BrightonBoi

Thank you very much Tony, sounds like that's the best I can do for the model - it shall take the 'what if it made it to SR days' guise. I shall research my next kit before buying it next time! BrightonBoi

Thank you both for having a look at this. Indeed compared to the LBSC ones, there's surely not enough room to have the lettering on the bolster bed side even with a side plank. It sounds like the solebar location is more likely, but a bit more paintwork is in order first - thank you for confirming the brown Mr Muz (big fan of Fisherton!). Thanks for the SECR suggestion Tony, I'll have a look at getting a copy of that book - do you have an idea for a pair of suitable numbers and tonnages in the meantime? I'm surprised its such a mystery for this kit, they seem to be rarely made here on RMWeb... This may be why! Cheers all, BrightonBoi

Hello all, I wonder if there's anyone who might be able to help with how/where to letter up the SEF pair of SR single bolster wagons? This is an inexperienced foray into the whitemetal kit building, and it would seem finding internet resources is scarce. Having found some images of the IOWSR preserved Diag 1616 single bolsters, it seems there's a few detail differences to the SEF kit - the biggest one being a place to put the lettering! So perhaps this is a different prototype (what does it actually look like?), but the question is still the same. I suppose there will be a book to answer these plus future wagon problems? Here's a quick pic of the offending wagon in a rough WIP state - my guess is to put letters between the rivets in the middle of the solebar, but then where does the number go? I think the solebars and buffer beams should be brown too but again, how to confirm this, from the preserved only? Many thanks all! BrightonBoi

You make it sound easy Dr D! I've stumbled through the lovely SEF whitemetal Billinton brake van (awaiting finishing) which I superglued together, much to the consternation of some. I would agree it was successful so I'll stick to the theory when I come to the C2x. The warning over the chassis is noted indeed.... Let's see what arrives. The U1 chassis is in hand and ahead of the queue and rather more worryingly complicated! BrightonBoi

My apologies Keith, I was also of a similar mindset. I've been assured that the Nucast C2x is a very simple and easy whitemetal build, whether there's any truth in that remains to be seen... I'll revisit the C2x idea when a couple of harder-to-source models are crossed off, and there's enough interest. There's always a chance that another Brighton 0-6-0 tender loco makes it onto the list so a possibility to do a few at a time. For now, that may be some years away! BrightonBoi

Hi DrDuncan, The majority of the cab roof measures 1.05mm thick, while the lips front and rear are 0.41mm thick. This is the complete cab unit, one piece as printed and slots into place nicely. The difference in thickness lines up flush with the cab back sheet to blend in. Unfortunately in my previous post it looks like this isn't sitting fully home in the model so is quite proud round the join lines. Hope that helps. BrightonBoi

Hi all! What a year, apologies for the radio silence. I must do something about that. Hot off the press though: I'm very pleased to say that the J1 is complete! And here she is in all her gleaming beauty. Safe to say it you can tell what it's suppose to be, at least. Its certainly a long way from being perfect, but its the best I can do so very pleased, after about a 4 month build. If people would like to see some photos of the build I'll put some up. I'm particularly happy with my only mildly wobbly lining - a first time ever attempt! The printed chassis was the biggest problem as the axle holes didn't quite match up with the bought brass coupling rods. It runs great now after many days of fiddling, but how do people solve this one? We shan't mention that despite designing for 2nd radius, the radial axle box locks up and won't allow it - one to fix on a rainy lockdown-day along with all the other minor issues. I am still thinking about releasing these designs in some form, however I'm well aware of the plethora of small problems, so for the moment I'll say that if anyone is interested in any way please DM me, but I have no printer of my own. To that I really owe my thanks to @Javier L for kindly supplying the prints and sending them circumnavigating the world a few times - a fantastic bloke with much advice and know-how. What's next on the bench one might wonder? Well a SEF U chassis and smashed up Bachmann N have been bought inherited so it seems a mogul of some description is promising. Perhaps an aim for a U1 (drawings bought), depending on whether I can stomach build internal valve gear (and something with servos?), no promises as yet. Ambitious indeed. This looks like a considerably more conventional etch-style build so perhaps a better located thread is in order and let's hope you all see a bit more of it's progress. Perhaps an updated list of intended projects would be nice: SR U1 (Next in line - most major components in hand) LSWR H16 (S15 chassis in hand) LBSCR B4x A better LBSCR K (Brass frames acquired) SECR F1 (long term fantasy!) LBSCR D3 (Cancelled - Chivers kit to be re-released?) LBSCR C2x (Cancelled - Nucast kit arriving, apologies to those who were interested) Thanks to all those who have helped out and contributed, and those who put up with these ramblings. BrightonBoi

I was recommended to contact the HMRS stewards with all their wisdom on this topic. For the benefit of others is shall post their response here. With the kind permission of Mr John Harvey, here are his words: "I rather fear that you may have prepared a specification for yourself that is impossible to achieve. "I looked at the question of the buffers on Hornby's No 1324 back in 2018 and subsequently published an article in the HMRS Journal. "The main point that I found regarding H class buffers was that they generally used SECR type, with the SR type not being fitted until WW2 and then in only a few cases. It is, perhaps, somethin of a puzzle to understand why Hornby chose No 1324 to model - but it is accurate. The SR buffers on 1324 were probably fitted at Brighton during the war but the engine was not repainted black, and it survived then until 1949 in Maunsell livery. "So, H class locos painted in Maunsell green had SECR buffers as far as I know, with No 1324 being a rare exception. I do not know of a photograph of a green H with SR buffers apart from 1324 (and I have looked at several hundred). "My advice is to try to get hold of some SECR pattern buffers and change them on your model." Along with his request that should his words be wrong, that the claim be backed up with photo evidence. Anyway I hope there are others out there who find this information useful, and my plan is to now replace my H's buffers for the SECR type.

Hi there all! Apologies for the long silence, getting used to this forum thing is a challenge. I hope there isn't a requirement for regular updates here.... Thanks @Javier L for the great photos and amazing prints, and it's nice to see some interest too. This particular one is the first in existence so I would expect some bugs and issues to arise during completion. After any fixing and fettling then I would consider release the CAD files to those interested. Aside from the K receiving tender pickups, unfortunately I have little else to update on right now. I have been on some CAD training so that should get the ball back rolling! Let's hope for some exciting progress to come, the list is ever growing.... One long term aim is to get a resin printer of my own, so what might be people's recommendations? Anycubic comes up a lot, but what about Prusa, or Photocentric? Is it worth coughing up for the higher end models? I've only got a little experience with Form 2 so I can't make much comparison myself. Thanks all for the support! 'Til next time... BrightonBoi

Hello all, I'm looking to renumber a Hornby olive H class but I can't seem to find any photos of other suitable numbers. Does anyone here think they may know of any Hs besides 1324 that were olive, with flared bunker and larger SR buffers (not SECR bottle type)? Thanks!

Great to see such a positive reception so far! I'll have a look out for some of those books, seems like a favoured resource. I am hoping to release some of these designs to the public at some point long-term but I know little about how to go about that. So far I know that ShapeWays is incredibly expensive, open-source requires people to have their own printers, so what's left? Perhaps a look at other companies, or even buy a printer and operate a business out of my bedroom! I'm certainly up for suggestions in this area. As Jack has rightly pointed out, I had exactly the same idea! Building on an existing chassis does seem to be easier, but my major stumbling block with the H16 is correcting the expansion link bracket. The S15 chassis holds the motion up with some tiny plastic push-fit sleeves, so without gluing it to the new bracket it needs some thought. I would absolutely appreciate some D3 drawings if you are happy to supply them, thank you. It may go up in the pile if so.... Short answer is, it depends I seem to be jumping between convenient licences: I started out in SolidWorks for the SECR J and K, moved to Fusion for the LBSCR J and the start of the Saloon, but after cloud issues I'm considering going to my work's package - Inventor. So that's up for debate.... Talking of the LBSCR J, here are some screens of it below. The Saloon will come when Fusion starts behaving The cab is a grey area, it was taken from a blurry image of a drawing of an L class cab, bodged into my K, and then into this J. I don't think there's anything accurate left in it! But Jack came up trumps and found some GAs of the outside so that's pretty good. Enjoy! Thanks for the support so far. BrightonBoi

I can report that the LBSCR K is back in Blighty! Thank you Jack P for your hard work and great finish on this loco, and prompting me to get started on the forum thing.... I now have a workbench of my own, so hopefully more of the design stage of some future projects that involve the both of us is covered. BrightonBoi

Hello fellow modellers, designers and printerers! This is my first post onto this forum (or any!) after much prompting by my good friend Jack P - please visit his workbench as he has been key to my railway modelling revival so I can't thank him enough. So the story goes that I discovered the joys and wonders of CAD a few years ago while at uni, which led me to the 3D printing laboratory and from that point I got hooked on the process. Day and night was spent there, until one day I decided to have a crack at a loco. I was lucky enough to have access to a FormLabs Form 2, and thus the SECR J was the first to come off the printer. Having designed it on an old Airfix Prairie chassis and off eyeballing online pictures only, the proportions are all over the shop and especially due to the giant motor, topped off by my appalling paintwork...... I thought I could do better than that so I had a look at some other prototypes and the LBSCR K had always stood out, so I had a go at that. The large parts were done on an Ultimaker 3 with the detail again on the Form. The Airfix Prairie chassis was chosen once again and seemed to suit an awful lot better! But the paintwork needed some better skills, which is where Jack P joined the party and finished it off for me - the alliance was born! He's done an amazing job as you can see below. So what's next on the list? There is a LBSCR J1 on a custom 3D printed chassis at the ready-to-print stage, hoping this can be printed fully in resin somehow. Also I have started work on the LBSCR Director's Saloon (as on the Bluebell) in its SR modified state with gangways (screens of both to follow!). I'm again hoping for full resin but its still in its infancy, particularly because uni is now a thing of the past so no more free printing, and I do CAD for a living for the big railway so I tend to favour other things in my free time. But slow progress is better than no progress - I have a small list of other prototypes I would like to have a crack at currently standing in no particular order at: A better LBSCR K, LBSCR B4x LBSCR D3 LBSCR C2x LSWR H16 Some other stuff? So the big questions to the crowd and for this relative newbie: how does one go about finding resources to produce accurate CAD models? Where does one find reliable GAs? Also, are people interested in these models for themselves, in some form or another? The project taking up all my time is in fact a DC electronic signalling system, which can protect blocks, operate signals, read points, ramp up and down the speed range accordingly, all automatically into one PCB (per signal that is). Spurred on by another friends' building of a layout I thought this needs some investigation. I have a proven working custom IR track sensor in hand, and initial simulation testing is promising - I have some good confidence it could work so far! Might I need a separate thread for this? Do you think this is a practical system, given some vast wiring required too? Anyway that's my introduction, thanks for your time and I look forward to hearing some thoughts! BrightonBoi