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To The Manor Born

D869

Entry posted by D869

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A little project that I've been working on for the past few weeks...

 

blogentry-9623-0-52849400-1358627940_thumb.jpg

 

This is an Ixion manor bought on Ebay and now sporting a partly completed Nigel Ashton milled brass 2FS chassis.

 

This evening was its first proper test run. South Yard is a bit too short for this sort of activity so after a few initial runs there to make sure the thing could actually move it was up to the loft to try it on the rehomed (and not very scenic) Taw Bridge where there is at least 6 feet or so of clear run.

 

When the loco arrived from Ebay I was very impressed by the running of the original Ixion chassis and I thought that the 2FS version had a lot to live up to. Happily it has managed to pass that test with flying colours :sungum: . It runs very smoothly indeed at all speeds although it doesn't go very fast because I chose the slowest possible gear ratio. Pickup is very reliable because it picks up from the split frame loco chassis and also has pinpoint pickups on the tender. It also managed to pull 4 Colletts back and forth (leaving Rapido couplers on the ends of a few coaches has advantages sometimes :whistle: )

 

blogentry-9623-0-17086200-1358627929_thumb.jpg

 

The test was interrupted for a meal break during which the loco stayed in the loft so I now also know that it still runs well after cooling to sub zero temperatures.

 

Lots of work still to do... most notably adding the conn rods and crosshead... hopefully without screwing up the nice running qualities. And then I need to do something to lose that 'out of the box' look for the body... which leads me on to...

 

Early BR black is of course hopeless in terms of historical fit with all of my other stock. The black thing probably won't be the long term body for this loco because Dapol were knocking out Manors for 40 quid at Warley, so I was unable to resist buying another one in late BR green - rather more suitable as a supporting cast member for some nice green Warships.

 

Anybody know where to get hold of etched GW name and number plates? I only know where to buy diesel nameplates.

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bcnPete
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You're supposed to wind the clock forward, not back :jester:

 

Looks like an interesting project Andy...and an interesting challenge from the hydraulics...

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D869

You're supposed to wind the clock forward, not back :jester:

 

Looks like an interesting project Andy...and an interesting challenge from the hydraulics...

 

I know... I guess I'm just weak willed... but covering a wider range of dates bracketed by the hydraulic period seems like a not too great shifting of my goalposts.

 

It's St Ruth's fault for setting the date at 1965 which was the first excuse I had for winding the clock back a bit from 1968. D604 takes us back pre 66 and now there's steam which takes us back to the early 60s. I can't blame St Ruth for this one though because regular steam working ended at Penzance in 1962... although I think that several group members really want to run steam.

 

... and then there are still the EWS 66, the two speed (fast and stop) Voyager and a few other 21st century interlopers that are awaiting some proper wheelsets. Can't claim that they are in the hydraulic period by any stretch of the imagination.

 

Regards, Andy

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  • RMweb Gold
46444
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Evening Andy,

 

This is looking like it's turning into a nice project.

 

The Manor Class is one of my favourite loco designs. I just love the proportions and Ixion did a great job in designing their model.

 

Yes you're right about the lined green version-but not sure if you realise but 7823 Hook Norton Manor was a Truro based engine in the early 60's I believe.

 

Hope you find the nameplates for your model and look forwards to seeing the lined green version! ;)

 

Cheers,

 

Mark

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D869

This is looking like it's turning into a nice project.

 

The Manor Class is one of my favourite loco designs. I just love the proportions and Ixion did a great job in designing their model.

 

Yes you're right about the lined green version-but not sure if you realise but 7823 Hook Norton Manor was a Truro based engine in the early 60's I believe.

 

Hope you find the nameplates for your model and look forwards to seeing the lined green version! ;)

Thanks Mark. Several of the Manors were based either at Cornish sheds or at Laira so there are plenty of choices. I found a handy site that seems to have a pretty comprehensive listing of their allocations and transfer dates (plus other classes too!)...

 

http://www.brdatabase.info/locoqry.php?action=class&id=138&type=S&page=alloc

 

So Hook Norton had two spells in Cornwall and moved away in 59. Others were around a bit later, so I'll probably go for one of those but it also depends on the availability of suitable photos. Several colour photos in Cornwall show them in a truly awful state - so bad that I can't tell whether they are black or green.

 

The out of the box identity of the green one is Foxcote Manor but it looks like that one was always a Cambrian loco so I'll need to change it.

 

Regards, Andy

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D869

Very encouraging having also purchased one of Nigel' s chassis kits!

Hi Ian,

 

Looking forward to hearing your experiences with the kit. I've found that it 'does what it says on the tin' - the instructions are very comprehensive. You still need some care and attention to detail when fitting and fettling the coupling rods, quartering etc. I've told Nigel of a couple of minor issues with the instructions - one of the brakegear photos has the plastic spacers swapped back to front and the quoted length for cutting the worm shaft is too short (mine is 15mm), but overall it's a great way to build a chassis.

 

Good luck!

 

Regards, Andy

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SteffanLlwyd

Ah!  Hook Norton Manor.  I can see it in the mind's eye taking the curves with its 'high stepping' coupling/ connecting rods (Down Cambrian Coast Express in the Summer of around '62 or '63).  The Fireman looked exhausted at Aberystwyth (wouldn't anybody?!).  My Father explained that because this was a 'Nationalised Railway',then I was one of the OWNERS of the locomotive.  Brilliant I thought, age 7)... but they did not ask my permission to scrap it.  I would have said 'No!'

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