Building an Ace Kits "K"

oldravendale

Western Thunderer
Thanks Martin.

If that's the case, then it's one of those "oh bum!" moments. That's a full afternoon wasted, and I thought my interpretation was emminently passable! However, the bezels on the rear pair certainly look deeper to my eye and the plugs themselves appear bigger. In fact the mounting certainly appears to be different, one from the other.

Having said this I am, of course, in no position of knowledge, so perhaps my compromise is to make new bezels slightly thicker and settle for that. I'll sleep on it.

Brian
 

oldravendale

Western Thunderer
Discretion being the better part of valour, and having discussed it with myself overnight, I've decided that those large bezels at the bottom of the firebox have to come off and smaller ones substituted. They may not be entirely correct for that loco, but they will not be wrong as an "average" for the class, if you see what I mean. And how many people are going to say to me "You realise that 32337 had a different set up of drain plugs on the bottom of the firebox".

:)

Brian
 

Yorkshire Dave

Western Thunderer
At this point I couldn't resist placing a chimney, dome and smokebox door.:) There are still a lot of fittings to make up and apply, but it actually is starting to look like a "K". That dome is a bit high but I can file that back. The profile isn't bad, though. As for the chimney, that's where I may need some guidance (Dave and Steph?)

Brian

Any chance of posting a broadside photo of the loco with the cut down chimneys and dome?

From the photos there it appears to my eyes the 'cut down' dome needs to be a tad lower - I would check 32337 as some domes had a flatter top whilst others were bit more rounded.

The cut down chimney in the last photo is too short but the right shape. Could you slice it between the base and top, insert an additional 1-2mm and re-profile?
 

oldravendale

Western Thunderer
I'll do that, Dave. I tried to get level with the loco yesterday but it was hardly in profile! Also the fittings will only be in approximate position.

I agree that the dome is a bit too high, but that's a relatively easy job to sort with a rough file. (I bought it as a nearer profile to the prototype cut down version). As for the chimney, I agree that the cut down one is too low. I think the lost wax brass one is too low and too fat. I hoped that the longer chimney would be OK but I suspect it's for the loco as originally built.

Soooo. I reckon there's two options with the chimney. I could indeed extend the short one by a bit. Dunno what "the bit" should be but it'll be worth a go. If that fails I can try shortening the one that's too long!

Thanks for your help, though.

In other news :).... all the low level bezels were removed today, as were the plugs themselves. New, smaller and lower profile bezels were fitted. New plugs are being made up now. I'll try to find time to fit them tomorrow, and take the photos, but I have some repair work to do on the motion of the club's 9F which has to take priority ready for refitting at club in the evening.

Brian
 

oldravendale

Western Thunderer
Steph kindly supplied me with a chimney for a Brighton Atlantic when I met up with him and Yorkshire Dave at the York Show. I've yet to try it in place but it looks as though it's "right". Photos will follow.....

However, I've come up against another problemette. There is a control rod which runs inside the left side boiler handrail and terminates in a fixing which enters the firebox via a flange. Here are photos, full side and close up so that orientation is possible.

LBSC K_0002 - Copy (2).jpg LBSC K_0002 - Copy.jpg

Copyright Trevor Owen and reproduced purely for research.

I have dozens of photos and plenty of drawings but the photos are all very indistinct in this area so difficult to bodge something which looks passable. I'm perfectly OK with the hand rail itself, and with the large diameter pipe above it, but the bit of mechanicals between the front two handrail brackets is difficult to interpret.

So, three questions. Firstly, what is it and what is it's function? Secondly, does anyone know of any drawings? Thirdly, does Laurie G or someone of his ilk make one? (Having said which I'm sure I can bodge one).

As ever all advice gratefully received.

Brian
 

Steph Dale

Western Thunderer
It's a blower valve. Those chancers who took over Martin Finney's range do several...

Here's a pic of one on my Adams' Radial:
index.php


Yours has probably got one as well...

Steph
 

2-Bil

Western Thunderer
B D----------------Dunno if you lifted the Trevor Owen photo from Rodney Lissendens South Eastern Steam but theres another image by Mr Owen on page 13 ,peeking out behind"Boxhill",your enigma is captured square on.Maybe it'll be of use...............................Regards BW
 

oldravendale

Western Thunderer
Many thanks for the suggestion, but I don't have "South Eastern Steam" in my library.

I'll now be on a search at the next exhibition......

Brian
 

2-Bil

Western Thunderer
BD-------------------- copies on amazon books under a fiver including postage.Good colour repro sharp images Don't think it would be a disappointment Respects etc
 

oldravendale

Western Thunderer
Thanks for the info. I've been out at club tonight so not had an opportunity to do my own search but this sounds like exceptional value.

Brian
 

oldravendale

Western Thunderer
I reckon this may be too difficult to answer, but I'll ask anyway.

(In the background work continues on the K - mainly detailing work and all will eventually be revealed.:))

Does anyone know whether AWS was ever fitted to 32337. All my photos of this loco show it without. There is no evidence of cylinders in front of the cab or coupling bang plate (not that it's easy to see anyway) on the photo I took of the loco at the end of it's career when on the way to Norwich for scrapping. My belief is that AWS was probably not fitted, although it seems to be present on most of the rest of the class.

I've looked on SEMG but with no success.

Brian
 

Yorkshire Dave

Western Thunderer
To AWS or not to AWS that is the question. Whether it is nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous BR modellers.....

I'll check my LBSC/SR/BR(S) resources when I get home.
 

oldravendale

Western Thunderer
Thanks so much, Dave. However, immediately I'd asked the question I thought "Is it worth looking in British Railways Illustrated?" And it is.

Over three issues is a treatise about the Ks, almost a "Book of". And it lists all the works visits etc, showing when AWS was fitted. In fact I reckon fewer than half the Ks actually received AWS, and 32337 did not. I actually also did a "reverse check" by looking at all my photos to see if the listings agree, and they do. So I'm satisfied that I can leave the AWS off 32337.

Sorry to send people off on a wild goose chase, but this goose has landed.

Brian
 

mickoo

Western Thunderer
"Cap'n goose up" doesn't quite have the same ring to it, but I suppose it could be brought into play for those really momentous disasters that can happen :p
 
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