New books and models to tempt

Narrow Gauge product that should be on these pages? Send details to andrew.charman@warnersgroup.co.uk or post to the editorial address on page 3.

7mm scale Sierra Leone Hunslet 2-6-2T Neil Sayer Models

■ Actually this one is not quite on the shelf yet but will be very welcome when it arrives this year. The Hunslet 2-6-2T that was ordered in some quantity for the 2ft 6in gauge Sierra Leone Government Railways up to the 1950s is a very well-known prototype, mainly because one of these locos has since 1975 been resident on the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway in mid Wales.

Neil Sayer, already renowned in 7mm scale circles for his fine

The Saviours of British Railway’s Narrow Gauge Railways Chris Magner

■ Something different this month, a very personal view of a period in UK railway history involving three lines that passed into British Railways ownership in the nationalisation of 1948, the Corris, Vale of Rheidol and Welshpool & Llanfair. Chris Magner pays tribute to three BR employees – Machynlleth stationmaster Campbell Thomas, area manager at Oswestry Oliver Veltom and divisional manager George Dow.

Between them these three, in the author’s view, saved the two Corris locomotives from being scrapped so they could be acquired by the Talyllyn Railway, kept the Vale of Rheidol going long enough for the line to pass into private ownership, and ensured that after closure in 1956 the Welshpool & Llanfair was not immediately scrapped, giving time for preservation of the line to get going, including storing the two locomotives at Oswestry works well out of the prying eyes of scrap merchants...

Veltom’s role in particular during this period is often argued about, some historians not deeming him worthy of mention at all, but Chris Magner takes a different view in what is a very detailed account of the period, drawing on many sources.

This is a self-published title and so does not offer the quality of production that one might expect from a major publisher – the author himself comments that the pictures are included for historical relevance than quality of reproduction. But any production shortcomings are made up for by the depth of this study, a thoughtprovoking work. AC Published by the author. email: chrismagner45@ yahoo.co.uk

Price £10.50 kits, has taken and updated a kit designed by Eric Underhill and originally produced by the long-defunct Vulcan Models.

Neil tells us that the kit features a mix of whitemetal and lost-wax castings and he has replaced some of the original whitemetal items with lost wax. The kit will be supplied with wheels with the choice of motor and gearbox left to the builder.

The price of the kit is still to be determined but is likely to be around £250, and once on sale it will be available through that Aladdin’s cave for narrow gauge modellers, Narrow Planet – www.lightrailwaystores.co.uk

16mm scale Ransomes and Rapier 20HP Bole Laser Craft

■ This attractive new kit from Bole Laser Craft was due to make its debut at the National Garden Railway Show in Peterborough just after NGW went to press.

Ramsomes built at least 100 of these locos at its factory in Ipswich between 1932 and 1939, for a wide range of industrial applications – in fact a 20hp example features in our coverage of the Amberley Museum Spring Industrial Trains day on page 40 and this model is based on that particular loco.

For 32mm gauge only, the kit is described as containing two-dozen 3D printed parts, bolting to a pre-assembled and tested chassis, chain driven to all four wheels. According to the makers three different 3D printing technologies are employed to ensure the builder needs to carry out a minimum of preparation to the parts before painting them. The bonnet top is neatly secured by small magnets, allowing easy access to the motor batteries.

Measuring 158 x 64 x 121mm, the loco can be purchased as a kit or ready-to-run either with manual control or with a LocoRemote speed controller – this unit uses a wi-fi connection to a mobile phone and the editor can personally relate that it is very effective, especially the gentle speeding up and slowing down! Produced by Bole Laser Craft Tel: 07900 995164 Web: http://bolelasercraft.com email: info@bolelasercraft.com Price: Kit £140 plus £4 UK post Ready to run manual £215 plus £6 Ready to run with Locoremote control £270 pus £6