IP Coach Kits

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cheshire
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Re: IP Coach Kits

Post by cheshire » Mon Apr 09, 2018 10:22 am

I have recently made a Timpdon coach and can say that the kit quality is excellent. The real glass for the windows is a nice touch. And they are well designed too. All in all I can't fault their kit. Same for Brandbright. Although I have only made one of each. I have made a few IP Engineering ones, and they just didn't go together quite as perfectly. Nothing major, just not quite the same quality, in my opinion. A bit like buying a premium brand car over a less premium one, both are good, but one has a slight edge! No axe to grind or connection to any manufacturer.

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Re: IP Coach Kits

Post by HereticUK » Tue Apr 24, 2018 8:29 am

I have to admit, I like the sound of real glass, although I would be quite worried about their fragility... I had a look at the Timpdon coaches and they seem to be a very good choice, mostly because of their length; it would help me to make the most of the space I have available to me.
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Re: IP Coach Kits

Post by Big Jim » Tue Apr 24, 2018 8:35 am

I have found there are IP kits and IP kits. Some of the older ones that I have acquired secondhand and un-built have been a bit variable in quality. The Guards van I built was decidedly iffy, nothing blindingly obvious but panels not quite square. The newer productions are much, much better and Ivan is most helpful in the case of problems although as his range has been updated over time he may not be able to supply parts for kits no longer in production.
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Re: IP Coach Kits

Post by dougrail » Sun Jul 29, 2018 11:05 pm

I would have to state that IP kits can be good but thought provoking - Lord Penrhyn saloon, kit from 2015 took two years as it became a chore and not a joy. Cheshire and others mirror my thoughts on this but I understand that kits and building style have been updated since and I am dead tempted to try an IP TR Semi Open no.8, and then fit RG sprung axlebox hangars to.

SW16 I have only tried his Mamod coaches but they were an absolute joy to prime, paint, prep then slot the chassis to the body and attach wheels and axles. 5 were done in 7 days. I had buklt an AnDel brakevan before; resin kits I seem to find better luck with is the moral of the story.

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Re: IP Coach Kits

Post by JMORG » Mon Jul 30, 2018 11:03 am

We have a member who also attempted to build Lord Penrhyn's saloon; he eventually gave up but apparently this particular model has been updated.
My only gripe is that some of his kits are MDF; I've built a Gladstone carriage and unfortunately the paint finish is (in my eye) awful because of the MDF. I also have a WHR 23 which came out better BUT drilling holes was "interesting".
Interestingly; I got a NWNGR large open wagon the other day and that's plywood. Anyone know why some kits are MDF and some are ply?

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Re: IP Coach Kits

Post by dougrail » Mon Jul 30, 2018 11:17 am

I ended up building two of those blasted things -but I finished them with sweat, perserverance and some grit. Even painted them Penrhyn authentic black too. Not a very popular model however. I think mine were plywood. I think the main issue is that they're flat edge, no tongues or grooves to aid construction when you're putting the bodies together and the instructions need a little thinking over.

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Re: IP Coach Kits

Post by Tingewickmax » Tue Jul 31, 2018 8:46 am

I have built a few of IP's kits, mostly from their Darjeeling range and all of laser cut plywood construction. They fit together well and are generally well thought out. However, they tend to be of a light construction and benefit from adding a bit of weight low down. This feature can give them a rather unsatisfactory "rattle" as the trundle along. Detailing is basic compared to other makes mentioned in this thread, it depends on your priorities. Wheel turning and bearing fit can be a bit basic giving them another strange "cheap" sound dimension when running compared to others.

While your stated needs are for "freelance" I would urge you to check the dimensions of what you are buying will look "right" with the intended loco that will pull them. I built some of IP's VoR coaches and they were woefully out of proportion to a Roundhouse VoR loco, sold them and bought Brandbright instead. I have noticed with the Darjeeling stock I have bought that someone has been playing a bit fast and loose with their replication when compared to the well documented prototypes. But then you want freelance stock not prototypically correct ones ;)

Construction and painting is straight forward - medium thickness superglue or a more conventional wood glue, like Titebond 2. Painting - sanding sealer (essential with MDF) then a coat or two of Halfords filler primer, depending on how much "wood grain" you want to show. Rub back between coats. Finally a coat of the right primer to match your colour coat and then 2-3 of those, again Halfords is ideal. Then apply any satin/matt coat finish if you don't want gloss. Remember to mask to create some unpainted strips/areas for glue when you are applying overlays so you get a good bond. Any staining should be done before gluing and painting. IP do a nice range of decals, for specific railways, but there are some specialist who will make sets that can represent your "line".

As they say, "You pays your money, you makes your choice" and "You only get what you pay for". Fully agree that IP's owner, Ivan, is generally good on the customer service side.
Last edited by Tingewickmax on Tue Jul 31, 2018 11:57 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: IP Coach Kits

Post by IanC » Tue Jul 31, 2018 10:40 am

My experience of IP kits is limited to two of their now withdrawn Roundhouse sized coaches and two vans. These are from the pre MDF days being of ply construction. The coaches have only just beem completed and one of them has a slight wobble due to either the wood twisting or the frames not quite being square. I have allowed for adjustment in the axleboxes so will remove them and refit with a shim which should cure the problem. Otherwise construction was straight forward.

I like the simplicity and basic design as it allows detailing and customisation to ones choice. I agree about appearance with motive power though. I am considering more coaches, but many have been ruled out of consideration purely because they would not look good in my opinion behind my locomotives.

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Last edited by IanC on Wed Aug 01, 2018 3:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: IP Coach Kits

Post by dougrail » Tue Jul 31, 2018 10:05 pm

That was something I noticed - Penrhyn no.2 was built then sprayed in Halfords primer. It had warped ever so slightly which is a shame. I have to admit, AnDel and SW16 kits have been a more pleasurable build. I had problems in 2013 when the wood totally warped beyond rescue, then 2017 building the LPs has been somewhat of a grind. :( However I will thoroughly commend Ivan's customer service when parts were missing. Top stuff there.

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Re: IP Coach Kits

Post by pippindoo » Fri Sep 14, 2018 8:17 am

I have a rake of IP's Beginners freelance coaches, built exactly 'as per' except for the Guards/Luggage van which has window bars, and all have kitchen roll applied to the roof with diluted PVA glue to represent felt. They were a pleasure to assemble with no problems whatsoever and despite a a relatively long, fixed wheelbase, have done a lot of running on various lines and behaved impeccably. As can be seen, they are of a larger loading guage to match Accucraft locos, seen here with my Lawley class DELILAH.
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Re: IP Coach Kits

Post by Lonsdaler » Fri Sep 14, 2018 12:43 pm

Must get round to finishing (I mean starting :shock: ) the three I have in a box somewhere. The single one I have completed is getting lonely! :thumbup:
I did shorten the wheelbase to just under 6 inches, which helps negotiate tighter curves, and I articulated one of the sole bars to help it negotiate uneven track (not my track, obviously!! :mrgreen: )
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