IP Engineering kits

Discussion of Rolling Stock related topics should go here
Post Reply
hoppy504
Cleaner
Cleaner
Posts: 12
Joined: Wed Mar 23, 2022 1:19 pm
Location: Skegness

IP Engineering kits

Post by hoppy504 » Wed Mar 23, 2022 1:25 pm

I am considering buying some IP coaches and covered wagons, and was wondering whether the bodies are manufactured from plywood or mdf board.
Thanks for any help.

User avatar
Peter Butler
Driver
Driver
Posts: 5219
Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2012 10:33 pm
Location: West Wales

Re: IP Engineering kits

Post by Peter Butler » Wed Mar 23, 2022 2:31 pm

My personal opinion......
The I.P kits which I have built during the past year or so have all been plywood. Compared to some other suppliers I think the material used is thicker and of softer timber veneers resulting in coarser grain. The paint finish is therefore less satisfactory than I would like and more work is involved to achieve it
I have a preference for 'The Lineside Hut' (as an example) who use better quality, thinner, harder and closer grained ply. The cut edges are also sharper giving a cleaner finish.
If you like the idea of MDF kits I recommend 'Gerry Irwin' whose kits are highly detailed and very well priced.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huTR7lNmME0&t=3s
Jerry is a Forum member and can be contacted directly by PM.
The I.P range of kits is impressive and tempting for new starters, you might need to begin with a basic kit to judge for yourself.
The best things in life are free.... so why am I doing this?

hoppy504
Cleaner
Cleaner
Posts: 12
Joined: Wed Mar 23, 2022 1:19 pm
Location: Skegness

Re: IP Engineering kits

Post by hoppy504 » Wed Mar 23, 2022 3:06 pm

Many thanks for your advise and information, my preference is for plywood. MDF reminds me of MFI flat packs.

User avatar
ge_rik
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 6497
Joined: Sun Oct 25, 2009 10:20 pm
Location: Cheshire
Contact:

Re: IP Engineering kits

Post by ge_rik » Thu Mar 24, 2022 9:25 am

Not sure how relevant this might be but, on my blog, I've described the construction of an IP Engineering small diesel loco kit (plywood)
https://riksrailway.blogspot.com/2018/0 ... lbert.html

and also the construction of an HGLW small diesel kit (MDF)
http://riksrailway.blogspot.com/2018/04 ... t-and.html

For various reasons, I preferred the HGLW kit. But, of course, my reasoning may differ from yours. At the end of the day, they both produce passable models.

Rik
------------------------
Peckforton Light Railway - Blog Facebook Youtube

User avatar
Sylvian Tennant
Fireman
Fireman
Posts: 327
Joined: Wed Aug 10, 2011 4:48 pm
Location: Teesside

Re: IP Engineering kits

Post by Sylvian Tennant » Tue Apr 19, 2022 5:54 pm

They used to be, I have built both MDF and Plywood van kits. I must say I prefer the plywood over MDF as the surface seemed to slick to apply aerosol paints to any decent fashion and even after a good coat of MDF sealer they could still end up look a little fuzzy. On an interesting note their earlier plywood kits seem a little heavier that they most recent releases but a bit of weight under the chassis should balance things out.

georgesheppard
Trainee Fireman
Trainee Fireman
Posts: 113
Joined: Tue Oct 13, 2020 9:51 pm

Re: IP Engineering kits

Post by georgesheppard » Tue Apr 19, 2022 9:37 pm

Peter Butler wrote: Wed Mar 23, 2022 2:31 pm My personal opinion......
The I.P kits which I have built during the past year or so have all been plywood. Compared to some other suppliers I think the material used is thicker and of softer timber veneers resulting in coarser grain. The paint finish is therefore less satisfactory than I would like and more work is involved to achieve it
I have a preference for 'The Lineside Hut' (as an example) who use better quality, thinner, harder and closer grained ply. The cut edges are also sharper giving a cleaner finish.
If you like the idea of MDF kits I recommend 'Gerry Irwin' whose kits are highly detailed and very well priced.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huTR7lNmME0&t=3s
Jerry is a Forum member and can be contacted directly by PM.
The I.P range of kits is impressive and tempting for new starters, you might need to begin with a basic kit to judge for yourself.
Another vote for Jerry's kits!


I started with IP engineering kits (freelance carriages) and they go together ok. With enough primer & paint you can get a decent finish. Jerry's kits are just a dream to build though, the thought that's gone into certain aspects like the roof construction make them really straightforward to put together in my opinion.


Here is thread for my IP engineering carriages - https://gardenrails.org/viewtopic.php?f ... 92#p158292
and one for jerry's freelance carriages - https://gardenrails.org/viewtopic.php?f ... 88#p160188

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 10 guests