Nick Dunhill
Western Thunderer
This is a very interesting project. The loco started life on the Brecon and Merthyr Railway, class 45 no 50. It was absorbed into the GWR in 1922/23 as no 1670. It was rebuilt in Caerphilly in '35, and for some unknown reason got a Rhymney Rly R type boiler with a Belpaire firebox. The loco became no 436 in '48 ish. Mike Morris has supplied one of his B&M 45 kits plus some etches/prints to make a RR boiler.
The plan is to make the chassis (as kit) and footplate, then the cab/bunker. Then make the different boiler and see where we end up. The last time I made an 88D Models kit was a good experience. They're sold as multimedia kits, they have nickel silver etches (which were very good) and 3D prints (pants.) I replaced all the poor 3D with better 3D (from Mickoo of the magic printer) or scratchbuilt items in the case of the firebox crown. The kit made a fine model of a GWR 155.
First up I made the chassis and footplate. I built as provided in the kit, and there were no major issues. I built the coupling rods first to use to locate the axleboxes. The kit has horn cheeks that you fit into slots in the frames. I didn't like that idea, as, in my opinion, it always leads to the axle centres not matching the rod centres, and this is critical for free running. I always use my own horn cheeks made from 1.5 x 1.5 mm L section brass, and use the rods to locate them accurately. It always works, and you get a free running chassis first time.
Also the gussets between the chassis and rear bufferbeam touched the radial truck wheels and needed a bit of a trim.
No. 1670 had some interesting wheel balance weights which I reproduced.
On to the cab and bunker. I attached all the exterior details first (handrails, safety bars, beadings and handrails) before attempting to assemble the sub structure. I replaced the bunker rear with one cut from 10 thou NS to give myself a chance of forming the curve. The sub assembly is designed to be detachable for paint. It is designed to be screwed to the footplate. I ended up soldering it to to the footplate in error whilst assembling the cab and bunker on the footlate and left it like that!
This is where I'm up to at the moment. It's gone together very well so far. I cocked up making the cab with the original circular-windowed cab front, realising later that it needed different cab windows to accommodate the Belpaire firebox. It was an easy fix though.
It is fitted with an excellent Premier Components PR 522 motor and gearbox which is very similar to a Slater's SG29. It also has a ECU Loksound V5 decoder (sound file by Brian Robertson) with a stay-alive and a Youchoos Lurve9 speaker.
Next week I'll make the RR boiler and see how we can nail it all together.
The plan is to make the chassis (as kit) and footplate, then the cab/bunker. Then make the different boiler and see where we end up. The last time I made an 88D Models kit was a good experience. They're sold as multimedia kits, they have nickel silver etches (which were very good) and 3D prints (pants.) I replaced all the poor 3D with better 3D (from Mickoo of the magic printer) or scratchbuilt items in the case of the firebox crown. The kit made a fine model of a GWR 155.
First up I made the chassis and footplate. I built as provided in the kit, and there were no major issues. I built the coupling rods first to use to locate the axleboxes. The kit has horn cheeks that you fit into slots in the frames. I didn't like that idea, as, in my opinion, it always leads to the axle centres not matching the rod centres, and this is critical for free running. I always use my own horn cheeks made from 1.5 x 1.5 mm L section brass, and use the rods to locate them accurately. It always works, and you get a free running chassis first time.
Also the gussets between the chassis and rear bufferbeam touched the radial truck wheels and needed a bit of a trim.
No. 1670 had some interesting wheel balance weights which I reproduced.
On to the cab and bunker. I attached all the exterior details first (handrails, safety bars, beadings and handrails) before attempting to assemble the sub structure. I replaced the bunker rear with one cut from 10 thou NS to give myself a chance of forming the curve. The sub assembly is designed to be detachable for paint. It is designed to be screwed to the footplate. I ended up soldering it to to the footplate in error whilst assembling the cab and bunker on the footlate and left it like that!
This is where I'm up to at the moment. It's gone together very well so far. I cocked up making the cab with the original circular-windowed cab front, realising later that it needed different cab windows to accommodate the Belpaire firebox. It was an easy fix though.
It is fitted with an excellent Premier Components PR 522 motor and gearbox which is very similar to a Slater's SG29. It also has a ECU Loksound V5 decoder (sound file by Brian Robertson) with a stay-alive and a Youchoos Lurve9 speaker.
Next week I'll make the RR boiler and see how we can nail it all together.
Last edited:
