WHR / FR Cut Down ‘Ashbury Summer Car’

Produced in collaboration with William Curry, this laser cut kit represents the NWNGR Ashbury ‘Summer Cars’ after they had been transferred to the WHR in 1923 and had been cut-down in height to bring them within the Ffestiniog Railway’s restricted loading gauge and lasted in service to the end of the original WHR operations. Two of these vehicles, survived into preservation in the 1950s, carrying the FR numbers 23 and 26, the latter spending an intermediate period as a hen-house prior to restoration in 1959. Both vehicles survive to the present day, although Carriage 23 now carries full height doors with droplights, and Carriage 26 has been heavily re-built a number of times, and bears little resemblance to its original condition.

This latest kit can be supplied to represent either version of these vehicles, with the ‘Semi-Glazed’ version being illustrated here. If you would like an indication of how the ‘Fully Open’ version would look, please see the page for the ‘NWNGR Ashbury Summer Car Kit’, the window apertures and bars for which are identical.
The kit is designed with well proven hidden slot and tab construction technique throughout for easy and accurate assembly and will be available in MDF or Plywood. It includes individually glazed panels with window beading in full relief. Interior panel detail and bench seating is supplied in full.

As of April 2025 these kits are available for 32mm using the prototypical pattern bogies, or 45mm gauge using the ’45mm Gauge Optimised Bogies’, with either allowing operation down to a 2ft 6in radius, but cutting a substantial chord in the process. Insulated wheels are also available if required. Please specify when ordering.

As standard the kit will include, 3D printed representations of the Door Handles and Grab handles along with ‘SLR Models’ 3D printed, ‘Door Lock Covers’, all of which are manufactured here in the UK. Despite their fine appearance these are surprisingly strong components, especially once mounted in position and will easily stand respectful handling.
Couplings and decals are not supplied with the kit, but the correct decals are available from Endon Valley Custom Decals.

Specification
– 16mm Scale Laser Cut MDF or Plywood Kit
– ‘Semi-Glazed’ and ‘Fully Open’ versions available, please specify at time of ordering.
– Proven, hidden slot and tab construction to aid accurate assembly
– Full interior panel detailing and seating framework supplied
– Individual glazing panels (where appropriate), complete exterior window beading modelled in full relief
– 3D printed Door Handles, Door Stops, Door Lock Covers and Grab Rails

– Includes prototypical outline ‘Bogies’, complete with steel wheelsets in 32mm gauge 0r ’45mm gauge optimised bogies’ for 45mm
– Does not include couplings, vacuum pipes or lettering.

Dimensions

Length Over Headstocks: 479mm
Height: 121mm
Width Over Body: 96mm
Extreme Width: 109mm (Over Footboard)

Prices

WHR / FR Cut Down ‘Ashbury Summer Car’
MDF: £135.00 + Postage
Plywood: £145.00 + Postage

If you would like to place an order, please see our ‘Ordering Page’