Golden Fleece 30

Nice nostalgic sets. I was always surprised by the pictures on the lids of the train lengths, even with the short coaches here my Princess would not pull more than 3 never mind uphill with 4 or 5. The initial stock had a lot of drag but maybe as mine were second hand, I did not start getting anything new until about 1958/59 time. The maroon coaches look to have survived the warping effect, even the blood and custards are not as bad as most I have seen. Garry

Sorry Robert,I forgot to add the photo about loco to tender coupling mentioned earlier. Garry

It should not be too difficult to get the tender to sit on the loco as such, here is what the etches supplied gives and I think they are both level so bent up the tender loop a little. I have read about using the tender weight but never tried it so something to think about. Now the 4-4-0 chassis has proved itself I will be doing the 14xx in a similar style. I will make the oil boxes a little larger as on the drawing they look big but when etched are quite small. I have thought about this but at the moment my thoughts are to be able to use the loco for light freight as well as local passenger so a Tri-ang style coupling needs to be used. The extra pick-ups would be good though. Garry

Here is the video of the 0-4-4 running. Has anyone spotted the difference between the two sides? At the end of the clip there is also my 4-4-0 2P chassis running. The layout has large curves, small curves, reverse curves and pointwork in as a good test. Garry

Hi Robert, Sent you a PM regarding the 2P chassis. The reason why countersunk screws are used is due to clearance behind the front footsteps, I have had to take some of the strengthening mould off already and dare not risk any more. I initially had hoped to use Romford crankpins but unfortunately the holes used in the driving wheels were too big and they just dropped in and out. Maybe (and that is a big maybe) I will find or make some with a larger thread but same pin size. It is one of the penalties of using Tri-ang wheels I guess. Look forward to seeing both the 64xx and the coach pack, is that for use as an autocoach as I think all 64xx's were so fitted? Happy reading. Garry

Here is the "Tri-ang" 0-4-4 tank as a runner. There is the odd little tweak to do but it runs on Tri-ang track, small radius curves and points etc. Due to the rear buffer beam being cut off the main chassis block and fitted to the extended bunker I had to modify a rear coupling as this was mounted on the bogie. Obviously the height meant it would be the same as the buffer beam so I had to mount it lower and bend it up slightly. I also ground off a little from the buffer beam base. Unfortunately due to using Tri-ang driving wheels I had to tap the holes already there and so the screw sizes are a little larger than I would have liked, one day I may return to this issue if I have nothing else on the go. The video of her running will be later tonight. Garry

Hi Robert, Making progress on my 0-4-4 which maybe finished today. The body is painted, lined and varnished it just needs a rear coupling sorting out not to be fouled by the body. The 08 now has outside frames fitted and cranks are assembled. The coupling rods and axles to sort later then she should be done. The standard 5 is stripped and primed but no black paint in stock, that could be a while now. That is a lovely runner. A different version of the M/N has been started but has the same black paint issue. 42' bogie parcels needs some bogies fitting. LNWR 4-4-0 stripped and unassembled ready for soldering. This is going to have a 2P chassis fitted which has been started. Garry

It is kit built TT gauge which Farish did not do as far as I know. It is certainly not to the same quality of any BEC or GEM kits I own so guessing its K's as they did make the odd TT item. Garry

Hi Robert, Most of the 8 Tri-ang locos are in good to very good condition, these two being mint in my opinion. The 3 kitbuilt ones are okay with the 57xx being good, the Q1 will get a repaint and the WR tank be assigned to the despatch box probably. All the covered wagons have a light weathering to the roofs only which if they don't clean up will easily be resprayed. The WR coaches that were re-paints are okay and should be fine when lined out and satin varnished. There was another 97xx body to dispose off and a 4F body and tender but minus loco footplate which should be easy enough to make. These bodies and an unmade Peco wagon kit, about a dozen Jackson wheels and most catalogues with price lists in mint condition with a few more items were all a bonus. Garry

Not so much as what I have done here but what I have managed to pick-up at a reasonable price. These were in a collection which equated to £6 per item so the Britannia with tender and DMU set was £12 and £18 respectively and the are almost new, boxed with all paperwork as well. The Prairie I think is a K's kit which is poor compared to BEC and GEM ones so will be discarded but the open spoke chassis is a lovely runner and will get fitted under something else. This is the first time I have ever seen the bolster wagon with load in the flesh too. I must get on with the layout though. Garry

I think this was a K's TT kit. I bought it today in a collection equating to £6 an item so cannot complain. The body I feel is not very good so will be used for selling on but the chassis is a cracker so will be used on something else. It is the second K's prairie I have had and both have been poor in relation to other kits like BEC and GEM. I think they made the 97xx in TT too which is slightly better but still not good. The 97xx here came part glued which came apart easily and allowed me to solder it together. Please correct me if I am wrong about the manufacturers name. Garry

Hi Robert, I have one of my etched couplings to fit on the bogie. You are correct about the push pull coach. Just need to get some paint for the loco and dig out a suburban coach. Garry

A Tri-ang TT 0-4-4 tank loco I am classing this as a Tri-ang loco as everything but the rear pony truck and wheels (and pick-ups) are all Tri-ang TT. I could have used the Britannia bogie to be fully Tri-ang but I prefer the metal wheels. The Jinty chassis has been cut and shaped as in the photos which required a new screw hole position as the original was cut into. The rear buffer beam has been cut off to use under the rear of the body. 2 Flanged wheels were removed from an axle and mounted on the centre cog one, then the holes were tapped 10BA (no drilling required). The coupling rods were cut down and the holes opened to accept some brass tube as a spacer to prevent the screws tightening on the rods. Countersunk ones were used as there was not much space behind the front steps. A new pick-up was made and the chassis was away. The last rear portion was filed to rest on the rear bogie to prevent rocking (hopefully). The only modification to the body is that the rear of the bunker which is angled was cut off and then the whole bunker from another body was cut and glued to the main one. This also meant that the rear chassis mounting lugs still fitted as standard. In reality it is not dimensionally correct and both sizes of wheels are too small but it kept the coupling and buffer height the same, and, was quick to do. It now needs a paint and lining session on it when time permits. Garry

I am not too confident with cutting the body down length ways Robert. If it had been metal yes but not plastic. For some reason I don't seem to be as good with plastic as I am with metal, maybe because any gaps etc can be filled with solder? The ex LNER coach kit by BEC has made up very nicely. Although quite a long wheelbase it still goes around Tri-ang small radius curves. I was going to say it just needs windows and couplings but the photo shows the top of the solebar is maroon as opposed to black, annoying how photos show any discrepancies up. The sides look worse due to the flash but I like the gloss paint finish in normal light, it is not varnished. The photo in grey primer shows the nicely detailed castings. A 42' bogie van, from BEC also, is awaiting some bogies to be fitted before it is completed, that is in lined maroon. Garry

Very expensive and in my opinion not too good. Wrenn actually returned more than half of the K's castings as not being suitable and I know I have only seen about 5 or 6 in the flesh and about a dozen in photos (Ebay etc) the lining is rubbish. Every one seems to have it lifting where it crosses the some of the boiler bands and some is not straight. Along with that the old Tri-ang tender tops were used which had raised mouldings for the lines. a lot of people like them but in my opinion that will be as a collector not for something well made. Garry

Here are two of the later Hornby Streamlined Coronations fitted to both a Dublo and Wrenn chassis. The early Margate ones were too short (and fitted on a basic A3 chassis) but the Chinese versions are full length. Also a clip of them both running on 3-rail with matching Hornby coaches. Garry

Ray, I have used a couple of their bodies which are good but not the chassis blocks. I was not going to start drilling, tapping and cleaning up the chassis castings. On one loco I acquired a proper Wrenn chassis and the other I modified a Dublo A4 chassis. For tenders I do not like the Wrenn/Dublo version so used the old Tri-ang ones. It was after modifying the A4 valve gear I had a few replica etched sets of valve gear made, but do not like the cylinder blocks as they are the wrong size and shape for the Spam Cans, they should be flush with the body sides. Garry

This is the first test of the "completed" chassis I have made for the BEC TT loco kit. There is the odd little item to address like soldering the bogie pivot inside the bogie frame as the head catches on the body frames over the bogie, and, like most 4-4-0's getting some weight at the rear end. With the body on it does tend to still dip at times. I may be able to to add some weight into the chassis itself after dis-assembly for painting and maybe put some in the cab side sheets. Hopefully this looks like it will also do the GEM LNWR 4-4-0 to save making a new chassis. The tender also has a separate etched chassis fitted as this loco originally was made to take a K's tender drive. As you can see this chassis goes nicely around Tri-ang TT curves. Garry

Can any one tell me the width of the gear used in the 3smr slimline gearboxes? According to the site the gearbox is 6.8mm when folded and if this is correct then Romford cog wheels will not fit unless machined down. I know they supply the gears but I am looking at dimensions only as I am assuming their's are not Romfords? Looking at the photo on the site I cannot see a boss with grub screw so is the cog wheel a press fit? Garry

Easy Ray. Insulate the crossover wire from BOTH circuits then give it a feed from a single pole double throw switch powering from one circuit or the other. Just use a Hornby Dublo green switch, that is what I do for the centre rail in the diamond crossing. Garry

With the warm weather last night I was laid in bed not being able to sleep and thinking of railways as you do. I wanted to see if I could make a more realistic Tri-ang 08 shunter and came up with the following. First was to see if I could put a wheel assembly in the lathe and drill a 1/16 hole through the axle to put some 1/16" brass rod in as the extended axle, then drill new axle centres closer together without issues of screws etc. Then drill and tap new keeper plate holes as the axles holes removed the original ones. Make a new keeper plate and coupling rods. All this worked so now I will have to wait until I send off another drawing to be etched so I can include the outside return cranks, better shaped rods and the outside frames. Hopefully the return cranks will be to the wheel crank dimensions which should make quartering easy. This will be a while so I will run it as it is, at least it looks better with the shorter wheelbase. Thankfully the overall buffer to buffer distance is very close to scale length. Garry

Yes David, It is the GEM one. What is interesting is the tender rear is in the style of the 4 streamlined ones with the curved backs and covered rear cowling, sorry no depth of field on this photo lol. This will end up as one of the Silver's but not Fox as I already have that. Originally GEM must have had a deal with Tri-ang as in those days the chassis without motor I think was supplied. It was 34 degrees here on the way to Tesco. Garry

I do try to David lol. Garry

Thanks Nigel, It is reassuring to know I am not the only one who will need to raise a body to get a working loco. Hopefully I may get the chassis drawings finished tomorrow and sent away for etching. Your locos look excellent even though I am not a WR fan. The 0-4-2 looks to have very tight clearances on the front splasher as if the wheel and splasher are the same size. Garry

These are all things I have looked at. The chassis I have drawn up already has the front wheels moved forwards. The coupling rods are not drawn as yet but will be drawn with oil boxes that others could file off if necessary. On my model I am going to lift the loco slightly until it runs without fouling then lower the buffers down to the required height. Depending on the amount catching I may be able to make a slight groove under the footplate base to give the clearance. Until I get the chassis though I will not know. David, Here are the two A4 sides, look how deep the countersunk holes are for the handrail pins. All I have to do is remove most of the valances to make a BR version lol. Garry