Ian@StEnochs
Western Thunderer
I have been a WT member for a while now and have enjoyed the many and varied threads, contributed a little, learned a lot of useful tricks and picked up some new techniques. Over Christmas I have been building a little simple loco to fill in the time between painting my last project, slow job, and starting the next one, and of course in between the celebrations. As you do just before the Bells I was thinking over things and realised that perhaps a we thread on a simple scratch build might be of interest.
The loco in question is a 'Fower Wheeler'. Designed by James Stirling for the G&SWR way back in 1871. These engines had a long life with some lasting until 1920 mostly on coal workings where there short wheelbase let them go where larger engines could not. Until recently there was very little information on these engines available with only one photograph and a frames plan. When I changed over to 7mm my 2nd loco was built based on the info then available.
However recently another photo has been found which has increased our knowledge and given me the urge to build another.
Photo courtesy Glasgow & South Western Association.
This picture shows the engine circa 1906 and just right for my modelling period. With the previously available info And the picture I think I can make a reasonable likeness.
Work started on Christmas Eve and moved quickly, I didn't take pictures until this afternoon when I started this thread but here is where I am at.
Frames and coupling rods. As this is a simple slow moving engine I have opted for 3 point compensation rather than full springing. The front axle runs in a tube pivoted at its centre and guided at the ends with square wire horn cheeks and a box. The plunger pickup tubes are fitted and will be invisible when painted. The plungers will be lengths of brass wire.
I will be fitting a representation of the motion to fill in the space between the frames but it will be non working.
More later,
Ian.
The loco in question is a 'Fower Wheeler'. Designed by James Stirling for the G&SWR way back in 1871. These engines had a long life with some lasting until 1920 mostly on coal workings where there short wheelbase let them go where larger engines could not. Until recently there was very little information on these engines available with only one photograph and a frames plan. When I changed over to 7mm my 2nd loco was built based on the info then available.
However recently another photo has been found which has increased our knowledge and given me the urge to build another.
Photo courtesy Glasgow & South Western Association.
This picture shows the engine circa 1906 and just right for my modelling period. With the previously available info And the picture I think I can make a reasonable likeness.
Work started on Christmas Eve and moved quickly, I didn't take pictures until this afternoon when I started this thread but here is where I am at.
Frames and coupling rods. As this is a simple slow moving engine I have opted for 3 point compensation rather than full springing. The front axle runs in a tube pivoted at its centre and guided at the ends with square wire horn cheeks and a box. The plunger pickup tubes are fitted and will be invisible when painted. The plungers will be lengths of brass wire.
I will be fitting a representation of the motion to fill in the space between the frames but it will be non working.
More later,
Ian.