30368

Hi Jack, Good advice I agree assumptions not based on any logic are to be avoided. Bradley's book has a series of backplate GA drawings for his 4-6-0s. They are all much the same and much like the T9. Drummonds LSWR engines were driver LH side so that means the vacuum ejector pipe and drivers brake actuator are on that side together with the reverser lever. The regulator handle is positioned facing the drivers side. All of that can be seen in your images of the preserved T9 above (thanks, very good pictures). When you also add that footplate men were very conservative and liked averything to be in its place with no surprises then it is very likely that all of the Drummond 4-4-0 classes had a very similar cab layout. At 4mm scale any slight variations can be ignored, besides there was every likelihood that succesive works visits would produce their own slight variations of which we will never know! I shall be using the excellent backplate casting provided with the T9 kit with some adjustment to allow for the higher pitched boiler. Kind regards, Richard B

HI Dave, Yes all noted thanks. I also have Bradley's book which has reproductions of many LSWR GAs. One point of interest is that the S11 cylinders were inclined wereas all other Drummond 4-4-0's were parallel with the frames. The GAs also show that S11 and L12 have 8ft 6in boiler pitch and D15 at 8ft 9in. I have suitable boiler fittings having collected over the years a good selection of Drummond bits. Thanks to Jack (and Matti) I have located a suitable chimney from Phoenix Precision Paints. Kind regards, Richard B

Many thanks Matti. Yes that is correct. How are you getting on with this site? Lots of useful tips I hope? Kind regards, Richard B

Hi Jack, Thanks for the tip - do you have contact details? I can only find a model aircraft supplier with that name. Kind regards, Richard B

As that fountain of knowledge Ian (Oldddudders, and I am not being sarcastic Ian) has outlined so well Ferrari return to Le Mans as a works (or semi works perhaps) team. I think, perhaps, the budget cap on F1 perhaps releases funds for this project. As Ian has said, they have not raced officially at Le Mans since the 917/512S/M period although I recall being at Le Mans in 1972 to watch Ferrari win with the 312PB, given they had won all the other sports car races that they entered that year, only to experience a Matra win because Ferrari did not enter! I suspect that if they had they would not have lasted, the 312 was a bit fragile. The Ford - Ferrari battles of 1964-67 at Le Mans were titanic struggles. European complex (engine) technology and traditional chassis technology verses USA basic but big engine technology and advanced chassis engineering. Wonderful times - listening late at night on French radio to discover how the race was going. I still think that the Ferrari 330P4 was perhaps the most beautiful racing car ever built. I did see this car race at the BOAC 500 at Brands Hatch beating the 908/910 Porsche's but alas not the Chaparell that for once finished. I remeber well the 917/512 battles of the early 70's at the then BOAC 1000km race. My late brother and I didn't realise (who does) how privileged we were watching such events. Why do I like and support Ferrari? Well, firstly they have always designed and built everything in their cars so as an engineer I admire that. (Please don't say that so do Mercedes - they bought Ilmore to achieve dominance) Secondly Italia..... Kind regards and sorry to go on... Richard B

A bit of an update - I have now completed the second cabside/spasher section. They both look pretty good. On another matter my "goody bag" arrived from Markits today which included spot on wheels for the E4 0-6-2T that I am building and some of Mark's really wonderful brass Westinghouse air pumps but the star is an absolutely perfect chimney for the v.old Wills E5 kit that I will eventually complete. Thanks Mark, really good work. Cab sides looking good. I don't usually take pictures of parts sealed in bags but these Markets parts deserve it. If only my pictures were as good! I would also like to "plug" Markits solderless return cranks. I used them on the A2/3 and A1/1 that I built a while back. They are, as expected, of the highest quality and work so much better than a soldered on return crank. Kind regards, Richard B

Much as I have loved Grand Prix - F1 racing over the last 55 or so years I do think it has got itself into a creek without a paddle in so many ways. Roll on Le Mans 2023! Kind regards, Richard B

The loco I am modelling 30398 seems to have had the lipped chimney fitted until the end so the attractive one. Kind regards, Richard B

Started work on the scratch built parts - cab and splasher sides from 10 thou brass sheet. A bit thin but closer to prototype and will be strong enough once assembled with specticle plate and roof. Its always satisfying to mark out, cut out (with my fathers large shears - he was a master tailor) and then file to profile. I will use one side as a template for the other side. I am using JH Russell's " A Pictorial Record of Southern Locomotives" needs to be treated with care but a valuable source of line drawings in 4mm scale. Almost finished Very temp fit with blutack Kind regards, Richard B

Hi Jack, The two MNs look really good, understand that there is more to do but looking really good. I see you use prototype pictures, as do I, it seems an obvious thing to do, but often folks ignore the reality of running a large steam locomotive. They get very dirty very quickly. From about the 1930s there are lots of examples of even top link express locomotives being covered in grime. The cheap labour of the Edwardian period was long past. Post WW2 generally things just got worse although I can think of exceptions - Salisbury did a good job cleaning its loco's and even Basingstoke tried very hard with its fleet - the N15X class for example, were kept very clean in the 1950s and so was 30368! Kind regards, Richard B

Can almost hear that HT buzz.....

Hi Chris, No need to aplogise, I'm sure you are doing your best to resolve the issues that are holding things up. It's just that we all miss you and your motors and gearboxes (and whatever else)! Looking forward to your return and those wonderful coreless motors. The gearboxes are just great too. Maybe make an announcement on here when you are back? Kind regards, Richard B

Markits wheels and gearbox/motor have arrived from Branchlines. After some additioanl clearance filing of running plate wheeled chassis fits running plate nicely with the correct ride height for the buffers etc. I agree with Blandford, the cab layout would be very similar to the T9, Drummond like many CM&EEs in the early 20th Century adopted standardisation and the LSWR was not an exception. Urie continued the theme. PDK D15 kit and SEFT9/Scratchbuilt L12 at my earlier incarnation of 70D. All built by me a good few years ago now. Kind regards, Richard B

Thanks Jack, much appreciated. Chassis now fitted to running plate. This very old LSWR kit has some very good features and some of the castings are very good. Kind regards, Richard B

And now for something completely different! An SR ex LSWR prototype the Drummond/Urie S11 4-4-0. This will be based on a very old "LSWR kit" of a T9 4-4-0 that I purchased from a fellow member of the LSWR Circle. The S11 (and L12) were both based on the T9 10 foot wheelbase chassis but with slightly larger higher pitched boilers. Higher pitched because this improved access to the inside valvegear. The L12 had 6ft 7 inch drivers and the S11 6ft. The idea being the S11's would be useful West of Salisbury. I built an L12 some time ago based on a SEF chassis with most of the bodywork scratch built from brass sheet. The same approach will be adopted for the S11. Work on 70D continues in between loco building. The kit has a whitemetal running plate the rear portion of which was discarded. The T9 kit was a narrow cab version so a new, wider running plate has been made from brass sheet. The kit running plate was then glued to the brass running plate (weight usefull and guidance for the brass running plate edges. Some rivet detail added to the running plate which is wider than the T9 doner. Chassis will use original mounting locations. One leaf spring has become detached fortunately I have the part. 24mm Markits drivers, Mashima 10/20 can motor and two stage gearbox on order from Branchlines. The kit has a partially assembled water cart tender and the loco painted number will probably be 30398 simply because I know it worked from 70D I have a lovely picture of it on the shed. Kind regards, Richard B

Back to 70D after building an LNER B9 4-6-0. As you can see from the previous image, I have had to raise the shed walls by about 10mm due to the new baseboard. This creates a problem with the townstreet casings. I used some 2mm thick card to create extentions to the wall buttresses. I then covered the new surfaces with brick paper, something I have never used before. The result is not too bad. The station side of the shed, the whitewashed area locates the shed offices along this side. The 10mm additional hight will create the raised bank and stores unloading bay platform located on this side of the shed. This side has had the brick paper applied - not too bad. Much will be hidden beneath the ash and general rubbish that accumulated on this side of the shed - two ashpits on this side. The additional "step" caused by the 10mm insert has resulted in a side elevation that is closer to the prototype than the Townscape castings alone. Kind regards, Richard B

Postscript - The LNER transfer on the tender was fixed using Microscale Micro Set and Micro Sol - the first time I have used these materials. Providing you are patient they work really well removing the excess material from around the decal and creating a more realistic appearance. I shall try retro using Micro Sol on more of my loco's. Recommended. Final shot of the B9 coming off the turntable and on its way back to Banbury and beyond.... Kind regards, Richard B

Dear Tony, I'm shocked! Not the sort of language one heard in Eastleigh Works Erecting shop! Your A2/3 V2.0 looks fine! Kind regards, Richard B

Hi John, Yes I agree. Powders are just more flexible giving you the option to clean your loco and then dirty it up again many times. I also have to add a little oily blue wash to the tender axleboxes and loco oil cups. Kind regards, Richard B

Michael, Hope you don't mind me posting a few pics of 61475. As you know, built from one of your B9 etches and GCR tender kit with much advice and help from you, many thanks. Kind regards, Richard B

The B9 is now complete and has been moved to 70D's turntable much to the surprise of the SR men. Speculation is that 61475 brought a train load of tanks from Banbury for forwarding to somewhere in Wiltshire. They are lining up a load of empties for its return North. Must of been a very heavy job for the crew, tender is virtually empty of coal. Very enjoyable build with lots of help from Michael Edge and many other GCR experts, many thanks. As you can see I have used weathering powder on both loco and tender. I rather like the stuff because over time I can clean it off and return the underlying shine if so desired and so on. Kind regards, Richard B

Yes I think it does remind one of him, although dear Oscar was perhaps a man of his times a little too Fin de siècle? Railway Modelling is a pursuit that gives much pleasure and, as many have said, during lockdown it was so therapeutic. It certainly helped to give me a sense of purpose when one was unable to do all the things that substituted for work following retirement but that is another story. How did we get from matters LNER etc to Oscar Wilde? Life is wonderful. Kind regards, Richard B

Sorry to be a bit late with a comment - gardening requires attention - Mrs B rightly reminded me. Afternoon Tony, I could not agree more with your sentiment although unlike you I also have a lot of "ready to run" loco's from the usual suspects. The diversion, challenge and satisfaction of building your own loco (or coach etc..anything else for the layout) is good for one's wellbeing apart from all the other "rewards". However, I remember a comment from one of the hobby's guru's (Ian Rice I think?) some time ago.. "its all a fantastic waste of time really..." or words to that effect. So perhaps we need to keep the role our hobby plays in our lives in context. Much more important things in life than our hobby.....I think Kind regards, Richard B

Final pictures before painting the tender. Quite pleased with the result, looks ok. I have just spotted that the footsteps are missing so will fit them before painting! I have added a wiper pickup to the two trailing axles on the tender so will add the other half of the connector to the loco motor connections. When this loco is finished, I will allocate more time to building my 70D layout, shed walls are all up at last. Kind regards, Richard B

Just listening and watching Dominic Cummings evidence to the Select Committee - somewhat tricky for PM and Hancock! Anyway, tender almoust complete so a few pictures taken on Basingstoke's turntable. Kind regards, Richard B