Manning Wardle 'H' Class. Or a Pug Bash. Part 1
Last year in the August edition of Hornby Magazine Phil Parker converted an Hornby Lancashire and Yorkshire 'Pug' into a resemblance of a Manning Wardle 'H' Class. I thought this would be a nice little conversion to undertake that I could use on my layout Juniper Hill based on a Northamptonshire ironstone line. It could also be used on my proposed Teign Valley project as well.
Here's the link to Phil's website with plans and pictures of his completed model:
http://pagenumberone.co.uk/downloads/H%20Class.pdf
I've been meaning to start this conversion for a while and actually saw Phil's 'H' guesting on Chris Nevard's Polbrook Gurney at Railex in Aylesbury earlier this year and was really impressed with his version. Obviously there are many faults with this build by using the 'Pug'. Mainly the lack of spoked wheels and the covered valve gear. What I want to achieve is something that represents an 'H' and is a quick project.
Today I made a start on this conversion. Here's the fruits of my labours. I've got the main sub assemblies together.
The 'Pug' saddle tank was removed with a razor saw and the footplate cleaned up. I've added some Manning Wardle buffers from the excellent RT Models range and modified the rear of the buffer beams and cab foot steps to better represent the prototype.
The cab, saddle tank and smoke box are made up from various sizes of Plasticard. The water filler and chimney are also from RT Models and are beautifully crisp castings. These along with the buffers have been blackened with Birchwood Casey gun blue. The spectacle plates are from the same source.
The cab obviously is not glued together and is held in place with Blu-tac.
The smoke box door was made up from two discs cut out using a Compass Cutter.
As you can see the saddle tank is resting on two wheel balance weights. I think the height is about right but would value your opinion. Once this is confirmed I'll make up the boiler under the saddle tank and add leaf springs to the foot plate. Then it's a case of making up the roof, sand boxes and adding the handrails and other detail.
I'm going to get Steve from Narrow Planet to make up a set of Manning Wardle works plates and a pair of nameplates for this model.
Cheers,
Mark
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