Ressaldar

I posted a similar thread on RMweb3 showing the current 'state of play' and it is just as easy to start agin here on v4. So here we have a completed tender and a motorised chassis with cylinders fitted. the kit is from David Andrews and I really like David's kits - they fit together well, the instructions are good and so is the quality of the etches and castings, white metal and lost wax. The wheels are from JPL, ready turned and rim insulated on one side allowing me to use the 'American' principle (as on the Q1) the gearbox and motor are from Ron Chaplin. The photograph was taken at one of the North Wales & West Cheshire running sessions about twelve months ago! I will paint the chassis next as everything is now on that needs painting, complete the valvegear, then make a start on the body. Exciting times ahead regards Mike

Hi Alcazar, can I take then that the loco meets with your approval - even if the 1950's hairstyle does not?

Hi Dan & Horsetan, i have a David Andrews rebuilt West Country - 34014 Budleigh Salterton, which I started two years ago and have picked up and put down for no other reason than other things coming along. I posted a photo on the old website of the current state of play and repeat it here (the start of another thread) so that it will shame me into finishing it. Then it'sa JLTRT Whistler D232 Empress of Canada and a coouple of Agenoria Hawthorne Leslies - ex Plymouth, Devonport & South Western Railway. regards Mike

Hi Dave and Dan, thanks for the comments, it's the fireman's trousers that you can see, I'll have to dust him down a bit more (when he has sorted the coal out, when it arrives). I started construction on the Thursday before Guildex - 3rd September, but have not worked on it every day. regards Mike

Hi all, here are the weathered pictures but still awaiting the cab canopy (having various thoughts as to how to capture it) and the coalman has still to appear on the scene. 33006 left side 3/4 front 33006 left side 3/4 close up 33006 left side cab close up 33006 mechanical lubricator 33006 tender close up 33006 right hand side tender/cab detail 33006 right hand side cab 33006 right hand side 3/4 front Hopefully, will get the canopy issue sorted before to long and that the coal arrives before the fire is due to be laid. regards Mike

Hi Richard, glad it's acceptable. The crew are standard 'Tower Models' - the fireman has in fact propped his shovel against the cab side! Just the cab protection sheet to sort out and it's done. Grunge was applied yesterday However, there is a more pressing job at the Club at the moment - the O Gauge group decided to put a 'work in progress' 16' x 2' layout into the exhibition for this weekend - Merseyside MRS at Pacific Road, Birkenhead (full details on www.mersysidemrs.co.uk ) and I have been given the electrician's screwdriver to use and need to get a 'simple' control panel sorted PDQ Fingers crossed. Mike

Hi Richard, looking really good, and the brake gear certainly looks better than that supplied in the kit. Looking forward to the next episode and photos. regards Mike

Hi Horsetan, me jumping the gun as usual, at least it gives me time to get on with the weathering! regards Mike

Hi all, now that we seem to be back 'on air' - a few quick photos before the weathering stage (after the smokebox number, shedplate and the cab canopy are fixed.) 33006 - 1 33006 - 2 33006 - 3 33006 - 4 33006 - 5 33006 - 6 (just to complete the set and check sizing) regards Mike

Hi Horsetan, many thanks for that, I hope you feel the same when you see it weathered in a few days time. regards Mike

Hi Ken, nice work there as usual. I built one of the NLR Park tanks just after moving up to the Wirral and as you say, a joy to build. Hope the hips are doing well. regards Mike

Hi 28ten, only to a rivet counter and I've lost my abacus The boiler wrapper is half etch and the rivet detail is already there, a rub of a fine file is needed just to take the 'peaks' off. Hi Phill, thanks for the applause. regards Mike

Hi all, today's progress - hole at the front now filled in - as promised, and the rest of the boiler fittings now in place, just the 'pipework' to the lubricators to fit and then I can turn to the cab windows and internal fittings - other than the backhead, which will be done 'off model' and fitted after painting and with the windows in place. Then the pipework on the mechanical lubricator and the remaing buffer beam fittings - so could be finished tomorrow, although thinking about it, tomorrow is also 'flue jab' day so disruption just before lunch 33006 nearly there - lefthand side 33006 nearly there - righthand side 33006 lefthand side - trying to see the motion 33006 lefthand side - trying to see the motion 2 33006 lefthand side close=up As far as seeing the motion is concerned, from 'normal' viewing angles, you can see very little once the boiler is in place and even having craned your neck, it is really only a glimpse - but we all know it's there don't we regards Mike.

Hi JB, we'll start with black and see how we get on regards Mike

Alcazar wrote "I'm surprised it ran at all: how can it be expected to steam properly with no smokebox door? I mean, come on............. " that's the air intake for the fan to keep the crew cool Just come in from the workshop and can tell you that the 'hole' is now well and truly blocked up, will post photos later. Craigwelsh wrote "Thats incredibly fast work on it you've managed, I am jealous of your dedication to a project. " one of the benefits of being retired and having a wife who encourages me with the hobby - what she really means is 'get out and keep out from under my feet' regards Mike

Hi Peter, -Sorry to hear about the plumbers bill thats nearly another loco It looks quiet on your workbench look forwards to seeing how you go with the West Country and 40 both interesting locos. I haven't got the loco yet so no hurry, you may have even done your second 37 by the time I get one so I will get in touch when it happens. Cheers Peter, and that's without what was bought and ordered at Telford regards Mike

Hi 28ten, to be honest, I have not checked, but I'll be out in the workshop directly and take the camera out and post some photos later. regards Mike

Hi all, progress has been even slower than expected, due mainly to having a major problem with the central heating but got some of the fiddly bits on and had a good test run on the Club layout. This threw up a couple of niggles, due mainly to the 'American'pick-up method in as much as the cab footplate support brackets were coming into contact with the 'boxes' on the front of the tender footplate and the footplate itself touching the tender brake standard below the fall plate on the sharpest curves (just below 6') the remedies being a piece of insulating tape on each of the 'boxes' and some judicious filing of the brake standard in the offending area . There was then an intermitant fault which turned out to be nothing more that a loose insulated tender wheel touching the frame so a quick tightening up of the screw solved that one. Hopefully, today will be a productive one and that there won't be too many bits left in the box by this evening! 33006 on the 'main line at Chester Street 33006 in the 'yard' at Chester Street regards Mike

Good luck with the 14 when you get round to it, I understand that they are as challenging as the 22 so you should walk it on the evidence of your 22 build. regards Mike

Hi Dan, interesting that you have made two 'crossovers' in recent weeks, the tracklaying on the new layout will seem a piece of cake when you get round to it . Really like the Western - especially the weathering. regards Mike

Hi Richard, great work there as usual. Four Track used to do the correct buffers, but when they closed, like a lot of similar products, they dissapeared - for ever? lets hope that somebody re-introduces them. regards Mike

Hi Peter, glad you like it, the chassis is now finished and motorised, and I gave it it's first run last night at the Club - a minor shorting problem between the footplate and the tender brake standard - to be fixed with a sledge hammer now that the plumber has fixed our central heating boiler and given me a bill for nearly ??300 Should have it fixed for another test this afternoon. I have not got round to another 37 modification yet, but might treat myself to another one shortly, once the Q1, the re-built West Country are finished and a JLTRT Whistler is started and finished I wrote an article on the 37 conversion which was published in teh Guild Gazette earlier this year, which I can post to you if you wish, or if there is anything specific, let me know. regards Mike

Hi Horsetan, it's called being shunted onto the loop line. Hopefully, it will be restored soon - once everybody stops transfering the 'threads' over. regards Mike

Hi Christian, glad your enjoying the story, nearly there, just fiddly bits and bobs now. regards Mike