Bilton Junction

[Jon4470]

No time like the present!

 

the first photo shows the brass strip facing straight ahead. The strip is held by the keeper plate screw and joins the bogie just before that big hole! The strip is just visible between the rear of the bogie and the keeper plate screw. 

Hopefully, though, you can see that the loco will go around a curve like this. In theory the strip should pivot around the keeper plate screw so that tight curves are possible.

 

 

 

The second photo shows the strip deflected to one side ( toward the bottom of the photo). The strip will stick in this position and I think it becomes obvious that the loco won’t go around a bend ( although I will)

 

 

If I was to try and fix the problem properly I’d have to take the keeper plate off. At that point the wheels and gears would fall out. I would then go back several steps and have to try to mesh all the gears again...aaaargh.

My plan is to hope that it will get around the curves as long as I set things up properly. Fingers crossed!

 

Jon

 

 

[Jon4470]

Getting ready to wield the soldering iron for the first time in months.

 

I need to get on and finish the Raven A2. I thought I’ll get on with the tender first.

In a tender swap programme worthy of the LNER the following will happen:

1. Side rails from a Bradwell kit will be donated to the A2 tender

2. The Bradwell kit will go behind a Chivers Q6 that I have in the pile

3. The 3940g tender from the Q6 will go behind a DJH D20

4. The D20 4125g kit will help renovate a C7 kit that needs to be finished.

 

First part is easy and the donated rails are resting on top of the A2 tender:

 

 

Then I listed out the jobs:

1. Remove existing coal rails

2. Remove coal space division plates - both need to be reduced in height by about 1mm as they should be only just above the side rails.

3. Replace division plates - rear one needs to be a few mm further forward.

4. Fit dome cover for water scoop  (also donated from the Bradwell kit) on the rear deck

5. Find some toolboxes and fit to the front

6. Fit handrail on rear of tender

7. Replace existing top rear lamp iron. It’s in the wrong place. I’ll use a 52F etch for this.

 

I think that will be everything. Then “just” a case of painting and lining.

 

Jon

Edited March 9, 2023 by Jon4470

[Jon4470]

The tender is complete! Really enjoyed getting this done - nice to make some progress at last with this.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I also remembered to fit the Westinghouse air reservoir below the rear buffer beam!

 

It’s now ready for a good clean and then an undercoat.

 

Jon

 

 

Edited March 9, 2023 by Jon4470

[Jon4470]

On the other hand the NER Open 3rd coach is not going so well. I’m not really very happy with the teak effect and as for the lining...... I always knew that this would be a challenge because the lining follows the beading inside the panel. Normal LNER practice is to have the lining on top of the beading.

 

 

I will persevere with finishing the middle right panel.

Then I’ll do some fettling and try some weathering. I’m not sure that it will help very much though.

 

If not OK then I’ll have no choice but to strip the sides and start again.

 

Jon

[Jon4470]

So more progress this week.

 

The tender has been cleaned and primed

 

 

 

The coach has been fettled. Probably need to do some more - but I’m happier with the lining now - especially when viewed at layout distance ( or is it my rose tinted specs?)

 

 

Finally I received a parcel this week containing 

 

 

Lovely looking kit with instructions on a DVD. I want one of these for the Northern Belle.

This kit is a result of a chance conversation with macgeordie at a show. I thought he might do some sides........ he took up the challenge and produced it a full blown kit with everything except wheels. It looks really well thought out and I’m looking forward to building this.

 

 

Finally, I’ve had an email from Narrow Planet....the name plates for Spencer should be going to the etchers in the next few days. Fingers crossed!

 

 

Jon

 

 

 

 

[Jon4470]

Not much happening on the modelling front. I’m very busy at work (I know that I should be grateful for this) and that means little or no modelling mojo.

 

Last weekend I did manage to spray the tender underframe black. While I was about it I also sprayed the wheels black. Then a bit later painted the spokes green.

 

I’ve been thinking about setting up a few proper jigs to help various tasks. One of these is white lining the wheel tyres. So tonight I drilled a vertical hole in a block of wood.

 

The hole keeps this piece of brass tube vertical:

 

 

This is 2mm outside diameter ( same as the tender axle) and 1.5 internal diameter (I think). I turned the top down a tad - that’s why it is shiny - so that it is an easy fit on the wheels. Turning was done in the Dremel using a file.

 

In my lining compass I put a piece of brass rod (that I had lying around) into one arm. The rod is about 1.3mm diameter. I had to turn the end of this down to 1mm to get it to fit in the compass arm.

 

 

 

Then this all goes together like so:

 

 

 

To line the wheel simply remove remove the compass, drop the wheel on the tube and replace the compass:

 

 

I will adjust the height of the tube so that the wheel is supported by the block of wood. I think the theory is sound....we’ll see if the execution is accurate enough. I think that, now, I have run out of excuses to delay lining the wheel tyres

 

 

Although I really do have to be in the right mood to do lining!

 

Jon

[Jon4470]

These have now arrived from Narrow Planet:

 

 

 

Looking forward to fitting these and declaring Spencer completed

 

I have a couple of days holiday coming up so I hope that I’ll get some time to do some modelling.

 

Jon

[jessy1692]

4 minutes ago, Jon4470 said:

These have now arrived from Narrow Planet:

 

 

 

Looking forward to fitting these and declaring Spencer completed

 

I have a couple of days holiday coming up so I hope that I’ll get some time to do some modelling.

 

Jon

Theyll look really smart on your green Spencer, i had days deciding whether to go for black or red!

Hope to see them attached soon Jon, enjoy the break when you get there.

All the best

James

Edited October 13, 2020 by jessy1692

[Jon4470]

9 minutes ago, jessy1692 said:

Theyll look really smart on your green Spencer, i had days deciding whether to go for black or red!

All the best

James

 

Thanks - I agree - I think they’ll give a nice contrast to the green.

 

I hope that I’ve got the size correct......we’ll see!

 

Jon

[jessy1692]

1 minute ago, Jon4470 said:

 

Thanks - I agree - I think they’ll give a nice contrast to the green.

 

I hope that I’ve got the size correct......we’ll see!

 

Jon

Im sure they'll be fine, fingers crossed!

[Jon4470]

Plates are in place!

 

 

A gentle  wash with dilute black to tone them down a bit is required I think.

 

 They are possibly a bit big...then again maybe just the newness.

 

Whatever...they are staying!

 

Jon

 

[jessy1692]

4 hours ago, Jon4470 said:

Plates are in place!

 

 

A gentle  wash with dilute black to tone them down a bit is required I think.

 

 They are possibly a bit big...then again maybe just the newness.

 

Whatever...they are staying!

 

Jon

 

Spencer looks brilliant Jon, cracking little model, hope it behaves and runs as good as it looks. A light wash as you say to tone the plates down a little may just be the icing on the cake. The Spencer tank plate does look a tad bigger than mine but it may be the red accentuating it,but what does it matter it really looks bob on, love the rivet detail too.

Hope we see the Barber kit coming out soon, might give me the impetus to sort my NG stuff rather than playing about with diesels and wagons!

All the best

James

Edited October 15, 2020 by jessy1692

[Jon4470]

Finally I’ve got around to some modelling over the last few days!

 

I’ve been really busy with real life for the last few months and completely lost the motivation to spend any time modelling.

 

Any way this week I’ve taken as a holiday. The break has been good for me and, in between house jobs, I’ve made some progress. 

 

The Raven A2 is my focus at the moment. The outstanding jobs on this had gained monumental size in my mind....... but, as ever, when I start I begin to wonder what the problem was.

 

Today I have knocked up a back head out of plastikard and brassrod. This is representative (as opposed to accurate) and fills the cab nicely. 

 

 

I’ve also started to make the oil pots, complete with feed pipes. This one still needs some more fettling......

 

 

 

Only another 11 to go!

 

Jon

[AdeMoore]

Nice work John, I’ve just passed on scratch building parts for Jane! Ordered a smoke box door, chimney, dome backhead and levers! Hope your back in the grove and can keep doing a bit.

cheers

Adrian

[Jon4470]

After the backhead was placed in the cab I then set about creating a false floor and “seats”

 

 

Not too bad as a representation I think. It’s all based on photos from Ken Hoole’s book Illustrated History of NER Locomotives.

 

There is one problem though - it’s become banana shaped! As you can see from this view from above

 

 

I assume it is the glue plus using using too thin plastic.

 

I’ll ponder whether to build again in thicker plastic or maybe brass.

 

Jon

 

 

 

[jessy1692]

1 minute ago, Jon4470 said:

After the backhead was placed in the cab I then set about creating a false floor and “seats”

 

 

Not too bad as a representation I think. It’s all based on photos from Ken Hoole’s book Illustrated History of NER Locomotives.

 

There is one problem though - it’s become banana shaped! As you can see from this view from above

 

 

I assume it is the glue plus using using too thin plastic.

 

I’ll ponder whether to build again in thicker plastic or maybe brass.

 

Jon

 

 

 

Evening Jon, good to see you making progress again even if it is a bit one step forward, two back with the floor! Funny how things like that happen.

All the best

James

[Jon4470]

On 18/02/2021 at 20:40, jessy1692 said:

Evening Jon, good to see you making progress again even if it is a bit one step forward, two back with the floor! Funny how things like that happen.

All the best

James

Hi James

Thanks for the words of encouragement. Small steps at the moment.....but at least generally moving forward!

 

Jon

[Jon4470]

Over the last few days I’ve added he details to the loco body.

Oil pots (x12), mechanical lubricators, sand box lids, grab handles, vacuum connection, step below the smokebox etc.

 

I’ve taken these photos so that I can look for all the bits that need to be tidied up. Then it will be a coat of primer....

 

That will probably be it for awhile with this loco as I want to practise with the airbrush and with the lining pen before tackling the livery!

 

I’ve promised myself that the next project will be straightforward!

 

 

 

 

Jon

[AdeMoore]

Top work the iron that Jon, looking very nice.

Cheers.

[Jon4470]

The loco is now in primer (or photographic grey?).

 

 

 

Overall I’m pleased with this. I will be checking it over for any blemishes.......such as:

 

 

 

I have no idea how such a big blob appeared on the roof!

 

The other thing that I have realised is that I have forgotten to fit any washout plugs on the firebox. A bit of research required but I think it is two on one side and three on the other. I will be rummaging through the spares and unbuilt kits to find some suitable bits.

 

Jon

[Jon4470]

Over the last couple of weeks I’ve fitted the washout plugs and tidied up some blemishes. It is therefore now finished and awaiting top coat:

 

 

Apologies for the shadows.

 

I also rebuilt the seats in brass

 

 

 

Painting of the loco will be delayed a while as I want to practice with the airbrush and then do a few models together.

 

I’ve started on the interior for the exNER open third. I don’t always bother with carriage interiors but this coach is - well- Open (as the name suggests!) Photos to come when I’ve made some progress.

 

Jon

[jessy1692]

Looking good Jon that Pacific will look stunning in green, some serious detail gone into that, top work. Good luck with the airbrushing too, I'm sure itl turn out very smart.

All the best

James

[Jon4470]

Thought it was about time that I posted an update.

 

Jobs around the house and garden have taken priority recently.....especially as the weather was so fine in April. Now, of course, the weather has reverted to more normal I.e. wet!

 

I am tidying up (again) in the modelling room....getting ready to start on something new.

 

Meanwhile I managed to pick up some pointwork. Always a gamble buying from photos but I think these will be OK. I needed one of these for the sidings 

 

Seems to be well built.....

 

I also got one of these to get into the sidings...

 

 

So then I had a bit of a play.....remember the tar dock mock up from last year?...well

 

This is the view looking north...imagine a level crossing first. The mainlines head North and the point,, crossing and double slip give access to the sidings.

At a higher level the narrow gauge line appears on the tar dock.

 

Looking the other way

 

 

I’m going to build a new baseboard about 6” wider and then - perhaps- I can actually lay some track!

 

Jon

[AdeMoore]

Nice to see the layout again Jon always a gamble buying secondhand. Only time I got caught was buying some wagon wheels looked metal on the photos, didn’t ask, it was a poor description. When they came they were plastic!

Looks like you did well there though.

My train room is currently being totally dismantled daughter has her wedding in 4 weeks and wants the room for a dressing room for her and her bridesmaids, but on the plus side I’m sorting loads of stuff out. Labelling stuff up and boxing it pretty positive actually.

So more pics. Please of your build always interesting.

Cheers.

 

[Jon4470]

4 minutes ago, AdeMoore said:

Nice to see the layout again Jon always a gamble buying secondhand. Only time I got caught was buying some wagon wheels looked metal on the photos, didn’t ask, it was a poor description. When they came they were plastic!

Looks like you did well there though.

My train room is currently being totally dismantled daughter has her wedding in 4 weeks and wants the room for a dressing room for her and her bridesmaids, but on the plus side I’m sorting loads of stuff out. Labelling stuff up and boxing it pretty positive actually.

So more pics. Please of your build always interesting.

Cheers.

 

Ade

That sounds like a very good reason to lose a railway room! 

 

As as you say sorting out can be good. I’ve re- discovered tools that I’d forgotten about!

one such is this thing

 

I don’t think that I have ever used it!

 

The main reason for the lack of use being the crocodile clips; which have a fierce bite and those sharp serrations....there was no way that I’d want to put delicate brass etching in there!

 

 

So I bought a couple of copper, blind, clips and soldered in some brass tube so that the retaining screw has something to grip

 

 

Now happy to put bits of models in there

 

 

The copper is soft and there are no serrations. It’s true that the component isn’t held as securely as with the original clips, however there is virtually no risk of damage or deformation now.

That, in turn, means that I might actually use the “helping hands”.