Scale7 JB Workbench.

Scale7JB

Western Thunderer
The boiler hand holes in the kit for the J15 are a bit of a work of fiction and so I spent a couple of hours doing these last night with some wire and small bore tube.

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In the cold light of day they were okay but really didn't pass for me. Then remembered I had some of LG's NE cast offerings. A bit of time cleaning up, changing the shape and trying to get the flat section as thin as possible got to this stage. A lot better...

Still not quite right as they should be flush with the boiler cladding but...

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JB.
 

Scale7JB

Western Thunderer
Next up, an area of the kit that is a little out on the dimensions.

With the front splashers/sandboxes, the radius is too large, probably to accommodate coarse scale, and so the shape just looks wrong with the radius almost being as high as the top of the sandbox.

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On the prototype there is a definite difference in height, so I added a sliver of material to the top of the sandbox to accentuate the height difference. It does make it too tall off of the drawing by nearly 1mm but I'm much happier with the shape and the look.

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JB.
 

Scale7JB

Western Thunderer
Another inaccuracy unfortunately. In the kit the third boiler band runs down the front corner of the site box cladding. It should be the first band on the barrel, which means the half etch groove is in the wrong place.

Nothing a bit of 0.5mm wire and solder can't solve.

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Would have been easier with the boiler seperate to the rest of the body, but still not too tricky.

JB.
 

Scale7JB

Western Thunderer
Well I thought I was done with the smokebox and ready to make captive in the rest of the body but a couple more jobs needed.

Colin Dowling as mates do sent me pictures showing the internals weren't quite right i.e. WRONG.

The blast pipe should have been taller and also had the spark arrester which reminded me I had some spark arrester frames etched up quite a while back.

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Then I realised that the Blastpipe just wasn't right and should be a bigger diameter. So a new larger bit of tune was added.image.jpeg image.jpeg image.jpeg image.jpeg image.jpeg

Last job was to round off the flat top etched rivets that just looked silly using an old Adrian Marks trick of a brass wire wheel in a dremel type thing. Works a treat, and Adrian if you're reading this I and everyone in the group wishes you all the best!!

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JB.
 

Rob Pulham

Western Thunderer
Hi JB,

I have been back a few pages but seem to have missed whose J15 kit this is? - I would like one at some point myself and was considering the Connoisseur offering when I get there.
 

Eastsidepilot

Western Thunderer
Hi JB,

I have been back a few pages but seem to have missed whose J15 kit this is? - I would like one at some point myself and was considering the Connoisseur offering when I get there.

JB won't mind me answering this, it's a Connoisseur kit Rob. probably the best of the bunch but not with out some discrepancies.
If you want to fight, cry and laugh try an Ace kit.
Wouldn't bother with an old Gibson kit, that's if you find one.

Col.
 

Rob Pulham

Western Thunderer
Thanks Col,
I do have a couple of Ace kit's in the pile to laugh cry etc. with at some point. - TBH I would be happy to be building any kit at the minute, but hopefully I will have a temporary workbench set up in the next couple of weeks.
 

Scale7JB

Western Thunderer
Thanks Colin.

Rob, it's a good enough kit if you just want to build an engine, however if you want to build an accurate engine as Colin has mentioned there are a few things that need looking at.

JB.
 

Scale7JB

Western Thunderer
Valve gear in, only done 'alf a job' though. I used LG cast crank webs and connecting rods, but the rest of the moving bits are built up out of tube and scrap etch.

Ironically you can see the static valve gear quite clearly, and can barely see the cranks slidebars and crossheads. Oh well..

It does mean the chassis is now nearly finished.



JB.
 
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Scale7JB

Western Thunderer
I had originally put the kits version of the cab roof on to check the height of the tender cab roof, but was only temporary as its not great and a bit of a work of fiction. Cut a new one out yesterday, and riveted, and then popped some of my rain strip etches on. Looks much better.

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Whilst the cab roof is off again, I really ought to start on the cab details.. What to do with this monstrosity??

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JB.
 

Scale7JB

Western Thunderer
Should do the trick.. Unfortunately the solder flowed from behind a little more than I'd hoped it would, so the close ups are a little cruel.

I'll have to use smaller washers to simulate the top gauge glass flange to bring the positioning inboard a touch. They're too far out at the moment..

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JB.
 

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