7mm 7mm Mick's Workbench - JLTRT Royal Scot

[Dikitriki]

Hi Adrian

The Aspinall A class locos were otherwise known as the class 27 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%26YR_Class_27
They were also fitted with a vacuum operated scoop. I spent ages looking at pictures for the below footplate scoop linkages at the front of the tender before it dawned on me that there was an additional vacuum cylinder under the middle of the tender!

Mick - have your instructions arrived? What do they say about scoops?

Cheers

Richard

 

[7mmMick]

Richard/Adrian,

The instructions have arrived but unfortunately don't show any water scoop fitted and there is no mention of it in the write up, although there looks to be some nice castings avaliable for the engine itself. I think the only thing that will confirm 100% wil be a visit to the NRM and a good look at drawings. I've also contacted the LYRS to source some good photos of a late surviving Class 31 but have not yet recieved a reply  i'll try chasing them up and i'll pose the question about the water scoop also. We'll get there between us i'm sure 

ATB Mick

 

[7mmMick]

After an absence which has been far too long, probably due to the good weather in April, my DIY injury ( well documented else where ) and our fast approaching due date for Roffe number three  ..... here's an update on the small amount of modelling i've been able to do. First the Lanky 0-8-0. I was pointed in the right direction to a couple of great LYR books which I now have and also the LYRS came up trumps in the end with three excellent pictures of engines in the last year of their life. Just what I was looking for, they show engines with BR number and a very faded and dirty 'LMS' on the tender. I made a start on the main structure and was hoping things would just fall together as the tender did, unfortunately my hopes were dashed  . This I think is where problems have occurred due to the kit being an enlarged 4mm kit. The cab construction was straight forward but the splashers, which are all one peice were a nightmare, none of the slots and tabs fit properly and this provides problems with the smoke box saddle and so on. Also the firebox took a lot of time to role and still needs the front corners filling with solder and forming to shape, which will be a bit of a job. It doesn't help that the brass etch for the body parts is 18thou, which really is a bit too thick, I maybe should have annealed it prior to forming but nevermind, as Jazz says learning by doing  To sum up so far nothing has been too much of a headache and i've not lost interest, but not as straight forward as I hoped,

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

You can probably make out in the second picture that I have bolted the firebox to the cab and the smoke box saddle is also removable to allow the boiler/firebox assembley to be removed to ease painting latter. The boiler is yet to be rolled as I have to travel to a friends house to use the rollers,

ATB Mick

 

[7mmMick]

And onto the G5........

[attachimg=1]

I've made a start detailing the bunker back, i've used Laurie Griffin lamp irons and some 1mm half round brass strip to represent the original bottom coal rails. The kit provides these as half etched flat brass strips which in my humble opinion don't look right at all, so I spent a fair amount of time filing them off and then cutting the half round strip to replace it and i'm really happy with the result. All that's left to do here is scrath build the top part of the hopper for the bunker and more cleaning up.

 

[micknich2003]

The G5 is looking the part. Takes me back to almost sixty years ago when my late father used to take me to his signalbox. Mick.

 

[Eastsidepilot]

Grand job Mick on both projects mate. I've not forgotten the smokebox door ring just been a bit busy, so what's lined up after you've finished these loco's at the week-end

ATB Col.

 

[7mmMick]

Thanks Mick and Col 

The next project, or one to run at the same time in true JB fashion will be the J73. All I need is a couple of sheets of N/S but the wife is more intent on spending every last penny on baby kit and is allocating all my spare time to baby related activities. And no not that type, that's what got me into this mess  . No worries about the door ring mate, as and when I know you've got a lot on. It will make a nice cover up job for my balls up though 

ATB Mick

 

[Scale7JB]

Looks like you're making some real progress there mate, despite your eye, that really is a bugger that it might never repair properly, but the human body is a wonderous thing, you never know it might just sort itself out eventually... 

I do like the angle along the bottom of the G5 tanks and bunker, I may well try that on mine eventhough I was just thinking of using some flat strip. I do have to ask though, do you know which engine number your G5 will be? I'll have to make sure that mine is different.. Will it be a NE or GE engine ?

I would say one thing though.. don't build 'em in my fashion, nothing ever gets finished, and you might start to lose momentum, and heaven knows we need a lot more engines to run on WM running days... I'm the only one that brings working engines at the moment... (eh Colin  )

JB.

 

[7mmMick]

Thanks JB, it's not completely true what you say, i've seen at least three finished engines, which is three more than me, but I do know what you mean  I also thought about using the flat strip but on studying drawings and photos it is actually angle around the bottom of the tanks, I got mine from Peter and he's plenty in stock. My G5 is a NE engine 67337 or maybe 7337 i'm not sure yet  :scratch: It spent most of it's life at Botanic Gardens in Hull so probably didn't venture onto the GE ?? As for GE engines for WM i'm not sure where to start realyy, I love the D16's and B12's but I also love the goods engines, the much modelled J15's and J tanks. Do you know of a J17 kit at all and would they have made it to WM as I think this would be my first choice of GE engine ?

ATB Mcik 

 

[Rob Pulham]

That looks superb Mick, I too may borrow the angle on the footplate idea in the future. The bunker certainly has repaid the time and effort in full.

 

[Eastsidepilot]

Mick,

The J17 is an ideal candidate and would certainly have ventured on to the WMR, and the rest of the GER system. The DMR kit is pretty good but don't go any where near the SM models J17 kit/s. I have one sitting here that a customer asked me to build to S7 and the kit is so innacurate that it's only good for the bin. The wheel base measures 9'-4" - 9'-4". it should be 8'-10" - 8'-10" and of coarse the footplate is stretched to fit  the chassis as well.
If you need info,drg's, spec. and photo's of the inside motion Mick I can help mate.

ATB, Col
 

 

[7mmMick]

Cheers Rob much appreciated, I agree the beauty is in the detail 

Col,

Looks like my mind is made up then mate, i'll take your advice on this and stay well away from the SM kit, i'll look to purchase a DMR J17 kit and this will be my first GE loco build. Not sure when that will be as funds will be short for a few months and they're other projects i'd like to finish first, maybe Santa will bring me one if i'm good  It also looks like 8217 is at Barrow Hill so I will have to have a trip down there to take some photos up close as well as picking your brains Col. I do like researching the prototype 

ATB Mick 

 

[Scale7JB]

See if Peter wants to sell his part built J17 

So long as the thief of the main driving wheel comes forward of course...

If not, Peter might sell one of the unstarted kits from 'the collection'..

JB.

 

[7mmMick]

JB, Col,

The good news is that I spoke with Peter earlier and he's going to work me out a price for one of his DMR J17's so this will definately be my first GE loco for WMR. He also gave me the full update on how things are going, it seems they are progressing nicely. Any new pictures from the monthly meeting Col ? 

ATB Mick

 

[Scale7JB]

Excellent news, I'll have to etch up some new tubeplates, as I would like a J17 too, though I am starting to get a little excited about some of this new N.America stuff. Don't tell anyone though eh?! 

Lots of stories to tell when I get back end of the week..

JB.

 

[Jordan or Plymouth Mad]

I am starting to get a little excited about some of this new N.America stuff. Don't tell anyone though eh?! 

Too late...
Slippery Slope, matey...

 

[7mmMick]

A quick update to show i've managed to do a little bit of modelling whilst ' working the nigthshift ' with the youngster  I've made a start on the cab detail for the G5.....

[attachimg=1]

I'm almost there but i'm struggling with some parts so if anyone can help please shout up with the following locations of detail,

The damper controls,
The Cylinder Taps,
Blower valve

And anything else that's relevant. Oh I also need to alter the regulator as it's wrong and I have yet to fit the handbrake which is on the fireman's side tank top. Also whilst we're on with guess who, have a go at this..........

[attachimg=2]

Warmer, if I told you I took baby Oliver on his first trip out today, guess where........

[attachimg=3]

Ok, it's the J69 at the NRM York, well where else do you take your son on a day out 

[attachimg=4]

Best regards Mick

 

[Rob Pulham]

That cab detail is looking cracking Mick. I especially like the pipe work flowing over the curves and down into the floor.

 

[28ten]

That does look good  have you any plans for painting and roof fixing? I have always found that a PITA with closed cabs

 

[Buckjumper]

That's it; get your children indoctrinated into the ways of Stratford as early as possible. Mine now mutter the mantra: 'Buckjumpers, Gobblers and Clauds' in their sleep...  ;D

The cab of the G5 is fab. For roofs I tend to measure the interior front to back and side to side, then fit some brass strip on the underside of the roof so it's a very positive fit (allowing a thou or two for paint). I usually have to cut rebates to clear the tops of doors and spectacles.