LNWR Lady of the Lake

[john lewsey]

Here are the parts layed out.,,,,, contemplating my next move .

 

[john lewsey]

Hi some movement on the Lady. Horn guides installed and the running/ footplate shaped. The wheels have been ordered and sent off for turning. So far so ,,,,,,,,,,,,
John

 

[Dave Holt]

John,
What suspension arrangement is intended? I would imagine getting a decent weight distribution and ensuring enough traction load on the driving axle might be an interesting exercise.
Dave.

 

[john lewsey]

Hi Dave ,, I usually Spring engines but on this I may use compensation . There was an article in MRJ years ago about modelling singles. Kevin Harrow is going to email me the article. If I do that it will hopefully improve the traction. My 4mm version which is sprung will pull four 42 ft coaches . Hopefully it will be ok
John

 

[simond]

One carrying axle rocking, one carrying axle very lightly sprung, drivers firmly sprung, CoG between rocking axle and drivers?

or

One carrying axle rocking, twin equalising beams between other carrying axle and drivers, with pivots biassed towards the drivers? More freedom with CoG.

hth
Simon

 

[Ian@StEnochs]

Hi Dave ,, I usually Spring engines but on this I may use compensation . There was an article in MRJ years ago about modelling singles. Kevin Harrow is going to email me the article. If I do that it will hopefully improve the traction. My 4mm version which is sprung will pull four 42 ft coaches . Hopefully it will be ok
John

John,

My little single is smaller than yours and pulls as much as I need. Rather than springing, which I almost always do on anything bigger than an 0-4-0, I went for 3 point compensation with compensation levers biased towards the drivers. Front axle pivots on the centre and the firebox and ashpan is full of lead. She weighs in at 650 grams without the whitemetal crew, still painting them, with166g on front axle, 374g drivers and 110g on rear. The later two will increase once it install fat Sam and his mate plus their piece bags!

See Double Single for the full story but these are the basic frame plates and bearings before assembly.

Ian.

 

[Mike W]

I'm following this with great interest. Looks like you've done the most difficult bit John. Fairly standard from now .. ooo errr, apart from the smokebox, ... but then you've already made a Class A so that should be simple for you too.

Mike

 

[john lewsey]

Atrial fit

 

[NickB]

For clarity, the frames were designed for Slaters' hornblocks which John appears to be using. They are, of course, sprung but if John chooses some other method, that is his prerogative. I've scratch built four Ladies and four other 2-2-2 locos, using both springing and compensation, loco drive and tender drive and they all work.

Both springing and compensation can give good roadholding, I prefer springing because I think it is easier to fit (using Slaters' components). I prefer loco drive to tender drive. Tender drive is easier to fit if you can get a readymade mechanism. I've used ABC in the past but I don't know if Brian will still do them. But I prefer loco drive because with tender drive it's still necessary to spring or compensate the wheels and to weight the loco to make sure the wheels turn round.

Any combination can be made to work and one isn't inherently superior to the others. The key, in my view, is quality of chassis construction, and that outweighs the rest.

Weight is important but I have found that, even with a firebox full of motor, there is space enough in the boiler to give good traction. A loco that is slightly nose-heavy isn't a bad thing and guides it into curves. My criterion for weight is that the loco should pull a train similar to what the prototype did, assuming that the coaches are free running and not made entirely of whitemetal. If you expect a Lady to pull a WW2-style train of 20+ bogie coaches, you will be disappointed.

Nick

 

[john lewsey]

Phew ,,,,,,the smoke box wrapper is done.

 

[Dog Star]

Very nice.

 

[john lewsey]

Very nice.

Thank you Graham.

 

[paulc]

Phew ,,,,,,the smoke box wrapper is done. View attachment 241975View attachment 241976View attachment 241977

This is going to be so good when it's finished but then I'm biased being an LNWR modeller along with L&Y and North London .

 

[john lewsey]

This is going to be so good when it's finished but then I'm biased being an LNWR modeller along with L&Y and North London .

I hope so Paul

 

[john lewsey]

A little bit more work on the Lady, I need to fettle the boiler / firebox joint a little more but it is slowly getting there. . Once I am happy with the joint I will make a start on the cab. , I won't be fixing it all together until I'm happy with a dry fit. Also I want the chassis to be running.
John

 

[john lewsey]

I'm doing a little bit of work on the cab. Using some scraps to make edging. The first one looks too thin to me so I will do it again.

 

[john lewsey]

Ok, so this is as far as I go for the moment. When the wheels arrive ( which are very kindly being turned by someone on this forum and I am very grateful for his help) . Then I will come back to it, anyway progress so far. I also like to put things down for a while just to think about things.
John

 

[john lewsey]

Hi, a little bit of an update. I wanted to make this engine in a way that the whole thing could be taken apart for maintenance, painting etc.So I have made the smoke box detachable.I have also made a start on the beading around the cab edges.

 

[NickB]

A detachable smokebox is fine as long as you don't model the inside valve gear. Otherwise you're in trouble!

Nick