chaz Posted December 2, 2018 Author Share Posted December 2, 2018 I opened up the tender of #29 and found that it had been fitted with a Zimo twin sugar-cube speaker, which might have quite a lot to do with the excellent sound quality. These go for £20 but are worth every penny IMO. Chaz Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaz Posted December 4, 2018 Author Share Posted December 4, 2018 Having spoken to Paul Martin at the Reading trade show I now own the 2-8-0 #29 with the TCS WOW sound decoder fitted. After the dust has settled on the Peterborough show next week I intend to get going again on the FVRR. There are rather a lot of jobs to be done but high on the list are #29, the Mogul #12, finishing the last two hopper cars and - a major project - building the engine house kit and working up the engine yard around it and the turntable. Not much chance of getting all that done before Christmas but I can make a start! Chaz 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaz Posted December 12, 2018 Author Share Posted December 12, 2018 (edited) I was at the Peterborough show for the weekend with Dock Green. Walking round on one of my "off duty" moments I saw a copy of the Colorado Rail Annual No. 12, entitled "The South Park Line - a Concise History". I bought it and have been looking at it ever since I got home. It's a fascinating book about a railroad that I knew very little about. It had a chequered history and it's poverty and light construction meant that small light locomotives worked on it until its demise in the thirties. It never had anything as big and powerful as the DRGW Mikados. One locomotive type that has intrigued me as I read is the Mason Bogie. The 2-6-6T DL&G No. 57 (DSP&P No. 24) features in several photos in the book and is the subject of an article of its own. Does anyone know of a drawing of this machine - possibly in an issue of the NG&SLG? Chaz Silly me! A Google later on today brought up http://ross-crain.com with lots of drawings, pictures etc of Mason Bogie locomotives. Edited December 12, 2018 by chaz Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaz Posted December 20, 2018 Author Share Posted December 20, 2018 (edited) I finally got Decoder Pro and SPROG to talk to the Economi decoder in #25 (a Bachmann ten-wheeler) after installing the latest version of Decoder Pro. After resetting the chip to factory defaults I spent an enjoyable hour or so setting the top speed, acceleration and deceleration rates and the various sound volumes. next step is to to move the loco from the programming track to the layout and see how well the settings work in traffic. As I don't intend to make any changes to the detailing of this locomotive apart from some more convincing coal on the tender and a crew this would seem to be a prime candidate for my next weathering project. When I do the weathering I will post a note here and you can use the link below to jump to my weathering projects topic. Chaz Edited December 20, 2018 by chaz 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaz Posted January 4, 2019 Author Share Posted January 4, 2019 I have weathered #7 - the 2-4-0. Here are three photos of the loco switching some flat cars at Stoke's Ferry. For a few notes on the weathering follow the link below to my weathering topic. Chaz 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Train Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 One locomotive type that has intrigued me as I read is the Mason Bogie. The 2-6-6T DL&G No. 57 (DSP&P No. 24) features in several photos in the book and is the subject of an article of its own. Does anyone know of a drawing of this machine - possibly in an issue of the NG&SLG? Interesting loco. With the long solid frame, I would expect cornering ability to be compromised and rear overhang to be excessive. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaz Posted January 5, 2019 Author Share Posted January 5, 2019 (edited) Interesting loco. With the long solid frame, I would expect cornering ability to be compromised and rear overhang to be excessive. As I understand it the engine is pivoted (the pivot being on the centre line of the cylinders), so is in essence a bogie and with the six wheel rear bogie also pivoted there should be no problem, it will track just like any other vehicle with two bogies. I am going to investigate making a model using the front engine of a Bachmann mallet*. Excessive rear overhang is something any Bachmann Forney owner will know about! *might well have to source a six-wheeled 16.5mm gauge motor bogie to power the whole caboodle - any ideas? Chaz Edited January 5, 2019 by chaz Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barnaby Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 Great building on here Chaz and the FVR is alive. Well done. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Smith Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 Chaz, Here's an interesting deal. Bachmann used to do a 2-6-6-2 of similar but haven't seen it for sale lately. https://www.micromark.com/Bachmann-Spectrum-On30-Narrow-Gauge-2-4-4-2-Painted-Black-Unlettered-Steel-Cab-DCC-Equipped Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Donw Posted January 5, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 5, 2019 The forney is rather like a Fairlie then. I have a Roundhouse Taliesin live steam with the driving bogie able to swivel despite the steam pipes. I seem to remember a discussion with either Colin Binnie or Don Borham about such locos. One common solution seems to build the bit with the driving wheels as a bogie with a sort of frame piece over the mechanism. The attachement to the body is via a pivot at the top of the frame piece allowing all the working bits to swivel. Ideally the motor needs to be mounted vertically to allow full swivel. Don PS perhaps a Bullant might be what you need http://www.hollywoodfoundry.com/bullant%20intro.htm Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaz Posted January 5, 2019 Author Share Posted January 5, 2019 The forney is rather like a Fairlie then. I have a Roundhouse Taliesin live steam with the driving bogie able to swivel despite the steam pipes. I seem to remember a discussion with either Colin Binnie or Don Borham about such locos. One common solution seems to build the bit with the driving wheels as a bogie with a sort of frame piece over the mechanism. The attachement to the body is via a pivot at the top of the frame piece allowing all the working bits to swivel. Ideally the motor needs to be mounted vertically to allow full swivel. Don PS perhaps a Bullant might be what you need http://www.hollywoodfoundry.com/bullant%20intro.htm Yes, Don. IIRC the original Forneys, which ran on the 2 foot gauge Maine NG lines were based on the Welsh single Fairlie. If I build the Mason bogie I may well leave the engine unpowered and drive the loco with a powered six wheel bogie. The prototypes were not very powerful, a couple of passenger cars was about their lot so a single power bogie with a reasonable amount of weight over it should suffice. Chaz, Here's an interesting deal. Bachmann used to do a 2-6-6-2 of similar but haven't seen it for sale lately. https://www.micromark.com/Bachmann-Spectrum-On30-Narrow-Gauge-2-4-4-2-Painted-Black-Unlettered-Steel-Cab-DCC-Equipped Yes Jeff. I will be hoping to find a 2nd hand Bachmann 2-6-6-2 which I can pull apart to provide the engine bogie. Chaz Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaz Posted January 5, 2019 Author Share Posted January 5, 2019 PS perhaps a Bullant might be what you need http://www.hollywoodfoundry.com/bullant%20intro.htm I checked out the Bullant link that you gave me, Don, as it would be a possible for the six-wheeled carrying bogie - however the max' wheel size of 11.4mm rules it out as the prototype wheels scale at 14 - 14.5mm diameter. I am following up other possibilities - no rush, this is a long term project. Chaz Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortliner Posted January 6, 2019 Share Posted January 6, 2019 (edited) Probably a VERY silly question, but could you have the drive to the rear (tender-end) wheels, as a separate bogie, leaving the "drivers and cylinders" on a centrally-pivoted "swivelley-bit" to themselves? Somewhat like a very close-coupled version of one of the LNWR steam-motors .Just my illogical lateral thought process! Edited January 6, 2019 by shortliner Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaz Posted January 6, 2019 Author Share Posted January 6, 2019 Probably a VERY silly question, but could you have the drive to the rear (tender-end) wheels, as a separate bogie, leaving the "drivers and cylinders" on a centrally-pivoted "swivelley-bit" to themselves? Somewhat like a very close-coupled version of one of the LNWR steam-motors .Just my illogical lateral thought process! That is my current thinking, a three-axle motor bogie. It will avoid cluttering up the daylight between the boiler and the engine ("drivers and cylinders") with the motor and drive and there is a coal bunker/water tank in which to hide it. However the engine will not have a central pivot. The pivot on the real thing was on the centreline of the cylinders, presumably to facilitate the flexible steam pipe connections. The mechanical connection from the reverser to the valve gear was routed from the top of the boiler to minimise the problems involved when the engine unit pivoted on a curve. That might cause problems on my two foot radius curves! Chaz Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortliner Posted January 6, 2019 Share Posted January 6, 2019 (edited) That is my current thinking, a three-axle motor bogie. It will avoid cluttering up the daylight between the boiler and the engine ("drivers and cylinders") with the motor and drive and there is a coal bunker/water tank in which to hide it. However the engine will not have a central pivot. The pivot on the real thing was on the centreline of the cylinders, presumably to facilitate the flexible steam pipe connections. The mechanical connection from the reverser to the valve gear was routed from the top of the boiler to minimise the problems involved when the engine unit pivoted on a curve. That might cause problems on my two foot radius curves! Chaz Ah so the silly old s*d is not quite as silly as he thought - thanks for setting my mind at rest [Not sure if that moves me up with "Great Minds....", or drops you down to my level!] Edited January 6, 2019 by shortliner 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaz Posted January 6, 2019 Author Share Posted January 6, 2019 Ah so the silly old s*d is not quite as silly as he thought - thanks for setting my mind at rest [Not sure if that moves me up with "Great Minds....", or drops you down to my level!] I couldn't possibly comment but I will say that I'm not sure yet that anything will come of all this. Firstly it depends on finding a 2nd hand Bachmann 2-6-6-2 that I can cannibalise and then on a suitable 3 axle motor bogie. I am at present talking to Mark Clark about a 3D printed bogie. Chaz Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaz Posted January 6, 2019 Author Share Posted January 6, 2019 (edited) try this... https://youtu.be/OjMJU81Z3Mk An unlikely duty for a 2-4-0, but one of my 2-8-0s can take over once it is in service.... Edited January 6, 2019 by chaz 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Smith Posted January 6, 2019 Share Posted January 6, 2019 Great, and nice speed and sound. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaz Posted March 6, 2019 Author Share Posted March 6, 2019 In fact progress on the layout has stalled in favour of getting some of the locos into service. Following on from #7 I next worked on #10. Headlamp bracket removed and lamp re-positioned pilot with non-working coupling replaced with the Bachmann upgrade cab side windows plated TCS WOW decoder in cab roof with keep alive behind side sheet and sugar cube speaker in smokebox - sounds excellent! weathering done with powders coal plate added across tender top Woodland Scenics coal lumps to improve plastic "coal" effect Bit of a sweety? Wheels and rods still to be weathered. Chaz 9 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Harrison Posted March 7, 2019 Share Posted March 7, 2019 What is that barrel for on top of the boiler? Backwoods feedwater heater? Either way, a very interesting little loco and brilliant work. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaz Posted March 8, 2019 Author Share Posted March 8, 2019 15 hours ago, James Harrison said: What is that barrel for on top of the boiler? Backwoods feedwater heater? Either way, a very interesting little loco and brilliant work. It's an air tank for the air brakes. I am told it's a very unusual position for it - it was more usual for it to be under the running boards or on the tender. In fact I was told that there was only one railroad and possibly only one loco that used this arrangement. But as I pointed out to my informant he was wrong, the Furness Valley definitely had a couple of moguls with tanks on the boiler top - and I am modelling them! Rule One always applies. Chaz 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaz Posted March 8, 2019 Author Share Posted March 8, 2019 My latest work has been on a Bachmann 2-8-0 - A Consolidation (or Conny). Same techniques that I used on the Mogul gloss varnish on the panels where decals are to go (2 coats of Vallejo thinned 50/50 applied with a brush) transfers added and allowed time to dry matte varnish (Vallejo again) airbrushed onto the whole loco except the wheels and rods and allowed time to dry weathering powders brushed on - colours - black, smoke, dark earth, rust, greys and white. From some angles the camera is very unkind in spotting the edge of the decals. Watching the loco run from a reasonable viewing distance the effect is negligible. The running and sound from a TCS WOW chip is excellent and the bundled keep-alive makes stalls from dusty track a thing of the past. Chaz 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
calvin Streeting Posted March 8, 2019 Share Posted March 8, 2019 47 minutes ago, chaz said: From some angles the camera is very unkind in spotting the edge of the decals and becuase you know they are there you spot them more than others nice modellove the dirt 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaz Posted March 11, 2019 Author Share Posted March 11, 2019 #29 joins #27 on the FVRR roster ( #28 awaits some parts missing from the pilot beam). 2 coats of Vallejo matte varnish (magic stuff) airbrushed on to provide a key for the weathering powders. As so often seems to happen the camera has reduced the effect of the weathering - still I think the model looks good, certainly better than it did straight out of the box.... All that white paint just had to go! Chaz 5 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandhole Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 On 11/03/2019 at 09:12, chaz said: #29 joins #27 on the FVRR roster ( #28 awaits some parts missing from the pilot beam). 2 coats of Vallejo matte varnish (magic stuff) airbrushed on to provide a key for the weathering powders. As so often seems to happen the camera has reduced the effect of the weathering - still I think the model looks good, certainly better than it did straight out of the box.... All that white paint just had to go! Chaz Thanks for posting the shots. I asked you sometime back if you would and you have. Love the weathering jobs, very discrete!!! No29 now looks like a used working locomotive, marvellous job. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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