News from Mr. Cat

11.5.08        Better and better!  In spite of a slight increase in expenses of the event, I am able this year to hand a cheque for £403.50 to Helen and Douglas House. A very special feature of this year’s Radley  “wind-up” was a greatly increased number of young children attending with their parents – it is very gratifying to think that we are contributing to an assured future for our hobby!  The date for next year’s event will be announced as soon as possible – what a pity the Good Lord only provided 52 weekends in the year….!

 

11.5.08      A new departure for “Mr. Cat”!  I am looking at the possibilty of producing a batch of “ready-to-run” models of the Great Western Steam Rail Motor, built around the reproduction Leeds Model Company wooden coach body kits from John Davies and Bruce Palmer, and powered by a motor bogie fashioned from E.T.S. components. Here is a photograph of an early prototype:-

                       

                 It is proposed that a proportion of the sales proceeds will be passed to the Great Western             Society in support of their present very ambitious project to restore No. 93.

 

20.7.07   Another wonderful success!  I am very pleased to say that this year’s Radley “wind-up” resulted in a cheque for £400 being handed to Helen House and Douglas House, a better result than ever.  A most enjoyable time was had by all, (not least myself!), and I am very glad to announce that next year’s event will take place (God willing) on Saturday 10th May 2008.

24.6.06  I am delighted to report that, following a most enjoyable day on 20th May, I was able to take a cheque for £175 to Helen House and Douglas House.  A report of the event should shortly appear in the journals of Hornby Railway Collectors' Association, Bassett-Lowke Society and Train Collectors' Society.  All other things being equal, next year's event will take place on Saturday 19th May 2007, so make a note in your diary now!

5.5.06  The 2006 Radley "Wind-up" is only a few days away, on Saturday 20th May!  Meccano enthusiasts will be pleased to hear that this year's "Guest of Honour" is David Fellows' magnificent working model of the George Bennie Railplane, which recently made a very successful appearance at the Meccano event at Kew Bridge Steam Museum.  This is a sight not to be missed!!

20.7.05.  As an addition to the Ace Trains L.N.E.R. "Coronation" train, I have been commissioned to undertake the design and development work on a representation of the "Beavertail" observation car which was such an important part of the train from a publicity and aesthetic point of view. So far we are at the stage of a production prototype; here is a picture.

 

9.7.05. In conjunction with the introduction of the Southern Cinema Coach into the ACE/Wright overlay series, I am now producing an overlay set to fit the Hornby No. 1 coach, to represent the Generator Van which operated with this coach.  See Hornby list.

21.5.05.  The Radley "Wind-up" on Saturday 14th May was a great success, and enjoyed by all who came. We were able to send a cheque for £130 to Douglas House.  Huge thanks are due to all those stalwarts who helped in any way; special mention must be made of my son Mark, David Cooper (and his Espace!) and John Ingram, who soldiered on to the bitter end shifting chairs and tables!  The hall has already been booked for next year's event; please make a note in your diary for Saturday 20th May 2006.

22.4.05.  In view of Bruce Palmer and John Davies' launch of repro. Leeds Model Company wooden coach body shells in kit form, I have greatly extended my range of overlays for these bodies, including some very interesting ones (like a Great Western Steam Rail Motor, for example).  See "Leeds List" below.

1.10.04. I am now on Broadband;my new e-mail address is :- brian.mrcat@ntlworld.com Welcome to my new website!

21.2.04. The time has come for me to extend the range of overlays available for use on Hornby No.2 bogie coaches and Hornby No.1 passenger coaches. See Hornby list for details.

12.7.03. The first new Mr.Cat overlay for many months! B.R. horsebox for Hornby No. 1 4-wheel coach- available in B.R. red or Southern Region green.

 

15.12.02.I have referred to my work for Ace Trains. Here are pictures of a couple of the special short-run productions which I prepare by means of paper overlays on standard Ace carriage bodies. They are (1) a G.W.R. full brake based on diagram K.6 of 1892 and (b) the L.N.E.R. (ex N.E.R.) dynamometer car, the prototype of which is still to be seen in the N.R.M. at York. Ace have included this last in a special set comprising A4 "Mallard" and a train of "Coronation" coaches, representing the record-breaking train of July 3rd 1938.