GRS announce GWR, LMS & BR Mk1 kits under development.

[John Candy]

GRS are asking for feedback on proposed range of carriage kits to gauge interest before committing to production.
The current proposals are GW Collett 60ft, LMS Stanier 57ft and BR Mk1 types.
Please send GRS an e-mail or use their forum to put your views.
If there is one category of product we desperately need to make G3 a more attractive proposition for newcomers, it is certainly coaching stock.

[keith Bristol]

Hi All

The latest on the Mark 1 coaches is that I now possess the design and pattern rights to the kits. It is my intention fully to bring them into production. Currently I have, which came the parts one running chassis and a body to roll, but I am waiting for the casting of a further two sets of chassis parts so I can check something very vital, that it will go round 8ft curves using the buckeye that has been designed in the product. Once this has been checked I will produce an initial batch of eight prototypes, some for myself, some for others to test finish.

The first coach will be a TSO but various models will follow. It will also be possible for you to request a particular arrangement to special order.

I will keep you posted via here and post a few pictures.

keith

[hornbeam]

Great stuff, still aiming for a steel chassis and Aluminium body? Looking forward to seeing them, have to wait till the house move before I dig in my pocket 

[keith Bristol]

steel chassis defiantley, aluminium body is good but not unconvinved about a resin body given the dmu body in my hands currently....

[keith Bristol]

I hope everyone has allowed plenty of overhang space. Picture of chassis against some common GRS Stock

[MikeWilliams]

Please tell us more Keith.  I know GRS were planning BR MKI stock, and I also know that Francis Leach was involved with the design.  It sounded like a great project and a step up in quality for them.  Then I heard the designs had been sold.

Is this the same project?

Changing the body material at this stage sounds like a major design change?

Resin moulding companies vary enormously, but there are two or three firms capable of good quality products.  Which is not to say that they always achieve good quality.  I have sometimes pushed the boundaries beyond their stated thicknesses etc and sometimes it has paid off - and sometimes it hasn't.  I have also been to much cheaper firms and wasted a lot of money!  If you can form the alloy I suspect that will produce a superior product for a coach of this size.

Mike

[keith Bristol]

Mike

yes this is the same project. As I mentioned earlier I am checking that the design fits around the 8ft curves of some of our layouts. Aluminim is better but the size of fold and teh curves is interesting. I have supplied a former but this teh next stage after checking teh chassis. the design is good but i am making sure the coach is a good product. Resin is interesting, if you can suggest the good companies I will talk to them. No decision is made.

Teh aluminimum is designed and ready to make a batch so changing it would be a delay.

Regards

Keith