Friends has available the drawings (blueprints) for several designs in 1/2" through 1-1/2" scales. Not all designs have castings available yet, but the drawings will allow you to look over the project; or to aid you in other [similar] projects; or to just admire and enjoy. (The drawings of H.J. Coventry are "engineering works of art" in their own right......hand-drawn in the era of vellum paper, the T-square, the compass, India Ink, and the ruling pen)
All prices are based on shipping to the USA. If you would like shipment to another country, please email me and I will be happy to make arrangements for this.
If the drawings you desire are not listed here, please inquire!
Thanks for looking.
H.J. Coventry and LaVerne Langworthy Drawings
Fully Detailed Fully Dimensioned Easy to Read All parts illustrated clearly and concisely Hand drawn in ink, by an ace draftsman/engineer from the "old school" "Works of Art" on their own! Ideal for your collection of fine drawings; for reference; to simply daydream about; or to build. Drawn in the era before computers, "CAD", and printers/plotters
Lester Friend (Yankee Shop Machinists) Drawings
The drawings of Lester Friend/Yankee Shop are NOT to the same standards as the excellent drawings of other designers. Sometimes details are a little confusing; sometimes details were omitted and the builder was left to "guess"; and sometimes the drawings were never completed. For example, many times, Les seemed to get "as far as" the boiler, and then "stopped drawing" and moved on to other things.
Many of the old "Friends Models" and "Yankee Shop" catalogs stated that "we have left some of the details out of the drawings so that the builder may follow his own mind". These old catalogs were not joking when they claimed this!
Nevertheless, many people have asked for the drawings to be available, so they are offered here for those who would like them/have asked for them. They are "as drawn" by Lester Friend. There are enough details for the serious, experienced builder to be able to obtain information and ideas, but they will NOT sufficiently cover the details for the entire locomotive, nor will they guide you "step by step", as you have come to expect from other designers.
If Friends Yankee Shop Models re-releases castings for any of the following designs, the drawings will be up-dated to modern standards with complete detail at that time. They are offered here today to satisy current requests for them. They are imperfect drawings, but should be sufficient to suit your interest and curiosity.
Thanks for looking.
3/4" scale Atlantic 4-4-2
The Yankee Shop "original" from the late 1930s! Loosely based on Boston and Maine 3000-series Atlantics; Baker valve gear used instead of Walschaert gear because at the time, the Baker Gear was Lester Friend's preference. He believed it was easier for the novice live steamer to build, erect, and repair the Baker Gear, than it was for him to do so on Walschaert.
These drawings are suitable for the person who already owns a Friends/Yankee Shop 4-4-2 and would like the drawings for repair purposes, or "just to have". Some minor details are absent from the drawings, and they have NOT been checked or updated yet....these are the complete set "as drawn" by Lester Friend. They are available for informational and historical purposes only, for those who want to buy them. They are not presented as "complete" in every detail, nor are they guaranteed to be "without error". These are the same drawings as were available from the late 1930s until about 1980 and they are presented to you here in that spirit. Lester Friend used to say "we have left some of the details out of the drawings, so that the builder can follow his own mind". He was not kidding.
Price $79 plus $20 USA shipping. For other countries, please inquire.
3/4" scale 4-6-6-4 Challenger
Drawings for wheels, cylinders & steam chests, pilot truck, trailing truck, front chassis, rear chassis, valve gear, main rods & connecting rods, and the boiler are fairly complete, fairly well-detailed, fairly easy to read, provide good information to the skilled builder (or the interested and curious!). Elevation drawing of tender gives an overall view; no detail drawings. This is what Lester Friend called "follow your own mind". Smokebox drawing lacks detail.
No drawings for domes, smokestack, cab, or plumbing.
Drawings for other "Lester Friend" and Yankee Shop designs will follow soon, including the 3/4" scale Boston and Albany 4-6-6 tanker. Please check back to this page often, for updates.
