Simplex Petrol shunter in gauge 3

[geoff_nicholls]

I began posting about this in Geoffs G3 Workbench, but I think it needs its own thread now. Having proved the motor works, I've assembled the etched brass frames, fitted the buffers and wired it up to the revolution RC and Peter Spoerer sound card:


The cab is rather full of gubbins. Unfortunately the RC and sound card need a lot more than the 4 volt battery pack I'd hoped to used. At present twelve AA batteries are packed in. This is fine for my chosen loco, the Brentwood shunter, or the Ware one, but it would have been nice to be able to model the full cab detail.
I mentioned in earlier posts that, once I've got the patterns made for all the parts, I'll be offering this a limited run kit. I'll be bringing it to the Gauge 3 Soc AGM and show at Biggleswade on Saturday 25th Feb, so anyone who might be interested in one can see it there.
Anyone who models G3 with 2 rail electric power would be able to build it with full cab detail and probably include the sound card as well, by adding a PP3 battery.
You can just about see the chain tensioning bolt in one photo.
I'm using a Peter Spoerer diesel soundcard from MyLocoSound, adjusting the sounds so they matching the videos of Simplexes on YouTube.

 

[unklian]

Looking good Geoff . I hope you will be able to give it a spin on the boxfile layout at Biggleswade .

Cheers Ian

 

[geoff_nicholls]

yes, definitely, especially as it has a set of your buffers.

 

[SoundsLoco]

For anyone wishing to install sound in a petrol Simplex, any gauge from '0' or above, then I have a 40HP petrol Simplex sound project available on ZIMO decoders, using authentic sounds I recorded from a petrol Simplex . Works on DC or DCC.

Several are already running in 7mm narrow gauge models and there are ZIMO decoders capable of 6A continuous motor plus 2A continuous accessory power.

Kind regards,

Paul

 

[SoundsLoco]

Thank you, Arty.

Here's an example:

Kind regards,

Paul

 

[geoff_nicholls]

work is progressing on the bodywork. The cab doorway will be covered by a curtain, to conceal the gubbins. I've upgraded the soundcard to a digisound card, also from Peter Spoerer. These cards have a better sound, and better links to the Revolution controller: I press button 2 and the motor starts up, then start the loco moving as usual. After it stops moving I can leave the engine idling, or press button 2 again and it comes to a stop.
The bonnet pattern has been sent of to be cast in resin.
Unfortunately the gauge 3 show at Biggleswade was cancelled, but I'll be bringing the loco with me when I exhibit Lea Siding, at the Ilford and West Essex show
on 22nd and 23rd April
St. Edwards School, London Road,
Romford RM7 9NX.
West Essex Modelrail


the card in the Simplex is for a small diesel loco, the one in the photo has been bought for an 08 shunter

 

[geoff_nicholls]

The Simplex bonnet castings arrived from Ian Thomson (Unklian) yesterday and have been fastened on to the frames with 14BA bolts. I may have made the radii on the corners a bit too sharp. The castings are sufficiently thick for me to change this later.

The next two photos show the basic body shell completed and the loco posed next to a photo of the real thing working at Brentwood. The door will be fitted with a curtain to conceal the gubbins.
It had its first public run on the Blackgang layout at Alexandra Palace, and performed quite well hauling three heavy GRS wagons. However the sounds were inaudible in the exhibition hubub so the volume has been adjusted. (done by turning a screw on the soundcard. I hope to give it another run at the Garden Railway Show at Peterborough on April 8th. Then it will be the star performer at the debut of Lea Siding in Romford on 22nd April.

 

[geoff_nicholls]

Gave the body a coat of primer. This was the first time I'd used Halfords primer, I now see why it's recommended. Although it may have been partly the warm weather.
The third photo shows I've added a curtain for the door to conceal the batteries. I'm assuming it would be the same material as that used to give J15 crews shelter from the rain. I need to read up on J15s to find out what that material was.

The wagons are two of the GRS kits which it it push around Lea Siding in three weeks time.

 

[simond]

Geoff

Might your Simplex be "the other way round" thus making your curtain a little less critical?

If you can't see into the cab...

Best
Simon

 

[decauville1126]

Following this with interest. But might I please ask if, when you get to releasing this as a kit as earlier mentioned, will you be including the 'visible' bits for those who want to do industrial-style models? Thanks.

 

[geoff_nicholls]

I'm intending to have the springs, axleboxes and cab details such as the seat brake pillar and radiator cast in resin, if that's what you mean.
Although the gubbins takes up a lot of room when you power it with RC, anyone modelling gauge 3 with two rail power would be able to model it as nature intended:
https://www.lner.info/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7595

Any parts I produce, would be for sale separately. Hopefully in the Autumn.

 

[geoff_nicholls]

It's getting there...

 

[Spitfire2865]

This is looking very nice.