7mm Ranelagh Bridge west London Stabling point 1959/1964

Compton castle

Western Thunderer
6213552D-21B0-4C05-9BC9-FD97CA06DB43.png 01741917-6498-4AEF-B015-BB18DB28E8F6.jpeg 0BF96A24-D77B-40A7-AFE4-1E8DA2B07072.jpeg I’ve had another crack at the bridge mock up! Using photos to try and gauge the size and the signal gantry has been very helpful. All this information plus a paper version will be sent of to Canada to the designer whom I’m also meeting at Telford.
This should be a part kit covering the basic structure and part scratch build covering the details.
 

Yorkshire Dave

Western Thunderer
The bridge should look impressive when completed.

Will it be made strong enough to cantilever from the rear support only without the front of layout support?
 

Compton castle

Western Thunderer
2B5BABED-4E6B-41B9-9226-651597161308.jpeg 0EF4A985-B445-4853-A07C-06729866A918.jpeg Heljan’s large Prairie!
Now having a good look over the model up close it’s a lot better than the EP samples on the Heljan stands at shows.
The moulded number plates pop off quite easy with a sharp Stanley knife for replacement by some nice etch plates. Severn mill ones here just blue tacked in place.
So any modifications? Yes the tank lifting brackets are on the anemic side so some warren shepherd ones will remedy that, the seam is noticeable on the safety valve bonnet but that’s an easy fix. Radley models do a trip cock casting for the 61 so one of them is a must as well.
A good coating of dirt and away we go.
Testing on standard DC was fine with the Loco running smoothly, I don’t have the room to see what it’s haulage capacity is like but being a Heljan Model it should move a good load.
 

Yorkshire Dave

Western Thunderer
Radley models do a trip cock casting for the 61 so one of them is a must as well.

They are sold as pairs (nice brass castings as well) as there will be a tripcock on either side of the loco. You'll have to check photos as they may not be opposite each other - I would suspect the one on the driver's side will be towards the front of the loco and the one on the fireman's side towards the rear.

The WR fitted tripcocks under the leading footsteps to the panniers they sold to LT who in turn moved the one on the fireman's side rearwards towards the cab so it could be activated sooner if it passed over the raised actuator at track level.
 

Focalplane

Western Thunderer
Steve

Mine will be 4175 as seen at Snow Hill. I bought the Severn Mill plates two years ago! Good to know the coal can be removed, it looks horrible. Otherwise a pleasing model.

Paul
 

Compton castle

Western Thunderer
4B5B4BAC-1C77-47AA-AE69-EAC39CAE9CA4.png It is a pleasing model, I’ve made a start on getting her to a more early 60’s workaday appearance, can’t go to much further as I’m waiting for the cast tank lifting rings to arrive from Warren, he’s waiting on some castings so it may be a couple of weeks yet.
I’ll order the trip cocks this week and once they are fitted I’ll make a start on the chassis.
Unfortunately Radley models are out of trip cocks until around December!
 
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