Studio Scale Models Irish J15 4mm

[5XP]

First of all apologies as I was to submit a blog while this loco was under construction but I just have not had time to do so.

 

I completed the loco last week but as Horsetan has asked if it has progressed any further I have made an effort to sort through the pictures to make a bit of a photo essay of the build because the blog kind of fell over.....

To be honest I found the blog thing a bit of a chore so will revert in future to the kitbuilding forum.

 

I started building this kit last year but had many interruptions both railway modelling and real life but am now having a push to get some of my unfinished projects done before I die.......

 

The kit I think was really designed with EM/P4 or 21mm gauge but I had been asked to build it to 16.5/00 so a lot of little compromises and alterations had to be made to the cab splashers and underside of smokebox amongst other things.

It did test me a little although the etches were very crisp and clean there were a few niggles with the design, some of the supplied components and the rather vague and rubbish instructions but hey I got there in the end and I think it really looks the part.

The etches were all nickel silver with a piece of brass tube supplied for the boiler tube which happened to be rough sawn too short in length :icon_frustrated:

I was unable to find anything to replace it that was the same size other than curtain pole but couldn't manage to scrounge any off cuts so I soldered a sandwich of scrap etches to the end and filed it down.

It is fitted with a Mashima 1220 and a comet two stage gearbox with a Digitrax DZ125 decoder hard wired into the tender.

Gibsons wheels are fitted to loco and tender and it has pick ups on all loco wheels and to the two outer axles of the tender, connection between the loco and tender is made by a four pin plug I picked up at one of the exhibitions.

Both loco and tender chassis are rigid.

 

I will break the photos into three sections so not to overload this first post, I hope this not too long winded, please fell free to add any comments or criticisms I promise not to throw my toys out if you point out that I've pushed the rivets out in the wrong places.....

 

First of all here is the completed loco followed by the construction of the loco body:

 

 

 

 

Construction of the Loco Body

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Darren.

[McC]

Stunning work!!!!

[Adam]

Tribulations aside, and if that's the TMD kit, then Irish P4 is what the designer will have had in mind, that's a lovely end result. I suppose it's always going to be a big ask to build a 5' 3" gauge machine for 4' 1/2" gauge track - the rear three-quarter view really shows that up - but even so, it's an attractive model.

 

Adam

[5XP]

Thanks McC & Adam, yes it was originally a TMD kit and your right in the fact that I built it to narrow gauge it proved a bit of a pain at times as the kit designer definitely never had 16.5mm gauge in mind when designed.

As you mentioned Adam from certain angles it is noticeable but it still does capture the look happily.

 

Here is some shots of the loco and tender chassis but unfortunately I didn't take many of the loco chassis but its a fairly conventional six coupled rigid chassis so there's nothing particularly special about it.

The tender chassis shows the angled plug and socket as well as the originally fitted Bachmann two function decoder that went pop:o

That was then replaced with a Digitrax DZ125 decoder.

 

I need to go and do a few hours work on the house now so I will sort through the last of the pictures and reduce the size tonight for the tender top.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Darren.

[5XP]

Well here's the last instalment of the J15 pictures that I have resized.

I hope I haven't bored you all too much:rolleyes:.

In contrast to the loco the tender was a real pleasure to build so I really enjoyed assembling it up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Darren.

[Glover]

Great work. Can I ask what colour you've used? My, fast fading, memory is that CIE loco's in the late steam period (very early 1960's)were painted grey, as you have done, rather than black.

 

Glover

[5XP]

Thanks Glover, its Phoenix Precision Paints Matt Black & Dull Black mixed then airbrushed on but it has come out quite grey as you point out.

I was asked just to paint it in a dirty black but I was a bit worried that it was to matt.

I honestly know very little of the Irish Railways and definitely didn't know the were painted grey towards the end.

 

Darren.

[John M]

Thanks Glover, its Phoenix Precision Paints Matt Black & Dull Black mixed then airbrushed on but it has come out quite grey as you point out.

I was asked just to paint it in a dirty black but I was a bit worried that it was to matt.

I honestly know very little of the Irish Railways and definitely didn't know the were painted grey towards the end.

 

Darren.

 

 

Grey was the standard steam loco livery in the South since the 1925 Amalgamation. Its was described as having a "bluish" tinge gradually weathering to a faded grey

 

I have used Howes Weathered Black with satin or matt varnish to vary the effect, these days I use either Floquil weathered or grimy black or a mixture.

 

 

Newly overhauled 191 arriving on MRSI Loughrea Layout 2001?

 

Some day I have got to sort out a more civilised coupling and vacuum pipe.

[Glover]

Thanks to both 5XP and John M for the information.

I'm always aware that no two humans see colours in the same way but it seems to me that both are correct in this case: John's newly outshopped and 5XP's more weather beaten take on the suject.

Just wish I could build these things myself!

 

Glover

[Georgeconna]

Thanks for Sharing this with us, The Engine certainly looks fantastic and I am sorely tempted to give one of these a go in the near future. Your build has made it clear what the kits and like and what to expect.

 

Regards

 

George

[Weshty]

Darren,

 

It is a superb model, you have really brought out every detail in the J15 kit. BTW, the original instructions have been much added to and amended since last April!

 

If you are interested, I would like to incorporate some of your key photos into the instructions as they provide great clarity in the various stages of making the kit. I would also like to add one to the existing J15 Gallery. Do let me know.

 

all the best

Weshty

[McC]

Just stunning work!

[Horsetan]

.....If you are interested, I would like to incorporate some of your key photos into the instructions as they provide great clarity in the various stages of making the kit. ....

 

There is surely no greater compliment than this!

[5XP]

Grey was the standard steam loco livery in the South since the 1925 Amalgamation. Its was described as having a "bluish" tinge gradually weathering to a faded grey

 

I have used Howes Weathered Black with satin or matt varnish to vary the effect, these days I use either Floquil weathered or grimy black or a mixture.

 

 

Newly overhauled 191 arriving on MRSI Loughrea Layout 2001?

 

Some day I have got to sort out a more civilised coupling and vacuum pipe.

 

Thanks for sharing the pic John, lovely loco and rolling stock what gauge is it, 21mm?

I too have fitted NEM pockets on adjustable brackets for Kadees as requested but still fitted the coupling hook without the screwlink.

 

Thanks to both 5XP and John M for the information.

I'm always aware that no two humans see colours in the same way but it seems to me that both are correct in this case: John's newly outshopped and 5XP's more weather beaten take on the suject.

Just wish I could build these things myself!

 

 

Glover

 

Thanks Glover and there's no time like now!, get yourself a DJH starter loco kit or an etched brass/whitemetal van or wagon its really not that hard as working with metal can be quite forgiving if you make a mistake it allows you to undo what you've done.

After all I've only been building kits for a few years so I'm still learning all the time, be brave have a go!

 

 

Thanks for Sharing this with us, The Engine certainly looks fantastic and I am sorely tempted to give one of these a go in the near future. Your build has made it clear what the kits and like and what to expect.

 

Regards

 

George

 

Thanks George get one ordered for yourself and share the build with us.

 

 

Darren,

 

It is a superb model, you have really brought out every detail in the J15 kit. BTW, the original instructions have been much added to and amended since last April!

 

If you are interested, I would like to incorporate some of your key photos into the instructions as they provide great clarity in the various stages of making the kit. I would also like to add one to the existing J15 Gallery. Do let me know.

 

all the best

Weshty

 

Thanks very much for the praise Weshty I hope I didn't come across too harsh with the instructions but I did struggle with them somewhat as to placement and position with some items along with identification but admittedly I'm not at all familiar with the prototype which didn't help matters.

By all means use the pictures and if you need the originals or any more that I have just PM me.

I just wish I had some of these pictures to follow when I built it!

 

 

Just stunning work!

 

Thanks again McC.

 

There is surely no greater compliment than this!

 

I guess your right Horsetan.

[Weshty]

Darren,

 

Very much appreciated! No worries on the instructions, you would have had the re-formatted version of the original instructions which assumed a good knowledge of the prototype. I re-edited them a few months ago to be as specific as possible and added more schematics, but your photos will seriously put the cherry on the cake.

 

Can you let me know just how long the boiler tube should be as I cut the lengths based on the original rolled brass sample that I had.

 

I'll pop the photos up on the J15 gallery soon and fully reference you

 

All the best

Weshty.

[5XP]

Darren,

 

Very much appreciated! No worries on the instructions, you would have had the re-formatted version of the original instructions which assumed a good knowledge of the prototype. I re-edited them a few months ago to be as specific as possible and added more schematics, but your photos will seriously put the cherry on the cake.

 

Can you let me know just how long the boiler tube should be as I cut the lengths based on the original rolled brass sample that I had.

 

I'll pop the photos up on the J15 gallery soon and fully reference you

 

All the best

Weshty.

 

Weshty I don't have the loco here now but I think it was short by about 3 or 4mm I think (mainly because one cut was at angle) so by the time I squared it up in the lathe I was buggered.

 

Best regards,

 

Darren.

[Weshty]

Darren,

 

Sound man, thanks for that, I have actually got a lathe myself recently so I can use it to score the boiler edges true.

 

All the best

Des