5&9Models' Blog

Excellent modelmaking. I'm amazed that you managed to slot a motor into that.

 

The building is a great backdrop, I like the round window. 

 

 

Odd really , folk say "pre grouping"  and forget that there was 80 + years of it. Far more than any of the modern eras. 

Thank you. It's a really good point, the term pre-grouping covers a huge range of possibilities if you're willing to put the time and effort in. I find it's just as much fun researching source material about whatever you're working on, as building the thing itself. Sometimes a model can only be a 'best guess' if the reference material just isn't there, but still a very valid way of understanding and interpreting our early railway history. Apologies if I get a bit evangelical about it, I wish more people would have a go at the early stuff.

That really is quite splendid! An excellent piece of research, deduction and model making.

Thanks Wenlock.

That looks fantastic, Chris.

So many questions.

 

1) You said the weight was just enough - how much does it weigh?

2) What technique do you use for creating rivets?

3) Do your hook and chain  couplings rely on 'the Hand of God' in operation?

 

Looking forward to your Bury Goods.

Richard

 

ps, Did I mention that is an amazing model?

Thanks Richard,

I've just weighed it and it's 86.5g. It would be interesting to compare that with an RTR loco, a L&Y Pug or similar. Perhaps we should start a 'guess the weight of my loco' craze!

The rivets are little tiny slices of Plastikard glued onto the Plastikard frames, but then those were used as masters for casting in white metal. However, in the case of my 0-4-2 banker which has brass frames, I glued a 5 thou Plastikard layer on the face and stuck the rivets to that.

Hand of God coupling in the style of Monty Python would be more like it in my case, especially if I can't remember where I put my glasses!

Fabulous work, Chris!

Thanks John

This has all been very inspiring. A reminder, as Dave also says, that there is so much out there still waiting to be modelled. Many thanks for posting the build in such detail.

 

What will go behind it? :-)

Thanks Mikel,

As you say, there's still so much to be modelled. I'm not sure the long list of what I want to make is good for my health! As for what goes behind Royal William, I would like to try and interpret the very limited evidence regarding the London and Greenwich carriages. Many of them were low slung curiosities and I fear any model would be highly conjectural but that's unlikely to put me off...!

Those carriages sound intriguing. A conjectural model is better than nothing. In fact it's industrial archaeology :-)

I can only echo what others have already said.  You've managed to capture the look of early wrought-iron construction extremely well and the surface finish looks extraordinarily realistic.  I find it hard to believe you managed to fit the motor so discreetly into such a small body.  My only criticism is the shiny wheel treads but I'm sure some metal-black would soon deal with this, while maintaining electrical contact.

 

The pictures by the engine-house are truly inspirational

Thanks MikeOxon,

I agree about the shiny rims. My concern was electrical pick-up from the track. I'm a bit niaev regarding the use of metal black, do you still get good conductivity through it then? If so then I'll certainly apply some. Any recommendations on brand?

Thank you for the tip.

you do have to be a bit careful not to overdo the blackening but you should be able to dull down the shiny rims quite a lot without losing electrical pick-up.  There was a thread about it on here a few years ago.  see http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/56581-metal-blackning-birchwood-casey-or-carrs/?p=700308

Aha, thanks very much for the advice MikeOxon.