Brian's 7mm Workbench JLTRT Class 26

by brian daniels

original page on Old RMweb

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??? posted on Sat Mar 14, 2009 9:28 pm

Which one is it going to be? Well it will be blue and a unique one at that. I will take a pic tomorrow which should help you guess it.

I will probably areldite the roof panels on as there is more of a chance that you are going to get gaps under the etches they should fill nicely with areldite. Super glue really needs a good flat mating surface to work.

Mind you DJH are slipping, I have 2 grill castings missing and the wrong buffers included, round instead of oval.

Jorden, you are right, you can't beat a bit of resin to work with Mind you I do like the motors and gears on these DJH locos. Very smooth running. Only drawback is they nearly break my back carting them round on my motorbike.

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Comment posted by onslaught832 on Sat Mar 14, 2009 10:12 pm

Will it be one that had an unofficial Stratford livery (blue with white stripes)

Phill

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Comment posted by Phil on Sat Mar 14, 2009 11:14 pm

Could be 302 wih the extra grilles - pretty unique that one.

Could be "Boadicea" which was also unique.

How about 31101 which you could say was unique.

Theres a few really, but 31121 is the number chosen for my 4mm skinhead.

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??? posted on Sun Mar 15, 2009 11:11 am

Well looks like Phil guessed what it will be, although without the silly name on it. It was unique at the time as being a 80mph ETH machine and the only skinhead to have ETH. Of coarse being limited to 80mph would not be a problem for a 31 as you were lucky to get that much out of them Glued some roof etches on this morning and now waiting for some filler to cure. Still got to figure out how to illuminate the discs and be able to get at the bulbs.

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Comment posted by lancer1027 on Sun Mar 15, 2009 4:01 pm

Oh thats a shame. I was willing it to be 31 005, just because it was one of my first skinheads i saw

Rob

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Comment posted by richard_t on Sun Mar 15, 2009 4:55 pm

I was "reading", i.e. looking at the pictures, John Vaughan latest "Diesel Retrospective: Class 31" last night, and he has a picture of 31 418 which, as you, thought might be a interesting model.

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Comment posted by DavidB on Mon Mar 16, 2009 10:20 pm

Very tasty Brian - that's going to be one good looking Skinhead. I'm planning to make a model of Old Oak's 31117 (the one with the larger numbers) when I've finished my DJH 47/4, so I'm going to follow this build with interest - can't wait to see the finished loco! I still remember them hammering through Didcot on the Up Main with 3-van premium parcels trains - I'd never seen 31s go so fast, but then I guess they'd had 20 miles downhill from Swindon to wind themselves so that they could keep out of the way of the HSTs and 50s. Happy days!

David

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Comment posted by allegheny1600 on Mon Mar 16, 2009 11:52 pm

WOW! Brian, your modelling is very inspiring - very well done!

Back in the mid eighties, I confess that I sneered at class 31's - I thought they were worn out pieces of junk, amazing that they saw in the 21st century! Guess what? I now love them, just can't get enough and they may just be becoming (one of) my favourite British diesels!

Can I ask about your outdoor track, please? Whose is it? I'm sure that at least some is laid on bitumen sheet (good!) but I just can't identify the track - it looks pretty darn good to me.

Cheers,

John E.

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Comment posted by Phil on Tue Mar 17, 2009 12:13 am

Quick nurse - more medication for the patient over there !!!

Steady on John, those were the overweight, underpowered tanks that robbed us of the real type twos.

Have to admit though that pairing them up, on passenger stock - they'd fly.

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??? posted on Tue Mar 17, 2009 10:45 am

John, the track is Peco flat bottom. It's a lot stiffer than the bullhead track and the points cost a lot a more but it looks better with diesels running on it.

All the roof panels are glued on with epoxy now and the bufferbeam has most of the details on. Just need to do the control desk area as this provides the front screw fixing for the bufferbeam. All the ETH equipment is lost wax castings from JLTRT. The steam pipe is one of their's as well as the DJH one does not have the bag around the handle area on it. For some reason the drivers side bufferbeam step on 31418 sticks out to the side. There are 19 little 0.5mm grab handles on the roof still to drill out, 38 little holes! Mind you after drilling all the 0.5mm holes on the skirts and not breaking one drill I feel the roof, as it's thicker will destroy a few.

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??? posted on Wed Mar 18, 2009 12:26 pm

Got it some wheels now although this has thrown up one problem. The ETH box under the secondmans side is fouling the bogie big time. I have removed it at the moment until I can implement plan B. Mind you I still have to find out what plan B is There is still loads to do on the bogies. Also found that DJH packed the control/brake gear in the cab for a toffee apple version. Unfortunately the standard skinheads had the standard set up, so have ordered a set of replacements.

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Comment posted by allegheny1600 on Wed Mar 18, 2009 4:21 pm

Hi Brian,

Nice update and thanks for the track info, guess Peco do decent track after all! I thought at first it was Lenz (which is even more pricey!) but soon realised it was not.

Phil,

Yeah! I know, I know - the 31's were drafted in to replace our beloved rats, shame! Like I said I hated them in the eighties but I have over the years gone more eastern region anyway and the 31's have really grown on me!

Cheers, Y'all

John E.

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Comment posted by F-UnitMad on Wed Mar 18, 2009 4:49 pm

Very nice, Brian and quick work as always (well compared to some of us of course ...) one thing that I never realised was that the bottom of the buffer beam was curved- I always thought they were straight.

I was never keen on Skinhead 31s... always preferred them with the headcode box for some strange reason but I did like the 'Finsbury Park' 31/4s with the white stripe along the side. 31 415 would be my 31 of choice... (It was later a Bescot machine).

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Comment posted by Ohmisterporter on Wed Mar 18, 2009 5:04 pm

I've just realized the styling strip around the body is welded on. I thought it was originally a painted line. Only ever seen it on the skinheads though. Which should give you an idea as to how observant I am. Seeing what you think is there rather that what really is there, and all that.

Nice work as usual Brian.

Geoff.

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Comment posted by dibateg on Thu Mar 19, 2009 7:47 pm

Looking good Brian - I could'nt believe the instructions, when they indicated that all the bolt heads for the skirts needed to be drilled! It was accomplished, but I can't remember how many casualties there were. I also had to increase the rebate on the inside of the body to bring the radiator grills more flush with the body side, but I think DJH might have revised the dody casting on later kits. I baulked at soldering the mid bodyside trim on and glued it with Evostick Timebond. I ended up putting two motors in after a single power bogie proved insufficient for heavy trains.

I also preferred Derby 2s and was miffed when 31s replaced them on the West Coast section out of London!

Regards

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Comment posted by lancer1027 on Thu Mar 19, 2009 8:17 pm

Exellent work Brian. . You amaze me how quick you solder up stuff. You make it look so easy. My soldering skills are very limited, i spend about 20mins soldering a piece in the wrong position, 20 mins re-positioning and soldering and about 4 weeks cleaning up affected area . Still fortunately JLTRT stuff is RESIN....... HOORRAAYYY . Again superb work Brian . Please keep sending those pics.

Rob

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??? posted on Fri Mar 20, 2009 3:57 pm

Well I had a count up and you have to drill 140 0.5mm holes in this body There's one drill left in it somewhere so I don't recon I did too bad. I was poking my drill into a candle after every couple of holes and it worked a treat really, the drill never clogged up with metal once. Anyway I got the replacement buffers today and the correct power handle/brake castings so I can get on and do the control desk and then I can screw the front of the bufferbeam into something to stop it drooping. Have done the fuel tanks as well now. Still a fair bit to do with the brake gear and bogie motorizing. I should have it with me at my demo at the Ally Pally show.

DJH did change the rad grill etch to give the blades a bit more depth but it could still do with a being a bit closer to the edge of the body. It doesn't worry me that much.

There is not much soldering on this Rob as all the etched overlays are glued on. The bogie inners are soldered up and a few wires soldered into castings but there is surprisingly little to do.

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Comment posted by F-UnitMad on Fri Mar 20, 2009 6:15 pm

So why isn't it painted and weathered, yet?...

Sorry Brian, couldn't resist... you work just as quickly it seems with metal as with resin kits...

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Comment posted by lancer1027 on Fri Mar 20, 2009 6:49 pm

coming along nicely Brian. Can't wait for the paint and weathering job.

Rob

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Comment posted by michael delamar on Mon Apr 06, 2009 5:10 pm

looks brilliant!

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??? posted on Mon Apr 06, 2009 5:59 pm

Thanks Mike. I have not done too much recently as last week I was a bit Tom & Dick and me and the toilet became very good friends I have done the brake gear and got it motorized now. Bogie sideframes to do and a little bit more on the ends. Still have to sort out the lighting as well. Oh well no rush!

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Comment posted by michael delamar on Mon Apr 06, 2009 9:09 pm

get well soon

my uncle always used to say

"take your time but hurry up"

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Comment posted by baggiebloke on Mon Apr 06, 2009 9:13 pm

Hi Brian

Thanks for the further dose of inspiration!

If I was to venture into O gauge, what loco kit would you recommend for me as a first go? I will probably try a wagon first to see how I take to the scale.

Thanks

Alex

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??? posted on Wed Apr 15, 2009 3:10 pm

I have been ferreting away on this for the last couple of weeks doing a bit here and a bit there and at last I think it's finished Well all apart from 2 lifting lugs above the bogies that were missing in the kit and am waiting for replacements. I have sorted out how to get some illumination into the discs as well. This may well get a sound chip fitted. Don't know when I will get round to painting as I want to give a good run first on a couple of layouts to make sure everything works and that there is enough clearance between the bogies and the body.

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Comment posted by michael delamar on Wed Apr 15, 2009 3:55 pm

that really is extremley nice work.

im surprised youve put all the pipework on before painting? do you not normally paint them seperatley away from the loco?

and the screwlink coupling, is that a djh or jltrt one and do you always use the ones supplied with the kits. or use another make?

cheers

Mike

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