Always been a huge fan of Ian Kirk kits. It's amazing what you can do with them if you're prepared to add a little detailing. I did a Dia 62 conversion a couple of years back and I'm proud to say it's the pride of my fleet. (There's a video of it on my channel). After some lengthy absence from the market, they are slowly being reintroduced by Phoenix under the ExKirk banner. Thats' going to put a huge dent in wallet at some point! Great video BTW.
Thanks for your comments. Yes, I've been keeping an eye on the Phoenix website too. Mind you, I've just bought a complete rake of Kirk Silver Jubilee coaches and some quad-art sets, all ready made to a good standard, and they just need a bit of modification to run on my train set curves. That was a hell of a dent in my wallet, so I may have to ease off any new purchases in the near future!
Hi Richard, I think you’ve misidentified a couple of your Kirk End Vestibule (EV) coaches. 4:40 onwards, the first coach is a corridor 3rd, not a 1st - EV Firsts had only six compartments, thirds seven. The next coach is a Composite, not a Third - although it has seven compartments, the three at the right hand end (Firsts) are wider than the other four (Thirds). The “First” at 15:04 is also a Third. Michael Harris in his book “LNER Carriages” says the reason for 52ft 6in stock being built for the Great Eastern section was the short platforms at certain stations, particularly at London Liverpool Street. As many trains in those days included through coaches for various destinations that were detached en route, trains of standard 61ft 6in stock would have been too long to be accommodated. This was less of a problem in later years when through coaches were increasingly replaced by connecting trains at junction stations, and the short Gresley coaches were used more widely around the network, often indiscriminately with the longer vehicles. I’ve always liked the Kirk kits, despite some problems like the roofs being slightly too wide and not always fitting up properly, and I’m really pleased that Phoenix are reintroducing them. Some I’ve fitted with brass sides to produce more unusual types.
Hi, Thanks for that information. Yes, the composite is very obviously a composite - as it has the different width of compartments. I hadn't realised about my firsts actually being thirds. I cannot remember where I read it, but I seem to recall that the thirds originally had 8 compartments, but then the LNER reduced it to 7 to give more legroom. I hadn't realised that the firsts only had 6 compartments. Thanks for that feedback.
Hi richard Hope you are well Thank you for sharing your model with us I got to say I found it very interesting and learnt a lot on LNER coaches. I try to run the best coaches with the locos I have. Was that a hornby thompson loco in background a2/2 or a2/3? Lovely video Keep safe arp
HI Adi, Thanks for your kind comments. Well spotted on the Thompson A2 - it's Sun Castle, which I think is an A2/3. Mine is a great runner. Best wishes, Richard
The Hornby teaks have definitely been hard to come by over the last couple of years. I am hoping the re release them next year. They make too many big LNER locos not to include these in their range
I agree totally - the last few years have seen the A2s, upgraded A1 and A3 with metal running plate, W1, and a selection of A4s like in "The Great Gathering" set. And there's the P2, B1 and B17. I suspect another batch of teaks would sell very quickly, particularly the all third coach.
Always been a huge fan of Ian Kirk kits. It's amazing what you can do with them if you're prepared to add a little detailing. I did a Dia 62 conversion a couple of years back and I'm proud to say it's the pride of my fleet. (There's a video of it on my channel). After some lengthy absence from the market, they are slowly being reintroduced by Phoenix under the ExKirk banner. Thats' going to put a huge dent in wallet at some point! Great video BTW.
Thanks for your comments. Yes, I've been keeping an eye on the Phoenix website too. Mind you, I've just bought a complete rake of Kirk Silver Jubilee coaches and some quad-art sets, all ready made to a good standard, and they just need a bit of modification to run on my train set curves. That was a hell of a dent in my wallet, so I may have to ease off any new purchases in the near future!
Hi Richard, I think you’ve misidentified a couple of your Kirk End Vestibule (EV) coaches. 4:40 onwards, the first coach is a corridor 3rd, not a 1st - EV Firsts had only six compartments, thirds seven. The next coach is a Composite, not a Third - although it has seven compartments, the three at the right hand end (Firsts) are wider than the other four (Thirds). The “First” at 15:04 is also a Third.
Michael Harris in his book “LNER Carriages” says the reason for 52ft 6in stock being built for the Great Eastern section was the short platforms at certain stations, particularly at London Liverpool Street. As many trains in those days included through coaches for various destinations that were detached en route, trains of standard 61ft 6in stock would have been too long to be accommodated. This was less of a problem in later years when through coaches were increasingly replaced by connecting trains at junction stations, and the short Gresley coaches were used more widely around the network, often indiscriminately with the longer vehicles.
I’ve always liked the Kirk kits, despite some problems like the roofs being slightly too wide and not always fitting up properly, and I’m really pleased that Phoenix are reintroducing them. Some I’ve fitted with brass sides to produce more unusual types.
Hi, Thanks for that information. Yes, the composite is very obviously a composite - as it has the different width of compartments. I hadn't realised about my firsts actually being thirds. I cannot remember where I read it, but I seem to recall that the thirds originally had 8 compartments, but then the LNER reduced it to 7 to give more legroom. I hadn't realised that the firsts only had 6 compartments. Thanks for that feedback.
Very interesting video, with lots of background information on these beautiful models 👌👍🤩🙋♂️
Thanks - glad you found it useful.
Hi richard
Hope you are well
Thank you for sharing your model with us
I got to say I found it very interesting and learnt a lot on LNER coaches.
I try to run the best coaches with the locos I have.
Was that a hornby thompson loco in background a2/2 or a2/3?
Lovely video
Keep safe arp
HI Adi,
Thanks for your kind comments. Well spotted on the Thompson A2 - it's Sun Castle, which I think is an A2/3. Mine is a great runner. Best wishes, Richard
The Hornby teaks have definitely been hard to come by over the last couple of years. I am hoping the re release them next year. They make too many big LNER locos not to include these in their range
I agree totally - the last few years have seen the A2s, upgraded A1 and A3 with metal running plate, W1, and a selection of A4s like in "The Great Gathering" set. And there's the P2, B1 and B17. I suspect another batch of teaks would sell very quickly, particularly the all third coach.
@@richardhiggins6471 and probably several more versions of the Flying Scotsman next year to mark the centenary!