Welcome

Thank you for visiting Phil's Narrow Gauge. The cars and accessories found on these pages are built in 1:20.3 scale now recognized as F scale and represent Colorado Narrow Gauge. All cars and parts are individually manufactured in my shop.

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Effective September 14, 2014 and for the Foreseeable Future

I have no kits in stock nor do I plan to manufacture any in the near future other than what's posted in the current update. Any kits produced will be of a limited run nature. No kits will be produced for the sake of having kits on the shelf for random purchases. After 16 years of doing just that, it's time for me to focus on my projects with the occasional run of a new kit. Watch for updates.

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August 23, 2023 Update

Everything Update

It's still to hot to work in the shop. When it gets over the mid 70's in the shop, it literaly becomes a sweat shop. Everything in there generates heat so making anything doesn't happen until cooler weather. I don't have air conditioning out there and never will. With 5 acres, I have plenty to do on the property during the heat of the summer. We're suppose to have a weather pattern change come the 1st of September. So hopefully after the NG show in Denver, it'll be comfortable out there.

I have sold out of all 7/8ths kits for the summer. Once cooler, will continue with the caboose and work in some flat and boxcar kits. Hoping to conclude the 7/8ths project by the end of the year.

The 3nd cut of the caboose is finished. Need to weather it a tad and get pictures and paint my set of figures to install. Those of you that have bought my kits in the past know several of the parts are pre-built to either reduced the cost of the kit by not having to produce jigs to build the kit upon or to maintain exact dimension or hole patterns. There are several of those "pre-built" parts in the caboose. I have ordered enough 3D printed parts (windows, doors, stove, etc.) for the first 4 kits to be sold. To date I have 16 orders. With all raw materials costing me more, the caboose kit with be $600. The passenger trucks will be included in the price. The figures pictured are not. They are also expensive should you want to add them. I outsource them to a 3D printer so I have no control with the price.

This spring and summer has been extremely busy with non PNG projects. Summer, with care of the house and 5 acres, takes me out of the shop. Numerous trips to visit friends and family. Another issue with mid summer is the heat. Everything in the shop generates heat. When the shop gets up to 80 degrees, I spend my time with water projects or things elsewhere. I will get to all with orders and those very patiently waiting on the 1:20 RPO project.

I have 7/8ths scale flatcars, pulp racks and 85 boxcars in stock. I need to make up another small batch of the 147 boxcar. With ISP's doubling down on unwanted emails and spam, frequently philsnarrowgauge.com emails end up in your spam folder. If you email me and don't get a response, check your spam folder. I answer ALL emails that aren't trying to sell me swamp land. Sometimes, when I respond, the receiving ISP will return a message to me that my email has been blocked for xyz reasons. I'll try a couple of times and then move on. 

Another important item. I can't control shipping cost. I have kept my product line sale prices close to straight line. Material cost have gone up and in some cases, I have had to increase my prices but no more than 20% over the past 23 years. The small flatrate box I use for small orders has just increased from $9.45 to $10.20. FedEx Ground has also increased for kits but is still the cheapest method available. Another cost that is increasing is processing fees. I will discuss payment options with you as orders reach the shipping stage.

We've received just shy of 15" of rain to date. Normal is 15" for the year and we still have our seasonal monsoon season in late July through August. Fingers crossed for more rain.

RPO 66 Update

Many are asking the status of the RPO. My initial plan was to do the RPO and then move to the 7/8ths kits. The covid disruption of everything in the spring of 2020 changed those plans. I couldn't get masters made for it so started working on the trucks for the 7/8ths cars. As delays persisted, I began work on the actual 7/8ths kits and just "parked" the RPO project for a later date. I am a one horse operation. As I like to say, one dog, one bone. The RPO project will happen, I just can't say when. Producing kits is secondary to my other responsibilities. While many of my colleagues have bailed from the manufacturing scene, I'm doing my best to hang in there another couple of years.

I have all 50 spots signed up for an RPO kit. At present, I have 6 on the waiting list should any of the 50 change their minds. We'll see how that works out. I have almost all the brass masters I need for the RPO. I do need 1 more of the side steps laser cut in brass. Also need the time to make spin casting molds and silicon molds for the resin parts. I'm now thinking the fall of 2022 at this point. The 7/8ths project I took on is proving to be bigger than anticipated.

A change to this site is now in effect. I have moved the limited run short passenger cars from the Future Projects page to Rolling Stock > Freelance > Short Passenger. They are now fully retired. In the place of the short passenger cars is a new button for the SR&RL 7/8ths kits I'm working on.

7/8ths Update

I've added a "7/8ths SR&RL" button to the main bank of buttons at the top of this page. A few were having problems finding those kits.

First three kits are in stock or in stock as I can keep up with the demand. Caboose is in development. Should have it ready to ship, hopefully by spring 2023.

Hope all are staying warm and healthy.

This page was last updated on 08/23/2023

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