81E

Very interesting thread which has inspired me to have a go at building a Prince of Wales. However rather than chopping up rtr bodies i am attempting to 3D print a body to first on the B12 chassis. My second test print below but thanks to the article above I now realise that the boiler is too large so will try to correct.

I too am looking for information regarding the bogie version in service, particularly livery but sadly can fing nothing. I am also interested in the large bodied version that Firecracker mentions as I have an un-built chassis left over from a BR conversion I am currently working on. However, instead of using a tender underframe I have a bespoke 3d printed one.

The answer is possibly. I've just successfully 3D printed my own in 00 scale using Shapeways and as I am ordering more I've just uploaded an 50% scaled down version which should be about 2mm scale. The test print will probably be back mid to late November 2023

Sadly Brexit and a poor poor exchange rate has put the cost up. Anyone know of a 3d printing service in the UK which allows you to sell 3d prints in the same way as Shapeways?

Hattons have now produced a model of DE 320104 E in Blue and grey and Hornby have one of their six-wheelers masquerading as this coach on their pre-order for those who miss the last of the Hattons limited editions.

I Just happened to see one of these on Kernow's website so ordered it which came yesterday. I have always been fascinated by these but have been put off modelling one because of the cylindrical tapered chimney. The model is about the right size for my Welsh slate quarry (although possibly not quite the right colour) but will save me building one from scratch. I am considering using the model as a basis of a working pumping house so have started drawing up a beam using a 3d CAD package. Other parts like the roof will probably be fabricated from Wills Material. However, does anyone know where the boiler house would be located in relation to the chimney, as the only one I have seen (in North Wales) does not have a chimney incorporated into the engine house.(see http://www.penmorfa.com/Slate/beamengine.html) My current guess would be a lean-too structure along the side of the house next to the chimney possibly at a lower level?

Sorry for not visiting this thread sooner but thanks to Star and Johnster for their comments on my Shapeways bogies. However, having produced some GWR Fish bellied bogies for an unknown (possibly PC Models) toplights I was wondering if any of the outside framed siphons ran on fish bellied bogies as I still have a couple of these on their original bogies and fancy some more variety. If they did it's not going to take me more than a couple of minutes to develop a virtual model with the Airfix fitting. Many thanks Steve

As I have several of the old Airfix type Siphon s and H, I have been creating some variety by fitting alternative bogies. (GWR American and Plate Framed - see below) However, does anyone know if either (or both) these types of outside framed siphons were fitted with Churchward Fishbelly bogies?

@cctransuk In hindsight fitting a plastic shim would seem an answer but the molded coupling mount with pips seemed to be too good to be true and I didn't think there would be a problem. Sadly as I did not want to damage the assembled bogie, I had already permanently fitted the couplings by practically riveting them to the mount before I fitted the sides!

My reason for using the 12 mm wheels was that the Triang type couplings seemed to be fractionally too high with 14 mm wheels to couple up reliably. Fitting the small er wheels solved the problem instantly. Although there problems might lie with the Airfix Siphons

Not sure if this is helpful but I was able to obtain a "General Service Corps" lapel pin off eBay which is basically a Royal Coat of arms. The versions I obtained are probably about 1mm too tall but this is not that noticeable when placed against my Dapol Castle.

Many thanks for buying the tender chassis. I would be very interested to see the final result with the pickups and how you attach the tender to the Hall. Not sure if this is helpful but the hole in the middle of the chassis was designed to assist with painting. It is about the right size to take a disposable wooden skewer making it easier to hold especially if spray painting. Regards Steve

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Good Morning, I believe that this kit may have originally been made by Ian Kirk many years ago and Cooper Craft acquired the tooling which might explain the difference in quality you describe. However still a nice kit to build. I seem to recall reading that the GWR did have two. These vehicles were "Brown Vehicles" ie. they were designed to be run in passenger trains at express passenger speeds so would have been Vacuum fitted like the GWR Siphons. Indeed I run my one in a rake of Hornby/Airfix Siphon Gs. If marshalled in a passenger train it was usual practise to place them next to the locomotive. I believe that this was to give some protection the passengers in the coaches in the event of an accident. Sadly I cannot quite see the washers I fitted to mine However, I am almost certain I used M4 bolts. Sadly these need an Allen key to undo them which I have lost so I cannot take one off to look. however, peering through the gap there looks to be two M4 washers - I think I used trial and error to get the height about right. Also I think the bogie is designed to use 12mm wheels rather than 14mm to get the coupling height right. Hope this is helpful.

Many thanks for the info regarding the curb rail - too much reliance on a drawing! I will probably get onto this once I have the 3d printed chassis back and tested it - vary rarely do I get things exactly right first time so there will probably be other things to alter like the clearance between the top of the wheels and sole bar. In any case I also need to add the curb rail to the version of the chassis I intend to use on the Queens Coach (see below) As to the Guards version, I have been thinking about it but it is not on my immediate list as I have already made a six wheeled version (see https://www.shapeways.com/product/WQ4HB3U9Z/gwr-tadpole-a-diag-s5-part-2-body?optionId=100146999)