Blog

To all our friends, We are pleased to report that the Minerva Blue Circle and Ferrocrete cement vans are on the high seas and scheduled to dock in the UK in the second week of April. Subject to the postal service being available, we expect to be able to dispatch... read more →

We have received the decorated samples of the limited edition Minerva 0 Gauge RTR cement vans. These have been approved and the vans are now in production. decorated samples will be available for inspection at the Bristol 0 Gauge Group’s show on 26thJanuary 2020. Stay tuned to this website for... read more →

Minerva is delighted to announce that its GWR OPEN A 5-plank wagon has arrived in the UK before the end of 2019 as promised. The wagons will go on sale on Thursday 2nd January 2020 and can be purchased on-line via the Minerva website, email and telephone. The wagons will... read more →

Chris Basten and Chris Klein wish all of our friends and customers a very happy Christmas and a successful 2020. Please note that the last day before Christmas on which we will send parcels is Monday 23rd December 2019. We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible... read more →

We are pleased to announce the production of a limited run, fine-scale RTR, injection-moulded 0 gauge model of the private owner Iron Mink van in Blue Circle and Ferrocrete liveries in 7mm scale (1:43.5, for 32mm standard gauge). The models are in production with expected delivery in Spring 2020. The... read more →

Shipping of the Minerva 0 gauge RTR GWR OPEN A 5-plank open wagon has started. Sadly, they will not arrive in time for Christmas and Chris B and Chris K apologise most profusely for the five-week delay. The model represents Diagram 11 with Dean-Churchward Mark 3 brake gear. It will... read more →

The Guildford 0 Gauge Group, which organises the Reading Trade Show, suggested that we extend the deadline for discounted orders for the Minerva RTR Class 14 Teddy Bear 0-6-0DH locomotive until the end of the show on Saturday 7th December. We are pleased to announce the deadline has been extended... read more →

Below are some photos of a Minerva Kerr Stuart VICTORY 0-6-0T that CK has recently weathered for a customer. The brief was to simulate the effect shown on the prototype photo of FRANCES. It was a something of a challenge, but he has captured the appearance of the real thing.... read more →

Just a quick update to say that the plain black Manning Wardles are on their way, and will definitely be with us next month. As mentioned before, these are a strictly limited run, and we have a large number of advance orders already.

  We are delighted to announce two new products: a kit to convert the well-established Minerva GWR 0-6-0 pannier tank  locomotive into the 97XX condensing version and limited edition of the Manning Wardle K Class  0-6-0 saddle-tank locomotive in plain black livery. 97XX Conversion Kit  The eleven members of 97XX sub-class of the numerous 57XX/8750 were built in 1933 for working  over the Metropolitan lines in London. They were fitted with condensing gear, short hybrid  pannier/side tanks, the 8750 style cab and a water feed pump on the right hand side of the  smokebox.  A modified  type of Automatic Train Control (ATC) shoe that could be lifted clear of the  centre conductor rail on London Transport tracks and trip-cock apparatus were fitted.  They replaced  the 633 and Metro class tank locomotives.  Later, when working over LT tracks ceased, the ATC and  trip-cocks were removed, but the redundant condensing gear was left in place. The last members of  the sub-class were withdrawn in 1964 and none have been preserved.   ​The kit is designed to convert the established Minerva RTR 8750 pannier tank locomotive. The kit is  made from a mix of resin, brass and whitemetal parts and also uses recycled fittings from the donor  8750 model. It will represent the members of the class that were not fitted with top-feed apparatus  and will not include the ATC and trip-cock that were removed after the end of working over the LT  lines. The photograph shows an early prototype of the kit. Price and release date are to follow.  Limited Edition Black Manning Wardle K  class In response to customer demand, Minerva is producing a strictly limited edition of the Manning Wardle K Class 0-6-0 saddle-tank locomotive... read more →