Planet Industrials: Ruston 165DE prototype...

The Ruston 165DE is the latest kit in the Planet Industrials range that Steve and I are developing and was the result of an accidental realisation that the wheelbase of the Hornby W4 Peckett seemed to be a match to the prototype...

The 165DE was available in both a flat front and later sloped front cab style. The former is available as a kit from Judith Edge. The 165 was also available in both 0-4-0 and 0-6-0 as well as hydraulic and electric drive. The hydraulic units had a jackshaft drive arrangement, whereas the electric did not - so to make things simple and minimise the work required on the Hornby donor chassis we've opted for just the DE model.

It follows the usual Planet Industrials (EuroNG / NP / 6point5 / James Hilton!!) style of a 3D printed core, to which the chassis is firmly attached using the original mounting point combined with a fret of etched nickel silver parts that form the details and overlay.

The body features re-cessed panels where the etched components sit, and goes together very easily. The prototype has thrown up a few things that need adjusting, as well as a beefier mesh on the front grill which didn't survive the etching process. I plan to work through these changes and update the etch artwork in October, so there is potential for a pre-Christmas release with this one...

I've also got the parts to finish the Greenhithe Peckett and I've a ton of Peckett cabs for the standard kit here to work through and prepare for sale - more on that next week. In the meantime, more soon...