Conway or Hunslette

[Deleted]

Would like to ask if anything to choose between models please ?

PM welcome .

Thanks 

Stuart

[mbrown]

If you care about fidelity to a prototype, Hunslette is a pretty accurate representation of a Dinorwic quarry Hunslet, although simplified in some respects to work in some of Don Young's existing range of castings.

Conway, on the other hand, is not based on any known prototype and, if you include the cab, is very oddly proportioned indeed. At the time it was published, Brian Hughes (who knew a lot about the narrow gauge) took Martin Evan's to task over this and got the limp reply that it might represent a 3' gauge version. But even then the proportions are way out - it would be better to omit or remodel the cab at least.

That, of course, says nothing about their relative merits in terms of building or running. I can't comment on that as I have no direct experience. I am sure others could comment.

Malcolm

[Deleted]

Many thanks Malcolm. I had been thinking initially of Conway but without the cab which would fit in with your suggestion, but am leaning towards towards Hunslette.

Stuart

[stevep]

Mike Topping, of the Basingstoke club, made a super Conway, where he re-proportioned the cab, and made a 4-wheel tender. It featured on the front page of ME some years ago.

Mike has since sold it, and it appeared on Station Road Steam a while later.

www.stationroadsteam.com/3-12-inch-gauge-conway-stock-code-2671/

It used to work hard on the Basingstoke track.

[jma1009]

Hello Stuart,

'Conway' is freelance.

Don Young's 'Hunslette' is far more accurate. It also has a better valve gear, though as per his 5"g Hunslet, the valve gear needs a few tweaks to be optimal, but it is a very quick and easy job to do, and not requiring any major alterations.

The Conway valve gear has direct drive with launch type links (a bad arrangement) and an incorrect suspension offset and is a pretty poor job.

The Conway boiler (from memory) only has a single large superheater flue, and the boiler is typical Martin Evans.

The Hunslette boiler is far better, being a typical Don Young belt and braces affair.

Just because Don's design isn't as popular as Conway doesn't mean Conway is a better design. Conway was published in ME and as a consequence got far more attention and exposure.

Cheers,

Julian

[durhambuilder]

I had a very similar dilemma a couple of months ago but between Conway and Ross Harrison's 3.5" Lilla (check stationroadsteam archive for a rather nice example). Hunslette was suggested at the time but I discounted it because it is significantly smaller model and I thought the wheels a little small so the motion would have been spinning at a fair old pace around our longish track. I've just started Lilla, it is described in Vol 1 and 2 of Engineering in miniature. Downside is only Blackgates do the castings and in my opinion are a little pricey however the build series does give full details of building without castings which is probably the way I will go. Just to be unconventional I'm starting with the boiler.

[dscott]

Hunslette every time as she is lovely and far more easy to lug around than the 5 inch version.
Saw a perfect model of one at Launceston with jokes about them having a Baby? And everyone not being surprised at what she looked like!!!
A bright YELLOW Conway was at the Rugby Narrow Gauge event but I did not give it much attention.
Far more given to a 5 inch gauge version.

David and Lily.

They look nice with a couple of Slate Trucks!