David Eveleigh

Etch No 1: Great Eastern and Wisbech prototypes

The kits come with full illustrated instructions including hints on assembly techniques and soldering. They are designed for solder assembly, and using glue instead is likely to be very difficult.

Etch No 1 consists of coaching and goods stock from the Great Eastern Railway and the Wisbech and Upwell Tramway. In addition, there are a number of scenic items - gates, bridge sides, etc. The items are either available as a complete sheet or in sub-sections (eg. GER Coaches, Wisbech Coaches, etc). GER coaching stock requires 7mm diameter wheels and bearings. Wisbech tramway coaches require 5.25mm diameter wheels and bearings.

Four wheeled compartment stock Approx 27ft long on 15'3" wheelbase underframes (brake third was shorter) - dating from the 1870s and in service until the 1920s after which the bodies were used as minor station waiting rooms by the LNER or sold for conversion to bungalows, etc. The kit of five coaches contains three 5 compartment third class, one 4 compartment first class and a two compartment brake third.

Wisbech and Upwell (later Kelvedon and Tollesbury) tram coaches. The bogie coach also appeared in the film 'The Titfield Thunderbolt'. The kit consists of one bogie coach and two four wheeled tram coaches + the brake third converted by the Great Eastern to a full brake to work on the Wisbech tramway. The bogie coach includes the bogies with springs and axleboxes + brakes included and make up very quickly. The coach is also bent along its length - up in the middle slightly and sagging at both ends - as the prototypes did from the start - a feature not modelled in kits available in 4mm and 7mm scales. The veranda footsteps fold up neatly from a one piece net for each end and the wrought ironwork has come out well. Also included are three cowcatchers (two kits give enough for three tram locos) and the nameplates for all of the Great Eastern tram engines used on the Wisbech tramway and in the Ipswich docks. These are the only difficult bits to model if you want to scratch build a tram engine. Available as a set of four coaches.

Horsebox with compartment for the groom and a fodder cupboard. There are only two of these per complete sheet of etch (which includes one of each of the sets of coach kits above) so supplies may be limited. They have etch overlays for the hinge strapping and sliding inspection hatches which can be fitted in either the open or closed condition. These do not have chassis included as the fit the Associaton 10ft wheelbase 8 brake shoe wagon chassis. They do, however include some cast signs and a shovel and broom for clearing up after the horse.

Passenger train cattle box. A cattle truck the Great Eastern built for running in passenger trains - the smaller of two designs. This includes etch overlay strapping as well, like the Association banana van kit. Again - it uses the 10ft wagon chassis. This one needs a simple plasticard or metal roof.

Pair of yard gates - modelled on the M&GN examples protecting Weybourne station yard on the North Norfolk Rly. Again these are in three layers with animal bars.

Pair of level crossing gates. These solder together in three layers with the animal bars as part of the middle layer and choice of disc or diamond warning panels. Two types available - standard 5 panel or shorter 4 panel.

Bridge girders. These solder up to provide a small bridge span of 24 ft approx across a small stream or a lane. There is lots of rivet detail. Abutments, wing walls, etc. not provided.

Pair of GER monogram platform seats + a couple of gas or oil lamp tops.