A Proper Blue Train....

Simon

Simon

Flying Squad
With "Pomparles Siding" being booked out to Railwells this year, it is time to re-visit a model that I "finished" the best part of an unbelievable seven years ago - where does the time go?

Built as a "go-anywhere" G1 runabout for the boys, it was based upon a Bachmann Big Hauler (very cut about) and utilised plastic drainpipe and plasikard as its main constituent parts.

Here it is posing in the sunshine out on the line last summer.

Bluetrain.jpg

The programme of work needs to include:

ScaleOne32 wheels on "proper" chassis, new motor and gearbox, improved detailing of body, painting in a better S&D blue, hopefully lining and lettering and correction of a major error in the cab department.

Carving will start shortly:D

Simon
 
AdamF

AdamF

Western Thunderer
What a great model - can't believe it's plastikard!! I cannot wait to see the detailing work :thumbs:
 
Dog Star

Dog Star

Western Thunderer
Jordan's quip reminded me of business trips to Nice, when returning in the summer months I booked a berth on the ovenight "Blue Train".... spent most of the journey to Paris sitting with the steward and (trying to) talk about the French railways. Arriving at Gare de Lyon at some silly hour gave enough time to skoot across the Gare de Nord and have a feed before the first Eurostar to London. Home and a rest day.

Graham
 
Simon

Simon

Flying Squad
I like the sound of the French "Blue Train", we went down to Perpignan and back from Paris Austerlitz last year and fantastic as it was you had the distinct feeling that sleeper trains had passed their halcyon days.

Back to the belle epoque and 28A:)) , thanks for your compliments, its not a bad thing but is a bit "basic" as the following pictures demonstrate, at the front:

My Triang like bulkhead at the end of the tanks needs removing, with the boiler and side tanks "inside face" being extended back. The footplate needs cutting out between the frames and I guess I may want to suggest a cylinder block below the smokebox, but prototype information on this loco and its layout is very sparse.
28Apic1.jpg

At the rear:

Complete the "cut out" bunker front, put in a cab floor and construct a boiler backhead.

28Apic2.jpg

Cabwise, my glaring error is that the cab is too low, as comparison with the picture of the real loco below (taken from "The Bridgwater Branch" by Jem Harrison, published by Oakwood Press) shows. I only realised this the other day although I was never quite happy with the look of the loco but couldn't pin down why it was exactly. Luckily, I think the extra height wants to go in above the cab spectacles which I think are right in comparison to the boiler etc. The cab side windows are where the rebuilt model will hopefully "look the part" in a way that the original never has.

28Apic3.jpg

We'll draw a veil over the undergubbins for the moment .

Let cutting commence!!

Simon (off to the shed)
 
Simon

Simon

Flying Squad
Back from the shed..

After some cutting and a bit of sticking:

Acut1.jpg

All looking a bit messy, never mind - here's the final result of this first stage, now being left to let the polystyrene cement really go off before cleaning up.

Acut2.jpg

It will be "interesting" to see how well I manage to disguise the join lines but I feel quite encouraged by this, it looks much more like the loco I thought it should have been. The height of the new cab opening scales out at six feet at 1/32, before the beading is put back on, which sounds about right I'd have thought.

Simon
 
Ressaldar

Ressaldar

Western Thunderer
Hi Simon,

looks good. When I saw the picture of the smokebox and chimney, my first thought was - Wainwright 'P' class 0-6-0t, on seeing the latest picture, I'm even more convinced.

cheers

Mike
 
Simon

Simon

Flying Squad
A bit of filing and filling this morning and its definitely looking much more as it should.

The prototype was the final rebuilt form of George England 2-4-0 no. 8, built as a well tank in 1861 apparently, re-boilered in the Johnson style c. 1883, first as a saddle tank and latterly as a side tank (the model), it survived until 1928, the longest lived of the original engines. It had a nearly twin, no. 27A, slightly curvier about the footplate and scrapped in 1925. The last two of this original 2-4-0 type to survive as tender engines (until c 1914) were the latterly very beautiful (in my opinion) Vulcan Foundry built nos 15 and 16. These are like blue and neater versions of the Midland 2-4-0 and I hope to one day build a live steam model of one for the completed garden line - dream on!

Apologies for history "lesson" all culled from obsessive reading of various sources over a number of years:thumbs:

Simon
 
Neil

Neil

Western Thunderer
You're a brave man to cut up something so lovely Simon, but I can see what you mean about the proportions of the cab side cut out. Interesting diesely bits in the rear of the last photo; is there a story to be told?
 
Simon

Simon

Flying Squad
Apart from a tiny bit more filling and re-applying the beading around the cab opening, I think the cab is successfully re-formed. From the rear:

Asanded1.jpg

From the side:

Asanded2.jpg

Front end next I think.....

Simon
 
Mr Tiger Viking

Mr Tiger Viking

Western Thunderer
Hi Simon, Very nice, Worcester Road will also be at Railwells later in the year so make sure that your D6319 is fit for reporting for duty !! I see it is currently resembling Swindon A shop in the background to one of your images, what the matter with your D6300`er? or is it on booked light overhaul !!
Cheers
Mr Tiger Viking
 
Simon

Simon

Flying Squad
Ah yes, D6319.....

Its been taken into shops for the fitting of a Southwest Digital "bee-barp and thrum" chip. I've got as far as rearranging the wiring to suit and next need to re-arrange the cooler group to make a chamber for the two 40mm speakers. I will in the process fit the fan the right way up. I intend to have the DCC switch in and outable so it will still be able to report for duty at Worcester Road in August:thumbs:

I very much like your work on the "Scottish cousin" it will make Wenbridge look a bit "Crianlarichish", especially at this time of year.

Simon
 
Mr Tiger Viking

Mr Tiger Viking

Western Thunderer
I very much like your work on the "Scottish cousin" it will make Wenbridge look a bit "Crianlarichish", especially at this time of year.

Simon[/quote]

I only expect to run D6107 when the snow is at least a foot thick !!! :) I hope you have built a 1/32nd snowplough !
Cheers
Mr TV
 
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