Barry Ten's Blog

I do like the idea of re-vamping and upgrading ones older RTR models, that's looking very fine, Al.

Thanks, CK. I think I'm coming around to Tony Wright's point of view that it's more satisfying to own a model that one's made or altered oneself, even if it's not perfect, than simply purchasing the equivalent RTR one. The only thing I "demand" is that it runs well, and if the basic shape is OK, I can tolerate some of the details being less fine, or even absent. Tarting up 1970s/1980s era models is fun as far as I'm concerned as the bodies are generally pretty good, it's just the mechanisms that tended to let them down.

 

That's not to say I don't enjoy a bit of RTR retail therapy!

I've got one somewhere too - original chassis married to the tender off an Airfix 4F - slightly more like the real thing than the original Hornby offering. But this does just go to show how basically good and largely dimensionally correct from running plate up many of the older Hornby models can be.

The original Hornby Patriot was the subject of a particularly scathing review in Model Trains, if I remember correctly, where the loco was praised, but the tender canned for being awkwardly proportioned, presumably to fit an existing chassis unit.

 

Later on, Railway Modeller had an article showing how the tender body could be cut down and narrowed quite convincingly, and the chassis modified a little, resulting in a good improvement. Rather than try and cut/shunt the body, I scratchbuilt my own tender top (twice) but I could never get the model to run properly after that. As for the Airfix 4F tender, I've got a few of those (in 4Fs and 2Ps)  and in my view they run extremely well on DCC, even with a basic decoder, and provided they're kept lubricated, they're not overly noisy.

The poor loco has turned Green with age, she needs a Crimson coat

Definitely agree with idea of upgrading older models if they are up to it. Currently putting a Comet chassis under a Mainline Rebuilt Scot and have just finished putting a decoder into a split chassis parallel boiler and fitting tender pickups. Not the most difficult jobs i know , but a challenge for the first attempt and very satisfying when you find it all works. A way of increasing loco stock at a reasonable cost.

Some nice work on your chassis build.

I have a split chassis parallel boiler Scot that runs like a treat, so I'm loathe to touch it! But it could do with a decoder.

 

I agree that these jobs are very satisfying when they go well. I still approach each chassis with trepidation as I haven't done anywhere near

enough not to be worried about cocking up some stage of it. I think it helps when you know that the basic components are well designed,

as with Comet, so you're not fighting some basic discrepancy that isn't your own fault. I look forward to seeing your Rebuilt Scot.