00-12 Manning Wardle update…

In the past few days I’ve been working on the 00-12 Manning Wardle kit. The 3D parts have gone off for printing yesterday and I’ll finalise the etch artwork this week. Let’s take a look at this mock-up and note a few key features…

She is somewhat of a James Hilton fancy, hopefully clearly a Manning Wardle, basic dimensions similar to the small F, footplate dropped a touch from ‘standard’ gauge, but with lower wooden buffer beams. A multi-piece print the wooden dumb buffered buffer beams are optional and a set of etched plates with holes for more traditional buffers will also be included. The design allows for either the drop flap smiling door or a traditional round one up front and later, other cab styles. This one is a mix of Thames from Fayle’s with its drop footplate) and Wantage No.7. The etch will include half etched marks on the inside to allow it to be snapped down to half height, and a smaller spectacle plate will be included for this - the back will have two options, one pictured, and a half height one with small ‘shelf’ and holes for roof supports to be threaded through. The footplate folds up in the centre to hide the motor and not shown, springs, levers and a myriad of pipework can be used to disguise this feature. The cab spectacles deserve mention… as seperate parts they can be painted and glazed seperately and then fixed in the closed, or open position, thanks to a handy notch etched in the half etched recess. The roof is a two piece affair, with an inner frame and upper roof. Not shown, a blackhead and firebox is provided in the cab. 

For the prototype I’ve added a 3D printed chimney and water tank filler but I’d like to use items from the RT models range for the production batch - to extend to lubricators, springs and safety valve bonnet. Inside the water tank there is a lot of space for DCC and stayalive or a nice big weight. 

No firm idea on price, but I’d expect around £50 for the print, etch and white metal/brass parts.

It is exciting to be progressing with this - Steve and I envisage a one-off batch, with a pre-order option to secure a model and then the over production being sold until they’re gone. If we repeat, it will be a different model. This suits both our small batch manufacturing process and keeps my own interest fresh.

Until next time, more soon…

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