Re: Steph's WR Workbench - Springside 2251

Steph Dale

Western Thunderer
Steph's WR Workbench - Springside 2251

mth said:

Mike,

Close  ;D, but no  :headbang:.  The first is a shot of 3205 as preserved (so it could be sky blue pink with red spots) and the second is a pre-war photo of a much earlier class member.  But, a google search of the warwickshirerailways 'site revealed a couple of interesting photos which do seem to show the locos in the post-war period having bare metal chimney tops and safety valve covers.  :thumbs: Many thanks for the pointer!  ;D

Cynric,

So that means finish it as per the link you posted.

Sorted.  Time to order the U-pol Acid #8 and High #5 and get the spraybooth(s) delivered.  And polish the safety valve cover (Dremel, wire brush)...

And I'm not going to even begin to wonder why a freight loco had polished fittings. At all. Ever.

Steph
 

Ressaldar

Western Thunderer
Steph's WR Workbench - Springside 2251

Hi Steph,

There are photos in Chris Bank's BR Locomotives 1955 - 3208 at Shrewsbury in 1956, dirty and everything looks black, unlined and early emblem. & in the 1962 book - 2217 again at Shrewsbury this time 1960 ex-works in lined green, brass safety valve cover and could be copper chimney. Lastly, in Hugh Longworths book BR Steam Locomotives 1948 - 1968, a photo of 2253 where everything is dull and looks like unlined green, but no date.

You are probably totally confused and wish that you had built a Southern Z 0-8-0t instead ;)

cheers

Mike
 

28ten

Guv'nor
Steph's WR Workbench - Springside 2251

Mike, my first reaction was plain unlined green, but GWW contradicts that  :scratch: I think that polished safety valve and unpainted chimney will be ok and you can always paint it over if further evidence turns up!
 

Eastsidepilot

Western Thunderer
Steph's WR Workbench - Springside 2251

Steph,
Not being a GW man I'm not sure if this is any help but my copy of Railway Liveries '23-'47 by Brian Haresnape says's " Other tender and tank engines (as apposed to express engines) were in unlined green, with black (lining ?) and carried the initials GWR widely spaced. Chimneys were black and safety valve casings painted green." and goes on to say " General details: For all types of engine the lettering on the buffer beam retained the standard sans-serif style and name and number plates remained to prewar spec."
You probably know most of this but I thought I'd offer it mate hope it helps.

Col. Definitely an ER man :))
 

Steph Dale

Western Thunderer
Steph's WR Workbench - Springside 2251

Col,

I'm not a GWR man either - but we need a couple of the smaller and more widely-travelled locos for the inter-regional trains that ran to Southampton. And so I find myself foundering a little over the finer details...

Anyway, it is what it is; and so to a little update. I have to say at this point that it's probably not a bad kit of its type. But there are some niggles which have come to light recently. The first one was having to mark out and drill the holes for the handrail knobs in the boiler. It's a tricky job to get them to all line up on GWR locos, so yet again defeats the objective of this kit being for the tyro. But it is buildable...

The splashers are another case in point. I assembled them by soldering the cast splashers to the etched bases and then realised that I had chunks to carve out of the middle and rear splashers to get them in place. There's a 'before and after' shot of the rear ones below. I also added splasher backs from 0.01" brass to improve the appearance; the top outline of the frame isn't correct, but at least you won't be able to see through to the backs of the wheels.

IMG_8221.JPG
IMG_8223.JPG
On the tender I've made a little progress having had a major brain fart when I realised that if assembled as intended the tender frame couldn't be seperated from the body, or the wheels removed. The use of screws to join it all together is completely subverted by having whitemetal castings for the water scoop and vac reservoir over the screw heads. Genious.

Anyway, once I had recovered from my incredulity I then worked up a solution where the castings are made up as two sub assemblies. The screws were then dropped in to place and the castings fitted to the chassis. The final trick was to drill through the castings in line with the screw heads, so I can drop a screwdriver through each of the castings to do the screw up. In the end a very simple solution.

IMG_8225.JPG

I've still got the tender brakegear and frame details to attach. I think I've worked out how to make the brakegear removable on both the loco and tender, which should making painting easier. Not a bad idea from the servicing point of view either.

So this is what it looks like now. The tender body is largely complete, awaiting only details. The loco body is similarly substantially complete, I've got the feed pipes to do next and then we really are on to the finer details. Both chassis need their brakegear adding and the loco also needs it's ashpan fitted. And just for the record, the safety valve cover and chimney haven't been fitted permanently yet while I decide what to do about the livery . The safety valve cover has been cleaned up ready for either polishing or painting:

IMG_8224.JPG

That's it for now, one last big push and it's done. I hope!

Steph
 
Last edited:

Dikitriki

Flying Squad
Steph's WR Workbench - Springside 2251

Steph Dale said:
But there are some niggles which have come to light recently.  The first one was having to mark out and drill the holes for the handrail knobs in the boiler.  It's a tricky job to get them to all line up on GWR locos, so yet again defeats the objective of this kit being for the tyro.  But it is buildable...

Steph

Hi Steph

Far from being a niggle, I would see this as a bonus!. I have seen far too many handrail knobs in the wrong place, and it's a real faff to plug the holes. I want my boilers flat and without any holes please (or maybe just teeny tiny holes). But then I'm an experienced modeller, and I do remember the days when I insisted on rolled boilers and wanted the holes. Kit manufacturers can't win can they?

Richard
 

Scale7JB

Western Thunderer
Steph's WR Workbench - Springside 2251

Dikitriki said:
Hi Steph

Far from being a niggle, I would see this as a bonus!. I have seen far too many handrail knobs in the wrong place, and it's a real faff to plug the holes. I want my boilers flat and without any holes please (or maybe just teeny tiny holes).
Richard
I completely agree, they can be out by miles, same as holes in cab front sheets for pipes etc..

JB.
 

Steph Dale

Western Thunderer
Steph's WR Workbench - Springside 2251

Scale7JB said:
I completely agree, they can be out by miles, same as holes in cab front sheets for pipes etc..

JB.

Oh well, I'm not going to win this one then, am I?  :))

Steph
 
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