”.  They may well be sold out by the time this arrives but a visit to the EDM website will always give the up to date position.  Also on the Newsletter advance news of parts for the construction of trestles – Frank Sharp and Howard Clarke are going to be spitting feathers after their recent marathons!!

Invertrain Model Railways (Chris Smith), 33 Rose Gardens, Cairneyhill, Dunfermline, KY12 8QS.  Tel:  01383 880844  www.invertrain.com

The latest resin kit in the Highland castings range of buildings is a Stone Field Barn, similar to many found all over the country in the corner of fields or as part of a cluster of farm buildings (writes Chris Smith).  Being of stone outline, it can be painted in any colour variation to match the stone in the locality of the layout and can be combined with either animals or agricultural machinery - or both - to give a scenic rural cameo, ideal to fill that back corner of the layout.  No doubt someone will wish to build it in a “distressed” state, which has also been a common sight over the years.  The new kit is available under kit no. HCBK072 at £55.00 plus £2.50 p&p and is complete apart from glue and paint and comes with full building and painting instructions. (Adrian adds)  The roof is slated and there is a pair of large doors on one side but these are cast into the shell, so extra work will be required to model them open.

KBscale (David Janes) 10, Longsdon Way, Caterham, Surrey, CR3 6BN Tel 01883 335846  email: info@kbscale.com   www.kbscale.com

The Hudson Hudswell 0-6-0T loco kit is now back in stock at £155, complete with a revised etch for the gearbox.  This kit is supplied complete with everything except paint and adhesives.  David has also acquired the range of slate quarry wagons formerly sold by Meridian Models.  When they are re-released they will come with wheels having the correct, five curly-spoke centres.  Though production models will be supplied with single flanged wheels David is toying with the idea of producing optional double-flanged wheels, just for those of us who like to get it absolutely right!  Prices for these kits in due course.  Also on show at Burton were some exquisite brass castings for the next i/c loco kit, the Hudson Hunslet 4wDM.  We’ve got one of these, “Sh**ty the Shunter” at Boston Lodge and I can see one of these kits finding its way onto my bench, even though it doesn’t fit my grand plan!

P.L.M. Cast-A-Ways (Phil Morris) 12, New Street, Merry Hill, Wolverhampton,

WV3 7NW  Tel: 01902 339011

Phil’s range has become so extensive that he has had to divide his catalogues! These are now available as follows: Figures £2.00 + 50p P&P; Accessories £2.00 + 50p P&P, or you can have both for £3.50 + £1.00 P&P. The Line (WW1) 50p plus an A5 SAE and Railways at War 75p plus A5 SAE.  The May 2009 supplement for the WW1 catalogue lists five new marching figures that go together to model a military band. WW1F90 is the Drum Major (£2.00), F91 is a Bass Drummer (£3.00), F92 is a Side Drummer with 2 head variants (£3.00), F93 in a Piper (£2.00) and F94 is a Bugler, for which there are 4 head variants (£2.00). The heads are packed at random so purchasers will get variety if they order more than one of those types. Also on show was a nicely modeled dinghy, c/w oars etc (£9.00) and an oarsman (£2.00).  One day, soon, Phil is going to have to have a bigger stand as his population just keeps on growing and growing!

Port Wynnstay (Phil Traxson) 20 Willson Road, Littleover, DerbyDE23 7BZ   

Tel: 01332 774616  phil@portwynnstay.co.uk    www.ngtrains.com  

The latest addition to this range is a freelance, outside-framed, bogie van.  The sides are from an SG vehicle that Phil casts on contract with ends to NG width.  Phil made one of these vans for himself several years ago and has added the kit to his range after a customer asked about vans to match the style of the bogie hopper wagons.  The idea is plainly right as he sold all the stock he brought to Burton!  PW114 is supplied with wheels and Ratio bogies at £16.65

S&D Models (Dave Sutton) Highbridge Works, PO Box 101, Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset TA9 4WA  Tel:- 01278 781603  www.sanddmodels.co.uk

A new driver/fireman (OF352), complete with shovel on show, priced at £xxx.  Dave was also showing interested members masters for the forthcoming Leyland Lion bus and castings for an absolutely incredible coal merchant’s weighing scale.  There were cast bits of this model that I would not have thought practical, except by etching!

Wrightlines – Kay Butler.  It was a matter of some satisfaction to me to see the Association honour Kay Butler’s significant contribution to our branch of the hobby by the presentation of a framed picture of a Baldwin loco and honorary Life membership of the Association. As I have written before, and was said again by the Chairman, there will be very, very few members who don’t have a Wrightlines kit somewhere on their layout or tucked away in a drawer. Kay, in return, thanked members for their support over the 18 years of her tenure at Wrightlines and assured members that Adrian Swain remains committed to keeping the Wrightlines range available and to attending selected shows.

Wrightlines/ABS Models (Adrian Swain) 39, Napier Road, Poole, Dorset BH15 4LX , Tel 01202 672891

Rather less welcome news from Kay was that Adrian Swain has recently suffered two heart attacks. He is said to be recovering well but it is inevitable that his business activities, over all ranges, will be affected for some time. Members are asked to bear these facts in mind if they already have orders in place with ABS/Wrightlines, or if they are considering placing an order.  We wish Adrian well and hope that he will make a complete recovery.

Victors Scale Models  Email: sales@victorsmodels.co.uk   www.victorsmodels.co.uk

The preliminary test etches for the Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes 2-6-2 loco, seen at Shepton Mallet have now been turned into an almost finished model, and very good it looks, too. The message remains; if you are interested get in touch with Victors. Still no idea about prices I’m afraid.

Adrian