Jump to content
 

L&Y A class with Bachmann C chassis...


Recommended Posts

post-6680-0-93942600-1406299625.jpg

 

Any thoughts that an L&Y 0-6-0 might follow the 2-4-2T were quelled in Bachmann's July 2014 announcements, but it set me thinking that the delay from traditional March to July diluted the fact that things looked very pale alongside Hornby's December 2014 announcements....LNER P2, GER J15, GER Claud, LNER K1, LSWR 700, BR CRosti 2-10-0, SR 402 EMU, new BR Mk.I's etc etc.

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/79822-2014-Hornby-announcements/

 

No problem, this seemed the opportune time to see if the popular Bachmann C Class chassis would fit inside my L&Y A Class. The latter is a key loco for the area I model but re-wheeling the original chassis had only marginally improved its performance. RMweb members kindly sent me some dimensions of the C chassis this week and so I confidently ordered a model from Arcadia in Oldham yesterday afternoon. It arrived today.

 

post-6680-0-12394800-1406299623_thumb.jpg

post-6680-0-65709400-1406299624.jpg

post-6680-0-33112800-1406299712.jpg

 

To be continued....

Link to post
Share on other sites

The front and rear holding screws were removed from the C class chassis and it was removed from the superstructure. The orange plug was also disconnected from the tender. Measurements were taken of the 'hole' in the C class body and then transferred to the Lanky A class body. Lret grinding begin....

post-6680-0-36235600-1406314059.jpg

 

I used various burrs in the minidrill, which got rather hot and cut out many times slowing down the process....

post-6680-0-22114000-1406314060.jpg

 

The 'wings ahead of the motor (coloured green)  were filed back flush with the holding screws to enable the chassis to slot into the boiler....

post-6680-0-78800700-1406314784.jpg

 

Eventually the chassis went into the back of the body - thank goodness.....

post-6680-0-37046600-1406314061.jpg

 

This left 4mm to be sawn from the front of the C class chassis......No turning back at this point.....

post-6680-0-19586500-1406314062.jpg

 

Eureka, it was in........

post-6680-0-34656900-1406314065.jpg

 

........And sitting level.....

post-6680-0-36838000-1406314063.jpg

 

A lot of detail work to be done now.........

Forming holding screws....

Putting cab back head back......

A few repairs......

Rewiring......  

Coupling for L&Y Tender.....

Then stripping of all paint!

 

To be continued....

 

 

Link to post
Share on other sites

The original outer chassis holding holes were used to attach the chassis to the L&Y body, although I have used longer 10BA brass screws. The captive nut soldered under the footplate came adrift twice so I soldered it atop the footplate instead.....

post-6680-0-26513900-1406376801.jpgpost-6680-0-55580500-1406376803.jpg

 

The electrical gubbins was plugged into the C class Tender to test the loco and it runs like a dream. (The SE&CR tender has a higher running plate than a L&Y tender)....

post-6680-0-06608600-1406376805.jpg

 

What is all that electrical stuff? A DCC chip or what? I need to short-cut the wiring so that the loco is self-contained then the Lanky Tender can be attached....

post-6680-0-33569900-1406376806.jpg

Link to post
Share on other sites

Wow! Yet more 'real modelling' from Coachman. When the C class arrived in the shops I remarked on a thread here just how superficially similar it was to the L&Y class 27; and, with the backwaters of West Cumberland as my prototype (Moor Row and Workington had a few of them), how I wished Bachmann would take the hint, especially following the radial tank. Being so busy at wrk of late, I haven't had time to be disappointed by the non-appearance of the 27 in their latest announcement. But this certainly gives me hope. I'm very tempted to rush out and grab a C-class, against the day I'm retired/redundant. Then it will just need Craftsman to do a body and tender option for their kit - job done!

 

John D

Link to post
Share on other sites

Bomb squad do da do da 999.....I painted the outer wires red then snipped the lot. The outer ones were wired together as were the two inner wires. It ran! Still dunno what the microwave innards are in the Tender though.

 

John D, go for it, you won't be disappointed. It must be easier building the loco around the chassis. Another member has already put a C Class chassis in his Scottish loco.  A Bachmann A Class announcement given today would still mean a 2 year wait - probably.

Link to post
Share on other sites

The adjustable plastic pin was removed from the SE&CR Tender and put onto the L&Y Tender. The old Gibson oval wheels shown were replaced with slightly undersize wheels off a Hornby loco afterwards. I'll fit Bachmann's later on......

post-6680-0-57157500-1406411897.jpg

 

The loco and tender were rubbed down, washed and resprayed eggshell black......

post-6680-0-09359900-1406411900_thumb.jpg

 

It is now finished and so photos will follow in the morning (busy day tomorrow with test etches for a new LNWR coach).....

 

To be continued...

Link to post
Share on other sites

Half an A Class is better than none, but I hope this helps convince Bachmann that a whole A Class would make a splendid and popular companion to their L&Y 2-4-2T....

post-6680-0-59863100-1406453428_thumb.jpg

 

The cab backhead had to be extended to clear the rear of the motor housing but it is still acceptable. The loco runs like a dream....

post-6680-0-69640200-1406453425_thumb.jpg

 

The L&Y 3F was almost a standard LMS class as it often kept truly standard classes like the 4F out of its operating area. They also flew the flag in North Wales at Rhyl, Llandudno Junction and Bangor....

post-6680-0-70096400-1406453422_thumb.jpg

 

Dynamic Lanky-Yorky duo.....

post-6680-0-17374300-1406453430_thumb.jpg

 

It is a comparatively small engine compared with the Derby 4 goods and yet was worthy of its 3F classification.....

post-6680-0-57273100-1406453433_thumb.jpg

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • RMweb Gold

I agree that this is a lovely model and a good use of an existing RTR chassis by Larry.

 

I would add though that for Bachmann to produce this it no more of a "easy win" than any other model they choose to produce as the apart from the wheels (and not knowing the prototype I do not even know if the C Class wheel profile is strictly correct or not), motor and axles everything else is a new tooling!

 

See my blog on Tuesday as I will posting about the myths and reasons behind manufacturers not necessarily benefiting by sharing tooling between models.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Personally I am aware of the manufacturing processes. Bachmann would design a new chassis at the same time as the superstructure, but of course there are many components which are invisible unless broken down that are a necessary part of the assembly cycle.  For example, the C Class leading splashers are actually separate metal castings, but the most inventive use of components I found were found on the L&Y Radial Tank. I could imagine this form of construction in say a GCR C13 Tank.

 

My reasoning behind the adoption of a RTR chassis was I know they perform very well, plus it is actually less expensive in parts and time than buying and assembling an etched chassis, motor, gearbox, wheels and axles. I added front sandpipes but only removed one set of pipes from the centre drivers. No sandpipes were put from the fillers inside the cab. The brake rigging is probably incorrect for an L&Y loco and so it goes. I got what I set out to achieve, a reliable runner. My Fowler 0-8-0 is also Bachmann driven using a S&DJR chassis, and while not exactly spot-on for the 0-8-0, it happens to knock spots of some of my other large RTR freight engines.

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • 9 months later...
  • 6 months later...

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...