A Pannier of mixed parentage - GWR 1854 PT (2)
My 1854 class open cab Pannier Tank in ca. 1919 condition is now done. To recap, it’s a heavily modified Hornby 2721 body on a Bachmann 8750 chassis, using modified Finecast parts, Finney/Brassmasters fittings and various scratchbuilt items. Here is a summary of the last part of the build (see this post for earlier steps).
The bunker uses modified Finecast sides. Plated coal rails from wire and styrene. DIY fire iron hooks, and lamp irons from a Brassmasters etch.
Cab windows were given a profile using circles of styrene cut on my Silhouette.
The cab roof on the Hornby 2721 body was retained but sanded down, including the strips along the sides which make the roof look thick and the cab too high. New slimmer raintrips were added, following the pattern seen on the prototype.
The cab was pragmatically detailed with various bits from the spares box and springs nests from Brassmasters as used in the Finney 1854PT kit.
Splasher bands cut from styrene were added to the front splashers, which are the only ones retained from the original Hornby 2721 body.
Steam injector from Alan Gibson, IIRC. Center and rear splashers are from an old Finecast kit.
The chimney from Brassmasters was then fitted, as used in the ex-Finney 1854 PT kit. Safety valve cover and bunker only loose fitted at this point, hence the lean.
The dome lubricator is also from Brassmasters.
Alan Gibson buffers, with white styrene for the square bit on top. Sand boxes are off a Mainline Dean Goods, I think.
The lamp irons are from this neat little Finney/Brassmasters etch.
This shot illustrates the ungodly mix of RTR components, whitemetal parts, finescale fittings, and scratchbuilt bits and pieces.
All grey primer from a rattle can.
Then various filling and sanding, followed by Archer’s rivets which I find bond better when fitted on primer. Micro-Sol was later used to “melt” away the decal paper.
Next a base coat of matt black, to add depth to the top coats.
Top coat and two coats of varnish. Cab windows glazed with 4.4 mm circles of 0.25 mm clear styrene. Flat base safety valve bonnet is from the old Mainly Trains range, happily still available from 51L.
Medium handrail knobs and wire from Eileen’s Emporium, which sadly had to close shop recently. We owe suppliers like them a lot.
Coaling with diluted PVA and a drop of detergent. The rush is sensational!
Kernow MRC do a nice etch of fire irons. They are the long variety, so I shortened them and stuck the shafts behind the business end.
Photos tend to show fire irons fitted with the rings around the left hand hook, presumably for easy reach by the fireman. Couldn’t find a decent bucket in my spares box, does anyone know a source for buckets that are actually hollow?
Loco lamps are from Modelu. These are actually tail lamps, but they’re what I had for now. This is the 1918-36 headlamp code for a class K ordinary goods. Must include some lenses with the next order.
The number plates were purpose-made from Narrow Planet/Light Railway Stores. They are very good.
Footplate crew also from Modelu. Both were too tall to go in the cab, so the driver’s legs were shortened while the fireman has a new set of legs off an Andrew Stadden figure. You can’t see their legs behind the cab sides anyway.
That’s about it. Screw couplings are on order from Wizard Models.
I like my locos clean, but I suppose I ought to give this one a light weathering?
No. 1899 is part of a scheme to expand my Edwardian timeframe to allow occasional 1919 workings on my Farthing layouts. Allows me to build more goods stock from other companies, since it’s post-pooling.
The main work done. No doubt someone will release a brand new RTR version shortly (@RapidoCorbs& Co. maybe?). But I enjoyed the process.
And so at last I have an open cab pannier, 42 years after the Hornby 1980 catalogue triggered the itch with their 2721 class.
Speaking of years, there's a new one looming. So I've dug out this old photo. Happy New Year!
Edited by Mikkel
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