mickoo
Western Thunderer
OK, here goes, a journey into the dark abyss that is S7 LOL
First a little history, I used to model 4mm OO ways back but gave up for other hobbies, got back into railways but with age found 4mm a trite small so moved up to 7mm with the purchase of three MMP kits, class 57, 56 and 60. I started the 57 but ran into a few issues, lack of skill/knowledge being one, and a general feeling that it wasn't big enough so moved onto 1:32. Blundered around 1:32 for about a year and started a scratch build a class 40 but came to the stark reality that in 1:32 you almost have to scratch build everything, at least in the projects I was interested in and that had two major downsides, time and interest retention. The class 40 still sits there glowering at me, daring me to continue, which I will one day.
So moving on went to a few shows and looked around and figured that 7mm wasn't so small after all and would probably suit my needs for a layout rather than static models, the added advantage being a large well stocked market of kits and parts which removes a large proportion of the time factor and thus increases the interest retention.
So what do I have? The MMP kits still sit ready for construction as well as two new ones from David Andrews, a Stanier Princess Royal and a Jubilee....fitting nicely into the WT scatter gun ethos! I also have a couple of Roxley 13:1 gearboxes a AGH S7 form tool (cheers Cynric) and a collection of 3/16th ball races.
Aims, simple build one or both to FS with as little compromise as reasonably practicable. I'd like suspension and at least ball races on the drivers, there's probably little gain to be fair but it might have some advantages for smooth running.
The kits, a quick check reveals a few areas I'd like to change, modify, I'm not a fan of laminated springs so need to source some cast ones (Laurie Griffin looks to stock what I need), also noted on the Princess that the motion bracket is also laminated etch so that might have to go as are all the rods and valve gear, I'd certainly like to replace the larger thicker ones with cast ones as a beginning.
The Princess also lacks any inside motion which is very obvious when looking through the frame holes at the front, thus additional cross heads and slide bars will be required as well as other sundry valve gear components and dummy cylinder castings as the front end looks very hollow at the moment.
The largest issue here is going to be the first axle replacement with a cranked variant to drive the cross heads, I think its a standard 90 affair but could be a 180 one....need to close check the drawings. additionally most of the kit spacers in this area will need to be adjusted or removed to allow the valve gear to pass through.
Regarding spacers, two trains of thought, simply etch new ones to the correct form and replace, though many on the Princess are not seen at all so simple L shaped spacers could be used.
Moving the frames out may well present issues with the running boards and splashers, especially at the front end where the frames poke out under the smoke box and the inside cylinder cover is, need to cross check the kit and see how David has modelled that area, some kits have a second set of dummy frames that solder on top of a solid footplate rather than the actual frames poking through as per 1:1 scale and there may be issues with the smoke box saddle as well.
I opted for the main series with combustion chamber firebox so that limits the choice of prototypes a fraction, I was hoping to do 205 (Princess Victoria...my youngest daughters name....as good a reason as any I suppose) but 205 has that hideous Y shaped outside motion bracket and Swindon valve gear linkages. The other loco could be 208 (Princess Helena Victoria) but that was painted in BR Maroon, hmm, still actual loco choice is a ways off yet.
Jubilee, overall and easier project, again opted for a long chassis with combustion chamber which fits it into the later production members and thus will probably carry a naval name as opposed to colonial, the only criteria her is that it will be a Crewe, Liverpool or Manchester shed loco as that's the area I'm aiming to model around 60-61.
Like the Princess Royal, laminated springs and valve gear will have to go and suspension with roller bearings is considered. Other than that I could not foresee any drastic issues except maybe the firebox, I initially thought I had a part missing, spent ages looking for the throat plate front ring white metal casting, not to be, reading the instructions requires soldering a flat face to the front, flooding the internal top corners with solder and then 'filing' the required radius, not much of an issue but in this day and age I'd of expected a white metal casting here as do many other suppliers if images I've seen on web are anything to go by.
Anyway, that's all the waffle out of the way, I know there will be lots more questions, trials and tribulations along the way, but here goes the road to S7.
First a little history, I used to model 4mm OO ways back but gave up for other hobbies, got back into railways but with age found 4mm a trite small so moved up to 7mm with the purchase of three MMP kits, class 57, 56 and 60. I started the 57 but ran into a few issues, lack of skill/knowledge being one, and a general feeling that it wasn't big enough so moved onto 1:32. Blundered around 1:32 for about a year and started a scratch build a class 40 but came to the stark reality that in 1:32 you almost have to scratch build everything, at least in the projects I was interested in and that had two major downsides, time and interest retention. The class 40 still sits there glowering at me, daring me to continue, which I will one day.
So moving on went to a few shows and looked around and figured that 7mm wasn't so small after all and would probably suit my needs for a layout rather than static models, the added advantage being a large well stocked market of kits and parts which removes a large proportion of the time factor and thus increases the interest retention.
So what do I have? The MMP kits still sit ready for construction as well as two new ones from David Andrews, a Stanier Princess Royal and a Jubilee....fitting nicely into the WT scatter gun ethos! I also have a couple of Roxley 13:1 gearboxes a AGH S7 form tool (cheers Cynric) and a collection of 3/16th ball races.
Aims, simple build one or both to FS with as little compromise as reasonably practicable. I'd like suspension and at least ball races on the drivers, there's probably little gain to be fair but it might have some advantages for smooth running.
The kits, a quick check reveals a few areas I'd like to change, modify, I'm not a fan of laminated springs so need to source some cast ones (Laurie Griffin looks to stock what I need), also noted on the Princess that the motion bracket is also laminated etch so that might have to go as are all the rods and valve gear, I'd certainly like to replace the larger thicker ones with cast ones as a beginning.
The Princess also lacks any inside motion which is very obvious when looking through the frame holes at the front, thus additional cross heads and slide bars will be required as well as other sundry valve gear components and dummy cylinder castings as the front end looks very hollow at the moment.
The largest issue here is going to be the first axle replacement with a cranked variant to drive the cross heads, I think its a standard 90 affair but could be a 180 one....need to close check the drawings. additionally most of the kit spacers in this area will need to be adjusted or removed to allow the valve gear to pass through.
Regarding spacers, two trains of thought, simply etch new ones to the correct form and replace, though many on the Princess are not seen at all so simple L shaped spacers could be used.
Moving the frames out may well present issues with the running boards and splashers, especially at the front end where the frames poke out under the smoke box and the inside cylinder cover is, need to cross check the kit and see how David has modelled that area, some kits have a second set of dummy frames that solder on top of a solid footplate rather than the actual frames poking through as per 1:1 scale and there may be issues with the smoke box saddle as well.
I opted for the main series with combustion chamber firebox so that limits the choice of prototypes a fraction, I was hoping to do 205 (Princess Victoria...my youngest daughters name....as good a reason as any I suppose) but 205 has that hideous Y shaped outside motion bracket and Swindon valve gear linkages. The other loco could be 208 (Princess Helena Victoria) but that was painted in BR Maroon, hmm, still actual loco choice is a ways off yet.
Jubilee, overall and easier project, again opted for a long chassis with combustion chamber which fits it into the later production members and thus will probably carry a naval name as opposed to colonial, the only criteria her is that it will be a Crewe, Liverpool or Manchester shed loco as that's the area I'm aiming to model around 60-61.
Like the Princess Royal, laminated springs and valve gear will have to go and suspension with roller bearings is considered. Other than that I could not foresee any drastic issues except maybe the firebox, I initially thought I had a part missing, spent ages looking for the throat plate front ring white metal casting, not to be, reading the instructions requires soldering a flat face to the front, flooding the internal top corners with solder and then 'filing' the required radius, not much of an issue but in this day and age I'd of expected a white metal casting here as do many other suppliers if images I've seen on web are anything to go by.
Anyway, that's all the waffle out of the way, I know there will be lots more questions, trials and tribulations along the way, but here goes the road to S7.
