Pete, I would be interested in getting some of these if you are planning to do a run of them.

Paul aka Woodsworks Scale Stripwood Supplies

Well I have just recieved the first etches from the UK. Its my first comission so had no idea what to ask for. Allen has done a great job.
I will put a picture up of the etches and then the made wagons.
even in the etch form they do look like they will make a great set.
Pete

same here, I am interested as well (need something to be pulled by the popsicles) it seems it is easier to find hens teeth than Silver Star pictures on the web...

are these the silver star cars... ?

Yes it is the Silver Star, but for some reason its being pulled backwards. The power car is at the trailing end, but was normally at the loco end of the train.

Russ

You can still see it as the Orient Express on you tube. it has been changed a bit. So far I have about 6 photos, but its still very hard to find them.

I have had Allen make all four cars so you can have the train made up in any form. Most of the pictures show 12 cars.

As the etches are of flat brass the ribs are not really raised.

One other problem is that now I have started to travel a lot now, I have no idea when I will be able to get a new set to me.

do you have a link... ?

could we order direct from Allen and pay you some sort of a royalty fee or remuneration ?

do you have a picture of the etches ? 

I would be interested in a set.

Russ

I have ask Allen if/how other people can order them. I have no interest in a fee, All I did was ask Allen he has done all the work.

I will see what his prices will be for each one and post a price.

If you put the express into you tube it will come up. there are quite a few.

Pete

thank you...

wasn't looking for midnight express but thank you anyway, found a good clip with the theme song...

...silver star, nothing, a similar train in Malaysia but nothing in NZ - I am not youtube compatible it seems

Thats where the Silver star wound up.

you tube.

"Eastern & Oriental Express Passing"

Allen will be putting them on the web site.

pete

power car ? what is the power car for ? don't get the train the power from the engine ? how is it done nowadays with the Overlander or the Chch-Greymouth-Chch TraNZ Alpine as example ?

is there a book available about the Silver Star ?

The power car had a set of separate generators to power the train. Theres no way of safely running power out of a Diesel electric in this country.

In the 60's, steam powered passenger trains on NZR lasted as long as they did due to a lack of steam heating cars.

The modern passemger trains did have their own generator sets in the Fm vans (not sure about today, though I don't think its changed)

this guy has a couple or three colour photos on flickr. In fact some nice 60s /70s/80s  :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/40165750@N06/sets/72157621834609552/

cheers

All present day long distance passenger sets have an Ag van (converted Fm guardsvan) with diesel generators to power the passenger cars. A number of different designs as well.

The NZ Railway and Locomotive Society produced a set of basic plans for the Silver Star expresses.

All cars were 62' long over body, 9'9" wide and 12'4" high above rail.

There was 4 power cars (Fg),12 x roomette cars (Ar), 12 x twinette cars (At), and 3 x buffet cars (Ab)

Roomette cars handled 16 passengers in day seats or beds. Twinette cars bunked 16 passengers.

Each car had an attendant who saw to the needs of passengers of that car.

Buffet car could seat 42 passengers at once.

The power van had a large luggage compartment at the loco end, 2 diesel generators, and the guards compartment at the train end.

At the time it was considered the most luxurious hotel on wheels in the world.

Supplied in 1971 by Mitsibishi Shoji Kaisha.

Russ

thank you for the info...

I am a new member since yesterday (well, I did send my creditcard details but haven't heard back anything yet) and I am wondering how it works to order a plan or two. yes there is a description on the website but it makes somehow no sence to me. is it actually possible to order plans online or do I have to go to the archive in person ?

cheers...

the Silver Star etches are available from Worsley Work for £25 a car (including shipping), I am not sure if this is the price for the 3/16^th version or for the NZ120 ! I am expecting an answer from Allen soon. holly poo, that is $655 for a 12 car train kit. where is that home made etching kit when I am needing it most... ?  I need a 'normal' job...  

edit: £25 for a single car, £20 each for a 12 car train

found a couple of old B&W scans - possibly old NZR publicity - would I be allowed to put them up here?

I am not sure about that but you are allowed to send them to this eMail address:  steve4painting@gmail.com 

thank you...

There you go Steve. Hope they are some use - at least gives an overall idea of what the consist looked like. Albeit with Das up front.

Was lucky enough to have to have travelled Silver Star WLG-AKL on evening of Sunday 11th December 1977. Very nice. Ok I remember it so precisley because that was the first leg of our honeymoon :-Q

Personally I think the popsicle dixie-headed Silver Star was one of the prettiest express trains ever (you allowed to say that about trains?) and am hoping to eventually do up a Frateschi Dx and scratch-build/kitbash/mould&cast a consist one day. (admission - yeah, I do NZR scratch-build/kitbash/mould&cast OO scale)

thank you Steve. just found out on Thursday when I received some more 2nd hand magazines I bought on TradeMe that NZ Railfan March 2005 has many pictures of the SilverStar in it as well...

found another SilverStar picture...

...I like SilverStar pictures 

S4P would you be able to send me some pic if you have that copy.

Marine@gel8.co.uk

I was hoping to have at least the AB done up this week end.

So for it's taken me 3 weeks to find the electric soldering iron, which has lost the end.

The gas powered one is blocked and now needs a new part.

I however do have a 400w one that has a end on about 20mm wide. I think its just a bit to bug to use.

Oh well down the road and get another one.

Cheers Pete

Pete, the pictures are in the mail...

I read somewhere that six of the cars are still in NZ, at A&G Price in Thames and a quick google earth search came up with that...

I see from that phot theres a generator van

I see yours and add another one...

I like this guessing game. 2 x power vans. 2 x twinette cars are the top two of the row of 4 on the left of pics. Not sure on the other 2 cars. I believe all the original bogies are gone. Might be worth a visit?

Russ

Hey we should have an on-site Silver Star memorial gathering some time!

interesting: A&G Price (nice old buildings)

give them a call and ask...

A&G Price contact info

I will try to arrange an appointment next time when I am on the way up north to get some pictures of the remains...

I'd be in for the trip.

Russ

Thats A+G Price....

hehe looking at those photos i'd hate to know how much aspestos is there im with steam rail feilding and there has been talk about them recently if it wasnt for the aspestos they'd still be operational in nz

potato potatoe  but you're right, I've changed it...

So far I have now got a working soldering iron.

I have put the AB car togther, Every thing fits well.

After Steve sent some pic's along, It looks like the ribs on the kit do not go around the roof enough.

Oh well new etch's then.

If any one has some good pic's or if the SS day out happen soon it would be good to get an idea on the real thing.

Pete

Pete, could you send or post a picture please...

Watched some train journey vids last night, and one, Scenic Railway Journeys - Pyramids To Downunder, was of particular interest. The Asian trip featured the Eastern & Oriental Express with the refurbished SS cars. Very nicely done up, but the teak lined open observation car at the end of the .5 km long train was impressive. It seems from the info on SS Wiki that " Six cars remain at A & G Price - two double sleepers, two single sleepers and two power vans. All are owned by Orient-Express Trains & Cruises". No chance of buying a spare car for a bach then.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_Star_(NZR_train)

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_%26_Oriental_Express

Pete sent me these pictures of the SilverStar cars (and asked me to put them up here)

looking good...

Looking very good!

stumbled across more reference pics on flickr.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8021817@N07/4549959407/in/set-7215760345598...

should get you started for more in the set.

Wow. Everything should be made of stainless steel. Just look at the condition of those bodies!

There has been a slight delay in the work,

I have passed all the new pictures on to Allen and waiting to see the new lay out.

http://www.odin.tc/eng/articles/592-The-beauty-and-the-beast.asp

Just give us a yell when theres a layout to visit :v)

why do people post pictures online and then try to prevent us from downloading them to our computer for personal use ? I have them all on my comuter now but it is annoying to go thru all these extra steps... (and that was my monday morning rant - back to weathering now...)

and I agree, the etches should be made out of stainless steel instead of brass... 

Just lookng at those pictures, I wonder why A) they are still there, and B) why no one has had a crack at restoring them. Imaging the high end tourist train you could create.

I know that they are full of asbestos, but theres more modern ways of dealing with it now.

I believe they are owned by the Eastern Oriental Express operators, for any future expansion of their train services.

Russ

Those cars look FANTASTIC! *drools*

The etchs need a lot of work to make them close to the real thing. Allens away on holiday.

The biggest problem is the ribs do not go around the car roof enough, and the ends/shape needs changing.

I have asked if Allen can make some more details for the power cars.

I have no idea where Im heading next as the boats now in need of a lot of work, the bills going to be about 35 millon. give or take.

Pete

Reichsmark ?

Just got the next set of plans from allen, some fine adjustments and I think we may have a very nice model on hand.

Is this the first time any one has made a model of the SS?. i have never seen one before.

Still no plans for the boat Im on, we have been stuck here for 6 months waiting on a court battle. Very limited modelling on a island 60k's long.

Well back in France, so have access to modelling stuff now. Been working on the under frames, I wish I had some close ups of the under sides as Im quessing as to the location and what every thing is.

I have received a few of the bogies from Kato that are very close to the FM/SS . They look very nice and run very well, but the size will mean that they are for running and not looking at. close but no cigar.

I have sort of put the first set together, very rough and ready, painted, I will put them up in a few days.

Allen should have the second set to me in afew weeks.