The BR Group workbench

Tim Hale

Western Thunderer
Hi,

Rather than post in the layout thread, maybe area 51 is appropriate for an occasional foray into construction. There isn't much to report as we have reached capacity in the fiddleyard except there are two last exLSWR locos to complete and these will be the last.

Adams 0395
The DJH 0395 evokes memories of odd-length castings and this coloured perception of this useful locomotive, nevertheless it is a lovely old thing. The model has been upgraded with an etched Comet 4F chassis, suitably modified with two-stage drive and coreless motor, a very useful locomotive. The problem has been accumulating the bits.

Loco and Tender Body kit - DJH
Loco chassis exLMS 4F LCP6 - Comet
Wheels - 5ft 0in 16 spoke WH205 exLMS 4F - Markit
Axles - MRAX/OO - Markit
Crankpins - RM2 - Markit
Tender wheels - 4ft 0in MRJ16S - Markit
Tender 2mm i/d tophat bearings - Alan Gibson
Handrail knobs - Alan Gibson
Coreless motor and Gearbox - Road Runner Plus 48:1 - High Level

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Adams injectors, lamp irons and tender coal rails from Brassmasters
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Finally, a lovely lost wax backhead from Caley Jim
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This merely the tip of the iceberg

30581 was chosen as it had been allocated to Exmouth Junction in the 50s and it is a long frame version with an original Adams boiler.
30581b_1000.jpg


Cap'n K, took on the chassis together with the basic 'big bits' and this has resulted in a superb running chassis.

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For the past couple of months, progress has slowed whilst trying to find both parts and more information however the tender body is coming together and a start is being made on the boiler pipework. Thanks to whoever is building a Finney T3 on WT for posting images without which progress would still be at a standstill.
Tender9.jpg

The Brassmasters website has provided us with a wealth of information, whilst this image of 30566 is the only cab shot Creative Commons Attribution Share-alike license 2.0 Courtesy Mike Morant.
30566_SM.jpg

Still lots to do, the odd plumbing between the second and third drivers is a mystery but someone will no doubt know something.
 
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Martin Shaw

Western Thunderer
It's an injector, although I must say it is an odd shape. I note from Bradley that in general the injectors appear to be in the cab on other members of the class, certainly in LSW and SR days, but there is evidence of a mod being done in BR days to mount the injectors outside the ashpan on a few of the locos. I suspect that it was more cost effective that trying to repair an elderly design or perhaps the originals were just resited for convenience. It's a guess but seems reasonable. As far as I can tell all the ones that lasted into the late 50s were so modded.

Regards
Martin
 
Injectors for the 0395

Tim Hale

Western Thunderer
Thank you, I did wonder why the injectors from Brassmasters were incorrect for the 0395. Having looked at the remainder of 0395 images, it would seem that the injectors were not universal amongst the surviving members, though none seem to have injectors behind the cab steps (the T3 were different) Not sure if they were a late BR upgrade, a couple of examples had the injectors between the second and third drivers in the late 40s and they seem to be very similar to the injector used by T9s

The build continues, a steam manifold for the whistle has pitched up and the image in the 7mm T3 build clearly shows the arrangement. The loco is not intended to be perfect, merely a very usable layout loco that will happily trundle around with a clutch of wagons in tow.

Thanks, once more for your interest.
 
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The other loco

Tim Hale

Western Thunderer
"There isn't much to report as we have reached capacity in the fiddleyard except there are two last exLSWR locos to complete and these will be the last."

As previously mentioned, this is the other loco or rather two of the other locos because by a complete fluke another 'last' loco appeared on the scene.

Starting with the newcomer, it was incorrectly described as a NuCast model and seemed rather neglected - it needed rescue. A PDK etched D15 with a duff (a fact not mentioned by the seller) motordrive otherwise it is OK.

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It will receive a High Level Roadrunner and a can motor whilst the cabside will receive 30464 and a cast smokebox number as noted in transition livery of the first couple of years of the 50s
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Why the obsession with D15s? Apart from the fact that they were Drummond's magnificent hurrah, the locos were used on the Plymouth-Brighton before being usurped by Bulleid BLPs (not sure if they worked the whole 245 miles). By logic,
if the Dorchester & Exeter Coastal Extension had been built, they would have worked via Bournemouth where a Brighton H2 may have taken over. Therefore at least one D15 is an essential.

Anyhew, a longer term project was a BEC D15 that acquired the redundant tender from a OOworks small hopper (more anon) this model has been on the workbench of DLT on the other channel and has recently been undergoing running-in trials. This loco the unique 30466 that retained in rimmed chimney until 1952 and acquired a BR cabside and smoke box number when noted in 1950 en route to Bournemouth

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and seen by the famous concrete wall at Bournemouth MPD

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This is DLT's wonderful model, this does have the High Level Roadrunner plus can

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Next episode - a small hopper
 
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Small Hopper

Tim Hale

Western Thunderer
For most, Drummond's K10 was a mundane 4-4-0, Urie did not add a superheater and it remained as it had been built throughout its life. Beaminster Road is plausibly fictitious and based upon the supposition that the line existed certain classes of loco would have been retained a little longer and employed during our chosen timeframe of 1949-52, the K10 and previously mentioned D15, might have candidates.

The forty strong class exLSWR K10 were known as ‘small hoppers’ due to their inability to maintain team pressure on long journeys (only suitable for short hops), they were built, initially for mainline use but soon downgraded to secondary services and mixed traffic workings.

They lasted until the early 50s, only 30382 received its BR number but with Southern on the tender, their final livery was plain black with Bulleid sunshine lettering. The last loco withdrawn was 30389 in July 1951 from Yeovil Town shed, a brief moment of fame whn Douglas Seaton immortalised 389 on film at Yeovil in 1949 but was incorrectly described as an L11 .

The SDJR was a favourite line and Hugh Casserly captured SR 382 K10 class on a goods pickup at Verwood on 19th July 1937. It shows the versatility of the small hoppers, not as well known as Drummond's T9s but useful work horses.

382_190737_Verwood_Casserly_1000.jpg


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In 2019. OOworks offered examples including a bogus BR livery version of 382, this is our example as received. Its Victorian origin is in marked contrast to the T9 and D15 that are its workmates.

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They were generally paired with a 6-wheel tender because of their intended short journey lengths, which included local stopping trains and medium-level freight haulage, but as with the later L11 class, some could occasionally be seen with a 4,000-imperial-gallon (18,000 l; 4,800 US gal) "watercart" tender for longer trips. 382 was paired with a watercart.

Subequently, K10 30382 reunited with the correct tender for use on Beaminster Road.

IMG_0142_1200.jpg


The additional tender pick-ups are a great improvement. 30382 shares the van train duties with the T9 and L class

Next - an interloper from the East
 
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The interloper from the East

Tim Hale

Western Thunderer
Based on the logic that if the line had existed certain classes of loco would have been retained a little longer and employed during our chosen timeframe of 1949-52. Extrapolate the idea a little further and some of the eastern divison interlopers that found their way to the west in the early 50s would be rather useful. Especially examples of the L class that were noted in the Bournemouth area, notably 31777 in July 1952 on a Portsmouth service.

31777%2BL%2Bclass%2BBomo_Portsmouth_July52.jpg

31777, again, this time at Broadstone on a Bournemouth West-Salisbury service on the S&DJR Courtesy Duncan Chandler
31777_Broadstone.jpeg

The model
Sometimes you win one, not often but it does happen. On this occasion, the eBay alert system worked perfectly and a text told me that a OOworks model was online. It was this:-

IMG_0114a.jpg


Currently being mildly reworked, if only to disguise the 'newness' and correct the poor pickup, it will share the mundane chore of trundling about with something appropriately ancient in tow.

31768 did make it westwards, it was reallocated to 70A Nine Elms and ventured to the Salisbury on an RCTS special on 14th August 1960.

31768_salis_140860_S_Creer.jpg


Next - something modern(ish)
 
Ruston 48DS DS1169

Tim Hale

Western Thunderer


All Ruston shunting locos were given the classification of DS (diesel shunter - standard gauge) and DL (diesel locomotive - narrow gauge), all Ruston locos were classified by horsepower , the precursor to the 48DS was the 44/48HP type. This Ruston 48DS was ex-works on 14/5/1946 (Serial No 237923) and delivered to the Bristol Aeroplane Co at Weston super Mare.
Folkestone.jpg
In 1948, it was sold to BR (Southern Region) and was used as a shunter at Folkestone Warren (above)

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48DS_Yeovil.jpg
In 1962 DS1169 was transferred to Yeovil Junction before being finally withdrawn in October 1972 and scrapped a year later at George Cohen & Sons' yard at Cransley near Kettering in 1973 (below)

Cohens.jpg
Hornby offer an RTR 48DS, the Army version was used to create DS1169 replete with etched numberplates from 247 Developments
DS1169.jpg
Thank you
 
Lockdown modelling

Tim Hale

Western Thunderer
Month one of the second lockdown is complete and the DJH 0395 is finally running on Beaminster Road, it is about 80% complete but that last 20% will consume 80% of the effort

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The cab interior is coming on a treat

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The backhead was found on eBay courtesy of Caley Jim and there are some rather natty castings, lots of etchings and bits of copper cooker wire waiting to be added.
Let's see where this goes.
 
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Boiler fittings for the 0395

Tim Hale

Western Thunderer
The DJH 0395 does not have the most accurate proportions and the boiler fittings are equally woeful. The answer is these brass fittings from Phoenix paints.

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Certainly nicer looking that the DJH versions but will they be as good 'in the flesh'?
The original cost of this new, old stock DJH kit was £120+ however to bring the model to modern standards, further spending has almost tripled the original outlay, most of the problem was sub-standard or missing* parts rather than essential extras such as motordrive+wheels. How ironic that the original bill of sale found in the box was less than the cost of the boiler fittings alone.

However, the model will be pretty good when completed thanks to the kindness of others and it will outlive me by several generations.

*Not provided by DJH

 
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BLP

Tim Hale

Western Thunderer
Hi,

The proverbial sow's ear


I am adverse to just buying something but bodging is something I enjoy and David Smith's excellent account of building a BLP from a static model is just the ticket.
Add to the mix Tim Shackleton's attempt in the Wild Swan 'Plastic-Bodied Locos' to bully a Triang/Airfix Battle of Britain into something acceptable, this should keep me happy for a month or so.

Shackleton1.jpg
Btw, I cannot over emphasise the excellence of the Wild Swan book.
This scan of 'The Beast' shows the extent of the task involved, thanks to Wild Swan.

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The finished model should be a BLP at the start of the '50s, original cab, unfaired chimney, safety valves in the original location and all the usual pedant pick-up points. But the first major task will be finding a better chassis, that is going to be fun........
 
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Random wagon weathering

Tim Hale

Western Thunderer
We rather like BR16t mineral wagons but they are a tad too modern for our '48-52 continuum. However the slope sided mineral was introduced by Charles Roberts and built in large numbers during WW2, initially for private owners and for the Ministry of War Transport. BR condemned them all by 1967.

This Bachmann wagon was a bargain, it started life as 37-452 16 ton slope sided mineral wagon in Boston Deep Sea Fishing livery, as purchased, it was a bit too new and by 1948, neglect and hard work would have taken its toll.

IMG_0319.JPG
The end-door stripe has worn away and the underframe has received a coat of Lifecolour frame dirt #1802. Likewise, once the underframe was dry, the body received coat of frame dirt which was immediately (mostly) removed with a sheet of Sainsgog's embossed paper towel. Not wiped but gently pressed again the body to leave that odd mottled effect.

The interior received the same treatment, later some MiG rust pigment will be applied before the paint is fully dry.
 
Mundane wagons

Tim Hale

Western Thunderer
This image of 30581 near Exeter sparked my interest, not just the loco but the wagons behind - an exGWR van, an exLSWR outside frame van (I thought that they were out of use by '49) and the timber laden bolster. Where was timber being loaded?

30581c.jpg

The first van is a exGWR 10t but not an expert, so this is a guess

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Neither was the SR van a problem, Cambrian's will suffice.
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Whilst the bolster, currently empty, is a weathered Bachmann Mackaw B

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Some hamster nibble sticks were ordered from the local pet shop, they are listed as thin willow stems, unfortunately lockdown prevents a roadtrip to the levels, it also prevents falling into the water.
 
Bore Da

Tim Hale

Western Thunderer
BoreDa500.jpg

For today is the feast of St.David and in honour of my paternal grandmother - Nancy Pugh
Progress on the 0395 continues;

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The backhead is a Caley Models part, the Phoenix lost wax castings were worth the outlay and despite DJH's best efforts, it certainly looks excellent.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed their time and effort
 
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