0 Gauge Isle of Man IMR & Manx Electric Railway Loco and Wagon Card Kits O scale

PLEASE READ BEFORE ORDERING

Our card kits have gained a high reputation, and many repeat orders, which is a testimonial to our satisfied customers, but we find that a few purchasers have not bothered to read the write up.

a) The kits are printed on card, and are not READY-TO-RUN plastic or metal models.

b) Because the subjects we cover often have very limited sales, pre-cut card is NOT possible without increasing the price to prohibitive levels. This means YOU have to cut out the parts, including any windows, doors etc. If you are looking for a “SHAKE THE BOX AND IT FALLS TOGETHER” KIT, then our kits are DEFINITELY NOT for you. If you are prepared to do quite a lot of work, then you will end up with a model that has far more detail than the majority of the throw it together kits.

c) We use quite thin 160gsm card for our kits, and there are several reasons for this. Partly this is to keep costs down, but there are more significant reasons. If you look at most kits, the windows are recessed far more than they should be due to the thickness of the material, and beading or other overlays are also much too prominent, so are either omitted by kit designers or are grossly over-scale. With the thin card we use, you can get it RIGHT, but it is more work for us to design and for you to build.

d) Anyone knows that you can’t bend card in two planes, so domed roof ends are “out” on a kit. – WRONG – with the thin card WE use, it will deform to permit domed panels. By using a multi-layering technique we can cover items that are quite impracticable in heavier card. We tried various thicknesses until we found what will work. Another benefit is that two or three layers of thin card, when glued together are MUCH STRONGER than one thicker piece of card and are less likely to sag or deform.

e) With thin card, we can add a lot more detail. For example our Ramsey water tank kit depicts a wooden tank that is very weathered with rotten wood. The colour artwork on all four faces is an exact match for the original, and with multi-layering you get 3D decayed wood in full colour. How many other kits do you know that offer that ????

TO SUMMARISE – IF YOU EXPECT A KIT YOU CAN THROW TOGETHER IN FIVE MINUTES, THEN YOU WILL NOT LIKE OUR KITS. If, on the other hand, you are prepared to take some time, you can build a delightful model, and have a look at the photos of the kits in our range. The display model is built up from one of our kits, but you need to take time and put in some effort.

Best wishes

Robert & Elena

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O gauge Manx Electric Rly Steeplecab Loco 23 & two 4w Open Wagons CARD KIT

THIS IS A CARD KIT, WHICH YOU NEED TO BUILD

An “Elro” O Gauge 1:43 scale Card Construction Kit by Elena & Robert Hendry to build Manx Electric Railway Steeplecab Electric Freight Loco No 23 of 1900 in original form with sloping bonnets, plus two 4w open mineral wagons. The kit builds up as a static card model, but can be fitted with working bogies for use on a model tramway. To complete the kit, you will need wheels, plus scissors/craft knife, a steel ruler, glue, scrap card, wire, split pins, glazing material, and felt tip pens or paint to touch in exposed edges of the card.

One of our earliest kits was for MER Loco No 23, which shows the engine in its post 1925 form on a long chassis with wagon bodies at each end. When built in 1900 it was on a much shorter chassis with US style sloping bonnets, and ran in this guise until a major accident in 1914. We have had regular requests for a model of the engine it its original guise, so here it is ! We think it is a delightful machine, and most unusual, and it means that we have No 23 in both versions in our range and also on our proving layout !

[ For information - Although it takes us away from “business”, many of our customers know that “Elro” stands for Elena and Robert Hendry. The kits for Loco No 23 have been designed by Robert, and the real No 23 was named in memory of Dr R Preston Hendry to commemorate his contribution to saving the railways of the Isle of Man, so we have the unusual situation of a kit designed by the son of the person who the later version of No 23 is named after. Even more surprisingly, on the day the proving model was completed, our eldest daughter Anastasia was born, some five weeks ahead of schedule, so the long chassis model of the engine named in memory of Dr Hendry appeared on the same day as his first granddaughter appeared ! We suspect that has to be unique ! The model we are offering here, viz the steeple cab version appeared the same year as Dr Hendry’s second granddaughter, but we could not organise it for the same day ! ]

The biggest problem in designing this kit are the stanchions at the ends. Card fold-up stanchions are included in the kit, BUT it looks a lot better if you assemble stanchions from split pins and wire or plastic rod (NOT SUPPLIED). This is how the proving model was completed, and takes a bit of time, but is well worth the effort. You can use the card artwork for the railings as a template to make wire or plastic stanchions, but details appear in the instruction leaflet. .

The engine was used on stone traffic from Dhoon quarry, which was conveyed in 6-ton open wagons. As a bonus item in this kit, we include the necessary artwork for you to build Open Stone Wagons No’s 9 and 10. You will needs wheels, axleguards and couplings. The normal load was not more than two 6T opens, so you can build a complete train for very little cost. If you need more wagons, we produce a kit for Open wagons 7 and 8 and a goods van, and also various other MER freight stock.

In this age of plastic and resin, the use of card in a kit may seem “old-fashioned”, but card is a very versatile and convenient modelling medium, and where small production runs are called for, is ideal, as it offers versatility at low cost. To do a kit like this in plastic or resin would put up the cost 10 or 20 fold. The kit consists of several sheets of pre-printed fully coloured card, along with detailed instructions and a photo of a completed model for you to refer to during construction. It includes side posts, ends, floors, roof and interior detailing, including the controllers, bulkheads, seats, etc. Unlike most of our kits, we DO NOT RECOMMEND it for the younger or less experienced modeller, but if you build some of our more conventional tram kits, then it will be a lot of fun. The level of detail is up to you. For example you can cut out the bulkhead windows and glaze them or leave them as grey tinted card. As different modellers have different ideas as to the thickness of glazing they prefer, glazing is not included, but the kit is built to allow for approx 1mm clear plastic glazing sheet, but thinner or thicker material can be utilised if very simple modifications are made, and this is explained in the instructions. The card is quite thin, but this means that it bends smoothly but flooring, roofs and other structural areas should be reinforced with additional card that is readily available from stationers, or you can use a cornflake or similar packet if you are into recycling ! In assembling the kit, most parts are assembled from several layers, and where necessary reinforced using scrap card. Apart from bending much more smoothly that a thick sheet of card, the thinner card we use means that unlike most die-cast or plastic models where the window frames are much too thick, the windows are not inset too far, enhancing realism greatly. The kit includes fold-up card bogies, but these can be replaced by commercially available mechanisms, so you can run your completed model on a tramway, as we do with ours.

Unlike expensive etched brass kits that many modellers find too daunting, and are not really suitable to the younger modeller, this card kit is readily affordable and is a good start to modelling, and provides a way to recreate an exceptionally attractive tramway of yesteryear. The photo of the finished model, which has been fitted with working power trucks, wire handrails and truss rods instead of the printed card items, and shows what you can be achieved with the kit. Whilst some experience of card construction kits is a help, the beginner can try his hand to gain that invaluable quality, experience.

Given the reference to CARD and KIT in the item description and in the write up, it may seem un-necessary to say that this is NOT a ready-to-run die-cast metal model, but one e-bayer bought one of our kits and then complained that the description was “misleading”, for although it included the words CARD nine times and KIT, he thought it was a complete R-T-R metal model !!! He complained about “misleading” advertising, and returned the kit. We refunded his payment in full, even though the mistake was entirely his, so he very kindly trashed us with bad feedback. Happily most e-bayers are really nice and we have quite a few customers who have bought each of our MER or Glasgow kits as it has been released, and the kind comments really do matter, but sadly one incident like that does stick in your memory.

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THIS IS A CARD KIT THAT YOU HAVE TO ASSEMBLE -

0 Gauge Manx Electric Railway LOCO No 23 Dr R PRESTON HENDRY, Card Model Kit

An “Elro” O Gauge 1:43 scale Manx Electric Railway Bogie Electric Locomotive No 23 CARD Model Kit by Elena & Robert Hendry. The kit is supplied as a static card model, but can be motorised, using commercial mechanisms. To complete the kit, you will need scissors/craft knife, a steel ruler, glue, scrap card, wire, handrail knobs, glazing material, and felt tip pens or paint to touch in exposed edges of the card.

The Manx Electric Railway is a unique example of an American style Interurban electric railway in the British Isles, with power cars, passenger trailers, and open and closed freight stock. In its heyday, it operated an electric locomotive, bogie stone wagons to serve its own quarries, and even bogie parcels and cattle cars. It ran road motor services, and operated its own amusement parks to attract passengers to the line. It offers far more potential to the modeller than the usual railway or tramway, combining the variety of a railway with the sharp curves and compactness of a tramway. It is an IDEAL prototype, but is seldom modelled, in part due to the lack of trade support in the form of rolling stock. This card construction kit for MER bogie electric locomotive No 23, is another important step in redressing that imbalance, as it offers modellers the chance to start covering the freight side of this amazing railway.

The original locomotive was built in 1900 as a steeple cab locomotive with short sloping bonnets flanking a centre cab on a short chassis, but was wrecked in an accident in 1914. It was rebuilt in 1925 using the original cab on a longer chassis with wagon bodies at each end so that it could not only haul loads of stone, but convey stone traffic itself. This ingenious idea meant that when hauling loaded stone wagons it had maximum adhesion, and when returning with lighter empty wagons, the loco adhesion was reduced. It operated in regular service until c1944 when it was put in store. It was rescued by the Isle of Man Railway Society in 1978, and ran in public service in 19983/84 and in 1993. In 1992, No 23 was named “Dr R Preston Hendry” at a ceremony performed by the President of Tynwald in memory of Dr Hendry’s work in preservation over more than quarter of a century.

The kit depicts the engine as running between 1925 and 1984, but also includes nameplates and mounting boards for the 1992 naming. We wanted some MER stock for our model tramway, and with its family associations felt that No 23 had to be a special choice. There was no kit or ready-to-run model available, and it was never safe to say in Dr Hendry’s presence, “Someone should do something about it”, as he would ask “what are you going to do about it then”, so we decided we had better get on with it.

In this age of plastic and resin, the use of card in a kit may seem “old-fashioned”, but card is a very versatile and convenient modelling medium, and where small production runs are called for, is ideal, as it offers versatility at low cost. To do a kit like this in plastic or resin would put up the cost 10 or 20 fold. The kit consists of several sheets of pre-printed fully coloured A4 card, along with detailed instructions and a photo of a completed model for you to refer to during construction. It includes cab and wagon body sides, ends, floors, and interior detailing, including controllers, equipment boxes, etc. It can be built up as a simple non glazed “box” by a younger or less experienced modeller, or the windows can be cut out, and a glazed model with interior detailing is possible. The level of detail is up to you. As different modellers have different ideas as to the thickness of glazing they prefer, glazing is not included, but the kit is built to allow for approx 1mm clear plastic glazing sheet, but thinner or thicker material can be utilised if very simple modifications are made, and this is explained in the instructions. The card is quite thin, but this means that it bends smoothly but flooring, roofs and other structural areas should be reinforced with additional card that is readily available from stationers, or you can use a cornflake or similar packet if you are into recycling ! In assembling the wagon bodies, a three layer sandwich is assembled adding strength, whilst separate add on strapping and hinges are included, although the beginner can omit these if he prefers as they areprinted on the sides as well. To assemble the cab sides, we make up a “sandwich” comprising the pre-printed side, a sheet of 1mm glazing and then the pre-printed interior. Apart from bending much more smoothly than a thick sheet of card, the thinner card we use means that unlike most die-cast or plastic models where the window frames are much too thick, the windows are not inset too far, enhancing realism greatly. The kit includes fold-up card bogies, but these can be replaced by commercially available mechanisms, so you can run your completed model on a tramway, as we do with ours.

It must be unusual for someone to produce a kit for an engine that is named after his late father, so it is a kit that means a great deal to me personally. I always make a proving model of our kits, to see that they do fit together, and the proving model for No 23 was finished at about 2.30am on 17 October 2007. Whilst I was working on the kit, my wife Elena was working on something as well. Our first daughter and DR HENDRY's first granddaughter arrived five weeks early at about 2.30 PM the same day, which is an even more amazing coincidence. The model of the loco which is named after my father and his first granddaughter therefore share the same birthday!

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THIS IS A CARD KIT, WHICH YOU NEED TO BUILD

MER Weedkiller & Flat Car 52; O gauge CARD KIT

An “Elro” O Gauge 1:43 scale Card Construction Kit by Elena & Robert Hendry to build two different Manx Electric Railway permanent way wagons, comprising the 1958 weedkiller which was mounted on a sixty year old wagon chassis, and the celebrated flatcar No 52, which used the chassis (and one metal dash) from an 1893 passenger trailerThe kit builds up as a static card model, but can be adapted for operational use with commercial chassis, or bogies whilst our cosmetic bogie etc sideframes can be used as overlays on a working bogie. We have over a dozen vehicles in service successfully using these side frames. To complete the kit, you will need commercial trucks or wheel sets if you require a working model, plus scissors/craft knife, a steel ruler, glue, scrap card, wire, glazing material, and felt tip pens or paint to touch in exposed edges of the card.

The Manx Electric Railway was a US style interurban electric Railway operating in the British Isles and operated power cars, trailers, closed and open freight stock and even a motor cattle wagon plus electric freight locomotives. Prior to the start of our series of MER kits, trade support for modelling the MER was limited to a single item of stock in OO. In less than a year from its introduction in September 2007, out range had risen to cover no fewer than 15 different MER vehicles by August 2008, all of which are available in O and OO, the two most popular modelling scales. One item that has repeatedly been requested is trailer No 52, which was one of the original six trailers of 1893. It retained its metal dashes and open ends, and was converted each winter into a flat car for pw use, becoming a dedicated engineering vehicle from 1947. The kit depicts No 52 in its flat car condition, and includes the original shallow frame unpowered bogie trucks used on No 52 from 1893. Because of the heavy loads that were now being carried, , No 52 was mounted on demotored 1983 powe trucks between 1959 and 1963, the difference being the deeper plate frames on the former power trucks.Both options are covered in the kit. The other vehicle in this kit is the 1958 weedkiller tank, which was built on the chassis of an old 4w open wagon from ther 6-10 series. Very little has appeared on this vehicle in print, and apart from the kit components, there are side and plan views and four photos showing the wagon. This is to help the modeller get the pipework correct. AS CARD IS NOT A SUITABLE MATERIAL FOR PIPEWORK, THE MODELLER WILL NEED TO SUPPLY HIS OWN METAL OR PLASTIC PIPEWORK, BUT THE DRAWINGS AND PHOTOS MAKE THIS JOB STRTAIGHTFORWARD. With all pipework installed, the model is fascinating.

Given the reference to CARD and KIT in the item description and in the write up, it may seem un-necessary to say that this is NOT a ready-to-run die-cast metal model, but one ebayer bought one of our kits and then complained that the description was “misleading”, for although it included the words CARD nine times and KIT, he thought it was a complete R-T-R metal model. He complained about “misleading” advertising, and returned the kit. We refunded his payment in full, even though the mistake was entirely his, and he trashed us with bad feedback.

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THIS IS A CARD KIT, WHICH YOU NEED TO BUILD

0 Gauge Manx Electric Dreadnought Wagon Card Kit

An “Elro” 0 Gauge CARD Model Kit by Elena & Robert Hendry which builds up into a PAIR of Manx Electric Railway “Dreadnought” Bogie Stone wagons, No’s 24 and 25. To complete the kit, you will need scissors/craft knife, a steel ruler, glue, scrap card, wire, handrail knobs, glazing material, and felt tip pens or paint to touch in exposed edges of the card.

The Manx Electric Railway is a unique example of an American style Interurban electric railway in the British Isles, with power cars, passenger trailers, and open and closed freight stock. In its heyday, it operated an electric locomotive, bogie stone wagons to serve its own quarries, and even bogie parcels and cattle cars. It ran road motor services, and operated its own amusement parks to attract passengers to the line. It offers far more potential to the modeller than the usual railway or tramway, combining the variety of a railway with the sharp curves and compactness of a tramway. It is an IDEAL prototype, but is seldom modelled, in part due to the lack of trade support in the form of rolling stock. This card construction kit is a further step in redressing that imbalance, as it offers modellers the chance to cover the freight side of this amazing railway.

In 1903, the MER replaced some of the 1893-94 power trucks on its original power cars with new state of the art power bogies. As freight traffic was rapidly growing, the MER used many of the old bogies to built freight stock. The first to be built were a pair of sheep wagons in 1904. Twenty years later, with sheep traffic declining, they were converted to bogie stone wagons, known as “dreadnoughts” to the staff. The loads handled by the dreadnoughts from the MER quarries became the stuff of legend, and although none of them survive in original condition today, they remain an inseparable part of the MER story. We wanted some dreadnoughts for our layout, hence this model. Robert, one half of the Elro team, recalled the last dreadnought when he was little, but when we started work on this kit, which is for the earlier design, we were astonished. The MER used the 1893-94 power trucks with their bogie mountings, then placed massive wooden baulks on top of them, and then put no less than four lengths of rail on top of that, and then a floor. They were incredibly high off the ground, as is recaptured in the photo, and unbelievably tough. The kit gives you a chance to recreate a pair of these fantastic wagons in model form

Unlike expensive etched brass kits that many modellers find too daunting, and are not really suitable to the younger modeller, this card kit is readily affordable and is a good start to modelling. This kit, for two wagons is a straightforward model to build, and if the beginner makes amess of the first wagon, the whole kit is not wasted as there are parts for the second model, so it is a good choice for the modeller.

Apart from this kit for two dreadnought stone wagons, we also produce other MER kits, including MER No 19 in early post-war MERCo utility red and varnished teak livery, No 22 in the early 1950s MER Board green and white livery, MER loco No 23, bogie express parcels car No 26, and MER freight stock, including the legendary “dreadnought” bogie stone wagons and 4w opens and vans. For the first time in the century plus history of the MER, modellers can now obtain a range of kits on this delightful line, with further releases planned in the near future.

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THIS IS A CARD KIT THAT YOU HAVE TO ASSEMBLE -

0 Gauge MER and Narrow Gauge wagons Card Model Kit

An “Elro” O Gauge 1:43 scale card model kit, which will built up to produce THREE Manx Electric Railway narrow gauge wagons. The kit is supplied as a static card model, but is designed so that it can receive a suitable underframe and wheels so that it can operate on an O gauge narrow gauge layout. To complete the kit, you will need scissors/craft knife, a steel ruler, glue, scrap card, wire, and felt tip pens or paint to touch in exposed edges of the card.

The MER is a unique example of an American style Interurban electric railway in the British Isles, with power cars, passenger trailers, and open and closed freight stock. In its heyday, it operated an electric locomotive, bogie stone wagons to serve its own quarries, and even bogie parcels and cattle cars. It offers far more potential to the modeller than the usual railway or tramway, combining the variety of a railway with the sharp curves and compactness of a tramway. It is an IDEAL prototype, but is seldom modelled, in part due to the lack of trade support in the form of rolling stock. We wanted some MER stock for our model tramway, but with no readily available UK kit in 7mm, produced our own artwork, which we are happy to share with you. This card construction kit for MER four wheel “platform” goods van No 3 of 1894/95 and 6 ton dropside open wagons No’s 7 and 8 is a step in redressing that balance, but the wagons are typical of 19^th century narrow gauge freight stock for steam railways, so are ideal for the Narrow Gauge modeller.

Unlike expensive etched brass kits that many modellers find too daunting, and are not really suitable to the younger modeller, this card kit is readily affordable and is a good start to modelling. The wagons are essentially a “box” shape, making this an ideal kit for the beginner. As an added bonus, if the beginner should make a mess of the first wagon, there are two more in the kit, so you have not wasted the whole kit ! Other MER kits available include “Winter cars” 19 and 22, MER Bogie electric loco No 23, freight cars 12 and 26 and dreadnough wagons 24/25, which will permit the operation of narrow gauge electric freight trains.

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0 Gauge Isle of Man Railway Wagon Card Kit available K7 M40 M41

An “Elro” O Gauge 1:43 scale CARD Model Kit by Elena & Robert Hendry to build wagons that formerly operated on the steam worked Isle of Man Railway. The kit builds up into a multi-layered detailed models of different wagons that were originally built for the Manx Northern Railway and latewr taken over by the Isle of Man Railway.

These wagon kits are supplied as static card models, but will accept proprietary wagon chassis, to run on a narrow gauge layout. To complete the kit you will need scissors/craft knife, a steel ruler, glue, scrap card, glazing material, and felt tip pens or paint to touch in exposed edges of the card. Some scrap matchsticks, wire, small chain and split pins will add to the quality of the finished model.

The Isle of Man Railway in its heyday was one of the busiest narrow gauge lines in the British Isles running up to 100 trains a day with a fleet of 16 locomotives, 87 carriages and over 170 wagons. Although some proprietary models of passenger stock are available, freight stock is poorly covered.

KIT K7, M40, M41

One card construction kit builds three different IOMR, ex Manx Northern Railway, dropside open of “M” wagons, M40 and M41, and Unroofed Cattle wagon K7. Although accurate models of specific IOMR prototypes, the kit can also be used to represent other ex MNR wagons or general narrow gauge stock.

IOMR, ex MNR Dropside Opens No’s M40 and M41.

15 MNR dropside open wagons were taken over by the IMR in 1905, and numbered Mr28-42. Built between 1884 and 1898, they were generally to a similar design, but differed from the IMR “M” wagons in several respects, including the side projecting beyond the ends by some inches. This kit makes up into the 1898 wagons, M40-42, but with minor alterations to hinges and coupling plates, would suit earlier wagons as well. IF THERE IS SUFFICIENT DEMAND, we may issue a model of the earlier M28 series later on. The small R following the M class coding indicated ex MNR “Ramsey” stock. The three wagons of this series were scrapped between 1960 and 1974. M wagons were used for ballast, coal, general mineral and merchandise traffic, sawn timber, calor gas containers, packing crates, and even IOM Highway Board road rollers on occasion.

Sufficient parts are supplied to build two open wagons. Experienced modellers may wish to score all the planking before assembling the wagon, and add the separate strapping and hinges that are included in the kit, but the beginner can produce an attractive and simple model without this work. To provide strength and provide a fully detailed interior and exterior to the side, it is produced as a three layer sandwich. A card solebar assembly fits between the headstocks. For a static model, a card axlebox and axleguard assembly is included. If building a working model, you may discard these parts, or use them as a decorative overlay. No couplings are provided, as NG modellers have differing ideas as to what is preferable. The kit is designed so that you can use a tensionlock coupler below the chassis, or you can modify the headstock to accept a coupling at the correct height. For the more advance modeller, it is possible to detail the kit with the parts supplied, which include the end stanchions, strapping, hinges etc

IOMR, ex MNR, Unroofed Cattle Wagon K7

Unlike England, where roofs were compulsory on cattle wagons from 1912, unroofed cattle wagons survived in the Isle of Man and Ireland into the 1950s. The Manx Northern Railway acquired 3 cattle wagons in 1879. Owing to heavy use, all three were rebuilt in 1897, and again between 1910 and 1916. This kit is for MNR No 18, which became IMR K7 in 1906, in its post 1910 condition. It survived unroofed until withdrawn in 1962 and derelict for some years thereafter. As with most cattle wagons, the framework was external with the planking on the inside, and this is recaptured by creating a five layer sandwich. The outermost or first layer is the framework which is cut out and then two further layers are added to provide depth before the planking is added. For a simple quickie model, you can use the side as printed, but for a more accurate result, cut out the narrow dark grey strips between each plank, as narrow gaps were left between the planks for ventilation purposes. A pre-printed Interior, strapping and other details complete a robust structure . Chassis details follow the same principles as with the open M wagons.

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0 Gauge Isle of Man Railway Wagon Card Kit available K8, K9

Kit K8, K9 builds up into the other two MNR cattle wagons, one in roofed form and the other with diagonal planking. Construction is similar to K7. Otherwise the description is as for K7 etc.