roythebus
Pleased to say the restoration of BEA coach MLL738 is as complete as it can be, now restoring MLL721
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Post by roythebus on Jan 15, 2011 23:44:24 GMT
Reading an old thread about a resin based Met loco kit, there was mention of the MTK range.
At one stage, MTK attempted to produce 1938TS in etched brass. I was running GS Models at the time producing cast metal bus kits, and knew Colin Massingham. I had discussions with him and he asked if I was interested in buying the 38Ts from him. I went to his place at slough and took several frets away for measurement and examination.
The frets proved to reasonably accurate but totally unbuildable. Why? Because all the roof detail was etched IN, not OUT! The rivets were etched in, as were the rainstrips. no thought had gone into how to bend the roof to countour..what an absolute waste of money. Oh, and virtually none of the etch lines were straight.
I didn't proceed with the purchase of the 500 or so frets they had produced! I intended to proceed with my own version and got quotes for a pressed brass kit, with windows and doors stamped out, as per the MTK coach series, but got ripped off by the company supposedly doing the work on them, so they never appeared.
The only Underground model I produced was the Met F class.
I converted a Triang M7 into L44 at quite a young age, and quite good it looked too.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2011 13:24:51 GMT
The resin MET loco kit was mine. I suppose I should get round to bulding it one day... I have a feeling that MTK did some surface stock as bits have very occasionally appeared on ebay. I think he did A stock. as well as (possibly) C stock. MTK has a poor reputation now which is a shame. True, the kits weren't brilliant compared to todays offerings but at least Colin Massingham made modern image kits. Precious few others did! Some of the kits could be made into really good models and they have formed the basis of the Genesis and No Nonsense Kits ranges of today (sadly the owner of the latter company passed away last year and the kits have been taken on by someone else). I have seen pictures of some models made from MTK kits that are truly superb! Colin Massingham knew the limitations of his kits and christened his O gauge range 'El Crappo'! Towards the end of his life he was beginning to use etched brass for his OO range and these kits still fetch a good price on ebay and the like. As for converting a Triang M7 into an E class, I have on old M7 knocking about as well as a set of E class drawings........ And I really must build that F class kit!  |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2011 13:36:50 GMT
What sort of modification would a Triang M7 need to become an E Class? I don't have my one to hand its in Devon in storage with most of my collection but it was in the process of being refurbished until I bought the new M7 locos.
I'm just interested in a 'different' model for my collection.
Cheers,
~ Gary
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metman
Global Moderator
5056 05/12/1961-23/04/2012 RIP
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Post by metman on Jan 16, 2011 13:50:57 GMT
I bought a Triang M7 from Ebay but it was rubbish. The truck had plastic wheels and the motor kept shorting out and then burnt out. It looked like it was over oiled. I was going to scrap the body which isn't quite right for an E class and make my own or buy the SE finecast kit, although I hate brass so I'll probably make my own from plastic card. I'm now looking for a Hornby M7 chasis to use instead.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2011 14:15:27 GMT
Sounds like a cue for another thread methinks....
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2011 18:03:04 GMT
I have a Met line Metropolitan Vickers Electric loco MTK kit partly badly built which most likely will never be finished as a Radley Models kit of the a better option!
I knew Colin Massingham ( a very funny and clever Man) well from around 1970 until his untimely death in 1997 and he produced a wealth of kits for the diesel electric modeler, including Underground stock. At the time these kits were the only option you a modeler had to make a model of many classes of locomotives and MU's. Given the amount of work this could entail to build a decent representation of the prototype I think the best description of this kits was in some cases an aid to scratch-building!.
That said we need to remember that MTK helped raise interest in diesel and electric modeling to where is today.
Xerces Fobe
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Post by rogere on Jan 16, 2011 21:14:23 GMT
This brings back memories!
The first P4 loco I ever built was the Harrow Models "Sarah Siddons" - still have it, but because my layout is based north of Amersham it is only run behind closed doors!
I did consider, at one time buying the resin bodied version as now produced by Radley, but couldn't justify it.
I also have, somewhere in the loft, an unbuilt GS F class (thanks Roy). Never got round to building it because of lack of chassis, change of scale (00 to P4) and move of house.
I did see some of them built - running on the Verney Junction layout, and also a member of Chesham MRC had a finished one, albeit in a very strange version of Met red.
Since then I have built both the E and F classes from SE Finecast, and an A class (Ks body and IKB chassis).
Now I have just got into resin casting, and am h opingto work my way through the goods stock in Jim Snowdon's book - probably vert slowly!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2011 21:16:22 GMT
Is the MTK MET loco whitemetal? If so then it's odds on that the one I have is Q Kits. I've also nearly built a Harrow whitemetal one that I bought from jimmysbow. It is interesting to compare different manufacturers take on the locos. The Harrow kit seems to have cab windows that are too small while the resin one has too few grills on the side. The definition of the casting on the Harrow one is superb while the detail on the resin one could be more defined. Some of it may get lost under a coat of paint.
As for the E class, I'll have a go at my old M7 and start a new thread when I have some progress to report. I have a lot on the go at the mo though so don't hold your breath..... Looking at the drawings I suspect that the biggest problem is that the centre line of the boiler on the M7 is 6 inches higher than the E class. This is only 2mm in model form but it is the sort of thing that can upset the 'look' of a model. The rear end of the body will have to be built from scratch from plasticard. A new dome and chimney will be required too. The rear bogie will have to be replaced by one with a smaller wheelbase but larger wheels. Fitting pick-ups to it may be a good idea too. As I said, don't hold your breath!
I did try and rebuild a Triang M7 to make it more realistic. All that was left of the chassis was the main block and the bogie casting! New wheels, motor and gearbox, handrails, push/pull gear, pipework, smokebox door and many other bits later and the loco was really looking good. It just needed new brake gear and painting and then guess what? Hornby announced a brand new model! The old Triang one remains unpainted and lacking brake gear but I am so pleased with the work so far that I haven't the heart to part with it. I'll finish it one day.....
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