Welcome to Tower-Models.com
This site is being constantly updated and any new items and details being added on almost a weekly basis. If you have any questions then please feel free to e-mail us for further details. The website is designed to work with Microsoft Internet Explorer but may work with other web browsers. Also some firewalls have strange effects, so be aware. It may be "belt-and-braces" technology but it works. The site is also just an online catalogue, it is not an online shop. To order just use the good old-fashioned phone!

NAVIGATION

Use the navigation side bar on the left hand side to look up the various scales and the ranges in those scales we stock.

NEWS 3rd February 2012

Tower Brass 'O' gauge Patriot.

I have now had confirmation from the shipping agent that we will receive the batch of Tower Brass un-rebuilt Patriots on Monday. All advance orders for the factory painted green or black models will therefore be despatched to customers on Monday subject to the weather conditions!

Parkside Price Increases.

Peco have also confirmed that their lineside fencing is being changed. Previously they produced LK745 flexible field fencing and LK746 field gates. This is now going to be marketed as a single pack LK743 with 47" of flexible field fences and 4 gates in the single pack at £8.50

NEWS 1st February 2012

Parkside Price Increases.

I have now updated the website with the new prices for Parkside that have come into effect today.

NEWS 31st January 2012

Dapol's entry into 'O' gauge.

I have now updated the website with a new section for the forthcoming range of Dapol products in 'O' gauge. So for we have been informed of 12 fully ready to run wagons which should become available around the end of March. Details can be found on the relevant page in the 'O' gauge section of the website. Later in the year Dapol should also release at least 3 fully finished plastic bodied locomotives. I will update the website with further details and images as soon as they become available.

Helmsman Controllers Price Increase.

Helmsman have informed us of a price increase to their range of superb controllers, typically this has come through too late for the brand new catalogue but the website now features the new prices that are now in effect.

Ready-to-run available off the shelf.

I have just updated the website with the ready to run locomotives that are available off the shelf.

NEWS 24th January 2012

Gauge 1 Bachmann Brassworks 57xx Pannier.

We have just one of these locomotives in stock. We can fully finish the locomotive to the customers choice of livery, running number and shedplate. To complete the locomotive in any GWR green livery would cost £775.00 or in BR plain black would cost £750.00. We can also weather the locomotive in a choice of finishes for an additional £25.00. We only have the one of these so it is first come first served.

Ixion 'O' gauge Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0.

Ixion have just confirmed to us today that their forthcoming Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0ST should become available towards the end of April. There has also been a slight change to the liveries available. The blue version of the locomotive has been postponed and instead they will be producing a black version. If customers who have already advanced ordered the blue version would like to contact us with which alternate livery they would prefer just give us a call. Sadly this last minute change also does not feature in the brand new catalogue! I have updated the Ixion page within the O gauge section of the website with the latest images and details. We are taking advance orders for these now for immediate despatch when they arrive in late April.

NEWS 23rd January 2012

New 'O' gauge catalogue.

We have now received our latest 'O' gauge catalogue from the printers.

All regular mail order customers will be sent a copy in the next few days. Anyone who is not a customer but wishes to obtain a copy of our catalogue should send us an A5 stamped addressed envelope and we will be pleased to provide a catalogue free of charge.

Ready-to-run available off the shelf.

I have just updated the website with the ready to run locomotives that are available off the shelf as a result of the sales at Bristol show.

NEWS 17th January 2012

Parkside Price Increase.

We have now been informed of the Parkside price increase that come into effect in February for both the OO and O gauge ranges. The price increase is approximately 7.5% across the board. Order now to beat the price increases.

NEWS 16th January 2012

NEWS 13th January 2012

Tower Brass 'O' gauge Un-Rebuilt Patriot.

We can now confirm the shipment containing the bulk of our Un-Rebuilt Patriots will arrive here in the first week in February. Customers who have ordered factory painted models will receive them around the end of the first week in February but we will contact everyone to arrange a suitable delivery day. Customers for fully finished Patriots have already been contacted.

NEWS 4th January 2012

Heljan 'O' Gauge Class 52 Western.

We can now confirm that this project has been given the green light and we hope to have all versions available very early in 2013.

Specifications for the standard versions will be as usual, with two powered bogies, working fans and directional lights. The standard versions will be supplied un-numbered and un-named but otherwise totally ready-to-run. Three standard versions will be available:

HJ5280 BR Green livery with small yellow panel.
HJ5281 BR Maroon livery with small yellow panel.
HJ5282 BR Blue livery with full yellow ends.

There will then be two Limited Editions exclusive to Tower Models; of which we will produce only 75 of each type.

HJ5283 D1000 "Western Enterprise" in Desert Sand without yellow panels
HJ5284 D1015 "Western Champion" in Golden Ochre with yellow panels

It is not possible to confirm exact prices as yet but we expect the Westerns to have a similar price to the existing Class 55 Deltic allowing a little for rising costs.

As for the Limited Editions; we intend to supply them with a set of etched brass name and number plates. Given the additional cost of producing such a small batch and including quality plates the cost of the Tower Models Limited Editions will be slightly higher than the standard versions. We intend to keep the price as low as possible and can guarantee it will be no more than £50.00 above the cost of the standard versions but we hope to keep it less than that.

HJ5283 D1000 "Western Enterprise" in Desert Sand without yellow panels.

Our Limited Edition Models will depict this locomotive in its original condition without yellow panels and before the roof was painted black. The reason we have taken this decision is so that if a modeller wishes to depict the locomotive after November 1962 then it is relatively easy to paint on yellow panels and a black roof. It would not be so easy to reverse this proceedure so it seemed an obvious option to us. Our workshops will be able to paint on the yellow panels and black roof for an additional cost if the modeller does not want to undertake the work himself.

HJ5284 D1015 "Western Champion" in Golden Ochre with yellow panels.

This locomotive carried this livery from 21/01/63 until 08/11/65. We will depict the locomotive with the standard rectangular yellow warning panels at both ends. Our research tells us the "T" bar extension to the yellow panel was only carried in service for a few days. We are aware that in preservation this "T" bar has re-appeared and disappeared but this does not merit us issuing a Limited Edition locomotive in such a short lived livery. Any modeller who wants to depict the locomotive with the "T" bar can paint it on himself or our workshops will undertake the work for a small charge.

Our order book is now so just give us a call and reserve your choice of Western now, especially in regard to the Limited Editions when we have never produced so small a quantity. No money will be taken until despatch is made.

NEWS 21st December 2011

Heljan 'O' gauge Class 31.

We can now confirm that this project is going ahead and that delivery is expected around September 2012. Three versions are being produced; the standard blue with yellow ends, green with yellow warning panels and the Tower Models Limited Edition All Green as built. The order book is open so customers can reserve their chosen locomotives

Hornby 'O' gauge buildings.

Earlier this year Hornby produced a beautiful series of fully finished resin buildings which have been very successful. We have now purchased all remaining stocks of these buildings from Hornby and are therefore now exclusive to us. Quantities of the platform sections are running very low but as part of the deal with Hornby we have commissioned another limited run of just 250 packs of the platform straights which should become available April / May 2012. Also as part of us purachsing the remaining stocks of all of the Honrby 'O' gauge buildings we have also introduced a special offer to take advantage of. Further details can be found on the Hornby buildings pages in the 'O' gauge section of the website.

NEWS 14th December 2011

DJH 'OO' gauge Locomotives.

I have just updated ther website with the latest details on the DJH 'OO' kits that are available. Five kits are now no longer available at all and checking the list there are a further five locomotives that DJH have discontinued that we have a few remaining on the shelf. First come first served on these few. Details can be found in the OO section of the website.

NEWS 4th December 2011

Tower Models Limited Edition Class 33's

We have now completely sold out of the Tower Models Limited Edition all green Class 33's brining to an end yet another very successful Tower Models Limited Edition Model. We are also now running very low on the Heljan Class 33 Standard blue with yellow ends with less than ten remaining

It is still hoped that we will receive enough advance orders to produce both a Limited Edition Class 31 all over green and also the Westerns in both Desert Sand and Golden Ochre. The production of these is in your hands though; if we do not receive enough advance orders then the projects will be a no -go. Thank you to those people at Reading who recorded their advance orders for these.

NEWS 1st December 2011

Bachmann Brassworks Gauge 1 Black Fives

We are now rapidly running low on the remaining few Gauge 1 Black Fives originally produced by Bachmann but no longer produced. We have now completely sold out of the Late 2 version and have a few left of the Late 1 and Early types.

NEWS 29th November 2011

NEWS 22nd November 2011

Bachmann On30 restocks

Today we have had restocks of several items of On30 that have not been available for a while including the set of three wood sided dump cars. We have also had restocks of the coaching stock in maroon along with brand new log skidder. The Log skidder has a recommended RRP of £23.99, our price only £18.99

Warley National Model Railway Exhibition at the NEC.

Having attended every Warley NEC exhibition it is with reluctance that we have decided not to have a stand at this years show.

Given the fact it takes 2 full days to pack and price up items. it then takes four members of staff three days to attend the show and a further day at least to unpack and straighten up the shop and warehouse. the labour costs are very high. On top of this we have to pay sky high stand rents to Warley Club and provide accommodation and food for the staff. It also takes two vans to transport the stock to and from the show and the costs associated with this.

We have always managed to cover the costs in the past but given the current economic climate we could not see this happening this year. To spend all that time, effort and expenses only to make a loss is the road to financial suicide. As our fast and efficient mail order service is available six days a week we can still supply all of our customers needs without incurring the massive expense.

We wish Warley Club every success with the show but given the high cost of admission, parking charges and fuel it will be interesting to see what the final attendance figure is.

NEWS 6th September 2011

Heljan Last Chances.

Following some spring cleaning at Heljan we have received a few items previously thought to be sold out that were found in stock when they were packing for Telford. Quantities are shown and Heljan tell us they have no more left so this is the last chance.

Heljan 'O' gauge Class 20 clearance.

Heljan introduced this award winning model in 2009. Tower Models bought all the remaining stocks late last year. As we are expecting two major shipments in the next few weeks we have decided to free up space in our warehouse and put some cash back into the bank.

We are therefore offering the remaining stocks of the Class 20 at unrepeatable prices. We have two versions of the Class 20 available:

Often Class 20's were used double headed on trains so we are also offering multiple deals:

Whenever we have a clearance offer, we always get asked if we will offer other items in the range at similar prices; to avoid having to answer these questions can we make the situation quite clear. We have bought all of Heljan's remaining stocks of green and blue Class 37's; blue Class 33's and Limited Edition Class 47's.

We expect to sell out of the first version of the Class 37 within a couple of months with the second version possibly lasting until the end of the year. We have just 14 blue Class 33's in stock and only three of the Limited Edition blue Class 47. Quite clearly with such limited stock we have no need to offer any further reductions on these items.

Please also note that to date, Heljan have never re-issued any sold out 'O' gauge items, prefering to move on and make new items. Therefore, once sold out, it is unlikely to ever be re-issued.

NEWS 26th August 2011

Heljan Class 55 Deltic Launch

The Heljan Class 55 Deltics thankfully turned up bright and early this morning. All advance orders are now ready for despatch. those people who have let us know they want them delivered on Tuesday should therefore receive them as planned. Again customers who given us aletnate delivery dates should work fine now the rush is over. if you have an advance order and have not gotten back to us on messages letf then the sooner the better!

For those customers taking advantage of our fully finishing service for numbering and naming etc we hope to start despatching the first of these around mid September. We are still taking orders for the Deltics for anyone who has not already ordered one and we currently have all three versions available. Just give us a call on 01253 623797 and we can sort out your requirements over the phone.

We have also now started completing the first of the numbering and weathering jobs for customers. Shown here is one of the interesting conversions with white windows surrounds on a late blue Finsbury Park loco that has also been fitted with domino headcodes.

NEWS 16th August 2011

Heljan 'O' gauge Class 55 Deltic images.

We have now received images of the production model of the Heljan Class 55 Deltic. I have updated the specific page with more images. As mentioned on the update for the 9th of August we are expecting the Deltics around the 26th of August. The advance order book is still open on these for immediate despatch as soon as they become available.

NEWS 15th July 2011

Tower Brass Gauge 1 Mk1 coaches.

We are starting to run very low on our very popular Gauge 1 Mk1 coaches. We have now completely sold out of FK First Corridor and SO Second Open. We are also down to single figures of the FO First Open, , SK Second Corridor , BSK Brake Second Corridor, BG Full Brakes and RMB's Restuarant Mini Buffet. Once these have gone there is certainly no chance of repeating them at these low prices if at all.

NEWS 7th June 2011

Last chances.

Listed below, grouped by make and scale, are a range of products which were produced either as a limited batch or have now ceased production. Most of the items listed below are unlikely ever to be produced again. Some of them cannot be re-run as they were limited productions. Some will not be re-made simply because short runs are no longer economically viable. The factory recently had a major spring clean and all the items found in the stock rooms were sent to us. We re-fitted one of our own stock rooms and have recently re-organised our warehouse. The results are listed below and we are now certain we are unlikely to discover any more surprises as they are no more un-explored corners.

The message is simple, if there is something listed here you want, do something about it whilst you still can. For the benefit of the "Ever Hopefuls" who think we will drop the remaining items on a clearance list, we have only two words; "Forget It", we have so few remaining we know we will sell them. We therefore also need to make it clear we are not offering mortgages or accepting wierd part exchanges. If you want one, you need to act now. Photographs and further details of all items listed below can be found in the relevant sections of the website.

'O' Gauge items.

Gauge 1 last chances.

Listed below are a number of items where stock numbers are now currently low. It is highly unlikely any of these items will ever be repeated so this is your last chance as per the comments above for the 'O' Gauge last chances.

It is also worth mentioning that the following Gauge 1 items are also running low and probably will be sold out by the end of the year

Bachmann Late 1 and Early type Black Fives
Tower Brass / San Cheng 48xx 0-4-2T and 14xx 0-4-2T
Tower Brass BR Mark 1 coaches.

Any of the above items can also be finished in our workshops to the customers specifications in any livery with the specified number and condition.

Clearance 'O' Gauge Items Update.

We are no longer stocking a number of products and have decided to use the website to clear off the last remaining items. As will not be re-stocking this this is your last chance at bargain basement prices.

Clearance on Blacksmith coach kit.

SHOGUN MOTORS.

Neat fully assembled motor gearbox with fitted flywheel. Suitable for small to medium sized locomotives pulling light to medium loads. Not suitable for large locomotives or for extended axle outside frame locomotives.

GAUGE 1 CLEARANCE ITEMS.

NEWS 12th March 2011

Bachmann 'G' gauge clearance offers.

We have decided to completely clear our existing stock and review the situation regarding re-stocks. We are therefore offering all remaining items at approximately 33% discount off the RRP.

Details of the stock can be found in the G and Gauge 1 section of the website under under the Bachmann G gauge subsection or via this link Bachmann G gauge clearanceThe offer applies only to items on this list. If an item is not on the list then we do not have it in stock and cannot obtain it at these prices. Stocks are limited , in many cases we are down to the last one.

NEWS 31st January 2011

Glasgow Exhibition.

For the first time in a quarter of a century we will not be attending Glasgow Exhibition. This decision has not been taken lightly. If our maths is correct the price of the stand rent has risen nearly 60% in the last 5 years. Thjere was approximately a further 10% added to this years stand rental.During this period there has also not been any improvement in takings though. Add to this the fact that three members of staff have to be away from Blackpool for four days, so we are faced with hotel accomodation, food and long hours working over a weekend plus the high costs of fuel.

Quite simply we have decided we can no longer afford to attend. We have never lost money on a show but given the tough economic times did not expect to make a profit this year. As running Tower Models is all we do for a living there is no point in undertaking all that effort and cost unless we are certain of a reward. Only charity workers and fools work for nothing. This is a business and to function we must make a profit.

On the same basis, we will no longer be attending Warley exhibition at the NEC later in the year. The stand rent is ridiculous and we have had more than enough of the car park / security staff at the NEC. (Anyone who has ever exhibited at the NEC will know what we mean)

NEWS 8th September 2010

Gauge 'O' Guild Telford Show.

Given the current economic climate Telford show went very well, the stand look very well and was commented upon by several people and we were proud of our display, so much so we thought we would put an image up of the stand. For anyone who is into 'O' gauge and has never attended the show it is the premiere 'O' gauge event of the year and cannot be rivalled for both variety and quality. If there is only one show you can attend in the year, this should be it and if considering coming from overseas this is the show you should aim to attend. The show was extremely well organised had a good atmosphere.

I have now also created the brand new Gauge 1 sections for the website dealing with the new Collett coaches in plain brass and also the painting service for these new coaches which are expected before the end of the year. At the same time I have updated the 'O' gauge section of the website with the first images of the Hawksworth tender that will become available after the collett tendered version. As mentioned yesterday we are now taking advance orders on all new items that we have announced that are due in the next six months including the Heljan Class 33's, 26's and Deltics.

A REALITY CHECK ON CUSTOMER EXPECTATIONS