18inch Crewe diesel in 006.5...

I enjoyed exhibiting Vowchurch at ExpoNG and chatting with fellow modellers about the scale/gauge combination, and it gave me a bit of impetus to create another locomotive kit for the 006.5 6point5 kit range...

This time it's the 18inch gauge Hudswell Clarke diesel 'Crewe' that was built and used on the Crewe works system for a short period before it closed in the 1930s, before being transferred to Horwich. I listened to the public at the show and decided that rather than be a true and faithful model of the prototype I'd use the Busch NS2f chassis unmodified, and retain the centre jack-shaft drive. This means that the kit will literally just require the body replacement.

This is the prototype, the body requires the small tabs on the top of the chassis frame removing at the front and back, but then just glues in place. The cab rear supports are 0.6mm brass wire, I will look to provide a jig or something to drill the small holes in the back of the chassis for these. The etches are the buffer beams, bonnet grill, cab roof and bonnet side doors. These are a neat design, and the hinges wrap around 0.4mm brass wire fitted in small handrail knobs. They could be left to open, if the brass was blackened, but I've glued them shut on the prototype.

The model is small, it's based on dimensions of the prototype, but the cab roof isn't tall enough to stand in, so I'm planning on trying to fit a seated driver. The Heywood top wagons (recently redesigned to ease assembly) are a good match for a loco works wagon, so very soon perhaps you can consider an 18" industrial line? More soon...