For anyone looking for a low -cost entry into G3, these secondhand items on offer from GRS may "fit the bill".
While they are obviously not 100% accurate scale models, they appear to be good representations of their classes and (with some judicious remodelling/detailing) could be made into acceptable models.
There is no indication of materials used in construction and they are "track-powered" but, assuming their construction is sound, a couple of hundred Pounds could produce a radio controlled, battery-powered loco.
https://www.grsuk.com/shop/G3-LSWR-T9-Track-Powered-Unboxed-M15127
https://www.grsuk.com/shop/G3-LNER-B12-Track-Powered-Unboxed-M15128
https://www.grsuk.com/shop/G3-Billington-C2-Track-Powered-Unboxed-M15126
All 3 of these were actually sold in December through Amersham Auction Rooms together with several other locos of variable quality and best described as representations rather than scale models. Not sure what GRS may since have done with them. Their prices are significantly higher then the auction hammer ones but somebody will still have almost doubled their money assuming they actually sell.
Amongst the other items auctioned was a completed GRS Dean Goods kit with one of the most badly assembled tenders I'd ever seen and an odd chassis for a 4-4-4T which subsequently appeared and sold on ebay. All of which shows why it may pay to keep an eye on local auction houses which deal with house clearances.
Well funny you mention the Dean goods Chris. I'm in the process of stripping it off paint and rebuilding it. For me the price was right.
Glad to know it went to a good home and is getting the attention it deserved certainly a good price relative to a new kit and a much better proposition than some of the other items in the sale. Did you buy anything else? Much of the collection had sold 2 weeks earlier. I'm still puzzled as to why the vendor hadn't taken it to GRS as that is where much of it had originally come from.
I obtained the 1F and am now puzzling over how to either integrate G3 with existing narrow gauge in the garden or perhaps build something small as a shunting challenge.
As I don't mind second hand I was curious about these apparently low cost locos, so I had a look at all three. Only one appealed and that was the B12. It looked good and would be good addition to my small fleet as I wanted an average-sized steam (but electric) loco.
I didn't see these until Saturday evening, so couldn't talk to GRS about it. I held it until Monday and GRS then sent me several photos. Whilst advertised as track-powered, one of the pics showed a load of electronics in the tender. It looked like Revolution kit; if so I would be able to link this to my transmitter.
I was sufficiently taken with it to risk it and make the purchase.
On arrival, only 24 hours later, it looked fantastic for the price. It did indeed work on track power, and the electrics were exactly as I'd hoped.
Whoever built it did a great job. All metal, no resin anywhere, so not a GRS kit I guess.
I am currently tidying it up and sorting out the electrics. The batteries (hiding in the boiler) were past it and only good for recycling. A new set is on order, so hope to have it running soon.
So, thanks for the original suggestion to examine the low-cost stuff that GRS offer.
(https://i.ibb.co/Bg92c5m/20200128-164601.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Bg92c5m)
(https://i.ibb.co/2gVx5dM/20200128-164618.jpg) (https://ibb.co/2gVx5dM)
I spent quite some time on the B12 to add missing details (the biggest being the reverser rod , touch up the paintwork (getting a match was tricky!), disassembling the undercarriage to enable the motor and gearbox to be overhauled along with greasing the axles etc.
There was also some work to do on the R/C receiver but it linked to my transmitter OK. 'Static' testing (wheels in the air) showed it was going to run OK, and short runs on my small garden railway went well too, so it went to Graham Pearce's G3 Northern GTG on 4th March. There it ran round his track pulling a few freight trucks with no problems. So later it was hooked up to 8 Mk1's and it pulled them without faltering. Brilliant!
Best buy for ages!
(https://i.ibb.co/LhXj2s6/20200304-112228.jpg) (https://ibb.co/LhXj2s6)
(https://i.ibb.co/w6M5FGL/20200304-112245.jpg) (https://ibb.co/w6M5FGL)
That's a good looking engine Bruce - Congratulations!
Regards,
IanT