Mike G's Workspace.

Mike Garwood

Mike Garwood

Western Thunderer
After a number of days...yes days..I finally tracked down the short!


As you can see 5214 lives and runs acceptably. Yes, I do have to draw the steam chests and slide bars in CAD as my idea worked, but frankly, looks awful.

The centres of the slide bars can be moved in by at least a mil and a half. This is the first time I have a P4 chassis with Y shaped con rods!! I could have have chopped up the existing cylinders and moved them in, if they had been brass I'd have done this, but with plastic, I'm always a little nervous about the residual strength in glues - even the new super glues. I know, I'm a sceptic!
Goodness only knows what these looked like on the OO version!
But that's all for another day. I've just been playing with it, enjoying the moment and plonking some of my freight stock behind it. Just needs a 25 foot layout to run it on now...he typed dreaming!

Now onto a very poorly pannier. In as much I've stripped it to it's component parts. First job will be new coupling rods.

Stay safe

Mike
 
Last edited:
Mike Garwood

Mike Garwood

Western Thunderer
This is the stripped chassis. New coupling rods required as the originals had been opened out too far and were a very peculiar shape.

GWR 57xx bits.png

The coupling rods came from the Bill Bedford stable and consist of 3 laminated etches. The joint is captured not by a rivet but by a 0.9mm wire that captures the outer layers. A case of, careful with that soldering iron Eugine. I blacked up the joints just to make sure they didn't run solid.

GWR 57xx hornblocks.jpg

New HL hornblock arrangements soldered in. If you're wondering why the chassis is jacked up in the air this is because the outside of the chassis has already been detailed and would not sit flat on the jig.

GWR 57xx pannier.jpg

Put all the spacers and gubbings back in and soldered up. Needs a good wash and clean now before I put the brakes in and then paint...this time with gloss black!
An entertaining afternoon...back to the salt mine in the morning.

Stay safe

Mike
 
AJC

AJC

Western Thunderer
All good stuff Mike, but why gloss black? Even ex-works doesn’t look gloss in my limited experience!

Adam
 
Dog Star

Dog Star

Western Thunderer
AJC said:
Even ex-works doesn’t look gloss in my limited experience!
Click to expand...
Are you sure in every case?

Tekaloid enamel black was, I believe, recommended by ex SDN staff as the paint to use and that is what was being used by Didcot at least from early 1970s through to early 1980s - that paint was glossy before the varnish!
 
AJC

AJC

Western Thunderer
Dog Star said:
Are you sure in every case?

Tekaloid enamel black was, I believe, recommended by ex SDN staff as the paint to use and that is what was being used by Didcot at least from early 1970s through to early 1980s - that paint was glossy before the varnish!
Click to expand...

Positive - I know it is and was gloss, it simply doesn’t look glossy (and certainly not when scaled down to 4mm when it’s a bit much, well in my view).

Adam
 
Mike Garwood

Mike Garwood

Western Thunderer
Gloss black because weathering powders only take on a gloss finish. Granted most of it will be covered with my usual grot mixture and the gloss black will never be seen...but, I'll know! :) I'd like to have a week of fine, calm weather to paint everything I've finished.

Whilst I like using acrylics and the added attraction of hardly any smell, appeals. For weathering, using enamels really adds more depth and you can play with the paint whilst its still wet. Even using a retarder with acrylics there's not the time...not the time to play. If it goes wrong with enamel, out with the white spirit and problem solved.

Sorry bit of a ramble there...

Mike
 
Mike Garwood

Mike Garwood

Western Thunderer
More work completed on the HL chassis. Brake cylinder and activation rods added, front sand boxes and guard irons soldered on.

GWR 57xx chassis 1.jpg

I've also made up the brakes, these were fiddly as I added all the detail that was on the etch. Probably won't be seen once the paint goes on, anyway they're done. The body is from Bachmann and it's missing the 2 front steps and handrails. Fortunately I drew - and had etched - steps for such an occasion. The last pannier I built had the front steps filed down to their limit - almost see through! I have also etched the sanding gear - so that's got to go on as well.
These are such well thought out chassis kits. I have still to figure out how to attach the outside brake rigging. Last time it was done by luck and judgement, and more luck than anything else. Off to give it a scrub now.

Stay safe

Mike
 
Mike Garwood

Mike Garwood

Western Thunderer
I actually went out last night - to my favorite Indian restaurant, The Taste of Asia. How I have missed sitting down with my friends and talking complete rubbish for a couple of hours over a couple of ice cold Cobra's, before enjoying a beautifully prepared Indian dish.

Bit more work completed this PM. The body has more mods added to it. Glue is currently drying.

GWR 57xx body complete.jpg

Sanding gear added, from my own etches, proper lamp irons and some proper looking pipework to boot. The missing middle steps and handrails. This will be another Pontypool Road engine - 7740. This is destined to run on Newport MRS layout Abergavenny Black Brook. Still a bit to do, but I'm nights this weekend and I need some more monster sleep before I go. Talking of work, I've had some good news, but that will have to wait till next week - I hope.

Stay safe, it's still out there.

Mike
 
AJC

AJC

Western Thunderer
I remember from the re-worked Bachmann version I did (with a Collet cab, cost me all of £25!) years ago that the sandbox linkages were 'fun'. Are you going to tackle the extra 'nipple' on the dome? No idea why Mainline failed to realise it was a repair rather than a usual feature all those years ago.

I've have one to do in the queue as the usual branch engine for Podimore - like the Chard branch, I imagine the Southern would been more than happy to use panniers to Ilchester and after 1957, Yeovil Town shed had a few to play with (an M7 is the other option, but one has yet to cross my path at the right price - the extras for EM conversion make me a bit mean these days) and 8745 will be the result - 8745. - note the SR lamp irons and riveted tanks.

Adam
 
Deano747

Deano747

Western Thunderer
Hi Mike, not one to criticise your craftmanship and meticulous to detail, but I feel the sand box linkage seems rather large. I may be wrong but I'm just comparing to the 7mm 57xx I am currently building. Keep up the good work.

Regards, Rob.
 
Mike Garwood

Mike Garwood

Western Thunderer
Thanks for the observation. I took the measurements off the GA drawings. They really aren’t wide. Perhaps it’s the angle I took the photo from. I’ll check them again.
Glad someone’s checking my work.:) It all helps to make a better model.

Mike
(Stuck in work and bored…terribly bored)
 
Mike Garwood

Mike Garwood

Western Thunderer
It's a beautifully warm day, so it seemed appropriate that the 57xx was painted.

GWR 57xx painted.jpg

Halfords primer rattle can grey and that took minutes to dry in the conditions we have. Then out with the Vallejo gloss black - love the finish. So now to sort out the wheels and brakes. There could be some really bad language involved with this.

Where ever you are, hope you have a great day.

Stay safe

Mike
 
Mike Garwood

Mike Garwood

Western Thunderer
Wheels on and coupling rods attached...and I have a very free wheeling chassis. I've added lead into the tanks, but, it could probably do with some more. As a friend once said to me - if the layouts short of motive power add a pannier.

GWR 57xx running chassis.jpg

I can see an accident...which will be attended to. Love these powerful little engines. Still waiting for the plates to arrive, plenty to do in the meantime. Next the brakes and then the dreaded pick ups.

Stay safe

Mike
 
paulc

paulc

Western Thunderer
simond said:
Panniers required, P = N + 1 where N is the number of panniers possessed.

I’m not sure which rule it is, but it comes after “it’s my layout and I’ll run what I like” and “it’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to”
Click to expand...
Hi Simon , i had a friend who worked on the same principle as you do with panniers but he was an LNWR man so collected coal tanks . He was up to eight when he passed away , i sadly only have two but there's time yet .
Cheers Paul
 
Mike Garwood

Mike Garwood

Western Thunderer
So getting back to my cryptic post 168...I have a new job as a materials controller for CAF. They of Spannish fame for manufacturing coaching stock for the S. Wales line. Talk about a Busman's holiday! So I've ditched my Security number, no more 12 hr night shifts! No more pannicking (not that I ever did) when a moth sets off a PIR and you race round to find the principles building is still secure.

Just about to start on the panniers brakes and the plates have turned up...on the homeward straight now.

Stay safe

Mike
 
Mike Garwood

Mike Garwood

Western Thunderer
The panniers all but complete, pick ups are on and still no binding, just a smooth run across my desk. All I need now is the chip (on order) and to test it properly on my plank. I'll put up a video once the chip is installed (and it runs nicely :))

So next up is a kit I bought during the first lock down and I've been looking forward to this one. Not that I don't relish all the kits I build - well most.

This was produced by Ian Mcdonald (found on RMweb), I don't know if Ian is on this forum.
The quality of the drawing and etching is right up there with the best. Ian has produced a kit for a GWR Siphon O33. This includes the variants that went with this vehicle. I need to get some sprung bogies from Eileens. Here's a picture of the etches...

Siphon O33.jpg

Instructions come on a CD laden with photos. To say the kits comprehensive is an understatement.

0.5mm drill in hand it's time to open out some holes and put the rivet detail into the sides and ends. And in other news, I start my new job on Monday having passed the medical!

Stay safe

Mike
 
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