7mm JF's assorted stuff.

Jon Fitness

Western Thunderer
More progress on the undergubbins. I'm not sure where imagination took over from facts but it was probably around 3/4 of the way through concocting the handbrake linkages when I realised I hadn't fitted any brake gear to the bogies...:confused: Lots of odd bits of rod and strip now finishing in mid air, hopefully hidden behind things!
At least the handbrake wheels have location point under the coach now.
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I think I've got most of it correct but as the normal view of the vehicle (unless something goes very wrong) hides most of the brake gear I'll be quite content with what I've done.
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After fitting it with the nearest pair of (unmatched) couplings from the bits pile on my bench, running trials proved rather interesting. The bogie pivots are a little stiff as I've done my best to keep body rock to a minimum. The nice chap I bought the unbuilt kit from was good enough to include some Slaters wheelsets with the kit but I don't know how old they are.
The axlebox springing had a good testing and worked well, not just over the dodgy rail joints and worn Peco P&C but by dealing well with those Slaters coach wheels. Out of 8 wheels, just one appears to be concentric to the axle so I may swap them out for er...some round ones that don't make the bogies flap up and down:rolleyes:

Probably time to hide all the undergubbins with a coat or 2 of paint now:D

JF
 

Bob Reid

Western Thunderer
Great work John - just one slight error.... Unless my eyes deceive me you've got the bogie brake pullrod and it's associated lever on the brake shaft 180 deg. out - all of the GUV's were built with compensated and equalised Brakegear so the brake cylinder and shaft are in the correct places however the bogie pullrod should pass over the top of the bogie frame with the brake shaft lever 180 deg round from it's present position.... At the moment (if it were the "real thing" the applying the brakes would push the bogie brake off....
 

Jon Fitness

Western Thunderer
Thought I'd get something like that wrong ! So, if I rotate the arm 180 it will be totally hidden underneath. And impossible to see. So I could probably remove the rod...result !.:))
JF

Edit..still be able to see it :oops: so the soldering iron is warming up as I type.
JF
 
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Jon Fitness

Western Thunderer
My most recent signals for a customer's layout "Talyllyn Jc"

All servo operated and LED lit, built from a mixture of parts, mostly SSS and the finials are Modelu 3D printed ones which are hollow as per the real thing.

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Next job will be spray painting a certain GUV I was in the middle of...:rolleyes:
JF
 

Jon Fitness

Western Thunderer
I'd actually forgotten about this thread! Soooo much has happened, including retirement and a house move to the isle of Wight! I'm currently messing about with artwork for etching....
My first attempts were reasonably useable. This is my current effort..
JF
 

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Jon Fitness

Western Thunderer
Blimey, 2020 and all that! Where does the time go?
Evening all. These are my latest signals for a customer who is building a model of Threlkeld station. They are using Scale signal Supply arms and post caps, MSE etched lattice post (extended), Modelu lamp cases and a number of my own produced etches. These are the ladders, weight bars, the LMS No5 bracket, the little bolting plates, the smoke deflector and the support bars for the staging handrails.

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They are all LED lit and servo operated.
I sort of had a year off from the signals but I'm back on it now and also hoping to market a small range of "scratch aid" etches for signalbuilders. Thats if I can properly get to grips with NanoCAD or actually get my paid for version of Draftsight back up and running!:headbang:

More Soon (honestly)
JF
 
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Jon Fitness

Western Thunderer
So, here we are again...
Quite a few signals have been constructed over the last 6 months or so..
This is my most recent one, a BR(E) plate and angle bracket signal. Scratchbuilt from well, plate and angle I suppose!
There's a few of my own etchings in there, including the main arm spectacle plates and bolting fittings.

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Now I have Draftsight working again I'm working through all my old artwork correcting mistakes here and there and once PPD get back up to speed I should be getting quite a few signal etches ready for sale.
As a quick diversion between signal builds I'm putting together an LMS 20T Coke Hopper from an EKMDE kit..


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More eventually
JF
 

Jon Fitness

Western Thunderer
Latest signal off the bench...
Ex LSWR gallows signal as used to be at Swanwick. The post and finial are MSE, the bracket and staging scratchbuilt, the arm, backblinder and weightbar are my own etched ones and the lamp case is Modelu fitted with an LED.

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The LMS Coke Wagon went quite well and is now painted but waiting some serious weathering.

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More soon
JF
 
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