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Classic Live Steam of Yesteryear



The following are actual comments that I have received.

 
 
---------- Original Message ----------
From: jp
To: "info friendsmodels.com"
Date: September 26, 2019 at 7:39 PM
Subject: Re: Tom Thumb Wheel Castings

Thanks John,
The castings are VERY nice. I look forward to machining them in the near future.
Thanks again
Jeff

 
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---------- Original Message ----------
From: Denis
To: "'info friendsmodels.com'"
Date: June 9, 2019 at 4:46 PM
Subject: RE: 3/4" scale "Langworthy Hudson" Cylinder section, now available 

Hi John,Thanks for sending the castings, they are top quality.

Regards,
Denis
 


 
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---------- Original Message ----------
From: Mark
To: "info friendsmodels.com" <info@friendsmodels.com>
Date: March 28, 2019 at 10:51 PM
Subject: Re: Received Langworthy NYC Hudson plans

Hi John,
 
Received the tender castings and water bottom in great shape.  Checked it all out, very nice work on the castings.  I am very pleased with them.  You have been very fortunate to find foundries to do this good of work.

 
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---------- Original Message ----------
From: Stuart
To: Friends Models <info friendsmodels.com>
Date: February 26, 2019 at 1:58 PM
Subject: 3/4" scale A3 Switcher

Hi John,
The wheel castings arrived about a week ago & look just the same, nice castings; many thanks for sending.
Stuart
Christchurch
NZ

 
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---------- Original Message ----------
From: Mark
To: "info friendsmodels.com" <info@friendsmodels.com>
Date: February 15, 2019 at 9:27 PM
Subject: Re: Received Langworthy NYC Hudson plans

Hi John,
 
Received everything today, the truck drawing and the package with the tender step and the two booklets.  It all came through in real good shape.
 
The tender step is a very nice casting.  It will need only a little filing for cleanup.  I had thought of fabricating the one missing on my tender, but having an original casting is much better.
 
Enjoying reading Lester Friend's booklets on the B & A tanker and the Atlantic engines.  He has a lot of good information in them.
 
Thank you for everything. 

 
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---------- Original Message ----------
From: Mark
To: "info friendsmodels.com" <info@friendsmodels.com>
Date: February 13, 2019 at 10:59 PM
Subject: Re: Received Langworthy NYC Hudson plans

Hi John,

Received the castings today in great shape.  I am very impressed with the quality of the castings.  You are very fortunate to have found a place that can do this good of casting work.


 
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-----Original Message-----

From: Joe D.
Sent: Monday, April 7, 2014 04:02 PM
To: john@friendsmodels.com
Subject: Re: 3/4 scale Kozo A3 castings and Rail

Got my castings and rail, they are beyond what I expected with castings, they are outstanding, Look forward to buying again from you. Also found in my rail shipment an old faded blueprint for a 3/4 scale truck, readable but faded; before I knew it the wife had it in a frame hanging in my office!!! Thanks again, if my A3 project goes good I'm liking that little Dinky engine, but got to get this one going first, Have a great day,

-Joe


 
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 -----Original Message-----

From: Al Z.
Sent: Saturday, October 26, 2013 07:34 AM
To: john at friendsmodels.com
Subject: RE: Tom Thumb
 

Hi John:

The Tom Thumb wheel castings are fantastic!  Thank you for making these castings available.

Regards,

Al
>
>

 


 
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-----Original Message-----
 
From: Jarvis Arp
Sent: Tuesday, September 3, 2013 08:36 PM
To: john at friendsmodels dot com
Subject: Thanks again
 
 
John, thanks for the castings.   Once again these are awesome to work with!  Thanks! 
 
Jarvis Arp
>
>
 
 
 

H.J. Coventry Ten Wheeler live steam
The 1" scale drive wheel for the H.J. Coventry TEN WHEELER. Rough casting by Friends Models. Machining and photo by Jarvis Arp. See his comments, above.
 
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-----Original Message-----
From: Paul B.
Sent: Wednesday, April 24, 2013 06:45 AM
To: john@friendsmodels.com
Subject: P7 Castings and Drawings
 
Hello John
Just to let you know, I recieved both packages, but did not arrive together.
The drawings look easy to read, and the castings are nicely made, all together
I am very happy with them.
Thank you, Paul



 
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-----Original Message-----
From: Harry S.
Sent: Thursday, April 18, 2013 11:26 AM
To: john at friendsmodels dot com
Subject: Re: Hudson tender waterbottom casting

Hi John,
Just a note to let you know I received the waterbottom casting this morning. All I can say is "WOW". What a hunk of bronze! Thanks for your service in keeping the 3/4" scale products alive.
Harry
>
>

 
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-----Original Message-----
From: George
Sent: Friday, August 17, 2012 10:10 PM
To: john @ friendsmodels
Subject: Re: The castings are here!

Hi John
Made time to open the box and look at the castings this morning. They are absolutely beautiful. The P7 cylinder* solves many problems machining the valve bore. Kozo's castings are very tempting but I will save them for my son in law. Have decided to press on with the switcher, having a lot of fun with it, and maybe someday if I am lucky I will see it run. You can be sure that I will buy either the B&A 4-6-6 or the friends Atlantic, which ever you make first.
 
Thanks for all the beautiful photos of the trip to Ted's. All I can say is "amen" to the good things you said about him. He, like you, was always a pleasure to deal with.
 
Thanks very much for all you do for all of us. Please let me know as soon as you start work on either the tank engine or the Atlantic.
 
Good health to all and my best wishes to everyone.
Happy rails,
Your pal,
George.
 
 
*This refers to the P7 "President Washington" cylinder castings now being "fully cored" internally

 
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-----Original Message-----
From: Jim A.
Sent: Friday, February 26, 2010 03:53 PM
To: john@friendsmodels.com
Subject: Kozo wheels

John, The wheels arrived today. Don't know when I will machines them but the castings do look very nice. I look forward to ordering other castings from you in the future.  Thanks.

 

Jim A.

>

>
 
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From a customer who bought 1" scale 4-6-0 castings.......


-----Original Message-----
From: Art
Sent: Saturday, April 4, 2009 10:00 AM
To: john@friendsmodels.com
Subject: Re: castings order


John,

 

Received the castings yesterday and they are great. I especially like the tender casting, it is one beautiful piece of work.

Art


 
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From a customer who bought "New Shay" wheel castings in 3/4" scale.......


---------- Original Message ----------
From: "Danny S"
To: Builders_of_Kozos_Engines@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Castings for "New Shay" Wheels from Friends Models Received
Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2009 17:07:00

I received the castings (8) - the quality of the castings are fine, dimensionally correct, and aesthetically pleasing. These should save a tremendous amount of build time....

I have not ordered from Friend's before, and learned of them through this forum; IMHO this alone makes this group a gem! I HIGHLY recommend the wheel castings from Friends Models for building the Kozo New Shay.

Danny
Folsom, CA


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And, a followup to the above comments........


---------- Original Message ----------
From: Zach
To:
Builders_of_Kozos_Engines@yahoogroups.com

Subject: Castings for "New Shay" Wheels from Friends Models Received
Date: Sat, 28 Mar 2009 02:30:18

Anything ordered from John at Friends Models is SUPERB!!!!!
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What a first-time builder says about the Kozo Hiraoka "New Shay" wheel castings now available from Friends Models.......


-----Original Message-----
From: Tim V.
Sent: Friday, March 20, 2009 08:39 AM
To: john@friendsmodels.com
Subject: Shay progress!


Hi John,

Finally had time to start machining the Kozo wheel castings you sent. They are now ready for the final steps of wheel and flange machining. What a pleasure to work with the castings!
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From a customer who ordered the 1-1/2" scale A3 drive wheel castings......

From: DEBBY B.
To: Friends Models
Subject: Re: Kozo drive wheels
Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 13:54:34 -0800 (PST)


Hi John
 
I got the wheels.
 
Thank you VERY MUCH!!!
 
They look great.
 
Peter
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 
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Here's another buyer of the 1-1/2" scale A3 "Kozo" castings.....


-----Original Message-----
From: Jerry W.
Sent: Friday, January 9, 2009 06:42 PM
To: john@friendsmodels.com
Subject: Re: 1-1/2" Kozo Wheels


Hello John,
Received the 4 drivers today. Neighbors ( retired machinists etc) are impressed with the fineness of the castings.
Regards,
Jerry
>
>

 
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-----Original Message-----
From: john h. [mailto:xxxxx@yyy.net]
Sent: Friday, October 31, 2008 08:59 AM
To: 'K, John'
Subject: Castings

Hi John,

The cylinder castings (3/4" scale USRA 0-6-0) came, along with the much appreciated extras, and they are all superb. The cylinders are exquisite. Finest castings I've ever seen.

Thank you,
John H.
Colorado, USA


John H., a builder of the 3/4" scale USRA 0-6-0 from Colorado USA, says that these cylinders are the finest quality castings he has EVER SEEN. Keith Taylor, a former Brotherhood of Live Steamers Secretary (and a fan of the designs of HJ Coventry), says these cylinders are as good as ANYTHING Mr. Coventry ever sold. His comments may be seen below.
 
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-----Original Message-----
From: Paul A.
Sent: Thursday, September 11, 2008 07:09 PM
To: john@friendsmodels.com
Subject: Pennsy A3 Driver Castings

My castings just arrived, and I've had a chance to start machining them. I wanted to send you an email and compliment you on the excellent quality of the castings. I am very pleased with them. It seems it's getting harder and harder to find really good castings. -- Paul A., Ontario Canada



 
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January 28th, 2008

Hi John,

The castings arrived this afternoon; they are beautiful. Thank you very much. Work is continuing on the brake rigging and suspension of the engine. I will start on the main frames soon. I will send an order for more castings soon.

Thank you once again for the wheel castings and also, thank you for making this beautiful engine available again.

Happy rails,

George W. 
Green Valley, ON
Canada


(Comments from a customer after he ordered, and received, the 3/4" scale USRA 0-6-0 wheel castings).



 
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-----Original Message-----


Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2007 11:40 PM
To: john@friendsmodels.com
Subject: Great castings

John,

I wanted to compliment you on the fine wheel castings you provided to Jim C. I am his machinest and am very impressed with the accuracy of your castings, and the high quality of the cast iron. I will be sure to recomend your castings to others, and hope to one day build one of your models.

Thanks again.

Jarvis Arp
Chief Mechanical Officer
Chippewa Northwestern Railway Co.
>
>

 
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Hi John,

I went to the web site and the cylinders for the 0-6-0 are gorgeous! They are absolutely every bit as nice as anything HJC (H.J. Coventry) ever sold!

They should be a dream to machine, and you will end up with something superb, and not “fake” piston valves.

I sure hope folks wise up and start supporting you before you get fed up and quit.


-Keith

(E-mail received from Keith Taylor, Jefferson Maine, USA on Oct. 31st, 2007. Keith is a former Brotherhood of Live Steamers East Coast Secretary)





 
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-----Original Message-----

Sent: Saturday, June 23, 2007 09:24 AM
To: matt (at) homerailwayjournal.com
Cc: john (at) friendsmodels.com
Subject: Friends Models Yankee Shop Castings

Matt,

I just purchased some of the 0-6-0 castings from John at Friends Models and they are superb. He is getting more and more castings available for it and I am certain they will be equal to these. They are well worth the money and will make for a beautiful steamer. Please pass this along in your next issue.


Best,
John H. from Denver, Colorado
(Letter written to new magazine "The Home Railway Journal" on June 23rd 2007 and carbon copied to Friends Yankee Shop Models)









John, these castings are BETTER than the ones I bought from Mr. Coventry in 1969. And...the addition of the chucking spigots to the dome castings are sure a welcome addition to the casting. When I did mine, there was no spigot and I had to turn a wooden holder, ram the dome into it, do my machining, turn it down on the outside, bore my steps on the inside, and then get it out of the holder. That little spigot thing you've added is going to be a joy for people.



And your cast iron....beautiful. It's BETTER than what Coventry sold me; it's better iron and it's more cleanly cast.
He would be proud that you're carrying this on for him, and doing it so well.


-Clint B., Connecticut USA
(H.J. Coventry customer from 1969; comments made to John Kurdzionak August 25th 2007 at Holliston, Massachusetts USA)







In 1969, Clint B. received a dome from H.J. Coventry such as the one shown here on the left. In 2007, Friends Yankee Shop Models will supply you with the one on the right.
 
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Summer, 2007: The new magazine HOME RAILWAY JOURNAL has published a review of Friends Yankee Shop Models' castings for the 1" scale 4-4-0. Click the link below, to read the review.


Document
Click here to see the HOME RAILWAY JOURNAL'S summer 2007 review of FRIENDS YANKEE SHOP MODELS' iron castings
 
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About once per month, Friends Yankee Shop Models sends out an e-mail to the subscribers on its "E-mail Updates" list. The e-mails include general information about Friends' current activities, plus: product updates, announcements of special sales, and other items of interest. It is a great way to stay abreast of Friends' activities, and to get the information direct from the source.....Friends! For more information, or to sign up for the e-mails, please click HERE.










Classic Live Steam of Yesteryear



Rough Castings                                  Old-Fashioned Drawings & Blueprints
 
 
 
Friends Yankee Shop Models
100 Cummings Center
Suite 159-D
Beverly, MA 01915
 

Contact:
 
1-(978)-922-4400 
(Phone, at my business "JFK Clock Repair")
 

sales@friendsmodels.com



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