Sanspareil Integrated Casting Services

Iain Young set up Sanspareil ICS over 20 years ago to provide quality lost wax brass and nickel silver castings for model railway kit manufacturers. Not content with this, he has expanded into production of his own kits.

Today, these kits include a 7mm model of Rocket and a GWR Ransome and Rapier 36ton crane, complete with match and 4-wheeled wagons. There are also Mess and Tool Vans in 7mm scale to complement these and to enable the modeller to make a realistic train. Le Petit Train de France kits came his way following the passing of Bob Davis and then, a number of years ago, he purchased the CSP Models range of 4mm locomotive kits from the late Roger Savage. Recently, he has purchased the Zero Zephyr Steam locomotive range of kits as well. For those wanting parts to detail their models, individual castings can be found in the Lost and Foundry section. A recent incursion into Resin casting has seen a 7mm ready-to-run Maryport & Carlisle Railway Chauldron wagon. This is branded in the SteamAle range as it has been produced in collaboration with members of the Cumbrian Railways Association.

Consolidation of the various ranges and full details of items currently available can be found on the cspmodels.com web page. The reintroduction of the former Zero Zephyr models will see them incorporated into the CSP 7mm kit range. It is hoped that the LNWR 0-4-0 Deeley Tank and MR Johnson 1500 0-40 ‘Burton’ Tanks will be the first to be made available followed by the Peckett and Barclay Fireless models.

Under development has been an LSWR C14 0-4-0 locomotive and this should be available by the end of January. At the same time, work has progressed on both a 4mm and 7mm version of the GWR River class locomotive. These were originally Peter Dawson kits, but they have had upgrades and extra brass castings included to make the building of them easier than in the past. Test builds have been undertaken to ensure that everything does work and that it is ‘buildable’! Also in the 4mm CSP range are several GWR locomotive kits including an Avonside 0-6-0ST, GWR 1361 class 0-6-0ST as well as others, so you will be spoilt for choice!

Iain is always open to new challenges and for those who require specialist casting work to the highest quality can’t go wrong and should contact him to discuss their requirements. Those of you who have built kits before may well have used some of his castings without realising it. If you thought that the ones in the kit were really good quality then, they are probably his. He is usually available most mornings between 9 and 1, providing he is not casting as the machines can’t be left unattended at critical times. Call him on 01228-810767 or email cspmodels@outlook.com