Metromodels - Latest news

EFE have just released details of their next London Underground tube train set. This will be a twin set (E99932) consisting of two Driving motor cars. Driving car 'A' cat. no. 80005 & 'D' end no. 80105 with destinations 'Ryde Pier Head' at one end & 'Shanklin' at the other. Autumn release.
Please contact us to register your interest and we will advise you when it is available at no obligation.

'ABBEY ROAD' TO FEATURE IN THE CHRISTMAS 2008 'RAILWAY MODELLER' MAGAZINE CHRISTMAS DVD (14th August 2008)

We recently completed a days video shoot of the layout with professional videographer Brian Gardener of Renvision. Brian has produced the superb DVDs that have been included with past Christmas editions of Peco's 'Railway Modeller' magazine. The results are superb, watch out for the DVD closer to Christmas!

We recently enjoyed a photo shoot undertaken by professional photographer Ray Lightfoot from British Railway Modelling magazine.

Our model railway layout 'Abbey Road' will be featured in the magazine later this year. Once details of the publication date are know they will be posted here.

A train of Metromodels 1995 tube stock leaves the tunnel mouth
© Ray Lightfoot/BRM

STANDARD TUBE STOCK LATEST NEWS (6th February 2008)

We are getting close now. We are pleased to confirm that the 4th (& hopefully the last) std stock prototype is about to be etched. This will be made from 0.35mm thick brass sheet instead of the 0.45mm sheet that the previous prototypes were manufactured from. We found this brass sheet too heavy + we lost some of the finer etched body detail in the etching process.

The sheets should be ready in about 2 wks time. My team will then cut out, press & solder/assemble the parts to make up a 3 car set.

Once completed, they will fully inspect it and check it out for technical assembly issues. The 3 cars will then be sent to me with their comments for final inspection. Subject to it all being OK, I will give the OK for production and we will start producing them by the late spring/early summer. I repeat that I hope that this will be the final prototype! It is frustrating having to do so many prototypes (4 of them so far!!) but I want to get the model right.

If you have not already registered your interest in this superb model. Then do so now so you do not have to wait too long for your models one they are released.

Due to popular demand, we are pleased to announce the launch of our Japanese made HO/00 scale motor bogie department. We are now able to supply both the range of Tenshodo 'SPUD' (self propelled under car drive) motor bogies & also the superb 26mm wheelbase Endo traction motor bogie. This is not available elsewhere within the UK! Go to our 'product range' section for full details.

We are pleased to announce the launch of our new '00' scale pre-packed accessories range. These include both London Underground & Network Rail/British Rail scenic detailing items.

(figures not included - these are available separately from our accessories range)

We are still working hard on this project and are now completing a 4th prototype train.
The development of this model has taken considerably longer than we expected but we are determined to ensure that these models are of the highest detail & quality. We hope to get the model released in early 2008. Units will be sold initially as three car boxed sets complete with a limited edition certificate. Samples of the latest prototype train, the presentation box & limited edition certificate are below.

Sample of box & certificate for Standard Stock

The 4th prototype model of our new Standard stock under test

Sample box & limited edition certificate for our Standard stock 3 car set. The 3rd prototype model of our new Standard stock under test

The third set of prototype cars has now arrived.
We have decided to make the bogies in etched brass to provide greater detail & we are now making some minor alterations to the bogie design/detail and preparing a body press.

Our latest prototypes of the Standard Stock Driving Motor, Trailer & Control Trailer cars in white primer paint finish
(production models will be fully painted, glazed & fitted with transfers)

As indicated below, we aim to have this 3 car set released in time for Christmas 2007

We have just received the first samples of our new & updated section switch cabinets + the new seating/roundel platform furniture. Each is hand built in etched brass These are highly detailed scale models of these unique classic period style London Underground features. They will be sold as finished painted items complete with the relevant signage such as 'danger 630 volts DC'. Station name decals of your choice will be available to enable you to fit your own station name to the seating/roundel units.

'Hammersmith' style seating roundel unit (approx. height 25mm, width 25mm, depth 13mm)

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'White City' style seating roundel unit (approx. height 25mm, width 28mm, depth 12mm)

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Current day, plastic section switch cabinet (approx. height 21mm, width 6mm, depth 5mm)

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Classic older style wooden section switch cabinet (approx. height 21mm, width 6mm, depth 5mm)

Our third set of prototype cars (1 each of DM, Trailer & Control Trailer cars) are close to being completed. We have now to set up the body & car end press tool which will take a few months more. I expect to be able to release the models by the year end.

As regards livery, we will eventually do all the various liveries that the stock ran in during it's long life on both LU & then on the IOW with BR & as NSE.

Price wise, details are not yet finalised as additional tooling is yet to be made as mentioned above. The models will be RTR initially will be sold as 3 car limited edition boxed sets (of the DM, Trailer & Control Trailer cars) complete with a limited edition certificate.

We are currently working on a number of new projects.

First is a complete range of waterslide decals which will include a variety of replacement destination blinds for the EFE 1938 & 1959/62 DM car models + realistic graffiti transfers + sheets of clear & white decal paper to enable you to design & print your own decals.

We are also designing our own range of quality prototypical London Underground building kits. These will include a generic signal (IMR) cabin, station buildings based on Arnos Grove & Acton Town, single & twin tunnel entrances, retaining walls.....etc.

Our kits will be easy to assemble & complete with fully illustrated instructions. They will be made from quality card with thicker card for the roof, clear printed glazing for windows and will include detailing features such as drainpipes.

Our third & final prototype cars (1 each of DM, Trailer & Control Trailer cars) will be with us during May 2007. We hope that these will be the last prototypes to be produced and that full production will commence this summer. We have changed the bogie design and will now be making these as etched brass units to allow us to add even greater detail!

We have recently completed the second prototype of each of the 3 cars - Driving Motor, Trailer & Control Trailer. We are working on technical & cosmetic modifications to these and plan to have a 3rd prototype produced before Christmas. The plastic bogie tooling is also being modified.
Full production is scheduled from 2nd quarter 2007

After many months of design & tooling work, the first samples of these detailed plastic bogies have arrived for testing & approval.

Two bogies are being produced, the large traction motor bogie & the smaller trailing bogie. The plastic side-frames are a separate part which is fitted to the main bogie. We will not be using the plastic shoe beam shown in the left hand image. We plan to make this in etched brass to capture the fine detail of this part. This will also then be fitted to the powered bogies.

We are currently making some changes to the DM car drawings and hope to produce a second prototype DM car early in 2007.

We have just received the first sample of the revised version of this stock.

This 4 car train is fitted with our standard chassis and it looks superb! We have some minor issues to correct in respect of the fitting of the cab window glazing inserts. Once this is sorted out, the models will be available once again via our online store. This should be by early 2007.
Please contact us if you would like to be added to our waiting list for this model at no obligation.

The latest release from EFE is now in stock!

1962 Stock Central Line train in aluminium livery

'London Underground' car side logo.
4 carriage boxed set in a special presentation sleeve.
DM car destination 'Epping' operating the Epping - Ongar shuttle service.

Following numerous requests, we are pleased to devote a new online shop section to London Underground & London Transport related books. The range will increase over time. We aim to offer books that are of use to model railway & bus modellers containing a wealth of detail & images relating to the London transport scene.

The first of the long awaited Street Level '00' scale building kits, & platform tiling sheets, are now listed & available via our online shop. In addition, a further range of card London Underground card train kits will be listed & available online from the end of April.

These are now in stock. We are finalising the listings and online shop data for inclusion on the website. We aim to have the kits available online from the middle of April. Those of you who have e-mailed us for details will be advised when the web updates have been made. Thank you for your patience!

Thanks to all of you for the many e-mails and enquiries regarding when our new range of building kits will be available. The supply of these has been delayed. We are currently listing the range and will put the details on the website as soon as we have the listing completed. If you want to be advised (at no obligation) when they are available, then please e-mail us.
sales@metromodels.net

This is a pre-production, prototype model to provide an indication of the exceptional level of detail and the superb finish quality achieved. We are using this prototype to make adjustments to the drawings to enable us to rectify incorrect features (and accuracy compared to the original) and to also ensure that the component parts, (including the prototype plastic bogies - which are shortly to be delivered), fit together correctly!

The drawings will now be amended and a further test car produced prior to us commencing production.

Our prototype Driving Motor car body & chassis have now been fully assembled and are on their way to us.

Look back here during week ending 11th February 2006, when we will be posting a selection of images of this superb new model. Once all the required modifications have been made, then we will announce a release date for the production version.

Orders from customers who have placed advance orders will be met first.

If you have not already contacted us to reserve your model, then please do so at no obligation!

The first etched brass sample of the Driving Motor car has been produced. This will shortly be assembled and finish painted and will be used for testing & modification purposes prior to us commencing full production.
We hope to be able to publish images of this prototype car here prior to the end of this month.

Now available via our online shop at just £19.95 each ....
Superb, professionally made DVDs featuring drivers eye views of the Piccadilly Line, Central Line, East London Line, District Line, Northern Line, Jubilee Line & Metropolitan Line.

Our tube train models & our London Underground model railway layout 'Abbey Road' were recently featured in an episode of ITV's award winning TV series 'The Tube'. Some 'stills' from the programme follow.... The series is being repeated on the Sky Travel channel during 2005/6.

(Note - downloading the file may take a few minutes - the video file size is 10mb)

More new items for 2006! We may soon be stocking selected titles from the range of Capital Transport London Underground rolling stock books. We are also investigating stocking the excellent range of Video 125 London Underground 'Drivers Eye View' DVD's.

We will shortly be stocking a superb range of cardboard self assembly London Underground related model kits. The range includes London Underground station buildings, signal cabins, tube train cars, platform canopies, platform buildings, prototypical wall tiling, etc.

A selection of assembled & fully completed Streetlevel kits - Elstree South station building, London tram & granite setts with tram track

The kits will be listed and available via our online shop by the end of January 2006.

We will be stocking the now discontinued range of Corgi of 'Feltham' trams. As a result of a number of requests, these will be sold fully motorised and ready to run on your 00 or HO scale track.

London Transport - route 21 to Holborn
London Metropolitan Tramways -
London United Tramways -
Leeds City -
Sunderland Corporation -

The trams will be listed and available via our online shop from the end of January 2006.

We have been busy making some final alterations to the superb drawings for this model. As a result, production of the first assembled etched sample train has been delayed until first quarter 2006. The tooling that will enable us to commence production of the injection moulded plastic bogies is almost completed. Samples of the fully detailed plastic bogies will also be available early in 2006 and details will be posted here.

If you would like to receive further details of when this exciting new model will be available to order, then contact us at no obligation whatsoever.

Freestanding, double sided & suitable for use on platforms. These are hand assembled and finish painted etched brass. Only £2.99 a pair - now in stock!

This superb new EFE DMS bus is due to be released in February 2006. This is the first release of a 1:24th scale bus by EFE built to the same scale as the excellent Sunstar Routemaster buses. It features working destination blinds, opening engine door, fully detailed inside & out.
To reserve yours, and be one of the first to own this great model, contact us now.

We will be appearing on television in the third series of the 3 times RTS award winning series 'The Tube' to be screened on London ITV and the Sky Travel channel during December 2005 and into 2006.

We can be seen in the episode entitled 'The Train Set' which is due to be screened on Thursday 29th December 2005 at 7.30pm.

1926 - 1927 STANDARD TUBE STOCK UPDATE (October 2005)

We are now producing the first sample etched sheets (both bodies & chassis parts) of this superb model. We hope to have pictures of the first pre-production model posted here within the next 6 weeks, watch this space!

Detailed CAD drawings for our new model are at now an advanced stage of development. We have now completed drawings of the etched brass body, roof and chassis. We are now finalising our designs and drawings for the tooling required to produce the injection moulded plastic bogies.

Driving Motor car - 1926/7 Standard Stock (image courtesy Brian Hardy collection)

Our next release, a ready to run finished boxed model of this classic London Underground stock. We are currently working on 3 different car types and plan to have these ready for release later this year.

The model will be feature an etched brass body, roof and chassis with injection moulded plastic bogies. The full detail of the unique clerestory roof detail of this classic stock will also be captured in etched brass . As with our existing range, the bogies will be fitted with 'Romford' fine scale wheels. Cars will be available individually as complete, ready to run, hand finished models.

If you would like to be advised, at no obligation, when these models become available, please let us know.

To contact Phil Radley who has taken over the ex Harrow Model Shop range of London Underground models, please e-mail him on radspg13@aol.com or telephone him on 07956 320140

Now in stock - the latest version of the EFE 1938 tube stock models...the 1938 Piccadilly Line Tube Stock in red livery with grey roof and cream window surrounds fitted with 'Uxbridge' destinations.

Most of the remaining trains of 1983 stock have now been sold for scrap. Two 8 car units remain isolated, covered in graffiti and in a generally very sad state, in the sidings at Cockfosters. (Feb 2005)
These trains were significant in being the last London Underground trains to have their traction current control regulated by mechanical switches. As a result, a single DM car has been preserved by the LT Museum. Our model will be of all etched brass construction with the non standard, single leaf sliding passenger doors forming part of the etched body. We are working on the drawings for this model. Again, this model is also going to be available as a complete, ready to run, finished model.

An etched brass, fully detailed, 4mm scale model of the street level station building of Arnos Grove station is planned. The model will have the walls, windows, doors and other details of this fine example of Holden architecture supplied as a flat etch in easy to build form. The flat roof surfaces will be supplied as pre-cut wood/plastic parts. Clear acetate will be included for the windows to enable a fully detailed model to be made.