halfwit's fantastic workbench!

Odd, though, because the original handrail alignment seemed (in a previous blog) to be in exactly the right place, relative to the curve of the spectacle plate...?

Evening Paul,

 

This is turning into something really special.  You're doing these unsung engines proud with this rebuild.

 

When my Hunslet/Austerity re-invigorated your interest in your project I never thought you were going to go this far. I'm glad you did.  

 

Totally agree with you regarding the smokebox door, Although I replaced the dart I wish I'd replaced the door hinge on mine.

 

It's interesting what you say about the handrails too and the relationship with the cab windows. Again I'm glad you've pointed this out-though it'll be interesting to see how you address the problem you have indentified.

 

Sadly, my modified example came to grief last weekend whilst exhibiting it on Juniper Hill. It managed to fall from the ironing board causing some damage to it.  I've ordered some replacement buffer beams from RT Models today along with a few other bits,  Was tempted to go down the water filler/dome route but chickened out.

 

Look forwrds to the next installment.

 

Cheers,

 

Mark

Hi Paul, there's something really pleasing about taking the time and care needed to do what you're doing here. It is very clearly worth it.

 

About the spectacle plates and handrail, would a fourth option be to return the handrail heights to the original position? I know it would be annoying after all the work getting them right, but I was just thinking it might be a less noitceable compromise? If not, then I suppose the "spectacles" have to come down in height. Easy for me to say! :-)

Thanks for the comments and 'likes', as I've said before they're always appreciated.

 

CK - you're quite right, but then the spectacle plates and handrails were both too high, lowering the handrails to the correct height without moving the spectacle plates throws the relationship between the plates and handrails out. Perhaps I should have left well alone...

 

Mark - perhaps you should be looking for a cheap secondhand loco to have a play with! I hope yours wasn't too badly damaged. The same thing happened to me many years ago when my newly finished Nonneminstre Models Hibberd Planet crashed to the floor at an exhibition. The club payed for a replacement model, which was jolly decent of them, and Peter Smith (Mr Nonneminstre) gave me some replacement parts when he heard about the accident. So mine got rebuilt and the replacement sits patiently in the loft awaiting the day I finally get round to building it.

 

Mikkel - now that I've set the handrails to height I couldn't bear the thought of moving them again!

 

Paul.

I am following your improvements, as I have several that need work for my colliery layout.

I think the handrail issues start with the windows.

The heavy moulding results in a window that is too small, and a bit higher than the prototype.

If the handrails have been placed, based upon their relationship with the windows, then they will be too high.

The handrail is 2.5 mm away from the tank. That is a scale 7.5 inches!

As the tank is sloping, this results in the rail being too high.

The front rail has been set to match the side rail, resulting in it being a couple of mm too high.

I plan to open out the windows, replace the rails, with shorter fittings, and lower the front rail.

BigD - note also that the outer side stanchions are set too far inwards, probably because the handrails as supplied have silly curved ends (a safety feature perhaps?, or to stop the rails coming out of the stanchions?). The inner pair are in the right place. Something to note if you're moving the rails down. They should sit 5' (20mm) above the footplate.

 

Today I've been carving most of the detail from the firebox backplate. Which I might yet live to regret...

 

Paul.