Steve Cook

Flying Squad
Great looking underframe there Jamie , certainly different to the usual solebar / headstock combo :)

Looks pretty clean to me already, Steve, given that it's going to get painted - what does a 'proper clean' involve then?

Just a bit of mechanical cleaning really Tim with Scothbrite and a fibreglass stick. I like using Carrs yellow flux, but it can leave a red residue when it gets very hot, and with the iron cranked up to 400+ degC, it gets very hot indeed. The flux can spit a bit, and using viakal doesn't seem to shift the marks it leaves. That is one of the downsides of G1 - there is so much thermal mass in brass that it pays to have the heat up very high, get in, solder the job and get back out again quickly.

Doors are on now :)

PMV18 doors on.jpg

Don't reckon that Dick Dastardly Castens fellow is that far in front now :p

Steve
 

Simon

Flying Squad
Hmmm, I'd call it being way behind I think:))

I did manage to at least solvent on rivets to my replacement plastic under frames at the club last night, using my mangled brass ones as a positioning guide. That done the brass jobs can be thrown away. I am thinking about the doors, I suppose making Plastikard replacements is cheating, I need to suffer the full burnt fingers and filing agony syndrome of etched brass construction:p

Apart from being very distracted by booky stuff, I managed to get some fibreglass rammed into my thumb on the last work session which hasn't worked its way out yet and makes things very painful, plus a couple of embedded thorns on the tip of my index finger from bramble bashing a week ago.

Just typing this is hurting:))

Simon
 

jamiepage

Western Thunderer
On its wheels, although the shot does flatter progress somewhat with an awful lot of consolidation still to do on all three major assemblies. According to the write up I have Bulleid designed the axleboxes as welded fabrications, so these could be represented by simple milled shapes using photos as a guide. A shaped front plate is still required on each, as is what looks like a rectangular upstand on top to act against the leaf springs.
On the model, coil springs will be fitted above each box, although the minimalist detail in that area on the prototype is going to make it more difficult than I had first thought to hide them. Ride height datum should be 1mm. higher than shown here when sprung.
Still cannot find good photo or drawing to confirm how the springs were hung at their ends, but much to do anyway.
IMG_0001.JPG
 

Steve Cook

Flying Squad
You get the award for 'First on Wheels' photo though Jamie :)

Me? I'm learning how not use an RSU :))

Lesson1 - When using an RSU to remove a soldered on component, heat next to the component, not on it.
Lesson2 - If you are going to ignore Lesson1, turn the power down.
Lesson3 - If you are going to ignore Lessons 1 and 2, take your damn foot off the pedal before you lift the iron off the component.

The result of ignoring lessons 1, 2 and 3

PMV19 RSU lesson pt1.jpg

Muppetry :))

Some scrap nickel silver and a rivet press later

PMV20 RSU lesson pt2.jpg

That'll have to do, now where was I...
Steve
 

Simon

Flying Squad
That looks really very good indeed - well done Sir:thumbs: (But you are also an utter bounder; skill, application, technique, sustained effort - what sort of gentleman indulges in that sort of thing eh?!)

I will get back on to mine soon - my digits are more or less recovered now:rolleyes:

Meanwhile back to number crunching:(

Simon
 

jamiepage

Western Thunderer
A good start to the day today, with receipt of just the information I needed ref. spring hanger arrangements on these vans, so I now have enough to see it through. The info. came in response to an online query, from a very helpful person in Australia to whom I am very grateful. The internet still amazes me.
Slate panels are on as are the first four (of sixteen unfortunately) door louvred panels. It looks a bit scruffy here but should be ok.
IMG_0001.JPG


Edit by Steve Cook to remove duplicate photo
 
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Steph Dale

Western Thunderer
Jamie,
I'm pleased to see you motoring on. To my utter chagrin I've failed to find the references I was alluding to; when/if I find it I'll confirm with you.
Steph
 

jamiepage

Western Thunderer
Some progress on the plastic van's underframe.
The drawings I was recently kindly sent showed the diagonal members to be less than straightforward fabrications, and although for the most part they are hidden, enough will be visible to make it desirable to add least nod to the prototype's appearance. The resultant parts are simplified replicas but will, I hope, cast the right sort of shadows.
The exposed headstocks need the support of these diagonals, even on the model, so they have been soldered up (untidily I can see) as part of the underframe, rather than built up in plastic as part of the floor structure.
The wheelsets are carried by and sprung from the axleguards so leafsprings/ hangers/ attendant crossmembers etc will not need to do any work. They can fortunately therefore be built up cosmetically on the floor structure.
The prototypes were fitted with 3ft. 1in. dia., 3 hole disc wheels, so a suitable set has been bought from Slaters.
IMG_0001.JPG IMG_0001.JPG
 

jamiepage

Western Thunderer
Thank you Simon.
However, have now got bogged down a bit with the underframe detailing iro leafsprings. The drawing I now have shows the prototypes had lateral members sprung from the centre mainframes either side of an axleguard, on the end of which were volute springs which in turn acted as dampening/ hangers for the leafsprings. Between these volute springs were what was effectively a short solebar. Unfortunately, both the laterals and the mini solebars are tapered toward the volute springs, with the tapers falling away from the floor - all of which contrives to make replication a bit more difficult than sticking bits to the underside.
My initial idea to build up the detail in plasticard failed miserably- it was all too weak and unsupported, and turning into a mega bodge. After a wasted session last night, I bit the bullet and decide to do the job more properly, so the various bits are being cut out again, but from nickel silver this time, and built up as part of the soldered underfame assembly.

Failed attempt
IMG_0001.JPG

Second go, this time starting with the mini solebars. (Soldering still horribly scruffy).

IMG_0001.JPG
 

Steve Cook

Flying Squad
A slow week in terms of progress on the PMV for me, fortunately it seems to have been matched by Simon :D
I have managed to finish the verticals on the second side though.

PMV23 verticals finished.jpg

To the bottom right of the photo you can see the twelve strips that have been cut and riveted and will form the flat part of the T and L irons. The kit parts are a pain to clean up, its half etched thickness, with three mounting tags on each side and unfortunately there is quite a lot of cases where the material has not been fully etched away meaning I would need to file down to the desired half etch thickness. It could be done, but I reckoned that making the new parts would be less frustrating, if not actually quicker. More soldering tomorrow :)
Steve
 

jamiepage

Western Thunderer
The plastic job is slowly jogging alongside, taking inspiration from the main event.
Underframe main structure is as finished as I want to take it, but it now needs clasp brake gear and all the rodding- most of which is unfortunately very much on show. I will talk to Slaters to see whether they may have some etches which could speed up this bit, otherwise it is going to be a slow and repetitive interlude.
1/32 castings for 5ft. leaf springs would also speed things up.
That's probably the bulk of work still needed.
Thereafter, door furniture, lampirons and end vents should be pretty straightforward, vac. pipes and screw couplings should be available to purchase, and transfers are to hand (from Cambridge Custom Transfers). Steps should be ok, with the supports cut on the pantograph and subsequently soldered to the underframe assembly.
SECR/SR heavy duty self contained buffers may be an issue, thinking about it.
Anyway, the photo records progress to date, but it's going to be head down now to work through the brakegear.
IMG_0001.JPG
 
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