Chivers Finelines

04/09/2026

Can we get an actual Cottage Industry Kit Manufacturer an award?

Vote for Chivers Finelines in the “Specialist Retailer of the Year” section of the voting form. Let’s get Kit building noticed! Let’s get this magazine to notice us smaller retailers and joy of actual railway modelling in kit building!

Thank you to those who have already voted for us 🙏.

Share and spread the word. Let’s do this.

Hornby Magazine Model Railway Awards voting open now! 🥳

It has been another outstanding year for new model releases, and the annual Hornby Magazine Model Railway Awards are back for 2026.

Following its success last year, we have expanded the free text voting system so you can vote for your favourite Retailer of the Year, Specialist Retailer of the Year and YouTube Channel of the Year.

The coveted Manufacturer of the Year category includes every manufacturer across the scales so that you can vote for your favourite.

Voting is open now and closes at 11.59pm on Monday September 21 2026.

03/09/2026

The last 36hrs…. Thank you!

The comments and support in the replies to yesterday’s post have been overwhelmingly positive, warm and supportive. We appreciate every single reply and we have done our best to respond to every single one.

Although we can’t really do anything about the Facebook issue and links, which I must say you have come up with some interesting ideas! The idea of putting links in the first comment of a post won’t work though! They have cottoned onto that, and any link posted on business page counts towards the limit… I tested that theory! I don’t want to pay for a subscription for links on a platform that is already riddled with adverts I didn’t ask for in my feed!

The one reaction yesterday’s post caused for the positive, was sales! You responded with all you could! We thank EVERYONE who bought a kit or multiple kits, you really have made a difference! You have just given us much needed breathing space. This space will allow us to fix the machine, finish the new kits, and start others! Thank you 🙏

Now this leads me onto something rather important that I got from the answers in the comments, Awareness of Kits and kit building! And voting for the Hornby Magazine Awards has just begun! Could we get Chivers Finelines up the list for “Specialist Retailer of the Year 2026”??? Wouldn’t that be something to get an actual cottage industry kit manufacturer on the list. Can we do it?

Now I’ve got a few kits to ship…. I maybe some time!

It’s not over yet…. all because of your wonderful support…

Thank You 🙏

02/09/2026

We are facing the End….

So Facebook is now only allowing business pages to use 2 website links per calendar month, and is now requiring a subscription for more! This is a real smart move for those of us who aren’t making any money trying to make money directing customers to products 🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️.

We have weathered many storms, but the writing is showing on the walls, but mainly the bank account, this could be our last.

People just aren’t buying kits, this could be economic reasons, or our government trade barriers and tariffs making it difficult to ship abroad. Most likely though, the kit building trend is at an all time low, or we have nothing the small numbers want.

Create new kits, well it’s not that simple, months of work and cnc work goes into making new kits, so we can’t just pluck them out of the air. The new kit I’m working on has been hit with nothing but issues… and the latest one is the machine has broken down. There is no money in the pot to replace it either.

This latest blow with the ability to share our links and remind customers of our products is going to be really damaging. Pay the subscription? The company is already paying out a fortune in advertising, fees, the website! The sales don’t cover these costs! Yes… it’s that bad. Wages? What are those?!?

I don’t know what the future currently holds, but it seems the end of the line maybe in sight for this 46 year journey, and looking for a job more than likely.

28/08/2026

Wow!!! Yes all round for us! Plus we have many wonderful wagon kits you can shunt on your layouts with these beauties!

NEW LOCO LAUNCHES
Fans of industrial and narrow gauge railways, rejoice!
We have a triple-launch this month as we introduce more 4-wheeled goodness to our range.
In OO, the cute and diminutive 4-wheeled Sentinel steam shunter is available to pre-order. This lovely loco comes in both pre and post-war guises, including several preserved examples. These vertical-boilered, gear-driven engines were seen in a variety of liveries and locations around the country.
Browse the full range of Sentinels here:
https://rapidotrains.co.uk/sentinel-steam-shunter/

Over in the 009 range is our first narrow-gauge diesel, the Fowler 'Resilient' class.
Dating from 1936, these ushered in a new era of internal combustion locomotives used on narrow gauge industrial and construction railways, with several derivatives surviving to the present day.
Browse the Fowler 'Resilients' here:
https://rapidotrains.co.uk/009-fowler-resilient/

27/08/2026

Raining outside?? May as well stay dry at the modelling desk… we have a few kits to keep you occupied on our online shop…

Link in the about us section.

26/08/2026

RC7881 - O-16.5 / NG7 - FESTINIOG 3 TON SLATE WAGON KIT (3 KIT PACK) - £27.00 +p&p

This kit (3 Kit Pack) is designed to produce a model of a 3 Ton slate wagon based on prototypes found on the Ffestiniog Railway for use with O-16.5/NG7 and with modification 014.

The kit has been designed to take standard 10.5mm diameter wheels on 26mm axles without bearings.

Wheels and Couplings NOT included

https://www.chiversfinelines.co.uk/shop/p/rc7880-o-165-ng7-festiniog-3-ton-slate-wagon-kit-mxtpa

This kit (3 Kit Pack) is designed to produce a model of a 3 Ton slate wagon based on prototypes found on the Ffestiniog Railway for use with O-16.5/NG7 and with modification 014. The kit has been designed to take standard 10.5mm diameter wheels on 26mm axles without bearings. Wheels and Coupl

25/08/2026

RC463 - 00 LMS LONG LOW WAGON DIA 2069 - £12.50 +p&p

This kit is designed to produce a model of the 27ft LMS Long Low Wagon dia 2069 built in 1942 and numbered 498325 - 498624. An Illustrated History of LMS Wagons Vol 1 by R J Essery..

We have included a coupler mounting block for Bachman 36027 Mark 2 Couplings NEM shaft (cranked) with pocket.

This kit is now supplied with bearings.

The kit requires 12mm wheels on 26mm axles, Couplers, paint & decals to finish.

This kit is designed to produce a model of the 27ft LMS Long Low Wagon dia 2069 built in 1942 and numbered 498325 - 498624. An Illustrated History of LMS Wagons Vol 1 by R J Essery.. We have included a coupler mounting block for Bachman 36027 Mark 2 Couplings NEM shaft (cranked) with pocket. The k

21/08/2026

RC826 - 009 ASHBURY SEMI OPEN BOGIE COACH KIT - £12.00 +p&p

This kit is designed to produce an Ashbury semi open coach largely based on Festiniog & Welsh Highland Railway Summer coaches 23 & 26 from the mid 1920's in cut down condition.

Injection moulded polystyrene kit

Designed for standard 6mm 009/N Gauge wheelsets or similar.

Wheels, couplings and Glazing are not included.

https://www.chiversfinelines.co.uk/shop/p/rc826-009-ashbury-semi-open-bogie-coach-kit

This kit is designed to produce an Ashbury semi open coach largely based on Festiniog & Welsh Highland Railway Summer coaches 23 & 26 from the mid 1920's in cut down condition. Injection moulded polystyrene kit Designed for standard 6mm  009/N Gauge wheelsets or similar.

20/08/2026

RC966 - N GAUGE - BR BLUE SPOT FISH VAN KIT - £10.00 +p&p

This kit is designed to produce a model of the BR Dia 800 Blue Spot Fish Van after it had been fitted with roller bearings in 1957.

A complete article about BR Fish Vans was published in British Railway Modelling for December 2000.

They were numbered in the E87000- E87499 series, but only 275 were fitted with roller bearings for the dedicated blue spot trains. After the decline of fish traffic they were reclassified as SPV or NRV for express parcels service.

The kit requires 6.2mm wheels and Peco Couplings to Complete.

https://www.chiversfinelines.co.uk/shop/p/rc966-n-gauge-br-blue-spot-fish-van-kit

This kit is designed to produce a model of the BR Dia 800 Blue Spot Fish Van after it had been fitted with roller bearings in 1957. A complete article about BR Fish Vans was published in British Railway Modelling for December 2000. They were numbered in the E87000- E87499 series, but only 275 we

19/08/2026

RC474 00 BR DIA1/107 21T MDO MINERAL WAGON KIT - £11.00 +p&p

This kit is designed to make a model of the BR Dia1/107 21T MDO Mineral Wagon. 1500 built 1950-51 Numbered B201000-B202499. Remained in service until the 1980's.

This kit comes with 2 oil type axle box options.

The kit requires standard wagon wheels on 26mm axles, couplers, paint & tranfers to complete.

Cambridge Custom Transfers produce suitable pre-TOPs transfers - Sheet BL2

This Kit is now supplied with bearings.

https://www.chiversfinelines.co.uk/shop/p/rc474-00-br-dia1107-21t-mdo-mineral-wagon-kit

This kit is designed to make a model of the BR Dia1/107 21T MDO Mineral Wagon. 1500 built 1950-51 Numbered B201000-B202499. Remained in service until the 1980's. This kit comes with 2 oil type axle box options. The kit requires standard wagon wheels on 26mm axles, bearings, couplers, paint &