Pierview Posted April 24, 2023 Share Posted April 24, 2023 After finishing my Beattie well tank kit I looked around for a quick project before I began gardening and other jobs. My South Eastern Finecast SER crane tank kit was next on my "to do" list anyway, and as it was a relatively uncomplicated model it fitted the bill . this quirky little loco is a bit out of my modelling period although it did survive to pass into British Railways stock on nationalisation. It never carried its allotted number (31302) however and went for scrap in 1949. I've always liked industrial locos and find crane tanks fascinating so I had to find room for this one in my stud. The chassis was quite straightforward and I fitted Markits wheels and a High Level "Lo Loader" gearbox with 120:1 reduction. I also fitted one of the HL budget motors but purchased the larger 1020 when clearly the 1015 would have been the better bet in view of limited space. I managed to get it all in but had to cut a small arch under the boiler back head to clear the motor shaft. Assembly of the body was very straightforward and I added just a small amount of extra detail. For some reason the front sandboxes were too long when compared with photographs of the prototype so - I cut them down to their correct dimensions. Inevitably the finely cast cab brake column was a casualty (I always manage to snap off the handle) and was replaced by a more robust home made one as explained by Iain Rice in one of his books. If modelling the later type enclosed cab it is essential to weight the front of the boiler to prevent any tendency to do "wheelies" ! The loco was primed today and will receive its black coat tomorrow. It will have to be Southern livery as I don't want to do a fictitious 31302. Transfers are on order and I hope to have the little fellow finished soon. Barry 11 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium melmerby Posted April 24, 2023 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 24, 2023 4 minutes ago, Pierview said: After finishing my Beattie well tank kit I looked around for a quick project before I began gardening and other jobs. My South Eastern Finecast SER crane tank kit was next on my "to do" list anyway, and as it was a relatively uncomplicated model it fitted the bill . this quirky little loco is a bit out of my modelling period although it did survive to pass into British Railways stock on nationalisation. It never carried its allotted number (31302) however and went for scrap in 1949. I've always liked industrial locos and find crane tanks fascinating so I had to find room for this one in my stud. The chassis was quite straightforward and I fitted Markits wheels and a High Level "Lo Loader" gearbox with 120:1 reduction. I also fitted one of the HL budget motors but purchased the larger 1020 when clearly the 1015 would have been the better bet in view of limited space. I managed to get it all in but had to cut a small arch under the boiler back head to clear the motor shaft. Assembly of the body was very straightforward and I added just a small amount of extra detail. For some reason the front sandboxes were too long when compared with photographs of the prototype so - I cut them down to their correct dimensions. Inevitably the finely cast cab brake column was a casualty (I always manage to snap off the handle) and was replaced by a more robust home made one as explained by Iain Rice in one of his books. If modelling the later type enclosed cab it is essential to weight the front of the boiler to prevent any tendency to do "wheelies" ! The loco was primed today and will receive its black coat tomorrow. It will have to be Southern livery as I don't want to do a fictitious 31302. Transfers are on order and I hope to have the little fellow finished soon. Barry Nice job. One comment, the picture (Longhedge 1946) of 302 in Russell's "Southern Locomotives" shows a chimney a bit taller than that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierview Posted April 24, 2023 Author Share Posted April 24, 2023 31 minutes ago, melmerby said: Nice job. One comment, the picture (Longhedge 1946) of 302 in Russell's "Southern Locomotives" shows a chimney a bit taller than that. Well spotted! The chimney top is a separate casting which I didn't put in place for the photos. It will however be fitted after painting and final assembly. Barry 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Graham_Muz Posted April 25, 2023 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 25, 2023 Nice. 11 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierview Posted April 25, 2023 Author Share Posted April 25, 2023 4 hours ago, Graham_Muz said: Nice. Excellent. That is the livery mine is intended to carry. Barry 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium melmerby Posted April 25, 2023 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 25, 2023 The smokebox always strikes me as an odd place to mount a crane. The GWR adopted a differnt approach As did the LNWR: 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierview Posted April 26, 2023 Author Share Posted April 26, 2023 18 hours ago, melmerby said: The smokebox always strikes me as an odd place to mount a crane. The GWR adopted a differnt approach As did the LNWR: It was a standard Neilson design of the day but presumably was only feasible on very small locomotives. It is interesting that a similar locomotive, "Snipey" (Neilson 4004) is preserved but I haven't seen any photographs of other smoke box mounted cranes. The examples you show are much bigger locos and I have to say that they look rather more stable! Barry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium melmerby Posted April 26, 2023 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 26, 2023 (edited) 43 minutes ago, Pierview said: It was a standard Neilson design of the day but presumably was only feasible on very small locomotives. It is interesting that a similar locomotive, "Snipey" (Neilson 4004) is preserved but I haven't seen any photographs of other smoke box mounted cranes. The examples you show are much bigger locos and I have to say that they look rather more stable! Barry Cyclops (17) is suitably adapted from the 850 class of pannier tank with extended frames to carry the crane. The normally fitted dome had to be dispensed with as the jib sits low over the boiler in travelling position. Edited April 26, 2023 by melmerby Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steamport Southport Posted April 26, 2023 Share Posted April 26, 2023 1 hour ago, Pierview said: It was a standard Neilson design of the day but presumably was only feasible on very small locomotives. It is interesting that a similar locomotive, "Snipey" (Neilson 4004) is preserved but I haven't seen any photographs of other smoke box mounted cranes. The examples you show are much bigger locos and I have to say that they look rather more stable! Barry Oooh. Didn't know that was a similar type. https://preservedbritishsteamlocomotives.com/neilson-co-works-no-4004-hodbarrow-no-6-snipey-0-4-0ct/ Jason Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierview Posted April 28, 2023 Author Share Posted April 28, 2023 The crane tank was completed earlier today and here it is. I have portrayed it in its final livery with Bulleid lettering but I fear it is rather too clean. As weathering is not one of my strong points, however, I will leave it as it is for the moment. With the improvement in the weather the garden now beckons...... Barry 13 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium melmerby Posted April 29, 2023 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 29, 2023 Lovely job. Looks the part. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Asterix2012 Posted April 30, 2023 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 30, 2023 The Caledonian Railway had one as well which disappeared before grouping It had the crane taken off and replaced with a short chimney of the type fitted to the 812 class 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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