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N7 rebuild - filling a gaping void

Fen End Pit

Entry posted by Fen End Pit

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The original Wills kit was designed to fit around a Hornby Jinty or such like with a massive X04 motor protruding into the cab. Having built the chassis with something a little less 'old school' it was pretty clear that the absence of a floor, or backhead or crew was going to be a bit noticable. It isn't as if you can see much in the cab through the windows, it is just that you can really seen the absence of anything through the windows, if that even vaguely makes sense.

 

So I decided to put together a representation of a backhead and give a crew something to stand on. The result is absolutely not intended to be an exact replica of an N7 cab, but at least it gives the impression that there was something inside the cab and that is a definate improvement.

 

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Not that you can see that much when the roof goes on!

 

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Still when it is sitting in the siding waiting to take the next trainload of commuters back to Liverpool St you get an impression of a cab and crew.

 

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The loco still needs some weathering as it is a bit of an even all-over black that needs some more work. Quite apart from the the dodgiest bits of the joins in the lining need to be hidden by dirty!

 

David

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Buckjumper

Lovely!

 

The Wills N7 was my first ever kit build (a 6' x 3' snooker table turned upside down in my bedroom was my workbench back then), long before there was an etched chassis to go with it. I used the chassis from my dad's Triang Jinty and it was a noisy old thing and ran like a dog. Whenever I use Araldite now the smell instantly transports me back the early 80s and that first build.

 

Later I discovered the etched chassis and new castings to make a round-topped N7/5 which was perfect as I wanted it to be 69633. I bought the bits, began in earnest abut part way through fell upon the Connoisseur kit in 0 Gauge in Pete Marshall's emporium in the Maltings, Sawbridgeworth. After almost being tempted by his 10mm version kit I bought the Connoisseur one. Oh dear; bye-bye 4mm...

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S.A.C Martin

That really is a lovely model there. Is the Wills kit still available from someone somewhere, or is it a case of find one on ebay or at exhibitions?

 

EDIT: Ah hang on - is it the same as the SE Finecast N7?

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Fen End Pit
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That really is a lovely model there. Is the Wills kit still available from someone somewhere, or is it a case of find one on ebay or at exhibitions?EDIT: Ah hang on - is it the same as the SE Finecast N7?

 

Yes, that's the one. I was quite astonished given the age of the kit just how well the casting fitted. It really was quite a pleasure to put together. The etched chassis that SE Finecast sell is not bad, from memory I had to cut out the horn block slots because it is designed to be build solidly for OO but still it gives you a head start on the frames etc.

 

David

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