7mm Schools Class Build

Lancastrian

Western Thunderer
Hi All,

I'm getting to the stage of completing two of the Schools' tenders and need some assistance in checking the sandboxes on the tender footplate. The castings in the kit have a "hole" in the top for positioning the sandbox fillers, however, the illustration in the instructions shows this to be on the opposite side and as the castings are handed I want to make sure I get these right. I have been unable to find a photo of the tender front so I can check which is correct. Does anyone have thoughts on which may help me out with this ?

Ian
 
Ian,
With apologies for the terrible quality of picture, but here is the tender I built from a Northstar kit about 15 years ago. If you look carefully you can just see the handing of the sandboxes.
Regards
James
 

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Lancastrian

Western Thunderer
Hi James,

Thank you for that. Interestingly, it now throws up the question of whether the David Andrews kit has the position of the levers to the left and right in the correct position. On the DA kit, the supporting brackets are on the tender front bulkhead, whereas on your photo they are placed on the side sheets.

What those photos have confirmed though is that the castings in the kit have the hole for the filler lids in the wrong position.

Ian
 
Ian,

I've dug back thru' my archives - do the attached help? These are from the Bluebell in 2004 - not sure now if they are Schools or U-Boat.

James
 

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Steph Dale

Western Thunderer
Those 4000g tenders are a ruddy nightmare - and I wouldn't bet on any of the preserved ones being 'correct' in terms of their build or running condition. But, and this is probably the important bit, many of the fittings are the same (handbrake, sandboxes) and there are few fittings which have options (transverse Ashford or longitudinal Eastleigh toolboxes, for example). Then there's the issue of whether the tender was rebuilt from a flat sided one or built new and where the build or rebuild occured.

And there are the preservation shuffles that have resulted in a few neverwassers.

I'm sorry I can't be more help, Ian, I'm only starting to work it out myself!

Steph
 

Lancastrian

Western Thunderer
Steph,

Of the three I'm building, 30908 had a rebuilt ex-King Arthur tender, whereas 30924 and 30932 had new build tenders.
To make matters worse with these builds, the whitemetal castings provided in the kit for the springs and hangers have a large strengthening fillet from when cast which needs to be filed off, but the hangers are so fragile they snap. That's two out of the first three broken now ! :headbang:
Only another 15 to go !

Where's Mick and his 3D printing when you need him ? Lol

Ian
 

mickoo

Western Thunderer
Steph,

Of the three I'm building, 30908 had a rebuilt ex-King Arthur tender, whereas 30924 and 30932 had new build tenders.
To make matters worse with these builds, the whitemetal castings provided in the kit for the springs and hangers have a large strengthening fillet from when cast which needs to be filed off, but the hangers are so fragile they snap. That's two out of the first three broken now ! :headbang:
Only another 15 to go !

Where's Mick and his 3D printing when you need him ? Lol

Ian
Drawings?......

I have a Gladiator (North Star) Schools to build for myself in 'my' stash....which actually only consists of two, yes 2 kits, the other being a Princess Coronation......but I've opted for the larger bogie tender which David kindly organised and boxed in the kit. I'd doubt the axle boxes or springs would be the same.

Most white metal hangers I discard anyway, drill the spring and fixing and use brass wire as a replacement, you'd probably have to do the same with a 3D print, though a print would already have the semblance of a pilot hole in each part already.
 
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Genghis

Western Thunderer
Drawings?......

I have a Gladiator (North Star) Schools to build for myself in 'my' stash....which actually only consists of two, yes 2 kits, the other being a Princess Coronation......but I've opted for the larger bogie tender which David kindly organised and boxed in the kit. I'd doubt the axle boxes or springs would be the same.

Most white metal hangers I discard anyway, drill the spring and fixing and use brass wire as a replacement, you'd probably have to do the same with a 3D print, though a print would already have the semblance of a pilot hole in each part already.

The springs are different on the bogie and 6w tenders: I think I packed extra springs for you having broken a few building my bogie tender..........

David
 

Lancastrian

Western Thunderer
Another issue raised it's head today. The side sheet doesn't have the 90 degree fold towards the tender footplate which the tender doors are hung from. Only noticed this in a photo this afternoon. With tender #1 now primed, that proved a little taxing ! At least with the other two tenders I can make some from scrap etch.

Ian
 

Mike W

Western Thunderer
If the springs and hangers are too weak you could file one very carefully, use it as a pattern and send away for brass casting. Not to sell, but for your own use. Choose the right firm and you'd get them back in a couple of weeks.

Mike
 

Lancastrian

Western Thunderer
Mike,

Thanks for the idea. I have carried out repairs as per mickoo's suggestion of drilling through the spring and hanger and using brass wire instead.

Cheers,

Ian
 

Lancastrian

Western Thunderer
Further to the tender queries and what seems to be a can of worms on the floor, I have got thus far.


Whitemetal sandboxes for the tender footplate with filler holes in the wrong place.


New holes drilled in roughly the correct positions.


A completed sandbox ready for fitting. Note the mounting plate and operating handle the correct way round.


Front view showing everything where it should be, hopefully, as well as the vertical sections made from scrap etch to mount the tender/cab doors on as there is nothing in the kit for these, nor any mention of them.


View number 2 of the same tender front.


One of the fire iron brackets made up from 0.7mm brass wire and a 4mm scale steel crank-pin suitably filed. I have seen photos of the rear of the toolboxes with additional brackets fitted in the centre, but cannot confirm if these were there when built or added in preservation.

Thanks to those contributors who added photos to the thread, and to Steph Dale for the lengthy chat about the layout of the front of these tenders, and others !

Ian
 

Lancastrian

Western Thunderer
The builds continue.

Both tenders have received primer, with the second one awaiting a second coat, probably this afternoon.


Tender for 30908 "Westminster"


Tender for 30924 "Haileybury"


Frames for both tenders.


30924 "Haileybury" at a jaunty angle in it's current build state.


Close-ups can be so revealing, and cruel ! Cleaning up required on the motion bracket. Bogie nicely highlights the Scale Hardware rivets though.


Frames and cylinder assembly for 30908 "Westminster"


Brass rods cut to length and drilled 0.7mm one end and 1mm the other end for brass wire to be inserted. These are "spacers" for the cylinder steam cock actuating rods. Cranks and operating rod had to be made too as there is none provided in the kit.


One pair of spacers and rod, along with the scratch-built crank. The operating rod was a spare truss rod from a Sidelines bogie kit which I had in the spare parts bin. The other Schools will get the other spare !


Cylinder assembly installed showing the actuating lever crank slipped over the end of the "spacer" .


Finally, between the front frames, the bogie pivot mount which is from MOK. A more robust slot for sideplay has been made from scrap etch.

Ian
 

Lancastrian

Western Thunderer

30908 on it's frames. Handrail knobs and washout plugs installed, although it seems the kit is short one handrail knob, and although I have others in stock, none are the same length as these. A call/e-mail to David Andrews will be due. Additionally, there are two etched holes in the smokebox for the superheater header drain valve, but there is no mention of them in the instructions, nor is there a casting/fitting supplied. Another question for Mr. Andrews.

Ian
 
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