News
In this section:
April 2010
New! Black-It!
Cold chemical blackening for iron and steel. Please use the link below to see the flyer for more details.
Black-It flyer (pdf: 35kb)
Note: We regret due to carriers' restrictions that we are unable to ship Black-It to overseas customers.
October 2009
New! Safety Valves
- Wide range of ‘express’ and ‘tall’ styles with thread sizes to suit most popular models, G1 to 7 ¼” gauge. Popular sizes are immediately available, with others to follow.
- Unique ‘soft pop’ design developed in collaboration with Gordon Smith.
- Excellent pressure regulation to meet requirements of accumulation test.
- Special threads up to 5/8” diameter to order.
- Bronze bodied valves manufactured in our own UK workshop.
- Part of a growing range of high quality steam fittings engineered by: Polly Model Engineering Limited.
January 2009
New S.R. Q1 Loco in 3 1/2" Gauge
Polly is pleased to announce the availability of a new loco design by Nick Feast. This is a S.R. Q1 austerity loco, introduced on the Southern in 1942. Nick's design drawings are all in metric and with the simplified valve gear make for a powerful small loco which can be addressed by less experienced model engineers. The design captures the character of the 'Charlie' and Nick's own model has been performing satisfactorily for over two year's on the Bournemouth club track.
Drawings are available, castings are being prepared and laser cut parts will also be available. A separated list will be available in due course.
Loco Designs from Pete Rich
Polly Model Engineering Limited is pleased to announce that agreement has been reached with Pete Rich for the exclusive marketing of his designs and parts for his finely detailed models.
These designs include the GWR Saint, County, Modified Hall, Castle, Prairie and forthcoming Dean Single and Armstrong 4-4-0 locomotives. The latter two locomotives are to be serialized in the near future in Model Engineer.
Tender drawings are available for the Churchward tender and drawings are being prepared for the Dean tender.
Though predominantly 5" gauge, Pete Rich has also produced some drawings for 7 ¼" gauge. These include the GWR County 4-4-0 and some tank engines.
Please enquire for availability of drawings and parts. Lists will be added to the website in due course.
December 2008
VAT Change
Customers will be aware that the Chancellor has made a temporary change to the UK VAT (Sales Tax), reducing the standard rate from 17.5% to 15% for a limited period. It is our intention to pass the benefits of this onto our customers. We are pleased to announce that there will be a reduction in price of the POLLY loco kits with immediate effect and the reduction will also apply to outstanding kits for existing customers. Please enquire as to how this may affect you. Many of our Stationary Engine Kits will also be reduced in price, as their prices were recently reviewed in the light of very heavy foundry cost increases. The majority of our supplies items are well overdue for price revisions as comparison of our prices with some of our competitors shows. The reduction in the VAT rate will allow us to hold these prices for the immediate future, deferring the inevitable price rises which we may be forced to make in 2009. Customers outside the EU do not pay the VAT (UK sales tax) and their prices can be obtained by dividing the catalog prices by 1.15. A revised catalog will be published in January 2009.
October 2008
Midlands Model Engineering Exhibition
The major event of the year, the Midlands Model Engineering Exhibition, takes place at the Fosse 17th - 21st October and there will be plenty to see on the biggest Polly stand yet.
We are pleased to advise that the new Koppel tank loco will be there, not just on display but taking its turn on the portable track outside. This new kit build loco is available now, with first kits shipping this month (October). Other Polly locos will also be displayed/running including our popular Polly V tank.
The 7 1/4" gauge Collett Goods loco, currently serialised in EIM, will also be on show demonstrating considerable progress since last displayed at Harrogate. With frames and wheels now painted, final assembly of the loco is underway.
The 5" gauge Schools loco, featuring in the Model Engineer magazine, is nearing completion and we are pleased to be able to display Derek Tulley's loco.
A 5" gauge Churchward tender will also be displayed. This is our prototype model for a finescale GWR tender which can be paired with many popular models.
As major suppliers of Stuart Models stationary engine kits, we are pleased to advise that Stuart will also be supporting us at the exhibition and we will have a wide range of their kits available together with the models designed by Anthony Mount and others.
All of the above will be supported by our comprehensive Model Engineers Supplies where there are some exciting new products to view, including our new sight feed lubricators.
September 2008
Transfer Range Extended and Updated
As noted in our catalogue, our supplier is undertaking an extensive program
of revision and updating of transfers for miniature locomotives. The
following notes summarise the latest releases which are now available:
This includes new artwork for the entire LNER range (including GNR), Great Western
crests and 1957 late BR lions. All three have been printed in all common sizes
including 00, 0, G1, 2½", 3½", 5" and 7¼".
The GNR and LNER lettering is now correctly finished in gold, counter-shaded in red and black, with white highlights. As they share a common lettering style, these have been combined so one set of 'GLNER' will either produce 'GNR' or 'LNER', as required. Combining in this way has helped to keep the prices for the greatly improved version down to the same levels as previously. New numerals are also available to match the lettering.
The Great Western crests are a completely new introduction and a master piece of screen printer's art. In all sizes from gauge 1 upwards the text under the shields is clearly readable. Likewise, there are mortar courses on the castle and rigging on the ship.
This crest can be used with the recently introduced 'GWR' transfers to create G (crest) W, as used on post-war passenger tender engines, or with the 5" gauge 'Great Western' to make up Great (crest) Western, as used on pre-1935 tender engines. Either set of lettering can of course be used on its own for tank or goods engines.
Modellers wishing to finish their locomotives in the later British Railways livery will be pleased to hear that 1957 lions (otherwise known as the 'lion holding wheel' or 'ferret and dartboard') are now available in a revised pattern. This is without the former green background which caused problems for builders of red or black engines.
With the prototype, there were two sizes of lion transfer. This means for any given gauge, there are two sizes required, one for small and one for large locomotives. For the major model engineers' scales, they are recommended to be used as follows:
| Gauge | Small locomotives | Large locomotives |
| 1 | 57Lion15 | |
| 2½" | 57Lion15 | 57Lion23 |
| 3½" | 57Lion23 | 57Lion32 |
| 5" | 57Lion32 | 57Lion47 |
| 7¼" | 57Lion47 | 57Lion68 |
In all sizes except 57Lion68, they are supplied in sets of three. This is because shortly after introduction, it became BR policy to have all lions facing leftward. Most model engineers wish to have both facing forwards. By having two left-facing and one right-facing lion, both options can be accommodated.
Work continues on locomotive lettering for Highland Railway locomotives, and it is hoped that this will be available for the Midlands Exhibition in Leamington. This will consist of names for the entire Loch class, some Castles and small Bens; numbers for buffer beams and cabsides; and the company name and initials for tender tanks.
August 2008
New Engine from Anthony Mount - 'Cross Engine'
We are pleased to announce the impending availability of a new engine design which Anthony has recently completed.
The Cross Engine is somewhat similart to the Rectilinear Engine in operation, but the model is rather more straightforward. Drawings, laser cut parts and castings will be available in the near future and the design is expected to be published in Engineering in Miniature in due course following the completion of the Whitmore and Binyon articles.
April 2008
Precision Engineered Axle Pumps
Polly Model Engineering are pleased to announce a range of high quality precision engineered axle pumps.
These pumps available in popular sizes are engineered to high standards will appeal to the more discerning model engineer concerned more with quality than price. A particulary useful feature is the option to adjust the angle to the inlet and outlet pipes facilitating installation.
'Half-Round' Brass Beading
We are now able to supply this difficult to find material in a range of sizes. Ideally suited to finishing tender and tanks.
Rivet Head or Slotless Screws
For some time, we have supplied rivet head or slotless metric screws to our tender tank builders. These are now available as stock items in the following sizes: 1.2mm, 1.6mm, 2mm and 3mm shank diameter. The 1.2mm size are a very good match for the 3/64" diameter rivets used extensively in our tenders and if used in preliminary assembly can be retained as they are externally indistinguishable from the rivets. The larger sizes are ideal for the base angle of tenders and tanks or 5" and 7 1/4" gauge locos where both head and nut are visible.
March 2008
New Loco from POLLY: Orenstein and Koppel 0-4-0T - 'Caroline'
Polly Model Engineering Limited is pleased to announce the impending launch of a new loco! Caroline is based on the Orenstein and Koppel 0-4-0T prototype. 
Although very different in appearance to our other 5" gauge locos, Caroline incorporates proven mechanical parts and boiler from the Polly range.
As is our policy, a prototype model loco has been designed, built and steamed before public announcement of this exciting new project which has been undertaken in collaboration with our French distributor Geerlig Voogd. The formal launch of this new model will be at the forthcoming Harrogate exhibition where the prototype model will be on display.
Further details will be added to the website in due course.
Polly at the National Railway Museum
Polly Model Engineering were pleased to support a recent event at the NRM.
Cab-It 2008 was staged in order to encourage interest of young people in engineering and it was pleasing to see a good turn-out over the weekend.
With displays such as our own interspersed between the historic locomotives, there was ample opportunity to discuss with young people and demonstrate a little of what we do in our hobby. With cabs of famous locos open for inspection and a public lecture on the Saturday evening by Richard Gibbons, a good time was had by all.