Entry posted by drduncan
3,083 views
While I have been mulling over the horror story that has been 2811's progress (or lack of it) since the early summer - as detailed in The Locomotive shop- 28xx no 2811 - I have been making slow but steady progress with 2301 class or Dean Goods class no 2322. The loco is based on the familiar Mainline/Hornby model - a bit long in the tooth, but capable of making a high quality model, especially with a replacement chassis (essential if you work in EM or one of the even wider 4mm scale gauges...).
Coincidentally, this version of the Hornby Dean Goods (culled from internet) is actually numbered 2322!
The Mainline/Hornby model is of a Belpaire boilered loco, a relative rarity in the early 20th century; the changes of boiler type for each 2301 class member can be found in the RCTS Locomotives of the Great Western Railway - Six wheeled tender engines, Vol 4. The Mainline/Hornby model is also of a loco with an extended smoke box - something that is not recorded in the RCTS information on the Dean Goods. So what is really needed is a picture of the loco. Fortunately in Locomotives Illustrated 55, there was a picture of 2322 with a Belpaire boiler, what looks like an extended smokebox and clearly in the GWR's pre 1906 livery. Perfect.
Incidentally, if any one has any picture references for Dean Goods locos with Belpaire boilers (either B4 with the dome on the rear ring, or B2 boilers with the dome on the front ring) that are positively dated to 1914 or earlier, I'd love to hear from you - especially if you have a good picture of the front of 2322 in 1901 condition or 2336 in 1903 condition as seen in RCTS Locos of the GWR vol 4 image D140 (but the photo is too poor to make out the important detail).
Now, the tender is almost certainly a Dean 2500 gallon, rather than the 3000 gallon supplied by Hornby, so one can't have everything and I may in due course replace it with a 2500 gallon version - if I can find one. perhpas Falcon Brass when the get back into production...
Being an EM type, a replacement chassis for both loco and tender was on the cards. There were three choices:
- The Ron Neep/Perseverence/Chris Parish chassis kit for both loco and tender (if you can get one)
- The Comet Models offerings (getting one now, following the very sad death of Geoff Brewin, might be very hard)
- The High Level Kits offerings
I plumped for the High Level Kits option for both loco and tender, having had a chance to examine the kits closely at ExpoEM, as the kits seemed to be well designed, come with inside motion for the loco, a good standard of detailing and the loco chassis also included the gear box.
Having got home I got everything out for a good gloat. I have to say that on opening the boxes and above all when reading the instructions I was left feeling rather overwhelmed and more than a little intimidated by the apparent complexity of the kits. So I decided to start with the tender as this seemed to marginally less complex than the loco.
I'm very happy to say that my fears were completely groundless. Yes, the instructions go on for pages - but they are designed to lead you through step by comprehensive step. No, 'assemble X and Y together in the normal way' - you are told exactly what to do, in what order, using what components, often with reference to one of the many diagrams; it will even give advice on the tightness of otherwise of the intended final fit of the components. Quite frankly, I wish other kit designers would take note of the comprehensiveness of the instructions - and it is a case of comprehensive, not complex. The High Level Kits might cost a bit more, but by God they are worth it.
The design of the loco and tender chassis kits has proven to be as good - if not better - than the instructions. In the tender kit there are components whose fit is so precise that soldering is not needed! The loco chassis is equally well designed and again I can only say, others out there take note - you know who you are....
Having made good progress with the tender chassis I also started working in parallel on the loco chassis. I'm now up to the stage where the compensation has to be fitted and then its on to brake gear and final details. It has been a delight so far and a real morale boost after the problems with 2811.
For the future, there will need to be work on the cab roof, on the position of the chimney, and possibly the length of the smoke box - I'm going to dig out my Martin Finney Dean goods kit and have a good look at the parts and instructions to double check the possible options (in case you are wondering why I'm doing up a mainline Dean Goods when I've got a martin finnery Kit...time, money, and I've only got one, so it will be built - eventually - as a round topped boiler version).
-
4
14 Comments
Recommended Comments
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now