Tom Mallard’s Workbench L&B in 7mm scale, CR 828 in 7mm, GWR Saints in 4mm

[Tom Mallard]

Some progress again and quite a milestone from my point of view.

I learned how to make wheelsets from scratch, and they've come out well. Front and rear of each wheel is reproduced to scale. Although the stainless tyres are epoxied to the centres, on the driving wheels I have ensured electrical isolation with a Paxolin bush at the hub and on the pony truck wheels used a split axle with insulated axleboxes. The axles are shouldered for the correct flycrank appearance and location, and are a little proud just like the prototype.

Slaters SG38 gearboxes have been used, the models having been designed for these from the start and these come with the newly available Faulhaber motor option though I would have prefered not to have a double ended motor, but Slaters reasoned that modellers like to fit flywheels. Some clearance issues were found to the rear of the gearbox and I will likely remove more material to avoid impingment.

I've sourced a lot of small springs to suspend the model, assuming a completed weight around 500g. Time will tell if this is the right value to work around.

Next I should probably make the crankpins and cylinders and then with some rods on it will really look like a Manning Wardle.

Best regards

Tom

 

[AdeMoore]

Mind blowing skill Tom, to produce the quality I see above.
Hats off to you Sir. Fantastic to see, looking forward to more.
Your mention of the Lionheart offering was not lost on me, I doubt the underpinnings are a patch on your build!
Cheers.

 

[michael mott]

View attachment 146212
It is difficult to convey the time it takes to make valvegear properly, but from the last post to this, it's more or less been the main task. All the valvegear is machined in two planes to reproduce as much of the relief as possible. None of it is finished yet - theres lots of finishing of the surfaces to come. The naming of all the parts is most peculiar compared to Walschaerts' type, yet the parts occupy more or less the same location.

The connecting rods are being kept mounted on their workplates as there's still some final work to do. With the coupling rods, they will need their oil pot tops adding.

The domes have crept in again, as I've added the rolled edge to these three, and some partially machined wheel castings have been included too.

I am unsure (what a surprise!) whether to use free machining stainless steel, or nickel silver for the tyres. Answers on the proverbial if you have any insights.

If I remember, I'll refer back to this post when there's a rolling chassis and we can see where everything went.

Best regards

Tom

Beautiful machine work on these parts, The lip on the dome is inspirational! I really do enjoy seeing skilled hand filing and finishing. What material is the valve gear made from?

Michael

 

[Tom Mallard]

Beautiful machine work on these parts, The lip on the dome is inspirational! I really do enjoy seeing skilled hand filing and finishing. What material is the valve gear made from?

Michael

Thanks Michael, and thanks for the question.

The valve gear is all from nickel silver, either grade NS101 bar or NS103 sheet, supplied by Metalsmith Leeds Ltd. They've supplied a lot of the materials that haven't come from the etching company, and have been great to deal with.

Hope this helps

Tom

 

[michael mott]

Thank you Tom, I will see what I can find here in Canada.

Michael

 

[Tom Mallard]

This is where I'm at - 3 sets of cylinders with hundreds of cosmetic studs and nuts modeled and attached, currently at 48 per side with more to add. Most of them are 0.7mm across flats. There's only one casting per side which is the motion bracket though this has a couple of nickel sheet parts added for reference face flanges where it is attached to the frame and tank on the prototype. The viewer will need to be inquisitive to see much of this when the models are complete.

I made the front and rear rings common, but with a countersunk turned central part for the front and the piston rod gland built up from profile machined parts at the rear.

The details are essentially overlays of varying thicknesses added to a sheet sub frame - the wrapper is 6 thou with the boltheads from 0.3mm wire as I drew the line at making 0.3mm hex heads.

The slidebars are sawn and machined to size from plate and include the differing top and bottom profiles. A little spacer jig for the slidebars made light work of attaching these at the correct spacing and alignment.

Enjoy your modelling.

Tom

 

[Dikitriki]

Awesome!

Richard

 

[Scale7JB]

Magnificent!

JB.

 

[Tom Mallard]

Thankyou once again for the feedback and comments, it's appreciated.

I've taken a break from the wearing process of Joy valvegear in narrow gauge applications (though that's still going well) and put some work into something more tangible.

YEO and EXE have their tank top details started, thought the sandboxes are yet to be permanently attached. The straps are detailed with more of those little machined bolt head details and the stud and nut fixings for the sand boxes are also reproduced. The filler lids are a profile machined part with the top lip machined in at this stage for a nice uniform offset.

I've recently submitted more patterns of all sorts of parts for 3D printing in wax and me being me, I've approached someone new to do this!

Tom

 

[Giles]

I just love seeing this build - so very, very far beyond my scope, but I still find it inspirational!

Thank you.

 

[Dave Holt]

Tom, this really is modelling of the highest order. Almost beyond words.
I just don't know how you have the patience to work to that level of detail, and all so neat looking, too.
I am
Dave.

 

[Tom Mallard]

This is an illustration of some of my most recent work making the parts necessary to install valvegear and motion parts on the Manning Wardles. Even more steps into the darkness.

The separate fly cranks had added more sources of error to the mechanism and some relieving of the coupling rod holes was necessary. I take the probably highly frowned upon route of broaching out the holes by only the smallest amount until proper movement is attained rather than jumping up 1/10mm at a time which is often far too much in one go.

Crankpins (free machining phosphor bronze) and their nuts (nickel silver screws tapped 12BA) are handmade to suit the requirements of the model, and pins turned to fit each valvegear pivot while representiing the appropriate head appearance. Tiny die blocks are fitted into the radius link grooves for proper function of the radius rod since I have no previous experience of Joy valvegear I wasn't happy taking short cuts here. The brackets that support the radius link are little castings which locate in holes on the motion bracket. It is a relief that the part of the reversing shaft protruding from the radius link located perfectly in its slot.

Although it sounds simple, assembly is not straightforward as separation points are limited to the connecting rod and return crank leaving a lot of careful manipulation of this subassembly.

Still the valve rod, guide and spindle to add, then the sheeting over the motion bracket and slidebars to partially obscure it all!

Enjoy your modelling.

Tom

 

[Scale7JB]

Magnificent!

JB.

 

[AdeMoore]

Outstanding engineering Tom truly breathtaking .

 

[Tim Watson]

Lovely to see that Joy valve gear coming together, Tom. I really ought to get back to my 4mm scale version, but the L&B project is very backstage at the moment.

Tim

 

[Tom Mallard]

Thanks everyone.

Lovely to see that Joy valve gear combing together, Tom. I really ought to get back to my 4mm scale version, but the L&B project is very backstage at the moment.

Tim

It is nice to finally see it in place and quite a relief after so long in preparation, Tim. I think we are all waiting to see your 4mm scale version but obviously your 2mm scale work must take precedence and the fun of your 'King Arthur'.

Tom

 

[Tom Mallard]

Hello again, folks. Progress is more positive this time now that behind the scenes effort has been assembled as completed motion assemblies for each engine, the motion covers and piston guides added and the brakegear installed. The vacuum cylinders and handbrake linkage should be added next. I wish solder wasn't such a yucky grey, but at least we know the parts won't fall off...

The second image shows YEO with bodywork sat on chassis showing how the iconic appearance of the L&B Manning Wardles is starting to appear!

Best regards

Tom

 

[Simon]

That is just beautiful.

Simon

 

[John Baker]

Your work is amazing! Quite superb fidelity, and eye for detail.

 

[Dave Holt]

It's a shame those splash guards partially obscure the cylinder rear ends and motion. I know they were originally even worse but I'm glad the FR omitted them completely from Lyd.
Lovely work, as always, Tom.
Dave.