Wright writes.....

[coachmann]

Thank you ... lots of weathering and umpiring getting in the way of kit building at the moment ... but ...one less to weather..

 

V2 (1280x310).jpg

 

Bachmann body(not sure?) on etched chassis built and painted by Graham Varley...

I don't like that V2.......................I love it!

 

Everything I have ever seen of Graham's is quality and this loco is no exception.

Edited May 23, 2014 by coachmann

[34theletterbetweenB&D]

I was quite liking that 'C' until I saw the dirty great slot in the firebox.

Which is odd, because the one I have (numbered 31086, cat 31-462) there's no depression there, it blends reasonably into the firebox side and draws no attention to itself. If I were concerned, then a wipe of Milliput ahead of the filthing would 'disappear it' completely. Slight change to the casting tool reducing the width at that section for this production run?

 

The motor and drive train were skilfully completely concealed on the later J11 introduction. So some thought is being given to this aspect I would suggest; and just in time for a subject that really matters.

[Oldddudders]

I was quite liking that 'C' until I saw the dirty great slot in the firebox.

Just been and looked at my black version from the previous batch. It really isn't that obvious, since it is filled by a part of the mechanism, but is accentuated here by a trick of the light. There is no slot as such, just a difference in paint finish plastic/metal. Those who weather their locos would lose it in no time.

[Tony Wright]

With regard to the Bachmann C class, 2,000 Watts of light has a habit of differentiating between painted metal and plastic. It's probably far more noticeable in my picture.

 

Speaking of pictures, just a couple here to prove I've finished that awkward B&M 0-6-0ST. The Markits outside-cranks are beautifully machined and really finish it off. The quartering has to be set by eye, so it's best to solder them to the extended axles rather than use Loctite. That way, not only are they far more secure but adjustment is easy by merely re-introducing the iron and tweaking. Burnt fingers are the result but it now runs really sweetly.

 

A full report will appear in BRM.

 

If you want to see it, it'll be running on Merthryr Riverside at the Wigan Show next month.

 

Edited May 23, 2014 by Tony Wright

[Adam]

Very nice indeed, Tony, especially given the starting point. Can I ask where you found the drawings shown in your pictures? Copies of these would really speed up my build if I were able to lay hands on them.

 

Adam

[Tony Wright]

Very nice indeed, Tony, especially given the starting point. Can I ask where you found the drawings shown in your pictures? Copies of these would really speed up my build if I were able to lay hands on them.

 

Adam

Adam,

          Thanks for the kind comment.

 

The drawings, and an article on the locos appeared in BRITISH RAILWAY JOURNAL, No. 2, winter, 1984. Thirty years ago!

[Adam]

Many thanks Tony. I shall set about tracking that down.

Adam

[gr.king]

Thank you ... lots of weathering and umpiring getting in the way of kit building at the moment ... but ...one less to weather..

 

V2 (1280x310).jpg

 

Bachmann body(not sure?) on etched chassis built and painted by Graham Varley...

 

Bachmann body by the distinctive look of it, but it looks as if the smokebox door handles, possibly some or all of the boiler handrails, very obviously the dome, also the ejector pipe and by the look of it the sandfiller(s) have been replaced with better items. Unfortunately, the basic problem of the boiler shape remains, along with the coarse representation of cab roof features.

[lee74clarke]

Hello Tony,

Do you have one of Graeme's A2 to A2/3 conversions? They do look very good and I would like to have a crack at one, but knowing how damn clumsy I am, have not really looked into it too mcuh. Will have to contact Graeme for a few more details I think. Have seen various bits on forums, but I suspect Graeme has a lot more skill & patience than I do!

Slighly off topic, but stil ECML, can I ask you about the Anglo-Scottish Car Carrier, with the Newton Chambers coaches/wagons?

I know you have a rake, seen them when I have been lucky enough to view Bytham (I think behind an A4 from memory?), but I can't remember the formation? Is your complete train made up of them, or do you add other coaches?

There's a Noel Ingram photo on the net, on the up fast at the back of Bytham School, with 6 Newton Chambers (+ 4 other coaches which I can't identify) behind a 40. I am sure the more informed may know what they are, but I don't can't tell, other than most likely mark ones.

Stating the obvious maybe, but would the other coaches be for the passengers that had sent their cars in the Newton Chambers?

 

Kind Regards,

Lee

[Tony Wright]

Hello Tony,

Do you have one of Graeme's A2 to A2/3 conversions? They do look very good and I would like to have a crack at one, but knowing how damn clumsy I am, have not really looked into it too mcuh. Will have to contact Graeme for a few more details I think. Have seen various bits on forums, but I suspect Graeme has a lot more skill & patience than I do!

Slighly off topic, but stil ECML, can I ask you about the Anglo-Scottish Car Carrier, with the Newton Chambers coaches/wagons?

I know you have a rake, seen them when I have been lucky enough to view Bytham (I think behind an A4 from memory?), but I can't remember the formation? Is your complete train made up of them, or do you add other coaches?

There's a Noel Ingram photo on the net, on the up fast at the back of Bytham School, with 6 Newton Chambers (+ 4 other coaches which I can't identify) behind a 40. I am sure the more informed may know what they are, but I don't can't tell, other than most likely mark ones.

Stating the obvious maybe, but would the other coaches be for the passengers that had sent their cars in the Newton Chambers?

 

Kind Regards,

Lee

Good Evening Lee,

                               I will have a Graeme King A2/3 by the end of the week. Please pop in and see it.

 

I don't now have the 'Anglo Scottish Car Carrier'. It belongs to Dave Lewis of Southern Pride and, with the proposed selling of Stoke Summit, it will probably never run again.

 

The formation of the ASCC for the summer of 1963 was (Down) BSO, FK, RU, FO (all BR Mk.1s), then the six Newton Chambers car carriers. Note the preponderance of First Class accommodation, because it was a relatively expensive way to get the passengers and their cars to the north. Meals could be served at all seats, and yes, the majority of cars had their owners with them. There was space for 84 First Class passengers and 39 Second (33 on SO). One car carrier came off at Newcastle. Up to 192 tons of motor cars were carried, so fewer in number if they were Jags or RRs perhaps. I'm not sure how many cars could be carried in each carrier - I've an idea two small ones below and four above. Perhaps someone will let us know.   

[Tony Wright]

A most enjoyable weekend has been spent in the company of David West and Tom Foster.

 

David brought several of his locos to run on LB, even though they're DCC. With one exception (see later), they all romped round. 

 

 

I think I've got the descriptions correct but, if not, perhaps David will put me right.

 

The A3 is a Hornby model detailed and weathered by him. The A2/3 is a Tim Easter Bachmann A2 conversion using Graeme King's parts. From this angle, the latter looks a twitch 'wobbly', though it ran well. 

 

 

The A4 with appropriate cut-down tender is Graeme King's work and the exquisite A1/1 is a Morgan Gilbert conversion using Graeme King's parts. The weathered and detailed L1 is David's work.

 

 

This is a Hornby B1 weathered and detailed by David.

 

 

The W1 conversion from a Hornby A4 is Graeme King's work using his own parts. It's weathered by David. It captures the appearance of this loco far better than my SE-Finecast kit-built one, but in the haulage stakes it's a ballerina compared to power lifter. 

 

What I didn't take a picture of (and should have done) was David's DJH A2, 60539 BRONZINO. A picture has appeared on this thread before but it wasn't very good. The loco didn't run, perhaps because of its decoder. 'It's also noisy and a bit stiff when it does' I was told. So, an investigation. After I'd removed the mains-standard wiring and cleaned up the residue of some nasty flux, what was mechanically made was really rather good, but she wasn't really smooth. I smugly pointed out that the the worm gear was fitted back to front (with the grub screw at the outer end of the armature). I turned it round and made matters worse. End of smugness! Something was a bit tight, but not much. A tweak of the gearbox, an adjustment to the return cranks, a wiggle to the pick-ups and the re-soldering of the nearside slidebars and there she was - free as a bird. So, wired-up properly, with a drop of oil and the body back on and she was placed on a heavy train. After some minor bogie fiddling-with, off she went - fast, powerful, quiet, smooth - every single thing I try to achieve in my chassis making epitomised. It was 99% David's doing, and only his fourth loco kit. A splendid achievement, if I may be so bold. I mention the above, not to flatter the man, but to suggest to all those who bleat on about not being able to do things, or the RTR stuff is too expensive or not what they want, to have a go at doing things for themselves. If you're rich enough to have others do stuff for you, well done but watching that A2 romp round my trainset made my day - much more so than watching my own work. Even more so when the guy who made it was at the throttle.

 

 

Speaking of doing things for themselves, here's Tom Foster's latest project. It's a Bachmann K3 conversion with a SE Finecast chassis and cab, and correct-sized driving wheels. Admittedly, I made the frames, installed the gearbox and made it go but he's finishing it off - erecting the brake gear, fitting the balance weights, pondering on fitting the handrails, cab steps and cab roof (it's only held in place by gravity). He'll repaint it, re-number it and weather it - yet again, an example of folk prepared to have a go. And the price? He has two C12s, a K1 and a B1 to weather for me. Hypocrisy on my part? No, horse-trading.

 

My apologies for the lack of lamps on any of the locos.  

Edited May 25, 2014 by Tony Wright

[davidw]

Thanks Tony.  That's more or less as I remember things too

 

The mods made to the A3 were to alter 60049 Galtee More to 60107 Royal Lancer (one of the more magnificent names applied to the A3 class).  For the period modelled, I altered the lamp iron position, split the handrail and altered the name and numbers appropriately. Real coal was applied to the tender, then lightly weathered.

 

The A4 was merely renamed and renumbered with light weathering applied after a coat of Klear. Tender mods are as in Tony's description.

 

The A1/1 started life as an Hornby A3. The conversion has been documented on this thread and in detail on the LNER forum. It's awaiting weathering

 

The B1 was originally an early crest example which has now been altered to a late crest and renumbered to 61188. Those in the know on B1s will be aware that the coal space partition was altered - I think post '55 - and Hornby correctly model this variation on their B1s. So I altered the position of this by removing the original and making a new one from plasticard, thus suiting a machine in the later period. It had Klear applied first, then weathering on top of that. 

 

The W1 is - as Tony says - not as powerful as his own W1 but it shifted an 11 coach train, of which some vehicles were very heavy, of brass and white metal construction.

 

Bronzino initially disgraced itself but I think the decoder was at fault. It was great to see it eventually hammering through Little Bytham on a Pullman! I'm still working on my DJH A2/2...

 

 

 

Many thanks to Tony and Mo for the invite and the hospitality. It was great to meet and 'play trains' for the day.

Edited May 26, 2014 by davidw

[Guest 2750]

Had a lovely day yesterday working on the K3 with Tony. The new chassis with correct wheel size makes a massive difference and in my opinion improves the look of the loco.

Here she is romping around Little Bytham.

 

She is to become 17 of York Shed (which will require a tender body change, which I shall do today). When the tender is finished, she will go to MickLNER of this parish for lining out in LNER mixed traffic red.

Edited May 26, 2014 by 2750

[micklner]

Nice Loco

[Guest 2750]

Nice Loco

 

Glad you like....you are going to be lining it!

Just make sure you give it back!

[45609]

Some excellent photos Tony and it is great to see Great Northern and all the other locos doing the business round your layout.  It looks like a good day/weekend was had by all.

 

All the best....Morgan

[JeremyC]

The capacity of the Newton Chambers car carriers as built was 6 cars, 4 on the upper deck and 2 in the well. I understand that following an accident the wells were put out of use.

 

Jeremy

[St Enodoc]

The capacity of the Newton Chambers car carriers as built was 6 cars, 4 on the upper deck and 2 in the well. I understand that following an accident the wells were put out of use.

 

Jeremy

That is correct Jeremy.

[gr.king]

 17 of York Shed (which will require a tender body change,

 

I was about to suggest that in order to go with the "revised Darlington pattern" of cab, but Tom is ahead of me. We could do with rather more of the stepped-sided tender bodies in circulation to facilitate swaps. The world is awash with straight-sided, high fronted tenders from old B1 and J39 models, but the early pattern of tender tops seem almost like hens' teeth. I do hope that the Great British Locomotives K3 might have the early tender, reasonably modelled....

 

While I'm at it, shall I be lazy and moan about the length of time it is taking for Heljan to produce a GN tender too? No, I have a better idea. If I find the time to do so before they get organised, I hope to make a simple model that will duplicate readily in resin.

 

I actually like the "different" look of the original low-window Darlington K3 cabs, even if Gresley and the GN drivers didn't enthuse......

[Tony Wright]

The capacity of the Newton Chambers car carriers as built was 6 cars, 4 on the upper deck and 2 in the well. I understand that following an accident the wells were put out of use.

 

Jeremy

Jeremy (and John),

                               Many thanks.

[Guest 2750]

I actually like the "different" look of the original low-window Darlington K3 cabs, even if Gresley and the GN drivers didn't enthuse......

 

Can't have been worse than a GN cab.....actually was anything worse than a GN cab?

Perhaps no cab at all!

 

Feeling full of enthusiasm after Tony's tuition over the weekend, I have made a start adding the handrails.

 

[Tony Wright]

Having more recently posted shots of other folk's work on my railway, I thought I'd have a go at taking pictures of some of my indigenous stuff. In order to get more eye-level shots, I left the bulky D3 in my studio and dusted off my ancient (in digital terms) Nikon 5700. Because of its lack of 'big' pixels, the image quality is nowhere near as good (though it was used extensively for shots in BRM up to six or seven years ago) but it does give a nearer natural view point. The depth of field, too, is reasonable. 

 

I assumed the photographer stood on or near the loading dock one day in the summer of 1958, looking north, and took pictures of a few trains. I used bounced light to reduce dark shadows and superimposed a not-too-bright sky as I thought appropriate. Perhaps folk might like to comment, critically if possible.

 

 

In this view a modified and detailed Bachmann A1 (beautifully weathered by Tim Shackleton) has charge of an Up Leeds express as it romps past a modified, renumbered and weathered Hornby O1.

 

 

A lucky juxtaposition as New England's MONS MEG heads north on an express in passing Doncaster's 60905 on a southbound fast. Locos are from Crownline and Nu-Cast respectively. In the distance, a J6 waits in the Up lay-by.

 

 

With the passing of the expresses, the J6 begins shunting the Up daily pick-up goods - there is a corresponding Down working. The loco is from Nu-Cast.

 

 

More of trains passing as another 'fiddled-with' Hornby O1 heads north on mineral empties and passes a further-weathered Bachmann 9F on a fully-fitted southbound freight.  

Edited May 26, 2014 by Tony Wright

[micklner]

Nice pictures and Locos, Rolling stock, however what are they like without the digitiser effects. I have said before elsewhere I prefer "normal" or a mixture of pictures personally .

[Horsetan]

....what are they like without the digitiser effects. .... .

It's a bit like that Autotune thing....

[davidw]

Fantastic shots!!!