Rob Pulham
Western Thunderer
Mmmm, mine doesn't have them either. One to add to the list.
Another MOK 8F !
- Thread starter Lancastrian
- Start date
Lancastrian
Western Thunderer
Lancastrian
Western Thunderer
Test fit to frames. Smokebox isn't yet clipped in place and the dome and top feed are just sitting on the boiler.
Rob Pulham
Western Thunderer
john lewsey
Western Thunderer
Ian , that is very nicely done, a lovely model
John
John
Lancastrian
Western Thunderer
With work having continued on the boiler, it has been broken down into it's component parts for detailing. The bulk of the footplate has been completed and I've turned now to the cylinders as well.
Care and patience with the slidebars, crosshead and piston rod pay dividends for smooth movement in the assembly.
Care and patience with the slidebars, crosshead and piston rod pay dividends for smooth movement in the assembly.
Lancastrian
Western Thunderer
The inside face of one side of the valve slide has been gently cut back with a slitting disc, filed and had a thin coat of solder added.
To this, a length of 1mm x 1mm brass angle has been soldered in place. I've seen model locomotives where the valve rod jumps about because there is no restriction in the vertical plane, which this modification prevents, and you only need to do one side.
With the valve rod in situ.
The right hand cylinder block is almost complete now. The wrapper has no access cover as it is incorrectly placed on this side, so has been filed off and a new replacement will be made and added later.
To this, a length of 1mm x 1mm brass angle has been soldered in place. I've seen model locomotives where the valve rod jumps about because there is no restriction in the vertical plane, which this modification prevents, and you only need to do one side.
With the valve rod in situ.
The right hand cylinder block is almost complete now. The wrapper has no access cover as it is incorrectly placed on this side, so has been filed off and a new replacement will be made and added later.
Lancastrian
Western Thunderer
This afternoon has been spent replacing the crankpin on the leading RH driving wheel, some fettling of the body to chassis interface, (removing tabs etc.), fitting the brake brackets under the cab, and trying to get the smokebox to sit on the saddle...it's still only sat on the tabs.
Lancastrian
Western Thunderer
Today, after a phone call to Mr Sharp, I continued with the rear steps.
Firstly, part 354, which isn't referenced in the instructions, is folded up. Open the hole slightly to take the cusp off the etch.
View attachment 71162
A 8BA bolt is inserted into the hole.
Part 354 is now located in place and tabs twisted.
I found it necessary to file the head of the cheesehead bolt so that it isn't held too tightly. Make sure it will turn. The bracket retains the bolt and should make life easier when fixing the body in place on the frames.
After the footsteps are added to the bracket, half-etched overlays with rivet detail are added to the bracket. As this is a Horwich engine build, these were countersunk on the prototype, so some judicious filing took place. Here is one of the pieces so modified. I know, it looks like a scrap piece of etch....lol.
Finished steps awaiting a clean up.
![20240516_182033[1].jpg](https://www.westernthunder.co.uk/data/attachments/215/215528-0e38c494a12c5c143dd1851d91e29656.jpg "20240516_182033[1].jpg")
Attention then turned to the firebox, which has been short of a couple of clothing bands for quite some time. The band near the foundation ring has now been soldered in place. This has had virtually all the etched rivets removed (filed off) leaving only the bottom four, although this photo shows part of one remaining....file out after this posting!
The band was then carefully drilled at the top for the cleat which was a tight fit in the holes, and also then soldered in place.
Firstly, part 354, which isn't referenced in the instructions, is folded up. Open the hole slightly to take the cusp off the etch.
View attachment 71162
A 8BA bolt is inserted into the hole.
Part 354 is now located in place and tabs twisted.
I found it necessary to file the head of the cheesehead bolt so that it isn't held too tightly. Make sure it will turn. The bracket retains the bolt and should make life easier when fixing the body in place on the frames.
After the footsteps are added to the bracket, half-etched overlays with rivet detail are added to the bracket. As this is a Horwich engine build, these were countersunk on the prototype, so some judicious filing took place. Here is one of the pieces so modified. I know, it looks like a scrap piece of etch....lol.
Finished steps awaiting a clean up.
Attention then turned to the firebox, which has been short of a couple of clothing bands for quite some time. The band near the foundation ring has now been soldered in place. This has had virtually all the etched rivets removed (filed off) leaving only the bottom four, although this photo shows part of one remaining....file out after this posting!
The band was then carefully drilled at the top for the cleat which was a tight fit in the holes, and also then soldered in place.
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Lancastrian
Western Thunderer
That's the firebox complete, apart from replacement mudhole covers on the shoulders.
Lancastrian
Western Thunderer
The boiler has had holes drilled for the forward washout plugs, which are now fitted, and pilot holes for the mid-position cover plates.
Holes were also drilled in front of the rear sandbox filler deflector plates for the top feed pipes.
These were opened out and made into ovals for the pipes.
It must be time to make dinner now!
Holes were also drilled in front of the rear sandbox filler deflector plates for the top feed pipes.
These were opened out and made into ovals for the pipes.
It must be time to make dinner now!
Lancastrian
Western Thunderer
Plans for the 8F today were to complete the LHS cylinder, but an issue with one of the castings put paid to that. However, the boiler assembly is now fixed in place, with the smokebox door casting currently held in place with a blob of BluTack. The chimney casting is ok, but not right, as the diameter of the "skirt" isn't large enough.
You can't see any solder between the smokebox, saddle plate and saddle, because there isn't any! There are four tabs which pass through the saddle plate and smokebox, which is where the whole is soldered up. I modified the smokebox and saddle plate by cutting rectangular holes in both, which will allow wires from the Zimo chip, in the firebox, to go between the frames and cylinders where a sugar cube speaker will be sited.
You can't see any solder between the smokebox, saddle plate and saddle, because there isn't any! There are four tabs which pass through the saddle plate and smokebox, which is where the whole is soldered up. I modified the smokebox and saddle plate by cutting rectangular holes in both, which will allow wires from the Zimo chip, in the firebox, to go between the frames and cylinders where a sugar cube speaker will be sited.
john lewsey
Western Thunderer
It just looks superb.
Lancastrian
Western Thunderer
John,
Thank you. It's getting there. Outside steam pipe covers today, but they will also have a modification made as well.
Lancastrian
Western Thunderer
Before I get to the outside steam pipe castings, I completed the LHS cylinder, as far as I can at present. Looking at photos of 8F's, and Black 5's, there are two additional covers on each cylinder, front and rear soldering two scrap pieces of etch together, they were then filed to shape.
One down, three to go. This is something which would likely benefit from being 3D printed.
One down, three to go. This is something which would likely benefit from being 3D printed.
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Lancastrian
Western Thunderer
As promised, outside steam covers, with modification.
First, drill a pilot hole.
Gradually open out and then finish with a milling bit, to make an oval.
Five 0.5mm holes were then drilled along the rear edges and rivets inserted to represent the fixings for the "wrapper".
First, drill a pilot hole.
Gradually open out and then finish with a milling bit, to make an oval.
Five 0.5mm holes were then drilled along the rear edges and rivets inserted to represent the fixings for the "wrapper".
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Lancastrian
Western Thunderer
Friday...
Work on the vacuum ejector was completed. Quite a bit of additional detail, including the mounting bracket for the ejector and various pipes. A triangular flange was scratchbuilt as well. That washout plug needs re-doing!
![20240524_114257[1].jpg](https://www.westernthunder.co.uk/data/attachments/216/216064-e3ff12342353a97eb3aea52d254751f8.jpg "20240524_114257[1].jpg")
At the smokebox end, the drain pipe was added to the elbow casting.
![20240524_123454[1].jpg](https://www.westernthunder.co.uk/data/attachments/216/216063-9ba4ee9e514e6a1023e1ea3f738bc85f.jpg "20240524_123454[1].jpg")
There is still a lot of detail to add to the body and some general cleaning up in some areas as well, but after a good scrub...
Ready for Railex on Saturday.
Work on the vacuum ejector was completed. Quite a bit of additional detail, including the mounting bracket for the ejector and various pipes. A triangular flange was scratchbuilt as well. That washout plug needs re-doing!
At the smokebox end, the drain pipe was added to the elbow casting.
There is still a lot of detail to add to the body and some general cleaning up in some areas as well, but after a good scrub...
Ready for Railex on Saturday.
Podartist79
Western Thunderer
Fabulous work Ian!
And I love the extra detail and effort you’ve put into what’s already a superb kit.
It was a pleasure to see the 8F (and you) at Railex.
Neil.
And I love the extra detail and effort you’ve put into what’s already a superb kit.
It was a pleasure to see the 8F (and you) at Railex.
Neil.
Lancastrian
Western Thunderer
Hi Neil,
Thank you, and it was good to catch up with you again
Meanwhile, back at the ranch.....
Turned up a bearing for the drawbar, as the cast items, whilst being ok, were a little small, as I opted for a 6BA bolt over the 8BA it's designed for.
I then turned my attention to one of the connecting rods. This one was made a few years ago and "beefed up", but is still undersize widthwise. The real thing is 5 inches, which works out at @2.91mm. However there'll be clearance issues if it's that wide, so it's only 1.9mm overall. Temporary fix on the nut for testing purposes.
Lancastrian
Western Thunderer
Returning to the body, some very nice replacement mudhole covers, courtesy of Simon Hill (Hobbyhorse)...
It was then time to turn up some circular plates for the boiler.
It was then time to turn up some circular plates for the boiler.