Modelling the North Staffordshire Railway

Wizard Models/51L

Wizard Models manufactures a range of 4mm wagon and van models under the 51L name. Wizard has also acquired the Chowbent 4mm range of carriages made previously by Mainly Trains and others. 51L has made some NSR wagons in 4mm scale in whitemetal or etched brass:

• NSR 20-ton Cravens goods brake van (diagram 20)
• NSR 10-ton goods van (diagram 9)
• NSR silk van (diagram 18)

They also stock a range of parts to help in making other NSR rolling stock, for example, buffers and axleboxes.

Mousa Models

Bill Bedford's Mousa Models has offered a wide range of 4mm scale NSR rolling stock, including etched brass parts for most designs of carriages and non-passenger coaching stock. Bill has also offered many similar etches in 7mm scale. At present, he is focussing on multi-media wagon kits around a resin body with etched brass and 3D printed details. In 4mm scale Bill offers:

• NSR Longbottom 3-plank wagon (available)
• NSR 3-plank drop-side wagon (available)
• NSR Longbottom 2-plank wagon (available)
• NSR medium cattle wagon (in preparation)
• NSR 10-ton brake van (in preparation)

In 7mm scale he offers a similar range of resin NSR wagon kits:

• NSR Longbottom 3-plank wagon (available)
• NSR 3-plank drop-side wagon (available)
• NSR Longbottom 2-plank wagon (available)

"Available" means the kit is either in stock, or can be etched or printed in a short time. The delivery time for etching is 4-5 weeks and for printing is 2-3 weeks, although this can be longer.

5D Stoke

Res-N-Tech Ltd, trading as “5D Stoke”, is a series of 4mm scale rolling stock bodies designed by Study Group member Mark Smith and made available through the commercial 3D print suppliers Shapeways and i.materialise. They are made and shipped by each company directly, so use the search function with NSR to see what is available. Current items include (in material and price options from one or both suppliers):

• NSR 10-ton brake van body, single window (diagram 10)
• NSR 10-ton brake van body, double window (diagram 10)
• NSR breakdown train brake van body
• NSR ballast brake van body
• NSR 20-ton Cravens goods brake van (diagram 20)
• NSR 4-wheel brake-third carriage body (two configurations)
• NSR 4-wheel composite carriage body
• NSR 6-wheel third-class carriage body (diagram 12)
• NSR 4-wheel passenger brake van boy
• NSR 4-wheel hounds vanbody

Northern Bridge 3D Models

Similarly, Andrew Sollis trading as Northern Bridge 3D Models specialises in a huge range of NSR items printed to order through Shapeways, including complete signal boxes, station buildings, signal parts, signs, level crossing gates, mileposts, etc. These are typically offered in 4mm and 7mm scales.

Dragon Model Kits

This company produces a class M or new class M 0-4-4T in 7mm scale with etched 28 thou nickel/silver chassis, 18 thou brass body, lost wax and whitemetal castings and step-by-step instructions. It can be ordered from Taff Vale Models.

Pre-Grouping Railways

Other suppliers of smaller NSR ranges through Shapeways include Marc Dobson, trading as Pre-Grouping Railways, who offers in 4mm and 7mm scales:

• NSR 1-plank open wagon
• NSR dumb-buffered single-bolster wagon (similar also to LNWR, Furness & Cambrian Rlys)

Recreation 21

Simon Dawson is a prolific 3D designer trading as Recreation21 and “rue-d-etropal”, who through Shapeways can supply an impression of the NSR battery electric locomotive in 2mm, 3mm, 3.5mm, 4mm and 7mm scales.

CDC Design

Jim Connor, trading as CDC Design (also known as Street Level Models and the Condensed Loco Co) offers a neat model of a NSR B class 2-4-0T via Shapeways comprising a body and underframe plus coupling rods separately available in 3D printed metal.

Markits

Markits have turned brass NSR Adams/Field chimneys suitable for the Longbottom engines, the K class and the M/H classes. They also provide injectors which are suitable for the NSR, as do Jackson-Evans.

London Road Models

London Road Models manufacturers three locomotive kits for the NSR in 4mm scale:

• NSR class B 2-4-0T
• NSR class B 2-4-0T variant
• NSR class D 0-6-0T

They have one rolling stock item, although a range of NSR carriages has been promised for some time:

• NSR Horsebox (diagram 6)

High Level Kits

High Level Kits produces a 4mm scale etched brass model kit for the NSR Battery Electric locomotive.

Worsley Works Group

The Worsley Works Group currently offers scale etches for 3mm scale modellers:

• NSR 29ft 3in 6-wheel full brake carriage
• NSR Railmotor carriage body
• NSR 49ft 2in bogie saloon carriage

A slightly larger range is offered in 4mm scale:

• NSR 29ft 3in 6-wheel full-brake carriage
• NSR 35ft 6in 6-wheel composite carriage
• NSR Railmotor carriage body
• NSR 49ft 2in bogie saloon carriage

There is more again in 7mm scale:

• NSR 29ft 3in 6-wheel full-brake carriage
• NSR 35ft 6in 6-wheel composite carriage
• NSR Railmotor carriage body
• NSR 49ft 2in bogie saloon carriage
• NSR 49ft 2in bogie third carriage (arc roof variant)
• NSR 49ft 2in bogie brake third carriage (elliptical roof variant)
• NSR 49ft 2in bogie lavatory composite carriage (elliptical roof variant)

Worsley Works also produces Leek & Manifold Valley Light Railway carriage etches in 2mm, 4mm and 7mm scales.

Fourdees

Leek & Manifold Valley Light Railway locomotives are produced in OO9 gauge by Fourdees:

• “E.R. Calthrop” in lined ochre
• “J.B. Earle” in lined crimson
• “J.B. Earle” in black

Roundhouse Engineering

If you fancy something a little larger, you can get “E.R. Calthrop” and “J.B. Earle” in 32mm or 45mm gauge from Roundhouse Engineering:

Just Like the Real Thing

Pete Waterman’s Just Like the Real Thing products are available through MM1 Models including one fine resin and whitemetal kit of the final design of NSR 10-ton 3-plank open wagon in 7mm scale.

Gladiator Models

Gladiator Models produce a 7mm scale resin, etched brass and whitemetal complete kit of the NSR later design of 6-wheeled milk van. The company also offered the earlier 6-wheel and 4-wheel designs but these are now out of stock.

Oxford Rail

Oxford Rail has announced a ready-to-run crane that will, in one version, offer the NSR design of Cowan Sheldon crane.

D&S Models

A 4mm scale kit of an NSR Cowan Sheldon crane used to be available from D&S Models, who have now ceased trading. Examples can often be found on the second-hand market.

Endon Valley Custom Decals

Endon Valley Custom Decals produce custom transfers in all scales and have produced them for the NSR in the past. Contact them via their website to see what they can do. They also have a Facebook page that has pictures of the range of custom transfers that they have produced in the past.

Last updated 20/02/21.