Large Scale Central

IP Engineering Questions

General Discussion
#1

Does anyone know if IP Engineering (UK) will sell / ship to the U.S.?

I sent some questions through their website response system in April and again in May. Both inquiries resulted in automated replies saying “Thank you for your email below. You will receive a reply shortly.”, but nothing further was received.

My questions were / are:

"I am interested in your Lister Locomotive kits. I have a few questions:

"1. What scale are these items?

"2. I see reference to batteries, so am assuming they are designed to be battery powered. Could they be converted to track power?

“3. Can I order them on-line via credit card for delivery to the US?”

Any help or information appreciated.

Thanks & Happy RRing,

Jerry Bowers

#2

Your best bet as far as I know is to join the 7/8ths scale yahoo group. Most of the British modelers that model the listers hang there. My thinking is that they are 16mm scale running on 32mm track (2’ gauge proto). I also believe that most of those models can be regauged to 45mm. There are also some 7/8ths models on 45mm track as well as 7/8ths on 32mm.

#3
Warren Mumpower said:
Your best bet as far as I know is to join the 7/8ths scale yahoo group. Most of the British modelers that model the listers hang there. My thinking is that they are 16mm scale running on 32mm track (2' gauge proto). I also believe that most of those models can be regauged to 45mm. There are also some 7/8ths models on 45mm track as well as 7/8ths on 32mm.
Warren: I didn't think of the 7/8ths group, as I don't think the IP locomotives are 1:13.5 scale. I'll take a look. Thanks for the suggestion!

I didn’t mention it, but my guess was also 16mm=1’ (or 1:19) scale. And that locomotive looks to be one of the ones I’m interested in. I need motive power for my new gravel mining operation. It’ll be ~2’ gauge, using PECO 32mm track. 1:19 scale is only ~6% off 1:20.3, well within my personal garden RR equipment tolerances!! According to the website, they can be regauged between 32mm and 45mm. Again, it isn’t totally clear whether they come for both gauges or if one needs to specify with order.

I asked about track power as it will be a back & forth operation between the power shovel and the delivery bins. I don’t want to have to stand and operate this train, so I’ll either convert it to track power with diodes and a timer, or use battery power with an automated reversing switch of come kind. Looks too small for R/C anyway.

Thanks Again & Happy RRing,

Jerry

#4

The thing about the 7/8ths group is that many of the British modelers seem to model both in 7/8th and 16mm. I’m not sure which that particular locomotive is as I can’t remember if that particular layout is 32mm or 45mm. The guy that does the Busy Body figures as shown in the above picture is a member of the group too.

#5

IP Engineering models ARE made to 16mm scale - 1/19th. The small industrial locos that interest you all work of both 32 and 45mm.

The batteries are contained inside the housing.

IP Engineering supply world-wide - overseas orders pay by credit card, and add 15% to the UK price.

S’easy.

tac
Ottawa Valley GRS

#6
Terry A de C Foley said:
IP Engineering models ARE made to 16mm scale - 1/19th. The small industrial locos that interest you all work of both 32 and 45mm.

The batteries are contained inside the housing.

IP Engineering supply world-wide - overseas orders pay by credit card, and add 15% to the UK price.

S’easy.

tac
Ottawa Valley GRS


Terry:

Many thanks for the info. They appear just the thing to power a small industrial operation.

I finally explored IP Engineering’s on-line ordering and found their overseas shipping information and a place to input a CC order. The additional 15% (shipping) is mostly offset by not having to pay the VAT. Total to get the Lister landed in N. California looks like ~$143.

I bought my PECO 32mm gauge track a few years ago. I’m really looking forward to getting some of it operating this summer!

Thanks To All & Happy RRing,

Jerry

#7
Jerry Bowers said:
Total to get the Lister landed in N. California looks like ~$143. Jerry
Dear Mr Bowers - pity you can't wait until later in the year. We will be over in Oregon in the Fall at our usual haunts up and down the coast and at Grant's Pass, and a couple of IP kits weigh little indeed.

Let me know if we can ‘import’ anything for you.

tac
Ottawa Valley GRS

#8

Terry:

Sincere thanks for the generous offer. I’ll see how far this gets over the next few months. I might give you a holler!!

I was resident in the UK in the '70s and a member of a model RR club in London. The guys all modeled American prototypes in H0. Since I frequently traveled back to the U.S., I always had a lengthy shopping list. I got real good at using the correct terms in order to minimize the hit by Her Majesty’s Customs Officers. They actually were quite helpful if you started out being honest. One rule I remember differentiated between “model trains” and “toy trains” with the “toy” designation being at a significantly lesser rate. Even though I had written “model” on the declaration, the HMC supervisor looked at the goods and said “. . . looks like a toy to me . . .”, crossed out “model” and walked away. The tax collector only asked the lower rate!

Thanks Again & Happy RRing,

Jerry Bowers

#9
Jerry Bowers said:
Terry: Sincere thanks for the generous offer. Jerry Bowers
Dear Mr Bowers - I know full well that some folks think that I'm a total a**hole, but I'm really quite a nice guy if you can be bothered to get to know me. Ask Fred, we've had some great and frank discussions over the last couple of years.

One associate remarked that underneath my hard exterior there beat a heart of purest flint. I was so hurt by hearing that comment that I fired him ten minutes later. It took me that long to tell the embassy to arrange his flight ticket - all the way from UK back to Texas - for him, his wife, and his three young kids.

You take care, eh?

tac
Ottawa Valley GRS

#10

I think Terry has answered most of your queries - so I’ll just post this pic of the top of the range IP critter, as constructed by my own fair paw! Oh, and as for the heart of flint - I have had personal proof that Tac is indeed a generous and helpful gent - so there! Just dont _ _ _ _ with him!

Neil

#11

Neil Hay said:
I think Terry has answered most of your queries - so I’ll just post this pic of the top of the range IP critter, as constructed by my own fair paw! Oh, and as for the heart of flint - I have had personal proof that Tac is indeed a generous and helpful gent - so there! Just dont _ _ _ _ with him! [url]

[/url] Neil

Thanks for that endorsement, Neil, your check is in the post [wink]. tac Ottawa Valley GRS

#12

Neil, that’s a cute lil bugger. If it were available in either 1:20.3 or 7/8ths I might be interested…but then again…there ain’t that much difference between 1:20 and 1:19…:confused:

#13
Warren Mumpower said:
...there ain't that much difference between 1:20 and 1:19...:/
Mr. Mumpower, The Nitpickers United Train Society hereby censures your gross lack of dedication to exactitude. A sack of gummi rivets is in the mail.
#14
Terry A de C Foley said:
One associate remarked that underneath my hard exterior there beat a heart of purest flint. I was so hurt by hearing that comment that I fired him ten minutes later. It took me that long to tell the embassy to arrange his flight ticket - all the way from UK back to Texas - for him, his wife, and his three young kids.
And I bet you deducted the cost from his severance cheque, eh? Heart of Flint -- I remember maps with Part of Flint on them, somewhere in the northeastern reaches of that dragon-haunted principality beyond Offa's Dike.
#15
Chris Vernell said:
Mr. Mumpower, The Nitpickers United Train Society hereby censures your gross lack of dedication to exactitude. A sack of gummi rivets is in the mail.
I use a rubber ruler....:D
#16
Warren Mumpower said:
Neil, that's a cute lil bugger. If it were available in either 1:20.3 or 7/8ths I might be interested....but then again...there ain't that much difference between 1:20 and 1:19...:/
A blind man on a galloping horse at midnight would be v. happy to see the difference.

This loco could be Americanised with v. little effort…ideal critter for a saw mill or small industry. The model is VERY heavy, and can haul the most ridiculous loads - I saw one at the Llanfair show a couple of years back with 60 cars behind it, and building it yourself, you can customize it the way that YOU want it. Even to installing DOUBLE motors [garsp].

Knuckle couplings, cut levers and gladpaws are an easy way to go…even fitting a good-sized headlight is not a problem. All the cab openings need to be square, though, instead of delicately rounded.

tac
Ottawa Valley GRS

#17

Here is another 16mm scale model of a Brit prototype loco that could easily be Amercanised. It is adjustable for either 32mm or 45mm gauge. It comes track powered but can easily be battery powered. Brandbright can ship them anywhere and the cost is reasonable.

#18

Very Interesting Post Gents!

I spend at least one hour per evening watching my Friend Thomas race across the rails of Sodor…and I have come to love the ‘little engines’ that serve in the Mountains! That orange diesel could pass as “Rusty” any day!

I also have 1 issue of Garden Rail from the UK…I read through it a great deal, and maybe it’s just one issue of one rag, but it seems to me Live Steam and Battery Power is it over there…

In addition to the above…a question…why do the foreign engines have round portals…I have always wondered …

oh, goodness…all of these thoughts bring me to the idea, way back in the mind; to let go of my USA NG Steam line and use only little European style engines…the kids would love it for sure!

better go look at some Shays or something to get me back in line!

thanks

cale

#19

Now that’s an interesting thought - why do most Brit locos have round spectacle windows and rounded cab corners??? Aesthetics I suppose, same as we don’t very often show all the plumbing on our steamers in the American way.

The little critter doesn’t have a scale, as it’s a freelance model, so gummi detail parts aren’t needed. As Tac says, it could be Americanised quite nicely. Think about the Plymouth, is it #50??? on the Rio Grande? Mmm, could be a project for next winter!!! These are powerful locos, as tac says - mine can pull an out-of-gas Roundhouse steamer back to base - that’s why I built it!

As for the British Garden Rail magazine - the current issue has an article by no less a luminary than Tac himself, about Accucraft Garratts, and a certain orange critter build article also appears! Battery power is very popular in the uK, although the L*B companys products do figure strongly too. I run mine with battery power though!

Neil.

#20

cale nelson said:
Very Interesting Post Gents! I spend at least one hour per evening watching my Friend Thomas race across the rails of Sodor…and I have come to love the ‘little engines’ that serve in the Mountains! That orange diesel could pass as “Rusty” any day! I also have 1 issue of Garden Rail from the UK…I read through it a great deal, and maybe it’s just one issue of one rag, but it seems to me Live Steam and Battery Power is it over there… In addition to the above…a question…why do the foreign engines have round portals…I have always wondered … oh, goodness…all of these thoughts bring me to the idea, way back in the mind; to let go of my USA NG Steam line and use only little European style engines…the kids would love it for sure! better go look at some Shays or something to get me back in line! thanks cale

Cale, Before you do any of that … have another sip! :wink: :slight_smile: BTW those round portals (windows?) they really are portholes. When they started building these critters they made them truly multi purpose, just in case it didn’t work out as an engine … it could have been a boat!