These kits are extremely detailed and very comprehensive – they contain everything you need except for the normal building and painting tools, solder, glue, paint and transfers. They are primarily etched nickel silver outers with laser cut ply interiors and 3Dprinted (resin plastic) for details.
They are designed for painting before assembly to make the painting job easier (particularly the interior and lining) and are held together by tabs and slots (or pins and holes) wherever possible. Full interiors are provided, including luggage racks and internal panelling The glazing slots down between the inner and outer walls. Droplights can be positioned at any required height. They can be fixed together by superglue or solder, though obviously in the latter case soldered joints should be done before painting. The body is bolted to the underframe and the roof is bolted to both. Brakes and linkages are provided – the brakes could even be made to work with a little ingenuity. Wheels are individually sprung.
The coaches can be fitted with LED lighting – suitable holes are provided for wiring and switch.
If you build everything supplied you will end up with a museum quality coach – some parts can be left off for simpler assembly.
I tried to do a low-cost version but did not know when to stop!
All kits are provided with fully illustrated instructions (downloadable when complete).
See here for more detail on construction.
Materials list :-
| Etched nickel silver | Outer sides |
| Ends where not 3D printed | |
| Luggage racks | |
| Solebars | |
| Underframes where not 3D printed | |
| Bogies | |
| Rainstrips | |
| Cantrail/cornice/gutter | |
| End steps | |
| Droplight straps | |
| Lamp irons | |
| Bolections + hinges | |
| Lower hinge/former | |
| Laser cut ply | Inner sides |
| Brake compt. inner walls | |
| Roof former | |
| Roof | |
| Floor | |
| 3D printed (resin) | Ventilators |
| Seats | |
| Gangways | |
| Lookouts | |
| Underframe inner parts | |
| Bogie side details, springs etc | |
| Gas lamps | |
| Brake gear | |
| Battery boxes | |
| Vacuum reservoirs | |
| Ken Martin castings | Couplings |
| Heating hoses | |
| Brake hoses | |
| Miscellaneous | SMD LEDs for interior lighting |
| White cotton cloth roof covering | |
| Flanged ball races for axles | |
| Glazing for lights with printed droplight frames | |
| Brass wire handles | |
| Steel wheels & axles |