The last two list there are the locomotives we have, SMR400(The Sentinel Y3) and SMR401 (The Y6 Steam shunting Engine)
NEWS 3rd July 2008.
I have today updated the website with the latest information in regard to both the Bachmann Brassworks and Tower Brass Gauge 1 ranges. We have also produced a new Gauge 1 catalogue taking the latest information into account. Regular buyers of the Gauge 1 brass items should receive a copy of this through the post by the weekend.
NEWS 2nd July 2008.
We have finally had a little information from Peco in regard to the new planned O gauge curved point. The outer radius is 10 foot with the inner one matching their existing points. We have had no exact details as to expected release date or cost as of yet but I will keep the website updated. We are recording peoples interest in these for immediate despacth upon launch.
NEWS 20th June 2008.
The Tower Brass 1361 is progressing very nicely and should be available towards the end of August / begining of September. All customers who have expressed an interest should have received the order confirmation form through the post. If you had not gone on the advance order list I have attached the form here.
Click this link to open the order form for the Tower Brass 1361
Painting confirmation form. This can be returned to us via fax / email or post to confirm your order.
NEWS 19th June 2008.
We have received On30 re-stocks from Bachmann today. Just arrived is unlettered Pulpwood cars; sets of the 3 'V' dump cars and skeleton log carriers. We expect to receive next week a limited number of the unlettered flat cars back in stock. We are once again operating the back order system on any of the On30 stock and many people have been taking advantage of this to pre-ordering the unlettered flat cars for immediate despatch. I would not be surprised at this rate if we are sold out when they do finally appear.
NEWS 17th June 2008.
PAINTING SERVICE UPDATE.
Our workshops have all been working flat out to complete and as a result the waiting time for completed orders is now generally down to less than three months, in some cases even less. We are now close to completing all outstanding Mark1 coach orders, the last few should be delivered within six weeks.
Other than very recent orders we have now completed all orders for 4575's and for 8750's in B.R. liveries. We should complete all the G.W.R. 8750 orders by the third week in July.
We can now offer a wide selection of the following items off the shelf:
8750 Panniers in all liveries.
14xx Autotanks in all liveries.
4575 Priaries in all liveries.
Collett coaches in G.W.R. or B.R. carmine and cream.
Razor Edge Railcars in most liveries.
Jinties several liveries.
Class 24 diesels in blue or green
4MT 2-6-4T several liveries.
Diagram A28 and A30n Autocoaches in several liveries.
Heljan Class 47 repainted in a choice of 8 liveries.
NEWS 10th June 2008.
We have received today restocks from Bachmann On30. These include unlettered flat cars and gondolas; unlettered coaches and combines and DRG box cars. Just call us on the usual number and we can arrange for immediate despatch on these long overdue items.
NEWS 9th June 2008.
Halifax show was a great success and it was good to see everyone there. The next major show for us is Telford Gauge O Guild main event in September.
SKYTREX PRICE INCREASE.
We have been informed by Skytrex that they intend to increase their prices by an average of 25% with effect from the 1st of September. The increase is due to rising raw material and labour costs. We currently have good stocks of most of the wagons and the smaller locomotives such as the Sentinels and Class 02. We will continue to supply all available items at the current prices up until August 31st. We will have no choice but to increase our prices accordingly on the 1st of September. We will endeavour to obtain any out of stock prior to the price increase but should point out that Skytrex are normally very slow to produce restocks. Therefore, if we have it in stock our best advice would be to buy it now.
SANCHENG BRASS 'O' GAUGE LOCOMOTIVES.
We will be stocking some of the Sancheng Brass range starting with the Black Fives. We currently have the early version Black Fives with rivetted tenders in stock and expect to have the other two types in stock around the end of August. We will obviously now make our painting service available on any items we supply from this range.
NEWS 5th June 2008.
We have also now received the 4575 with brass chassis and new 8750 with the factory painted black chassis. All advance orders have been completed but if you have not taken advantage of the advance orders system they are now ready for immediate despatch (or can be collected from the show) Just call us on the usual number and we can sort it all out over the phone.
NEWS 29th May 2008.
We have now received images of the test sample of the late version of the 1361. This new model in the Tower Brass range is expected in July of this year. Obviously we are taking advance orders on these this close to the launch. I have also updated the particular page for the 1361 with more images.
NEWS 28th May 2008.
We have now completely sold out of the Tower Brass Mark 1 coaches and also the Tower Brass 14xx early model in plain brass. The early version of the 14xx is still available though but only with the factory painted black chassis. We still have stocks of the late version of the 14xx with either the factory painted black chassis or all brass. Stocks are running low on the plain brass version though.
I have further updated the website with the colour layout images from Heljan for the 'O' gauge limited edition Class 35's and Class 47's. I have also updated the Bachmann Brassworks Gauge 1 Black Five with further details.
NEWS 21st May 2008.
I have been updating several sections of the website still further. There are now more images in the Gauge 1 section for both the Bachmann Brassworks and Aristocraft. In O gauge the Bachmann Brassworks Class 101 factory painted green is now available from stock and I have updated the relevant section with the first publicity images.
We are also expecting next week restocks on both the Bachmann G gauge and On30 ranges including a few buildings that have not been available for some time.
NEWS 16th May 2008.
The new Gauge 1 pages are now fully up and running covering Aristocraft, Bachmann Brass and Tower Brass ranges. I have also updated the Tower Brass and Bachmann Brassworks pages in the O gauge section of the website.
NEWS 14th May 2008.
I have final got the new Gauge 1 sections for the Bachmann Brassworks and Tower Brass Gauge 1 projects up and going after several days hard work. This section is all new and features many of the planned new projects through the year. As always the advance order book is open for any future projects now listed here.
NEWS 13th May 2008.
Over the last few days I have been working on the Tower Models Painting Service pages in the O gauge sections. I have updated this section now and have added sections for both the new 4575 and 8750 with some images of the latest models that the workshops have been completing. We have good stocks of various fully finished pieces now in stock available off the shelf for immediate despatch.
Next I will be working on a whole new section for the Bachmann Brassworks Gauge 1 range and also the Tower Brass range of Gauge 1 that we are working on.
NEWS 7th May 2008.
We have been informed by Bachmann to expect 2 new items next week. In 'O' gauge we expect to receive the new Bachmann Brassworks Class 101 2 car DMU factory painted in green. List price £645.00, our price £515.00. Advance orders now being taken.
In Gauge 1 we also expect the new Bachmann Brassworks Black Five factory pre-painted black with red buffer beams within the month. There will be an option of either the 4000 gallon riveted tender or welded tender. List price £1200.00, our price £950.00. These are in very limited quantities and is advised not to hang about on this one.
NEWS 7th May 2008.
TOWER BRASS.
We are expecting that latest shipment from the factory to arrive towards the end of the month. This shipment consists of:
4575 all Brass.
4575 black chassis.
8750 black chassis.
14xx black chassis.
Anyone with orders outstanding for these items should expect delivery around the end of May.
The factory also discovered a couple of our original 57xx Panniers tucked away in a corner where they had been hiding for the last four years which will appear with the new shipment. These items are brand new in boxes so if anyone is interested in picking up one of these very collectable items then just let us know.
NEWS 1st May 2008.
We are now sold out of the SK in the Tower Brass Mk1 range. This leaves us with 6 FO / RFO's and then we are completely sold out. If you are interested in one of these just call us and we can arrange for despatch. We are also down to the very last 4 Class 122 single car DMU's. Again, first come, first served.
We have finally had restocks from Bachmann for both the On30 Water Tower and Coaling Tower. Both are available for immediate despatch whilst stocks last.
The first of the 8750's have started coming out of the paint workshops. Here is an example of one we have recently finished. I have also updated the Tower Brass section of the website with further images of both 8750's and 4575's.
NEWS 29th April 2008.
Heljan have announced two limited edition Class 47's in O gauge for release around September 2008. These will be limited editions of only 150 of each. They are also producing 3 limited editions of only 125 pieces each of the Class 35 Hymek. Again these should be available in September 2008. I have updated the relevant pages on the website and the advance order book is now open for firm orders on these items.
NEWS 28th April 2008.
We have now sold out of the Tower Brass Mk1 BSK's. This leaves us only with a handful of SK's and FO / RFO's. First come first served on these.
NEWS 24th April 2008.
Bad news from Heljan, the O gauge Class 37 project has been put back and now is not expected the end of May but is expected "in the third quarter". No more specific a release date than that I am sorry to say. As soon as I have more information I will update the website.
NEWS 15th April 2008.
On the On30 front we have now received all the new Woodland scenic figure sets for the year. It was unexpected but a welcome addition to this superb range of ready painted figures suitable for both On30 and O gauge.
NEWS 3rd April 2008.
TOWER BRASS
1361
We are told to expect delivery of these saddle tanks late June / early July. the order book is now open for advance orders on these.
Castle.
Work is progressing on this project. We should have a sample around the middle of the year with production models available by the end of the year. Once again the order book is now open for advance orders on this model.
Gauge 1 Mark 1 Coaches.
This is a new venture for us. We have duplicated our 'O' gauge range of Mark 1 coaches in Gauge 1 and expect to have them available in June. We will produce models of the S.K., S.O., F.K., F.O., and B.S.K. coaches to the same standards as our 'O' gauge range. We are expecting them to have factory painted blass chassis and sandblasted brass bodies. They will include corridor and compartment partitions. The price is expected to be £375.00 each and we are already taking advance orders on these.
L & Y Pug.
Having received considerable assistance from the L & Y group at Howarth we have been able to complete all the research and development work on this new project. We plan to introduce this locomotive in factory painted black in both 'O' gauge and Gauge 1.
Britannia.
The project is progressing well, we will have pictures of the progress as soon as available but do not expect to see the finished models until next year.
BACHMANN BRASSWORKS.
Ivatt 2-6-0.
We are told to expect three version of this locomotive in the next couple of months. these will be green, black and brass body on a black chassis. As is normal with Bachmann, no one can tell us exactly when or how much but we have opened a pre-order book for anyone interested. we cannt guess at the price but it is obviously going to be a little higher than the 4MT.
Bachmann Brassowrks Gauge 1.
Bachmann might not tell you this but we will. Expect to see a 14xx and a 4575 (both developed from our 'O' gauge models.) available late in the summer. We have reasonable stocks of all of the exsisting Gauge 1 range.
NEWS 29th February 2008.
I have updated the relevant web pages with the latest images from Heljan on the new Class 37.
NEWS 2nd February 2008.
AWARD WINNING TOWER MODELS.
Each year Model Rail magazine organises a "Model of the Year" competition. The are various catagories covering "n" gauge to 'O' gauge, the various entrants being voted for by the readers. Last year Tower models was voted into third place in the 'O' gauge manufacturer section.
We are delighted to say this year we have done much better. We were nominated four time in the three separate 'O' gauge catagories. We acheived second place in 'O' gauge manufacturer of the year catagory being pipped at the post by Heljan. We also acheived a second place with our 14xx Autotank and a fifth with our Razor Edge Railcar in the 'O' gauge locomotive of the year catagory. Again we lost out to Heljan with their excellent Class 47. Finally we were entered into the 'O' gauge rolling stock item catagory which we won outright with a massive majority of votes over the competitors.
To acheive a first, two seconds and a fifth when competing against internationally known manufacturers such as Heljan and Bachmann makes us very proud. It is also very good to see that after almost 30 years after opening that our hard work and quality is being recognised by the public.
A REALITY CHECK ON CUSTOMER EXPECTATIONS
We offer a wide range of kits and ready-to-run items from a number of sources. our aim is to offer a quality product at an affordable price. this seems to satisfy 99% of our customers. However, there appears to be a growing number of people in the model railway fraternity who expect perfection for a pitance of a price. Let me make it clear that the perfect model does not exist. It is utterly unreasonable to expect full working inside motion on any of the models we sell or any other complex working details that can barely be seen, especially at the price and no, the cab gauges don't really work! All our items are for standard 'O' gauge finescale. They are made from plastic, resin, white metal, pewter and brass. They are powered by electric motors. Real locomotives are made from iron, steel, brass and copper. they are powered by steam, diesel or elctricity. If anyone wants to duplicate all the features of a real locomotive may I suggest he buys a real one. They are much bigger than ours and cost many times more than the ones we sell. At the end of the day model railways are big boys toys and meant to be fun, let's not forget it.
