Simond Posted December 4, 2017 Author Share Posted December 4, 2017 Dukedogs. Specifically Tre Pol & Pen; per Wikipedia:- “In December 1929, Duke No.3265 Tre Pol and Pen was withdrawn, and the cab, cylinders and motion, together with a Duke boiler and smokebox, were fitted to the straight-topped frames of Bulldog no. 3365 Charles Grey Mott. The rebuilt locomotive was given the name and number of the Duke.” Does anyone know, or is anyone able to find a photo that shows, what livery was used on Tre Pol & Pen, or locomotives of a similar status, pre Shirtbutton? I’m guessing plain green with GREAT (space) WESTERN on the tender, but it could have been lined (very unlikely imo) and/or GREAT (crest) WESTERN (possible imo) as it was intended for passenger service. There is certainly photographic evidence of Dukes and Birds in this condition, presumably around the same date. Unfortunately the photos in Nock’s 4-4-0 book are mostly undated, but may have been a little earlier. GWR.org.uk seems to support plain green with no crest. Thoughts very welcome Best Simon 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Prism Posted December 6, 2017 Share Posted December 6, 2017 I have never seen a post-1918 4-4-0 with lining. I cannot recall seeing a post-1925 4-4-0 with a crest on the tender. Tre Pol and Pen was the only Dukedog to exist in the pre-shirtbutton era, so would have received GREAT space WESTERN. Here's Duke 3286 at Reading in 1926, in glorious technicolour: https://www.flickr.com/photos/gone_with_regret/32524938021/ 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simond Posted December 6, 2017 Author Share Posted December 6, 2017 (edited) Thanks Chris, It's apparently not very big, but it is "perfectly" located in the optical axis of my right eye, making the use of anything approaching an eyepiece entirely pointless as whatever I might be looking at has a grey-brown "splodge" superimposed upon it. The "splodge" appears to me to be "neuron shaped", and my son confirmed this when I invited him to inspect it with the light of my iphone. It is so perfectly located in the axis of my eye, that the automated camera system that the clinic use to measure the eye was unable to get the necessary dimensions to select the lens. That was coupled with some concerns about the cataract involving the capsule of the lens, thus further complicating matters. Let's see what happens next! I'm on the waiting list for the specialist clinic. Best Simon A year on, and the Health Service has lived up to its name. The operation was carried out a few weeks back, and seems to have gone very well. I can now usefully use binoculars, and a camera viewfinder, microscope or telescope with either eye, and should I be so inclined, fire a rifle once more. I’ve nearly finished the eye drops and look forward to getting a new prescription & new glasses. The service has been exceedingly slow, but the care was exemplary, and the result is, and hopefully continues to be, worth the wait. Of course, the kind comments a year back, demand a greater performance now... Best Simon Edited December 6, 2017 by Simond 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simond Posted December 6, 2017 Author Share Posted December 6, 2017 Miss P, Thanks for that, very helpful. Confirms the views expressed on WT as well, and the colour picture will inform the weathering. Much appreciated Simon 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold ChrisN Posted December 7, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 7, 2017 A year on, and the Health Service has lived up to its name. The operation was carried out a few weeks back, and seems to have gone very well. I can now usefully use binoculars, and a camera viewfinder, microscope or telescope with either eye, and should I be so inclined, fire a rifle once more. I’ve nearly finished the eye drops and look forward to getting a new prescription & new glasses. The service has been exceedingly slow, but the care was exemplary, and the result is, and hopefully continues to be, worth the wait. Of course, the kind comments a year back, demand a greater performance now... Best Simon Simon, Glad to hear that the operation went well and you have your eyesight back to where it should be. Your brain will need to readjust but probably has done so already without you noticing it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jintyman Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 Glad to hear you are on the mend Simon, I wasn't aware of your impending procedure (teach me to read more thoroughly!!!), so glad everything went well for you. Jinty Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
3 link Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 The same here, I also was unaware but glad to hear that everything's gone well, we are very lucky to have the NHS. ATB, Martyn. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simond Posted December 24, 2017 Author Share Posted December 24, 2017 (edited) Hi to all! It’s been really quite quiet on the P.D. front, but Tre, Pol & Pen is progressing (through several paint iterations...) - the build is appearing from time to time on “What’s on my workbench?” on WT. Not a fat lot has happened on the Garrett or Arduino fronts either, but, hey, ho, having fun anyway And the laser? No, nothing.. (and the b****y lathe needs fixing too!) I wish you all a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy, Healthy & Prosperous New Year! Simon Edited December 24, 2017 by Simond 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simond Posted January 8, 2018 Author Share Posted January 8, 2018 Bit of an update. Christmas brought me a Minerva mink, and a Darstaedt crocodile. There have been a number of comments about the mink, some of which were, to my mind, rather over critical. The axleboxes are, maybe a tad undernourished, there is one or two brake block(s) too many, the ‘orse ‘ook ‘oles are not opened right through, and there are no spring bump stops. There is a slightly strange profile to the lower flange of the solebars, but it walks like a duck and it quacks like a duck, so it’ll do me. It may get joined by a couple more in due course. The holes were drilled out 1.5 and opened to 2mm, the excess brake block and linkage removed in seconds flat. I have not yet resolved the bumpstops, and am quietly ignoring the axleboxes and solebars. I attacked it with a mixture of Matt black and leather paint, and lots of thinners, and wiped the excess off, downwards. Touch of rusty wash around the brakes applied by brush, a bit of track dirt will be sprayed upwards when I next have the airbrush out. One other thing, the coupling hooks are sprung with possibly the most wibbly and wimpish springs on the planet. I’ll have to deal with that too. The Crocodile is interesting. It checks out well on the dimensions in my Tourrett, but was noticeably too high, probably a result of it having an option for coarse wheels. The bogies fit directly under the moulded floor, which poses a bit of a challenge, however, they have a “rim”, of which I totally failed to take a photo. After some thought I turned a plastic spigot to fit inside the bolster, and fitted that to my milling machine and machined the rim off, and then polished it down on a bit of wet & dry. I can do a dismantled photo if anyone wants. Anyway, it now rides at a sensible height. It needs some attention to the markings, numbers, and the brake levers. And something else that needs numbers, however this just happened to arrive at Christmas... Best Simon 15 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bgman Posted January 8, 2018 Share Posted January 8, 2018 Some interesting observations there Simon, nice weathering especially on the Mink, I must pluck up the courage at some point and attack weather mine. By the way, you can't have enough Panniers eh ! Grahame 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Prism Posted January 8, 2018 Share Posted January 8, 2018 Nice Pannier Posse! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Mikkel Posted January 8, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 8, 2018 Nice work on the Iron Mink, it looks the part to me. But as you indicate, it's crying out for companions The loco allocation to Porth Dinllaen is impressive. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simond Posted January 9, 2018 Author Share Posted January 9, 2018 Thanks guys, Mikkel, I’ve been building PD’s loco allocation for the thick end of 20 years. Then a certain retired army ossifer started producing RTR at a price that’s difficult to ignore, and of a level of detail that makes them, to my eye at least, very good value. Alongside which I purchased a Dean Goods from a club member a few years ago & I picked up a bargain sound fitted Lionheart 64xx on the GOG S&W a year back. I’ve built & finished Springside 45xx Finney 47xx Vulcan 57xx Springside Hall Scratchbuilt 28xx Shephard 52xx CRT 1366 I also scratchbuilt a passable Mavis and Toby (without the faces) for the kids to bang about a few Lima / BigBig minerals when they were young. I’ve built and nearly finished Mitchell King Scorpio Castle Javelin Dukedog Springside 48xx but it blew its decoder up And the stash contains a Shephard 46/63/93xx and a CRT 1363 ST. I suppose I’d better get on with them, but there’s a Garratt on ice, and a Duchess somehow sneaked back in time... Best Simon 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Prism Posted January 9, 2018 Share Posted January 9, 2018 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simond Posted January 9, 2018 Author Share Posted January 9, 2018 Miss P, Is that a recommendation? I'm not aware of a kit, but perhaps Scorpio? in any case, not this year! best Simon 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Prism Posted January 9, 2018 Share Posted January 9, 2018 It was merely a tease, Simon, to complement anyone's appreciation of what a proper Pannier Posse should be. (I think Scorpio does/did a 7mm kit. The Buffalos are a minefield though!) 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bgman Posted January 9, 2018 Share Posted January 9, 2018 It was merely a tease, Simon, to complement anyone's appreciation of what a proper Pannier Posse should be. (I think Scorpio does/did a 7mm kit. The Buffalos are a minefield though!) You definitely are a tease showing that, however I'm with you about being a Proper Pannier. Might enquire at the Bristol Show at the end of this month, maybe someone knows ? Don't tell anyone but I'd swop one of mine for this one ! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simond Posted January 9, 2018 Author Share Posted January 9, 2018 Herewith a couple of photos - I bent up some fret waste to make the bumpstops. Bit fiddly, but they’ll do fine when painted. I might yet have a go at the solebars The second is the crocodile bogie, which you can see is snug under the girders. Not happy with the brake levers. Photos required to improve matters. Best Simon 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
3 link Posted January 10, 2018 Share Posted January 10, 2018 Morning Simon, I see what you mean, that crocodile bogie looks just a little to snug under the body, only other thing would be to put a smaller wheel set in place maybe. Regards, Martyn. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jintyman Posted January 10, 2018 Share Posted January 10, 2018 Morning Simon, I see what you mean, that crocodile bogie looks just a little to snug under the body, only other thing would be to put a smaller wheel set in place maybe. Regards, Martyn. Agreed, subject to clearance that is. That Crocodile looks a nice model, did you say Darstead? Jinty 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simond Posted January 10, 2018 Author Share Posted January 10, 2018 (edited) Hi guys, yes Darstaedt. Bought it from Ellis Clark at Reading. £69 according to the website. https://www.ellisclarktrains.co.uk/collections/1vi-7mm-o-gauge-wagons/products/darstaed-7mm-finescale-o-gauge-45-ton-bogie-well-wagon-gwr-livery It was a good 2.5 mm too high as supplied. It compares much better with photos now. I’d say “snug enough” rather than “too snug”! You can see that the buffers are within sensible tolerances of those on the Mink. It hasn’t done many miles (feet?) so there are no marks from the flanges on the underside yet. It appears to have enough clearance, it’s certainly not rubbing on reasonable track. I will need to be a little careful when I load it, as the bogies are sprung. Though the angle’s not ideal, you can see the difference between mine and the catalog photo. Best Simon Edited January 10, 2018 by Simond 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simond Posted January 10, 2018 Author Share Posted January 10, 2018 (edited) Now, a challenge is a challenge. I need a passable passenger train by mid February, so all this dilly-dallying has to stop. Two toplights roofs covered in cartridge paper, rain strips added and one set of shell vents done. And watched most of the Coastal episode of Blue Planet 2. Sorry about the less than lovely photo. The two pale ones are Blacksmith kits I started in 2008! The third is a JLTRT. Noticeably different ride heights. Not sure which is right! The very pale cream is wrong and needs to be resprayed. Friday after work. I’m worried that the yellowy cream is wrong too. Interiors are built, need paint & pax. Black, maybe Saturday. Window surrounds, every evening next week... Glazing, corridor handrail. Transfers, gold lines (not the fully lined livery!). Roof handrails, commode handles, door handles. Footboards need painting, Track dirt round bogies, weather roofs, ends... Going to be busy. Best Simon Edited January 10, 2018 by Simond 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simond Posted January 13, 2018 Author Share Posted January 13, 2018 Bit of progress on the Blacksmith coaches. Repainted the cream in a yellower shade, painted solebars, underframe, contrails, fitted roof vents and painted roofs. Doing the window surrounds at the moment. Not very well, by the look of this photo. You get to the point where stopping is the only sensible course of action. Maybe tomorrow will be more satisfactory. Had a pleasant morning at Folkestone club - Enjoy... Best Simon 15 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium 2ManySpams Posted January 14, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 14, 2018 Like the setting for the third video Simon. Very nice. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simond Posted January 14, 2018 Author Share Posted January 14, 2018 Thanks Chris, all my own work, not... The layout is the Folkestone & Hythe club’s Southern-themed model, “Hawkesdown”; http://www.folkestone-mrc.com/HAWKESDOWN.html Which, coincidentally, will be appearing at Tenterden on 24th & 25th February. http://www.ashfordmrc.com Best Simon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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