dibateg Posted April 29, 2016 Author Share Posted April 29, 2016 I've been multitasking and whilst I'm waiting for things to happen on the Toplights, there is a background task numbering and weathering 25 or more minerals. Along with painting some Modelu figures it's all pretty busy on the workbench. If anyone has any unbuilt ABS Iron Ore Tippler kits for sale - I'd be interested. I decided to use CPL alarm gear for the coach ends - it is beautifully cast and looks excellent. CPL products are now owned and sold by Paul Bambrick:- http://www.cplproducts.net/ So nearly there... 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dibateg Posted May 2, 2016 Author Share Posted May 2, 2016 I'm waiting for a few final bits for the Toplights, so thought I'd fit in this repair job. Poor old 76026 has had a bit of crump, so is here for major work. A new smokebox and cab are needed. Fortunately a friend had the instructions for the DJB Standard 4, so I was able to establish how it fits together. First job is to cut out the smokebox. So the chimney was pulled off and the door casting tapped out from behind with a hammer and screwdriver. Then the front disk was heated up with a torch and prised off. A cut with the slitting disk allowed the smokebox to be opened up and fortunately it was epoxied to the whitemetal joining ring, so I was able to prise it off. Then the old box was rolled out as flat as possible. The rivets were then filed flat. These could then be marked with a scriber and then drilled out to provide a mask to mark out the rivet positions on the new smokebox:- 6 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dibateg Posted May 3, 2016 Author Share Posted May 3, 2016 And the new smokebox Rolled And test fitted 4 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dibateg Posted May 6, 2016 Author Share Posted May 6, 2016 (edited) Now the front end is secure it will give some stability to the body, we can now get on and tackle the damaged cab. The chimney and other fittings have yet to be re-attached.. Then to chisel the cab side off, with a bit of heat, and yes, I did use the hammer! I then heated the other side up with the torch in stages until the rather battered cab dropped off: I think I've now sourced a new cab and with any luck that will arrive soon... Edited May 6, 2016 by dibateg 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
david.hill64 Posted May 7, 2016 Share Posted May 7, 2016 Just love the hammer on the bench: very therapeutic in those difficult to build moments. I have to keep mine in a closed drawer in case I resort to it in a fit of angst! Wonderful work as always. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dibateg Posted May 8, 2016 Author Share Posted May 8, 2016 I was lucky enough to get hold of an MOK cab etch. I just love building anything from that stable and the new cab has gone together a treat. I've just placed it into position here and there will be some extensive work to graft it on to the rest of the loco. I probably won't need the hammer for that. It does look right though and an improvement on the original cab in any case... 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve fay Posted May 8, 2016 Share Posted May 8, 2016 I think I would have been distraught if that was my loco taking a nose dive, But I'm pretty certain she is going to be better once completed than the original version. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CUTLER2579 Posted May 8, 2016 Share Posted May 8, 2016 I think I would have been distraught if that was my loco taking a nose dive, But I'm pretty certain she is going to be better once completed than the original version. Steve, I don't think I would be distraught. I bl**dy well was . Regards. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dibateg Posted May 9, 2016 Author Share Posted May 9, 2016 I'm multitasking again, 2069 has come in for some weathering. 14 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KalKat Posted May 9, 2016 Share Posted May 9, 2016 That looks absolutely splendid! Emma Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dibateg Posted May 10, 2016 Author Share Posted May 10, 2016 All the original bits have been grafted on underneath, and I was even able to use the MOK mounting etch - albeit shortened to clear the pick ups inside the frames. It looks messy, but just needs a clean up. Attaching the cab was a battle that took 2 hours. I got it there on the third attempt, with use of various sizes of copper wire to fill the gaps. Tidying up and painting to do, but its well on the way now. There are a few compromises with the DJB kit, but it looks the part.. 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dibateg Posted May 30, 2016 Author Share Posted May 30, 2016 After 2 weeks in Gran Canaria, I'm itching to get back to the workbench. I'm not a great fan of Pressfix lining, but I needed to match what was already on the model as it is a repair job. Fortunately I have some old Pressfix in stock. I've found that the newer stuff is not printed as sharp as it used to be. The other strange thing is that along the running plate the lining moves if held by a warm finger for any length of time, so that must be down to the varnish used... . My personal choice is hand lined, which I can't do! Anyway, with some varnish on today I can finish off the other details in the next couple of days. I'm on the last 6 of 20 wagons or so. Norman Turner taught me the value of templates when we made the baseboards for Stoke Summit. So I use a paint pen to draw the patch outlines and then fill in with gloss paint. Fox supply B wagon number transfers in groups of 3 only needing 2 cuts, so that saves cutting out 7 characters. The great thing about working for myself is that I don't feel obliged to go anywhere on Bank Holidays, I can go in the week. So more painting this morning before getting out into the garden... 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dibateg Posted June 1, 2016 Author Share Posted June 1, 2016 So there we are - restored to service and ready to return home.. So what's next? Finish the Toplights and then a DA 4700... 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
richard i Posted June 1, 2016 Share Posted June 1, 2016 So there we are - restored to service and ready to return home.. P1030531.JPG So what's next? Finish the Toplights and then a DA 4700... And in English that is....? You have been in Wales for a long time as the language seems to be rubbing off on you. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve fay Posted June 1, 2016 Share Posted June 1, 2016 I shall be watching the DA 47xx kit with interest, I quite fancy one of them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CUTLER2579 Posted June 5, 2016 Share Posted June 5, 2016 Just grabbing Tony's site for a second to say a Public thank you for the job of repairing 76026, which has now become 76042 including the required modifications that Tony was aware of. I collected her from the Doncaster show yesterday and including the other people who saw it ,Think it is a fantastic repair and I can thoroughly recommend him. I do confess I have known him for a number of years in a casual contact sort of acqauintance,but that has not influenced my reaction. Regards,Derek 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dibateg Posted June 7, 2016 Author Share Posted June 7, 2016 I am very flattered Derek - I have to say. And talking of generosity, 7mm Mick very kindly gave me a Peco Iron Tippler at the Doncaster show ( which was excellent ). Having seen Mick's wagons, this treacle coated item cannot have been of his making! So a bath of meths removed the majority of the paint. I've been a little disdainful of the Peco tipplers. Fortunately I had some Simon Thompson springs in stock - they are for 21 tonners, but they will do. So cleaned up and with new springs and Parkside buffers the wagon looks a lot more business like. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dibateg Posted June 8, 2016 Author Share Posted June 8, 2016 And now looking a little more respectable 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dibateg Posted June 8, 2016 Author Share Posted June 8, 2016 And the Toplights break cover at last, the windows seem very reflective.... 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim.snowdon Posted June 8, 2016 Share Posted June 8, 2016 Very nice, but two minor niggles. Only three truss rods? Shouldn't there be four, one to each solebar and one to each of the two centre longitudes? The other - I appreciate the carriages are brand new, but it looks as if the shop lad was sent round with the Brasso to polish up the door and commode handles - a little too zealously, perhaps. Jim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dibateg Posted June 9, 2016 Author Share Posted June 9, 2016 Thanks Jim - fair comment, each coach has 2 truss rods - that's all that was in the kit, if they should have 4 - that's my lack of knowledge of GW coaches! I shall investigate. The handles do stand out, especially more in the photo. They are not so prominent in the flesh. I shall ask the owner his preference.. Regards Tony 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dibateg Posted June 10, 2016 Author Share Posted June 10, 2016 Looking at the photos of the early coaches in the Harris book, they certainly seem to have just 2 truss rods. Later coaches ( designated Multibar I think ) had 4. That will do for me.. Overall opinion is to leave the handles to tarnish, they are not as prominent in real life.... Tony Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim.snowdon Posted June 10, 2016 Share Posted June 10, 2016 Fair comment. I have to admit that when I first looked at the pictures, I read them as appearing to show 3 truss rods, which struck me as odd. Looking again, what I think happened is that I wrongly interpreted another underframe fitting, possibly the steam pipe drain valve, as one of the queue posts on the far solebar. Oops Jim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dibateg Posted June 15, 2016 Author Share Posted June 15, 2016 Thanks to the grotty weather, we're off and continuing the Great Western theme I am building 4702. First job was to cut out for the Slaters hornblocks. I don't make them adjustable as once the ride height is set, there is no need to change anything. I use the hobby Holidays jig to assembles the frames, it holds everything in place nicely. 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
david.hill64 Posted June 15, 2016 Share Posted June 15, 2016 Looking forward to this: I have one to build sometime this century! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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