Sorry for these long delays between inputs but modelling time must take precedence over key-board time! I'm underway with two ex GCR locos and their tenders, being identicle 4000gallon Robinson types. These are going to be my first attempt at this new-fangled CSB suspension thingy; at least, my version of it. More perhaps in a few weeks time.

But last time here, I was going on a bit about loco conversion to EM gauge so what follows is a run-down of my detailing of a Bachmann J72 and a J50 kit loco comprised of a Kayes white metal kit on an ancient Hornby-Dublo chassis. (Both LNER, or at least BR ex LNER!).

 

Both the J50 and the J72 are some-what ancient models, dating back at least to the 1970s, - days when only top modellers were adding detail, even to RTR ‘toys’!

 

My J72 was a Christmas present from 2009 but I don’t think that Bachmann have changed it since its original ‘Mainline’ (I think!??) days. My J50, as explained earlier, dates even to further back than ‘Mainline’ starting to produce models.

 

 

In this current era, we expect our RTR model locos to have things like:-

 

brakes on hangers and with pull-rods;

 

fine handrails with suitable knobs;

 

lamp irons;

 

injectors and ejectors;

 

vacuum pipes and steam-heat pipes;

 

etc. etc. etc.

 

 

For the J72, my workshop notes list the following detail additions that would improve the look of the body:

 

1. A curly pipe near RH spectacle (what’s it for?)

 

2. Long pipes below running plate, fixed to valance. (what’s it for?)

 

3. Fire iron supports.

 

4. Fire irons, spare lamp, bucket.

 

5. Lamp irons; four each end.

 

6. Oil box and associated pipes on tank front.

 

7. Sand box rodding.

 

8. Real coal.

 

9. Vac. Pipes.

 

10. Fireman (Bachmann provide driver but no fireman!)

 

11. Steam heat pipes.

 

12. Change cab number so that Bachy buffers and tank vents are authentic.

 

13. Some fairly heavy weathering so as to look likes a typical shunter in BR days.

 

 

The chassis cried out for some additions too:-

 

1. Cosmetic side frames with lightening holes.

 

2. Sand pipes.

 

3. Brake hangers and shoes.

 

4. Brake draw gear.

 

5. Couplings replaced with Alex Jackson type.

 

6. Replacement crank pins (original ones lost in wheel re-profiling).

 

 

The cosmetic side frames served a second purpose in that they carry all the new brake gear. All the above were eventually carried out and I’m happy that the model will at least compare with the best of RTR today.

 

 

The J50 only survived to be modified because I was proud of its history. As it stood it was an accurate model of no real locomotive living or dead! The white metal body was a reasonable representation of the ‘part 3’ version of the class but I was not prepared to use time in finding a reliable drawing of the class against which to compare the model’s dimensions. For a start, the old Hornby-Dublo chassis, which had proven to be such a great performer back in the model’s history, was totally incorrect in all but being 0-6-0!!. However not to use the chassis would go totally against my desire to restore this once loved model, while keeping it would go against my obsession with accurately copying the prototype.

 

 

I decided to re-use the chassis but it would at least have wheels correct for a J50. Checked against photos and calculated dimensions the white metal kit produced a body which was fairly correct as long as you added the suffix “3†to the classification reference; i.e. the model could only realistically represent a J50/3.

 

 

Reference to my workshop notes shows the following items that received attention:-

 

1. Correctly sized and positioned handrails and knobs. This proved to be a total removal and hole-filling job; apart from scale knobs requiring smaller fixing holes, the vertical rails at tank front were originally on the tank side, where as they should be on the curved corner at the tank front. Missing originally were the smoke-box door horizontal rail with two knobs and horizontal, knob less rails on the smoke-box sides and also on the cab sides between cab window and the bunker, these being approximately in line with the top coal rail.

 

2. Change buffers to LNER Group Standard type and make them sprung.

 

3. Design, make and fit front steps, which are of unusual steel strap construction.

 

4. Sand boxes!

This raised a problem due to the chassis having an incorrect wheelbase. On the real thing they were behind the middle steps which were sited between the leading pair of axles. This led to a quite curvaceous step back-plate that was riveted to the running plate valance. The model’s middle steps were of a more common appearance and fitted very close to the correct position on the body but incorrect in relation to the wheels. So I made what for me is a big concession; - no visible sand-boxes and therefore no sand pipes.

 

5. Injectors!

These are a very prominent piping below the cab and fastened to the cab steps; the model ones are made from a square loop of 0.8mm diameter brass rod onto which was threaded three tiny cylinders punched from three differing thickness of plasticard and cyano’ed in position on the wire.

 

6. Makers plate!

Very prominent at front end of tank sides. Mine were punched (a-la Jim Whitaker) from 0.004†shim brass.

 

7. A pipe on the left side of the boiler. It looks like an ejector pipe but can’t be because these locos were steam brake only. The model one is 0.35mm brass rod with short lengths of electrical insulation off small flex, as the elbows etc.

 

8. Fireman’s tools and rack on both tank tops. All fashioned from brass or copper wire on the model

 

9. Lifting holes in the front frame extensions.

 

10. Lamp irons.

 

11. Draw hooks so as to allow use of three-link coupling vehicles.

 

12. Cylinder oil cups below smoke-box front.

 

13. The body also needed some sound insulation; - Plastic foam on tank and bunker sides.

 

 

As for the chassis; well correct diameter and spoke number are available in the Alan Gibson range of driving wheels as also in the range is a universal coupling rod etch that can produce plain or fluted rods.

 

 

The problem of sand-boxes has been mentioned; I normally have these on the chassis but there are none on this model.

 

 

 

Accordingly the detailing list for the chassis is quite simple but the achievement of the detailing not so simple:

 

1. Brake gear!

I have profile-milling masters for brake gear components suitable for most LNER locos and I have easy access to Manchester MRS workshop which includes a profile-milling machine. However when the parts are cut and assembled. how to I fix them to the H-D chassis block which is of that terrible cast material usually called ‘Mazak’? It’s horrible to drill and worse to tap threads, plus it has a nasty tendency towards decay with old age --- problem!

 

2. Cosmetic side frames!

These are needed to help limit side-play of the wider gauge wheel sets but they also helped to answer that last problem; the brake gear is carried on the new main-frames which are lightly glued to the chassis block.

 

3. Guard irons!

There are some on the chassis block but too heavy in section really and not quite in the correct position. However removing them involves working that horrible Mazak stuff; so they were left. Accordingly non were included on the new side-frames.

 

4. Balance weights for the driving wheels!

Easy job of cutting 0.010†plasticard into segments of a suitable diameter circle and MEK as adhesive.

 

5. Alex Jackson couplings!

Must be capable of easy removal when working on a layout using three-link couplings.

 

6. As mentioned before, a modern-day magnet replaced the old H-D magnet.

 

 

That’s it then. Two more locos converted to EM standards and hopefully improved along their journey.

 

One is perceived as being a difficult conversion, but with my access to machine tools, proved not to be so bad as thought, although this had to be balanced against my obsession for detail which increased the time to completion considerably.

 

The second was a silly project really; neither the body nor the chassis are suitable for purpose in the modelling world of today. Non the less I can visualise a slight inward smile when the J50 gets a “ nice model that†from any less than discerning modeller in future days, and its modern use will remind me of those days when it was a star performer.

 

In the next few days I'll see if I can persuade these two to pose for photographs and up load them next time.