Trade Reviews are published in the Association's publications Narrow Lines and Narrow News. The news reflected below is authored by our Trade Liaison Officer, Adrian Gray.

TRADE NEWS - March 2010

Adrian Gray

The bulk of this report reflects a very pleasant, if not very news filled, day at Shepton Mallet in late February where I was slightly surprised not to find David Janes with KB Scale and sorry to learn that Phil Traxson had not been able to bring the Port Wynnstay stand for family reasons. Ill begin with a report from the Macclesfield Show of a new trader, spotted by my still vigilant predecessor, Howard Clarke.

Black Cat Technology (Stephen Hughes) 5, Anglesea Avenue, Stockport, SK2 6RF Tel: 0161 612 0410 Email: sales@blackcattech.co.uk Web: www.blackcattech.co.uk
I found that the website took me straight to an eBay online shop and agree with a comment made by Howard that it only gives basic information.
At the show Stephen had a superb range of very reasonably priced (cheap) LED's and lighting units for coaches and for street lighting. The latter were only for 4mm scale but apparently Stephen met with Phil Traxson who has offered to do 7mm scale ones, subject to Stephen producing patterns. Howard reports buying; a pack of ten 1.8mm Warm White LED, complete with resistors for 1.50; a pack of ten Bright White LED complete with ten 470ohm resistor for 12-volt and ten 100ohm resistor, also for 2.50.
LEDs were also available in other colours; blue; red; green; pink and a multicoloured LED pack all for 1.50 per packet of ten. There was also minute (about 2mm square) LED. On the stand and illustrated on the website are several coach lighting units at 20 each. Howard showed Stephen an 0n30 Bachmann coach and Stephen said he would look into making a lighting unit to fit these coaches.

Duncan Models (Andy Duncan) 34 Waters Road, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SPI 3NX Tel: 01722 321041 email: duncan.models@tiscali.co.uk www.duncanmodels.co.uk A5 SAE for full list.
Andy as very proudly showing all visitors his most recent figure, a 7mm scale model of the celebrated Fred Dibnah (3.00). There is scope for some interesting scenic cameos here, either with Fred visiting your railway on his own or in his more familiar role as the guest presenter for a TV programme with a camera crew in tow! Andy has extended his range of street lamps, all of which come ready fitted with a 12 volt grain of wheat bulb (Andy asked me to stress the voltage once again as there have been a number of accidents when lights have been connected to the wrong supplies!). The new units are all bracket lamps, the sort of thing we would use on the corners of, or above the doors of, our railway buildings. There are three designs of bracket and all are available with either corner or plate wall mountings and all are 6.30 each. Also new were a Midland style platform lamp (6.50) and a pair of Midland style platform seats (7.00/pair) a cast whitemetal bull (3.50) to join the various cows already in the range and, finally, a pack of wooden posts and whitemetal components to produce three telegraph poles, very reasonably priced at 7.00. My review of these should appear in the next issue of Narrow Lines.
Andy reported that he was working on components for a 12ft waterwheel and for the paddles and operating gear for lock gates.

Model Railway Developments (Hubert Carr) 6, The Square, Carshalton, Surrey SM5 3BN Tel: 0845 644 1101 email: hubertcarr@googlemail.com www.emardee.org.uk
Hubert was not at Shepton but had arranged for some of his kits to be displayed and on sale from another stand. Of particular interest was an etched brass kit for the Darjeeling Himalaya bogie goods van, priced at 32. The assembled model looked the part, though turning it over revealed some rather basic bogies. We can but hope that these are improved as and when the promised separate kit for freight bogies becomes available. The price lists available indicate that a bogie bolster and rectangular tank wagon are planned.

Smallbrook Studios (Michael Rayner), Smallbrook House, Gunville West, Newport, Isle of Wight PO30 5LW 01983 520584 smallbrookstudio@supanet.com P&P on all orders 1.50.
Two resin conversion kits that have been available for a while but that have not been reported here are Mars a saddle tank based on the Hornby Ben loco and Ajax an inspection/tool unit based on the Underground Ernie unit. Both conversion kits cost 24. Coming for Burton will be another conversion based upon the Model Power Plymouth diesel unit.
Michael also showed me a kit for a Sand Hutton Railway box truck that comes complete with chains, wheels, couplings and pins and is well-detailed and good value at 14. These were first produced as a commission and it is not obvious, unless it is pointed out, that they are to 8mm scale. If they suited my purposes I wouldnt be at all worried.

Smoky Bottom Lumber Co. (Richard Denot) BP 76, 19400, Argentat, France
Email: sblkits@aol.com Web: www.smokybottom.com
Please note the revised email address. Richard is aware that there have been some problems with communication.
New cast resin models on display at Shepton included a backwoods oil facility comprising a wooden platform elevated on low brick piers and bearing a wooden hut and an oil tank (35.00), and a chubby critter body kit (25.00) to fit on a 28.7mm WB Tenshodo SPUD. Richard can supply these as well for 34.50.






Convention Modelling Competition Trophies

May I remind the members who won trophies in 2009 that it is their responsibility to arrange for the appropriate engraving, though the Association will reimburse the cost if required, and that they are also responsible for getting the trophies back to the AGM so that they may be awarded in 2010.
It would ease my mind if winners would advise me how they propose to return trophies, preferably by email to tlo@7mmnga.org.uk

Thank you,

Adrian Gray
Competitions Steward