Z6/Y11 'Simplex' locos - line diagrams?

flexible_coupling

Western Thunderer
Hi guys,
Not sure if this is the best location for such a request... Among the number of different interests I have in building up a collection of 7mm stock is to scratchbuild one of the tiniest standard-gauge locomotives I know of - the theoretically BR '15097', seen on this page;

http://www.lner.info/locos/IC/y11.shtml

Has anyone come across a useable general arrrangement diagram - heaven forbid a front-and-side scale drawing - for this or the similar family of locos? I'd like to plan out and etch up a chassis/frame and possibly rapid prototype up the pressed metal "body" or use etched brass. Most likely to try and use a Steam Era Models' Black Bug power unit - http://www.steameramodels.com/bbeetle.htm.

I have "a little" experience ;) with computer design and model railway related items (the specifics of which I can't publicly disclose!) and am familiar with etched brass design - but I've never operated in the size and severity of 7mm before!

I'm only really interested in making one for myself - however if I'm able to piece together something useful, I might be persuaded to make etch artwork available to members here to 'DIY'... sharing is caring!
 

Osgood

Western Thunderer
Where's that bloke from Ixion when you want him? :thumbs:

I should have something - I'll see what I can dig up.

whilst Delrin chain is very much overscale in this application, it might be the best drive from one of those black bug units as it echoes the real drive system.

Much of the character of these little critters came from their use of split spoke type wagon wheels and axles - although the image below (sorry don't know where the pic came from) shows a unit with one split spoke axle and one disc wheel axle!

Simplex Shunter.jpg
 

Simon

Flying Squad
There are drawings in The Early Years of the Motor Rail & Tram Car Company 1911 - 1931 which I'm shocked to see I didn't "write up" on my website.

In stock in "da shop" and I did copy the drawings to 1/32 scale too.It's on my "to build one day" list too:rolleyes:

Simon
 

Osgood

Western Thunderer
For a second Tony, I thought that you were going to say it was round the back by the shed!

Oh how I wish I could say that, Rob! :cool:

Andy - have you come across a relatively new book entitled 'The Early Years of the Motor Rail & Tram Car Company 1911 - 1931' by WJK Davies (Plateway Press)? This contains a good history of the development of the standard gauge shunters along with some nice plan/side/endG.A. drawings to scales of approx. 8 and 9mm/ft, and should definitely go on your shopping list!

I've also dug up a couple of big drawings from my cave - one a full size copy of MR&TC Co G.A. Z588 (28mm /ft) side/end elevations of the British Rail examples. It is titled 'Main Line Type Shunting Loco'. This drawing does not appear in the above book, but is the very machine you're after modelling. Also a MR&TC Co outline drwg (to 13mm/ft) of LNER 8430.

I can't recall where I got these large plans, but they are stamped copyright British Rail / Oxford Publishing, so may still be available (anyone know what happened to the OPC Plans Service?).

I'd like to express a great interest in having a couple of the industrial type locos (40 / 60hp) with basic bodywork with cast ends.

So - if we cannot get Chris Klein of Ixion excited about the prospect of producing a RTR version (and I just know it would be as successful as the Fowler infernal combustion shunter), how about a WT 'Project' Locomotive Kit in similar vein to MRJ's Wantage Tramway loco? :thumbs:

Tony

Edit - ah, see the main man from Titfield has beaten me to it! :D
 

JimG

Western Thunderer
(anyone know what happened to the OPC Plans Service?).

Still in use (with all its errors:) ) and downloadable from part way down this page on the NRM site.

http://www.nrm.org.uk/ResearchAndArchive/archiveandlibrarycollections/RailwayCoWorks.aspx

The NRM are now charging £5 for a digital copy from the OPC files so is quite a good buy these days. I've obtained about ten copies over the last year or so and they have been of excellent quality. There is about a six week wait though.

Jim.
 

Simon

Flying Squad
So - if we cannot get Chris Klein of Ixion excited about the prospect of producing a RTR version (and I just know it would be as successful as the Fowler infernal combustion shunter), how about a WT 'Project' Locomotive Kit in similar vein to MRJ's Wantage Tramway loco?

What an absolutely cracking idea.

I think they are very attractive machines, I fell in love with "Rachel" on the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway, I think this was the loco that came from the Burneside Paper Mill railway.

They had a Ruston 48DS too.

Simon
 

AJC

Western Thunderer
Impetus did such a thing years since in both GW and LNE versions. Dad did one in EM with a chassis built around spare gears from a failed Mainline Warship (if you've ever owned a Mainline Warship, you'll understand why the gears were spare!).

Simplex.gif

I did wonder whether we'd ever see the like again. Something that, in 7mm, might be tempting.

Adam
 

decauville1126

Active Member
What an absolutely cracking idea.

I think they are very attractive machines, I fell in love with "Rachel" on the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway, I think this was the loco that came from the Burneside Paper Mill railway.

They had a Ruston 48DS too.

Simon


The Cumbrian Railways Association (CRA) have available some very atmospheric colour prints of Cropper's Tramway available to buy at:

http://cumbrianrailways.zenfolio.com/p199522743

The one of the Ruston rounding the corner by the church is absolutely astounding!

There are other (black and white) pics of this line in the CRA collection.

'Rachel' is still at Haverthwaite in a semi-dismantled/semi-restored state and the 48DS Ruston is currently on Sir William McAlpine's Fawley Hill Railway in Berkshire, having transferred there from Steamtown at Carnforth (where it went following the closure of Cropper's rail operations at Burneside and acquired the name 'Flying Flea'). Sadly not currently in use but stored in the dry. And is now named 'Sir Bill'.
 

Stevesopwith

Western Thunderer
Osgood's photo was taken at the East Anglian Railway Museum. Oz7mm, Richard K and myself spent an enjoyable day photographing and measuring it with a view to a model. As with all such projects, progress has been slow, but I have produced a basic underframe plan, with a suggested mechanism based on a Branchlines 50:1 gearbox, a Mashima 12/24, and delrin chain between the axles. Oz7mm is working on 3D printed end body units, and we have most of the dimensions of the upper works. Though they are not quite the same as your LNER subject, it would not be difficult to adapt.

We are also in contact with two guys in Australia, who are researching a version similar to yours based at Byron Bay..... also in Australia..... the results of their research are expected anytime now.

View attachment 27124Simplex  7mm JPEG cropped.jpg
 

flexible_coupling

Western Thunderer
Now, that particular subject tucked away in a tin-shed in Byron Bay (which I saw many years ago on the Scott McGregor television show 'Railway Adventures Across Australia'... I have all of the episodes on VHS somewhere in a storage box!) was the REAL reason for my interest in the subject! I know that there's a few family similarities within the British variants, and indeed I had hoped somehow to model the Australian version as well as a British model.

I am very interested to see where this work of yours goes! I've no intentions on duplicating anyone elses' far better researched and developed work...
 

flexible_coupling

Western Thunderer
And... thankyou Internet! Look from about 14:50 on for some interesting information on an Australian Simplex..... although the whole saga is well worth the look to get a perspective on Australian railways up to about 15 years ago. Amusingly, they immediately transition into a view of the Byron Bay Railway Station.... nearly immediately after this was aired, the entire branch was mothballed...

 

Overseer

Western Thunderer
I built one of the Impetus 7mm Simplex kits in the mid 90s as a quick spare loco for exhibitions while more steam locos were under construction. I have thought about repainting it black with its last BR markings but don't think I will as something is not quite right about the proportions. It is still missing a buffer and other bits after a fall to the floor at Telford in 1998 (accidentally left in the loco shed during dismantling). It is heavy and runs well with a huge motor mounted vertically in the cab, Romford 40:1 gears and delrin chain drive between axles and Alan Gibson Scale7 wheels.
Simplex fb1.jpg
Simplex fb3.jpg

A new more accurate kit would be a good thing. Interior detailing could come from the ABS/Wrightlines WW1 40hp Simplex kits. My standard gauge version is below, minus its roof which is now loose following some storage damage so I left it off for the photo to get more light on the internal bits.
Simplex ng.jpg
 

flexible_coupling

Western Thunderer
That Impetus kit looks to be quite a different model/variation. Angle-iron reinforcement by the windscreens and the enclosed cabin is a bit interesting.

Osgood has incredibly generously arranged for his diagrams to be sent to me. I may have a crack at scratchbuilding a model for myself in the next month or so, as I do need to order some bits in from the UK anyway...
 

AJC

Western Thunderer
It's only really the 'cab' that's any different, the frames and end castings should be identical. The Impetus kit(s) were tailored for 2 particular versions - Overseer's is the LNER one (although they had more than one, that version was used at Ware, BR no. 15098) while dad's is the GW type and the body, such as it was, seems to have been either to Swindon's spec' or constructed there. The GW version, at least, seems to be a pretty good match for the prototype.

Adam
 

SimonT

Western Thunderer
Has the one at Chapel been restored yet? I remember it from boy hood preservation work and then, it was in worse condition than Osgoods photo.

Simon
 
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