Sandy Harper
Western Thunderer
Earlier this year I took pity on a part (badly) built example of a Malcolm Mitchell 517 class. The main attraction was that it had wheels and an RG7 included, so I bid for, and won it!
On arrival it looked as though it had not been touched in years. The wheels were very rusty and the brass badly tarnished but, apart from the buffers, it appeared complete.
The chassis had been completed but was not square and no thought had been given to springing or compensation, although the kit has provision for either. I decided to fit the compensation beam to the rear drivers and the rear carrying wheels and arranged a simple rocking beam for the front drivers. I retained the plunger pickups after rebuilding them.
The footplate and front splashers weren't badly built but the internal framing, that supports all the external panels, was a bit wonky and needed rebuilding. Once all these bits were sorted I was able to progress with the rest of the build. It was around the time, when I had to decide whether to attach the rear outside framing to the chassis or the footplate, that I found they were missing! No option but to scratch build.
Someone said you like piccies on this site!! For those interested in a bit of scratch building, a la Harper, look in!
We start with a bit of square N/S x 2 joined with some double sided carpet tape.
A photocopy of the drawing scaled to 7mm with the shape of the required frame drawn on to it and cut out.
Next attach a piece of double sided tape to the top surface of the N/S....
.... then attach the cut out drawing to it.
Cut around your parked line with a piercing saw. The wet and dry, attached to the saw bench, is to provide grip and stop the work piece moving around.
Two frames cut out. Separate the frames and clean up.
Attach casting and carry out any bending to fit the required location.
....and finally fit to model.
Most of the plate work done and starting to look a bit more like a 517.
Quite a bit of detail added and looking good!
Nice coat of Precision GWR green gloss
Ready for the varnish coat
Regards
Sandy
On arrival it looked as though it had not been touched in years. The wheels were very rusty and the brass badly tarnished but, apart from the buffers, it appeared complete.
The chassis had been completed but was not square and no thought had been given to springing or compensation, although the kit has provision for either. I decided to fit the compensation beam to the rear drivers and the rear carrying wheels and arranged a simple rocking beam for the front drivers. I retained the plunger pickups after rebuilding them.
The footplate and front splashers weren't badly built but the internal framing, that supports all the external panels, was a bit wonky and needed rebuilding. Once all these bits were sorted I was able to progress with the rest of the build. It was around the time, when I had to decide whether to attach the rear outside framing to the chassis or the footplate, that I found they were missing! No option but to scratch build.
Someone said you like piccies on this site!! For those interested in a bit of scratch building, a la Harper, look in!
We start with a bit of square N/S x 2 joined with some double sided carpet tape.
A photocopy of the drawing scaled to 7mm with the shape of the required frame drawn on to it and cut out.
Next attach a piece of double sided tape to the top surface of the N/S....
.... then attach the cut out drawing to it.
Cut around your parked line with a piercing saw. The wet and dry, attached to the saw bench, is to provide grip and stop the work piece moving around.
Two frames cut out. Separate the frames and clean up.
Attach casting and carry out any bending to fit the required location.
....and finally fit to model.
Most of the plate work done and starting to look a bit more like a 517.
Quite a bit of detail added and looking good!
Nice coat of Precision GWR green gloss
Ready for the varnish coat
Regards
Sandy
Last edited:
- family ties allowing
