The Forum for Gauge 3 Model Trains

Market Place => G3 Trader Discussion Group => Topic started by: AshleyW on Oct 24 2019 23:53

Title: BARRETT STEAM MODELS
Post by: AshleyW on Oct 24 2019 23:53
good news. Barrett steam are intending to introduce g3 kits to their range. Possibly j65 and Dean goods being two types proposed, both in steam or electric formats. Also option of r. t. r, prices also seem very tempting. Let's hope this comes to fruition and is supported by our members as it gives an option to own a model with your own input and from the u. k, so could help G3 expand and gain interest from those G1 modelers who already build their kits.
Title: Re: BARRETT STEAM MODELS
Post by: Sleeper Agent on Oct 25 2019 09:33
Sounds quite positive indeed :) Looking through their site I can't see a lot of crossover with my particulate interests unfortunately but would be interested in the Fowler and GNR tender kits were they to be enlarged, quite possibly the smart looking footbridge kit as well.
Title: Re: BARRETT STEAM MODELS
Post by: AshleyW on Oct 25 2019 10:45
for others here's the link to the website
http://www.barrettsteammodels.co.uk/index.html
of course our personal choice may be not what they have, but if we want them to back g3 we may have to purchase something not quite to our tastes to get them established. after all, if a newcomer asks, where can i get r.t.r live steam if i join, the main answer currently is to buy used 2.5" and restore or kingscale/grs , which are also of limited protoypes and also limited runs.
Title: Re: BARRETT STEAM MODELS
Post by: 492 on Oct 25 2019 11:19
Have seen a coal-fired G1 Barrett LBSC Atlantic. It performed really well, and being a 4-4-2 it had a nice wide firebox. If they do a G3 version it should be a great engine.

Robert. 492.
Title: Re: BARRETT STEAM MODELS
Post by: blagdon on Oct 26 2019 21:36
I'd go for an electric (battery) Dean Goods with 3500 gal tender if Tim wants to try a prototype build. No 2426 if possible.

Ian the Gauge '3' Pirate
Title: Re: BARRETT STEAM MODELS
Post by: MikeWilliams on Oct 26 2019 22:23
Any new manufacturer coming into Gauge 3 has to be welcomed.  I am surprised though because when I commissioned Barrett to make the cylinders for venture I was concerned that they might market them direct and they said they had no interest in entering the Gauge 3 market.

Mike
Title: Re: BARRETT STEAM MODELS
Post by: John Candy on Oct 27 2019 08:58
QuoteDean Goods with 3500 gal tender

Ian,

I am not aware of any Dean Goods having been coupled with a 3500 gallon Churchward
tender.

The 2,500 gallon Dean (6ft 6ins + 6ft 6 ins WB, as supplied with GRS kit) and 3,000 gallon (7ft 6ins + 7ft 6ins WB) were the "norm".

Preserved 2516 has a 2500 gallon tender.

Regards,
John.

Title: Re: BARRETT STEAM MODELS
Post by: blagdon on Oct 27 2019 22:34
Probably my bad memory, I will check it out; not all had same capacity tender.

Ian the Gauge '3' Pirate
Title: Re: BARRETT STEAM MODELS
Post by: AshleyW on Apr 18 2020 14:58
regarding dean goods etc, i think perhaps if barretts can do a "hornby dublo" and have a chassis of an 0-6-0 that can be closley used for a variety of simple similar types with just variants of bodywork etc, then that may be the first steps in getting a few types.
Title: Re: BARRETT STEAM MODELS
Post by: MikeWilliams on Apr 19 2020 10:14
But if you look at what they do in G1, that's not the way they work.  They make complete kits.

Mike
Title: Re: BARRETT STEAM MODELS
Post by: IanT on Apr 19 2020 12:05
Gauge 1 can give some interesting pointers I think Mike.

Aster provided high quality engines (at a price) in both kit and RTR forms. G1MRA also had (have) 'how to build' books - starting with the Project, then Dee and now ARM1G. Over time various Traders started to support these designs with pre-made parts such as boilers and cylinder units. Indeed ARM1G was designed with Trade support in mind to (in effect) produce a 'kit' engine.

Given that G1 has about a 20 year head start in terms of it's resurrection, I think we are tracking them fairly well - albeit that part of what might have been a G3 user base is already committed to 16mm/G1.

But the Kingscale engines were in some ways our 'Aster' and now Barratt is starting to look at G3 too (as are others possibly). In terms of a G3 'Project' - I think there are already existing 2.5" designs that could be used but that tend to be overlooked. LBSC's 'Simple 4F' (in 2.5") is supposed to be the inspiration for the 'Project' and both this and several other engines (i.e. Victoria, Rose) could be updated (to near scale & metric) and fulfil the same purpose as the G1MRA Project - which I believe is to provide a low cost entry point to live-steam.

This is probably the way to go to get to Ashley's "Hornby 0-6-0" but whether folk still want to build things these days I'm not so sure - although scratch building live-steam is clearly still popular in some 16mm circles (but then there is plenty of choice in RTR too).

Regards,

IanT

 
Title: Re: BARRETT STEAM MODELS
Post by: 753 on Apr 19 2020 16:21
There may be some mileage in letting the Model Engineer media about G3, for the reason that there are many large-scale locomotive builders who have completed long term projects, or have a home full of large models with no more room who would be attracted to G3.
Because M E's have the machine tools and skill to make the parts, a smaller project takes shorter time especially if you go electric, keeps the interest going and is affordable, also bags of fun!
Just a thought

Mike
Title: Re: BARRETT STEAM MODELS
Post by: IanT on Apr 19 2020 18:30
It's a good idea Mike - and we already send a copy of the Newsletter to all the main Railway Mags (RM, BRM, GR etc) as well as Model Engineer. In fact, Geoff Thursby (Club News Editor) at ME is pretty reliable in giving us a mention in ME following the latest NL publication. We've also had a number of G3 related articles published in ME over the years too - most notably by Dick Allan who has had several of his designs published as build series.

And therein lies the problem really - we have quite a few very good Model Engineers within our community but designing a loco (or anything really) and then writing it all up (with drawings & photos etc) is a major undertaking as I'm sure Dick would tell you. Of course, a build 'diary' of a G3 Barrett steam loco might also be of interest to one of the ME mags (ME/EIM). I've had several articles published and the Editors are pretty open to suggestions but something new/different/topical tends to attract their interest more easily.

Regards,

IanT     
Title: Re: BARRETT STEAM MODELS
Post by: AshleyW on Aug 04 2020 15:37
geoff thursby, nearly always contacts me, post newsletter publication chasing copies of photos from our newsletter, i don't see m.e magazine, but assumed some of these photo's may make it in there. will have to get him to a g.t.g post lockdown and see if he can do an article for the mag on g3.
Title: Re: BARRETT STEAM MODELS
Post by: IanT on Aug 04 2020 20:21
Yes, as mentioned - he's pretty good at mentioning us in the ME 'Club News' Ashley - so well worth keeping him on the mailing list.

Regards,

IanT
Title: Re: BARRETT STEAM MODELS
Post by: Terry_C on Apr 16 2022 08:47
Quote from: 492 on Oct 25 2019 11:19Have seen a coal-fired G1 Barrett LBSC Atlantic. It performed really well, and being a 4-4-2 it had a nice wide firebox. If they do a G3 version it should be a great engine.

Robert. 492.
As long as the parts/instructions are better than the G1??
Title: Re: BARRETT STEAM MODELS
Post by: cabbage on Apr 16 2022 10:59
I am supposed to pick up my first installment of parts for the GER tank loco at the AGM. The more I see of their models - the less I am impressed...

Regards

Ralph
Title: Re: BARRETT STEAM MODELS
Post by: richardgreen on Apr 16 2022 18:32
What's the general consensus on Barrett , I was under the impression that they were great . The only reason I've never bought one as I model in 1/32  on gauge 1 not in 10mm scale, otherwise I would have had a 72xx off them ages ago. As I understand it they will be doing another engine in gauge 3 very soon. I would have thought that this will be very good and well received for Gauge 3 folk??


Rich.
Title: Re: BARRETT STEAM MODELS
Post by: IanT on Apr 16 2022 22:47
Frankly, I was surprised at these comments too Richard.

Barrett have a very good reputation in Gauge 1 and I thought it was great news when they decided to produce a G3 live steamer.  Since Ralph has not even taken delivery of his first instalment yet, I'd be curious to hear why he is already un-impressed?

Regards,

IanT 
Title: Re: BARRETT STEAM MODELS
Post by: cabbage on Apr 17 2022 06:31
Well I went to the BSM stand at the last AGM and examined the model. The first thing I noticed was the fact that there was no "blow down valve" at the base of the water column. I pointes this out to the people and was told that it wasn't required. I then fetched Roy and then  pointed the same thing out. They then told him it wasn't required as well.

Roy told them it *was*.

Communication with BSM has been sporadic, but from dealings and emails with them I get the impression that thwy are running a hobby not a business...

Regards

Ralph
Title: Re: BARRETT STEAM MODELS
Post by: MikeWilliams on Apr 17 2022 10:16
I've been to Barrett's premises.  They made a batch of steam cylinders for "Venture" for me.  They were very helpful, have a most impressive workshop and are definitely a business, employing a few chaps too.  Roger Marsh assembled the Venture chassis and he was very complimentary about the design and execution.  Also, they have proved to work very well indeed.

But that is just cylinders - I have no experience of their complete kits.  Suggest you look at some Gauge 1 websites and see feedback there.

Mike
Title: Re: BARRETT STEAM MODELS
Post by: IanT on Apr 17 2022 10:20
I agree that a blow-down valve is desirable Ralph but (as far as I'm aware) it is not actually 'mandated' in the Orange book (Volume 2 Boilers <3Bl).

Para 13.1.5c "The water gauge(s) shall be blown down - if a valve has been fitted for this purpose, and the water levels shall be seen to recover without delay"

So technically they were correct.

John Barrett (the founder of Barrett Engineering) is retired now but his son Stephen has continued with the business. Barratt Steam Models (BSM) have been going since 1980 in one form or another, so they are not exactly new to the production of small steam engines. However, presumably when building them commercially, there will  have to be to a price point to the specification.

I can't comment on their customer communications, as I've never dealt with them. I do know some other small traders often find it difficult to balance handling customer queries with actually producing things though.  All I can say is that when I had a chat with Stephen & his wife (on their stand at the AGM) a few years back, they seemed to be a very nice young couple. Maybe we should give them the benefit of the doubt?  :-)

Regards,

IanT