Finney7 47XX Build (started during Lockdown)

[simond]

Opened the box for the Collett 4000 gallon tender and then noticed that the axles need 2mm extensions. One of the three Slaters’ wheel packs has them, the other two don’t. The correct set is apparently old stock and the extensions must be bought separately. The story doesn’t end there, though. Just be warned when ordering the wheel sets that you must order item 7319 as well, except it isn’t listed on the web site and AFAICS cannot be added to the basket.

I had a set of axles for my 47 on which the wheels were pushed, not screwed, the axles had extensions to run in outside frames, they may have had an "MF" suffix. They were fine.

I had a set of "normal" Slaters' wheels and axles for my Hall, which was provided with 6 strange things that looked like a CSK screw with a spigot sticking out of the top. These were to secure the wheels on the quartered axles, and to provide outside bearings. They were horribly non-concentric and caused dreadful wobbling of the tender which had one fixed and two equalised axles. I have no idea who made or supplied them, as they came with the kit, and I seem to recall throwing them away, keeping the wheels and axles for another tender with inside bearings and buying a set of the axles with built in extensions to fit to the Hall. I used the same on my 28, which is rather more recent.

So if item 7319 is equivalent to the strange things, I'd guess Slaters will supply something better than the ones I had, which were definitely from the "dogs breakfast" school of engineering.

atb
Simon

 

[Focalplane]

I finally found item 7319 and ordered a set. No, two sets, one more for the Hall’s tender. I have now got to decide which sub assembly to do next.

 

[Focalplane]

I have been working on the tender the past few days. The chassis construction is stalled on both loco and tender while I wait on parts and tools.

But the really good news is that we have had an offer accepted on a house near Winchester which has the space we need and the opportunity to even have a garden railway when the time comes to return from France. The inevitability of life dictates some sort of plan, there are many “what ifs” to consider and after this pandemic is over one does have to take the vulnerabilities of life into consideration when making long term decisions.

The house is single story and has a large garden which we are going to have to simplify or rationalise to give us both time for our retirement pastimes and a garden railway would be a good replacement for the railway room.

Well, I have about 6 weeks before things get hectic!

 

[simond]

Good luck Paul,

hope it all works out

Atb
Simon

 

[Focalplane]

More work on the Collett 4,000 gallon tender. Compared to the David Andrews kit this seems to be a bit more straightforward with a strong box like inner structure. The coal space is particularly well designed. A quick photo last evening to show some progress. The three sub assemblies are placed one on top of the other:



Still waiting on the wheels extensions. The next step will be adding the tank top and side wrappers, but I would like to finish the chassis if and when.

 

[Focalplane]

The axle extensions have arrived and a trial fitting has been made to work out which spacers to use and where. The additions of the brake rods and blocks needs to come first and the spacing of the brakes against but not touching the wheels has to be set up. This is certainly more complex than the David Andrews design but could well workout better. I also need to blacken the wheels before fitting them.

I was going to do some modelling today but a hay fever attack prevented that. Tomorrow I am off to Bristol to survey two Rileys with the probability of buying them (or one at least). This won't slow down the immediate modelling work as one car will be delivered later, the other probably stored off site until we are ready to accept it.

So hopefully some photos by Friday evening (of the 47xx, of course!)

 

[Focalplane]

More hay fever so less progress than planned. Actually quite a lot but nothing to show just yet.

And to make things potentially worse the Riley RM is arriving Monday lunchtime!

 

[Focalplane]

Well, the arrival of a 1953 Riley was a distraction but as reported elsewhere I seem to have lost my Gauge O mojo. It’s not surprising in that it is now 6 months since I left the Railway Room for a short Christmas break, expecting to return soon after the new year. Return is forever being delayed and it now would appear to be September.

I believe I am not alone among my elderly peers. It is strange how the lock down has affected many of us who have taken retirement to “do things” yet find it hard to settle down and tackle a long list of things that we would like to be doing but for some reason can not.

House hunting has been a challenge as well but with fingers and toes crossed that saga may come to an end soon. Then, perhaps, there will be time to carry on with the 47xx.

The Riley has, naturally, been a distraction but a positive one. It runs well and I discovered that the previous owner had fitted a modern 5 speed gearbox which gives it “longer legs”. Purists may not like the idea but it is hidden from view and I can certainly live with it, no, enjoy using it! It turns out there is a strong affinity between owners of model railways and classic cars as well.

 

[Focalplane]

Finally, almost 6 months after starting the process we exchanged contracts on a house near Winchester on Friday. As one frustrating period ends, a new period of waiting for completion then moving in will prevent us from visiting the Railway Room (in France!) so there is little point in getting excited about railway modelling just yet. So the 47XX project remains where it is (actually it will be boxed up for the move).

This also applies to the classic and PVT cars though I do have one fascinating story to tell. I decided that, as petrol gauges used to be quite variable in accuracy, to drive the Riley RM to the nearest petrol station at Sutton Scotney village. After passing through Stockbridge the car tackled the long steep hill on the A30 and managed to do rather well in keeping a white van at bay in the rear view mirror. Then the old Roman road starts a dead straight roller coaster over the chalk hills. It started to rain hard at this point and I slackened off speed then realized that the engine had stopped. I had run out of petrol! At the bottom of a long downhill stretch there was a small gravel lay-by by a cottage and I pulled in and sat until the rain stopped. There are other reasons for engines to stop running, so I checked the electrics and so on but finally decided a long walk to the petrol station would be necessary. I had a jerry can for the purpose of buying extra to keep in the garage and set off. At least the grass verge had been mown but with no footpath I had to stop every time a vehicle came toward me. Truck drivers were universally kind, pulling away from me and waving as I stood to one side almost in the ditch. After a mile or more I came to a cross roads and a small car repair shop called Auto Barn. They had just re-opened and I asked if they had any petrol to spare.

No, but they would be happy to let me have the keys to their courtesy car, a hot Mini. Hardly believing my luck I drove off with the jerry can and returned a few minutes later. The service writer then drove me back to the Riley and wished me luck. After I filled the tank up I drove past Auto Barn and called in to leave a gift in their charity box. It's small touches of trust and kindness that can make all the difference and, as I have told this tale a few times, it may prove to be good for their business as well! Thank you, Auto Barn!

 

[simond]

Small world. About a week before lockdown, a colleague & I had to attend a meeting near Salisbury, and he spotted a red 911 in the barn at Auto Barn. On the way back, we stopped for a look-see. It was a targa, same year as our Carrera 2. Didn’t get a chance to have a chinwag as the guy was on the phone, but they had a lovely Series 1 Landy (I had one of them, too, long gone) an Escort Mexico, an Aston and a Moke (my boss had one of them).

I’m sure that once the evenings draw in, the attractions of models, indoors, will resurface!

cheers
Simon

 

[Focalplane]

What a coincidence indeed, Simon. They had a few cars on display most of which were too rich for my budget but very nicely presented. Their website refers to Classic cars being made from 1960 to 1980, so not exactly my era of interest. When things get back to normal they will restart a regular Saturday morning breakfast meeting but I think my Rileys will be a little too antique to keep company with Porches, etc. Actually, it’s the other way round, of course, age Comes before beauty and all that. When I was involved with Vintage cars in the 1970s we had many debates as to whether post WWII cars could ever be worth preserving.

 

[simond]

Oh, yes, they are...

lots of deserving cases!


Simon

 

[Focalplane]

Things are starting to move ahead and the organization for the move is working out in our favour - for a change. Still no model railway mojo but the way is beginning to clear for a return to France in September just as long as the public remembers that social distancing is about not spreading the disease. Village life has been good for us but any visit to a larger community reminds me that not everyone thinks they are vulnerable.

Last evening I had an email from the real estate agent for the house we made on offer on 6 months ago. Covid-19 persuaded them to withdraw but now the house is back on the market - would we be interested? In a word - no.

 

[Focalplane]

Almost moved in to the new garden with house attached near Winchester. The lower part of the garden (all of which has been neglected for at least 5 years) could be a good location for a garden railway and the weather this year is prompting the idea as well. However, Moor Street beckons in September and in the meantime there's a lot to do here, including painting, clearing moss off the roofs and so on. I have help so progress should be quick. A new driveway has been suggested using "Hoggin" and I hope to have someone to take care of that project as well while we visit France.

 

[Ressaldar]

A new driveway has been suggested using "Hoggin" and I hope to have someone to take care of that project as well while we visit France.

Hi Paul,

Be careful with 'Hoggin' as sometimes it can contain a fair amount of clay with the stones might be better to go with limestone and that should go quite hard and also make sure that there is a good quality 'Terram' geotextile laid underneath whatever goes down so that you do not have to keep filling holes where the base material has been pushed into the subsoil.

Stay safe and well

regards

Mike

 

[Focalplane]

Thanks, Mike, for your observation. The research goes on!

EDIT December 1, 2022

Since the last few posts about driveways, a lot of time has passed, so to give closure, I opted to a gravel driveway with two additional soak aways and a full width ACO drain across the easily flooded garage. The area was expanded with grey granite setts as a border. The gravel is not thick, bedded on builders sand on "reject". No weed barrier was employed at the suggestion of the specialist contractor and so far he was right. the few weeds have been easily pulled.

The flooding problem has been solved and the new proposed water tax on impermeable drivewys will not apply!

 

[Focalplane]

Here is the state of play:



A few items on the tender then switch to the chassis before tackling the superstructure

Paul

 

[Focalplane]

Well, I really messed up! The photo above is of my Hall kit! The 47xx is a brass kit and of course is 8 coupled so when I finally looked at the details, I realized the error. It's just as well I hadn't started on it yet. However, with only a few parts missing off the Hall tender it makes sense to finish that before tackling the 47xx.

I suppose this is a danger of thinking about modelling while under the influence of a virus. I'll take a photo of the brass kit, which is not quite as advanced, and then complete the similar 4,000 gallon tender. (Actually I am tempted to switch to the nickel silver kit!)

 

[Focalplane]

Since Tuesday (post #77) I have been quite incapable of tackling any modelling. This weird ?virus (I tested negative for Covid) has been working its way though my anatomy and hit my shoulder muscles big time, which in turn affected my ability to use my hands. Fortunately things are improving today but I need to take things easy, hence some surfing on WT and writing emails to friends overseas who must be wondering why they haven't received any replies in the past month. My wife has been wonderful in looking after me and it's time I repaid her dedication, so she deserves attention before working on a nickel silver tender!

Paul

 

[Mallard60022]

Ouch Paul. I'd assume it was a new Variant from what I'm hearing on the Radio this very minute. Take care buddy...take no risks.
Lovely to see some serious Loco building and especially at the level of Finney.
Phil