Rowsley17D

Photos of the real thing are not allowed! That woodwork weathering is stunning.

Bit out of gauge for my layout.

Looks like I'll have to paint the tops of my point lever handles black.

I'd start listing if I was you.

Well, you mention it. Hornby's 4F is the LMS version lefthand drive while Bachy's is the Midland Railway's righthand drive. Just look at which side of the boiler all the plumbing is on.

Good luck with trying that, Lez. I had all on to make the things let alone making them move.

Is this any use, Chris? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/124871526517?

They are from Roxey Mouldings, Lez. https://www.roxeymouldings.co.uk/category/87/4mm-scale-00-gauge-southwark-bridge-models-accessories/ You get 4 in a packet. There's a couple of spare lever handles too. The instructions say to use 0.3mm wire for bolts in the base and to fix the handle but I used glue and didn't bother with the bolts. Besides I have no 0.3mm brass wire nor a 0.3mm drill bit (all broken!)

A couple of weeks ago I got some etches of Williams' point levers to replace the white metal ones I had broken off in the shed area. They are very small parts. The handle is the wrong way round which was later corrected. First the baseplate is folded. Then the gusset plate is inserted from below. The handle bracket is folded and inserted from below too. All is held together with gel cyano. The lever was glued in place then painted.

View Advert SALE PENDING Hornby Tender Drive Unit Tender drive unit from Hornby 2P. Tested and working. Reasonably quiet for this model. Advertiser Rowsley17D Date 16/08/23 Price £10 Category OO / 4mm scale  

There appears to be 3 because I keep swapping them around. There's only 2 uninsulated drivers and 2 insulated ones. I don't usually like live chassis though but as the loco is mainly plastic I hope there won't be any bother. @MrWolf I have a 4F kit in the wings but it needs a chassis. It was going too cheap on the Bay and I couldn't resist. Strangely, it came with a set each of metal and plastic tender wheels.

The front part of the frames from the w/m kit were glued to the underside of the footplate to reduce the daylight over the bogie. The tender from the Hornby 2P has had the motor removed and fortunately there were part holes where pinpoint axles could be inserted. These were enlarged using a DCC Concepts bearing reamer and new wheels inserted. I must finished painting the rail sides. Nothing much will happen now until I take delivery of a Hiflier gearbox from High Level Models. The gearboxes I have in stock were not high enough for the motor to clear the driving wheels.

1 in 4 is a heck of a gradient for any model steam loco to climb.

I've had experience with the 2P bogie wires with LMS 693 and yes, one wire came off when I was dismantling 644. There's a fair bit of metal to solder to on the bogie though.

Recently I bought a cheap incomplete 2P w/m kit by Millholme "Goldcast" Models. I also got an Hornby tender-driven 2P from the Bay. Missing pieces were from the body of the loco, so I decided to make a hybrid model: Hornby body, kit chassis. The kit came with all the wheels so that saved a bit of money but the Hornby bogie will be used as it has pick-ups. The tender drive unit will go on Classifieds. The w/m tender was complete except for brake and water scoop standards but I may adapt the Hornby tender as the w/m tender is very heavy for a mainly plastic engine to pull.

This is where the red lining should be on the loco. This is my Hornby/white metal hybrid I am making. A cheap Hornby tender-driven loco off the Bay and an incomplete WM kit, but it did have all the wheels. Sorry I forgot about the front splashers. They are lined too.

On lined black engines there was single red band at the smokebox end of the boiler on the cab/firebox join.

I picked the wrong lever, Graham.

It's the reversing lever, Graham

Going over to the dark/black side again, Graham?

View Advert SALE PENDING Bachmann Branchline 34-300 57ft. Ex-LMS Composite Coach Bachmann Branchline 34-300 57ft. Ex-LMS Panelled 1st & 3rd Class Composite Coach M3672M in BR Crimson & Cream Livery. Odd marks on roof otherwise in good condition for its age. Must be one of the first models as still has plastic wheels. No box. Advertiser Rowsley17D Date 04/08/23 Price £10 Category OO / 4mm scale

Shed Master's nightmare- locos all over the place.

I had a black one but it's turned red.

1004 has been sent to Derwent by Derby after overhaul with an all stations running-in trip back to its home shed.

Time for a train. 1004 is running in after overhaul at Derby with an all stations back to it's home shed. Derwent Spa doesn't get to see any Compounds save for trips like this.