¹⁄35

Smallbrook Studio is known for railway models and accessories, and owner Michael Rayner has created several new 1/35 locomotives. Small locos such as these were ubiquitous on docks, arsenals, supply areas, industries, etc..

Last year Mr. Rayner and I corresponded about the subject of 1:35 scale railway/railroad kits. Our correspondence did not fall on deaf ears and in the mean time Smallbrook Studio has been busy producing some further kits in this scale. Mr. Rayner just informed me;

My first kit was intended to be a conversion kit for the Model Power Plymouth switcher based loosely on the original and the 0n16.5 conversion kit that I already offer, I had mastered the cab when I discovered from the UK importer of the products, that the firm had gone bust; because of this the project turned into a full blown mastering project and consequently has taken more time than had originally been planned.

The other three kits are modifications of three of my Gn15 loco kits, with new cabs and a few other parts, by doing this I have been able to introduce a new range of kits to my product range, quickly and relatively painlessly and by including larger models from my 7mm NG (0n16.5) I am now able to begin to offer everything required. The one short fall is a coach and a Glynn Valley Tramway coach - they were very small - is planned to be available soon. All four of the kits are now in production and are selling quite well as they get better known.

The new locos are:

'Blackbird' (small diesel): The kit IS available as a conversion kit for the original donor loco but the full kit is now available to use with a 35mm wheel base spud that has 13.5mm diameter wheels. Because I suspect that a significant number of my customers will be diorama builders, I have also mastered a dummy single casting spud to save the cost of the Tenshodo spud* if desired.

'Cock Robin'

'Blue Tit'

'Gold Crest'

They are all named for birds in Mr. Rayner's garden.

Furthermore, these loco kits are in development:

Class E 0-4-0 well tank Andrew Barclay of Kilmarnock, Scotland is planned, this was built to an Orenstein and Koppel design that was taken after the First War.

A German version will also be made available for continental modellers.

Porter 6.5t saddle tank. This model in 1:35 scale will fit very well onto the Model Power 'Lill Tugger' loco albeit with the cab full of motor and although the Company is in receivership, there should still be plenty of them out there for the time being for this not to be a problem.

* A 'spud' is a four wheel drive self propelled H0/00 motor bogie made in Japan by Tenshodo, now Hanazono Tenshodo, they come in a range of wheel bases and wheel diameters.

Smallbrook Studio's 1/32 - 1/35 page is: http://www.smallbrookstudio.co.uk/products/4569521210/1-35---1-32-scale

We thank Mr. Rayner for this news! Please remember to mention that you saw these models here - on Armorama!