dibateg
Western Thunderer
Being too tight to heat the railway room, I thought I'd embark on the next tank engine for the layout. Originally produced by Wagon and Carriage in 1996,the LNER L1 2-6-4 has been through the hands of Meteor and I believe is now with Gladiator. Peter Dunne did an excellent build a few years ago and kindly supplied me with his construction photos. His original thread on RMweb lost all the pictures after a server crash.
The etch is of it's age, you end up with multiple loose parts when separating principle items from the fret.
First job was to prepare and articulate the coupling rods.
I build all my engines with working hornblocks, but they won't leave much meat in the frames, so I'm considering that path for the moment. The etched springs will be replaced, so that area of strengthening will be lost.
The etch is of it's age, you end up with multiple loose parts when separating principle items from the fret.
First job was to prepare and articulate the coupling rods.
I build all my engines with working hornblocks, but they won't leave much meat in the frames, so I'm considering that path for the moment. The etched springs will be replaced, so that area of strengthening will be lost.
john lewsey
Western Thunderer
Hi Tony, I like these engines and I look forward to seeing made. You do make a really good job of your builds
John
John
dibateg
Western Thunderer
Thank you chaps -
I found that I still had some Four Track hornblocks in stock. They require a smaller cut out than the Slaters ones although they are not quite as refined. They won't be seen on this loco, and ther are adjustable!. The etched springs will be replaced with Ragstone ones after the hornblocks are soldered in. The frames are just placed together at the moment.
I found that I still had some Four Track hornblocks in stock. They require a smaller cut out than the Slaters ones although they are not quite as refined. They won't be seen on this loco, and ther are adjustable!. The etched springs will be replaced with Ragstone ones after the hornblocks are soldered in. The frames are just placed together at the moment.
Richard Spoors
Western Thunderer
These, or very similar hornblocks, were being sold by Invertrain. Chris has now transferred ownership to Phoenix Models, although they are not listed on their website yet.
Cheers
Richard
dibateg
Western Thunderer
Thanks Richard -
Getting the cylinders right, has soaked up a few hours. The covers in the kit are on the chassis etch and are 20 thou thick. Forming those to shape would be nigh on impossible, so new ones have been made up from suitably thin brass. The slots in the frames for the cylinders confused me. They don't seem to line up from each side and they are slightly too far forward. I ended up torching off one frame to reposition it by half a mill, but that didn't improve things... So I've opened up the slots and have started up making new frame and mounting spacers so that the cylinders and motion brackets will be removable.
Getting the cylinders right, has soaked up a few hours. The covers in the kit are on the chassis etch and are 20 thou thick. Forming those to shape would be nigh on impossible, so new ones have been made up from suitably thin brass. The slots in the frames for the cylinders confused me. They don't seem to line up from each side and they are slightly too far forward. I ended up torching off one frame to reposition it by half a mill, but that didn't improve things... So I've opened up the slots and have started up making new frame and mounting spacers so that the cylinders and motion brackets will be removable.
mickoo
Western Thunderer
One step forward....two back
dibateg
Western Thunderer
Thank you Larry - the 4 foot arms are for Bala, which wasn't Cambrian of course. I don't know why they were different to the others. Excuse the poor quality grab shot, the signals are in the process of being installed.
I don't like areal shots but Geoff has just set the signals out ready for me to connect them. -
Ground level is better, there is still a lot to do...
There are plenty of ground signals at Trevor - they are connected now, but not comissioned yet.
I don't like areal shots but Geoff has just set the signals out ready for me to connect them. -
Ground level is better, there is still a lot to do...
There are plenty of ground signals at Trevor - they are connected now, but not comissioned yet.
Given that the cab floor is quite a bit higher it’s a shame the chassis frames were not just made the same depth right to the back. This I found helpful with the Dave Bradwell 4mm chassis as the bogie wheel cutouts needed enlarging for clearance. I do hope you don’t run into issues here of a similar nature given how little there is to start with.
Bob
dibateg
Western Thunderer
Thanks Bob - Lets see how I get on!
I couldn't live with teh puny etched springs on the A5, so substituted Ragtsone 3'6" LNER ones. The shock absorbers should really splay out to the side more, but I couldn't face cutting all 12 off and repositioning them.
As an aside does anyone know what the inside motion on the A5 looked like?
Ragstone to the rescure with the backhead with a Stanier brake valve and LMS sanding control ( Don't tell Mr Robinson! ) . At least they add to the controls that will only be partly seen within the confines of the cab.
Talking of Ragstone, the almost weekly delivery added to the extra parts for the L1, which will also need a set of the 3'6" springs:-
I couldn't live with teh puny etched springs on the A5, so substituted Ragtsone 3'6" LNER ones. The shock absorbers should really splay out to the side more, but I couldn't face cutting all 12 off and repositioning them.
As an aside does anyone know what the inside motion on the A5 looked like?
Ragstone to the rescure with the backhead with a Stanier brake valve and LMS sanding control ( Don't tell Mr Robinson! ) . At least they add to the controls that will only be partly seen within the confines of the cab.
Talking of Ragstone, the almost weekly delivery added to the extra parts for the L1, which will also need a set of the 3'6" springs:-
dibateg
Western Thunderer
I'm not sure the L1 kit was designed to represent the contract engines. I've spent the morning making a new front platform, frame extensions ( the ones in the kit are too short ) and making up strengthening pieces. The buffer beam is also 2" less in height at 1'4". The buffer beam and the valences are the only parts from the kit.
