The Fatadder's Modern Workbench

Bulleid Pacifics had a frame spacer width of about 3'3" (the centreline of the axleboxes were in line with the centrelines of each frame plate), so the Hornby chassis shouldn't need too much thickening!

Thanks again

 

By my calculations 20 thou one each side will bring it up to 3'3" exactly, bit of a shame its so narrow really, had just been recommended the brilliant idea of using lead sheet to increace the width (and get a lot more weight at the same time!) which of course would be much too thick for increasing the width.

For coupling rods and valve gear, you've mentioned the Bill B etch. I've got one of these etches with a view to converting a Hornby but haven't done anything yet (tried to talk Bill into doing a full etched chassis....maybe one of his easy fold up jobbies...?). Anyway, as Horsetan has said, Bulleids have quite narrow frames, so not too much packing on the outside of the Hornby unit.

I've found the Comet etches very useful. They do a suitable front bogie and their WC valve gaer should contain useable parts as the actual valve gear is very similat indeed between the MN and light pacifics, except for the coupling rods and the expansion link support bracket - which is a cosmetic issue on a 4 mm model, I would suggest.

 

Best of luck with it and keep us updated with progress as I've got both a MN and light pacific Hornby to P4, eventually - will need them both for Delph!!!!!!

 

Regards,

 

Dave.

For coupling rods and valve gear, you've mentioned the Bill B etch. I've got one of these etches with a view to converting a Hornby but haven't done anything yet (tried to talk Bill into doing a full etched chassis....maybe one of his easy fold up jobbies...?).

 

Try not to hurry Bill into doing it, otherwise you may find mistakes! I seem to remember that he seems to do a fair amount of design work for Comet, and is one of the reasons why their chassis range is being progressively upgraded to "modern" specification.

 

I've found the Comet etches very useful. They do a suitable front bogie and their WC valve gaer should contain useable parts as the actual valve gear is very similar indeed between the MN and light pacifics, except for the coupling rods and the expansion link support bracket - which is a cosmetic issue on a 4 mm model, I would suggest.

 

I think the only part of the fret that you can't use on, or adapt for, the MN is the rear section of the coupling rods. Everything else is up for grabs.

 

Dave: ever tried converting the Dapol plastic Light Pacific kit back to an original Merchant Navy? Requires lots of plastic, solvent, and swearing!

Try not to hurry Bill into doing it, otherwise you may find mistakes! I seem to remember that he seems to do a fair amount of design work for Comet, and is one of the reasons why their chassis range is being progressively upgraded to "modern" specification.

 

 

 

I think the only part of the fret that you can't use on, or adapt for, the MN is the rear section of the coupling rods. Everything else is up for grabs.

 

Dave: ever tried converting the Dapol plastic Light Pacific kit back to an original Merchant Navy? Requires lots of plastic, solvent, and swearing!

 

No! Can't stand the originals - what have I said - bound to get well deserved abuse for such a provocative statement? Seriously, as a professional mechanical engineer, I have severe reservations about aspects of the Mr Bulleid's designs and am fully of the opinion that modification was the best solution - I understand that total scrapping was the alternative! Another reason is that I find the prospect of the inside valve gear and oil bath a bit daunting in 4 mm, as well.

 

 

Dave.

.....I find the prospect of the inside valve gear and oil bath a bit daunting in 4 mm, as well.

 

Chain-driven inside motion.....hmmmm.....