British Railways Mk.1 Coaching Stock

We are proud to announce these All-Metal Top of the Range vehicle and interior kits for Corridor, Suburban and Parcels Stock at realistic prices. Up until now the most detailed coach kits available in 7mm have been the excellent Kemilway LNER [or constituents] coaches - though these are limited in range and are not readily available. We hope this series of kits will go some considerable way towards re-writing the rule book for future coaching stock kits.

In recent years the author of these kits has tried to purchase several models from various sources for a proposed layout featuring a parcels depot & carriage sidings. All the kits purchased have ranged [with the exception of the Kemilway kits referred to] from the disappointing to those which must surely contravene the Sale of Goods Act! The Ready To Run options are no better - most sit as if on stilts upon their bogies and are all but devoid of underfloor detail, whilst some of the non-gangwayed Mk.1 coaches available appear to be little better than toys.

It is hoped that these kits will meet with some other modellers' wishes to see coaches readily available which are to the same level of detail as the top-end locomotive kits that are now on the market. This applies to the interiors as well, which, in the case of most of the passenger-carrying types in the range, will be available as separate add-on kits, because the coaches will really require to be illuminated internally for the interior detail to be fully visible and thus worthwhile fitting.

One of the best investments you can make if you are building one or more of our Mk.1 models is to purchase a copy of ’British Railways Mk.1 Coaches’ by Keith Parkin, published by the HMRS in association with Pendragon Books and Atlantic Publishing. A new edition has recently been published and can be purchased with a supplement containing further updated information. Reading this book will give you a thorough grounding in Mk.1 stock and will enhance your familiarity with and understanding of, the Mk.1 vehicle. This is always an important factor when building super-detailed models.

It is regrettable that there is currently no fully-detailed 3’ 7" coach wheel on the market that is profiled on both the front and the rear. There were such wheels available once from Pemberton Models - superb wheels, alas long since discontinued. For those using Slaters 3’ 7" wheels, we supply an etched template in the bogie kit to facilitate drilling out of the four characteristic lifting holes in each wheel. Please bear in mind that our bogie is designed to scale tolerances and we accept no responsibility whatsoever for clearance difficulties encountered when using wheels of a diameter greater than the scale 3’ 7".

The price for these kits without interiors is comparable to most other coach kits on the market, despite the high level of detailing. The interior kits are not, however, cheap - being fully-detailed and consisting of many parts, they will add significantly to the cost. They will appeal to those modellers who desire just a few coaches built to the very highest level of detail.

64' 6" Gangwayed Stock

Mk.1 58’ Short Underframe Non-Gangwayed Stock

All kits Include - super-detailed detachable chassis, sprung B1 Series bogies, a pre-formed roof that can be removed by just four screws, which also separates the chassis from the body and secures the Interior Kit that is available for use with this model. Require - Wheels, Bearings & MMP Steam-Era Screw Couplings

The Interior kits [optional items] available soon include a full inside body shell for double-skin glazing effect, a superb Guard's/Luggage compartment in the case of the Brake Second [complete down to the letter rack and food heater!], detailed bulkheads, luggage racks and other details - even the ash trays + moulded seating.

Mk.1 Coach Bogie Sets and Accessory Packs