GWR 2195 Cwm Mawr Project

[RosiesBoss]

Introduction

 

2195 Cwm Mawr was built for the Burry Port & Gwendraeth Valley Railway as their No.5 in April 1905. Taken over by the GWR in 1922, No.5 was sent to Swindon for rebuilding, emerging in 1926. She spent most of her service life at Weymouth. Excellent drawings and a potted history are found in Ref.4.

 

Back in 2013, I started to assemble a model of 2195, using a Hornby Toby chassis, but changed direction to make GWR 1331. (Ref 1.) This exercise did produce a brass cab for 2195. A similar damaged chassis was set aside in the scrapbox. Further checking revealed that the Toby chassis is too tall for 2195, so a search began for a suitable alternative.

 

In Nov 2018, a group of pre-loved US outline H0 chassis was purchased, among which was one designed for a 4-6-4, with 21mm wheels , but with a suitable wheelbase.

 

A couple of months later, the cylinder assembly for the current Hornby Peckett 0-4-0ST became available as a spare, so one was ordered from Peter’s Spares. My spares box contained a roughly repainted second-hand Smokey Joe model, so all of the main components were now to hand.

 

A newly acquired 3D printer gave me the potential to make some small components that are now no longer freely available.

 

Construction

 

The chassis was stripped:

 

It was then cut down from 4-6-4 to 0-6-0  and set up for the tank engine.

 

I had no 14mm drivers in stock, but did have some Romford 15mm wheels, so proceeded with these. My scrapbox contained suitable brass bearings, which were opened up from 3mm to 1/8” i.d. to facilitate fitting to the Romford axles. Crankpins were fitted to the wheels, which were then test fitted to the chassis

 

New coupling rods were made from stainless steel strip.

 

The Hornby cylinder assembly was too narrow to fit the chassis, so both the stretcher between the cylinders and the slidebar support were cut and then rejoined with extension pieces of brass, superglued into position.

 

The crossheads, as received, had minimal rotational movement on the connecting rods, so each was carefully eased by scraping off small pieces of metal from the little ends of the connecting rods, where they fouled the crossheads.

 

The crossheads were fitted to the slidebars before gluing the slidebar supports into position.

 

The chassis frames were filed back as required to fit the full cylinder assembly to the chassis so that the footplate fitted easily over the top

 

 

The Smokey Joe model was stripped down. The motorized chassis was stored for a future project. The footplate was modified until it could fit over the chassis and so that the cab could be fitted.

 

It looked too bare, so a new one was made from 1/16” thick brass sheet, to which was soldered extra brass and copper sections to fill the gap below the Hornby saddle tank, as well as the pre-existing cab.

 

Loosely placed on the chassis it looked like this:

 

With the saddle tank/smokebox sitting on it, it started to look like a loco at last:

 

 

The gearbox was assembled and fitted to the motor. This unit was then installed in the chassis. The chassis was then tested for free running and adjusted where necessary. This motor/gearbox combination fitted well, very low in the model, leaving room for ballast weights to be fitted later, if needed.

 

 

 

Pickups, wire and a new copper-clad baseplate were fabricated and fitted. The mechanism was tested and adjusted until everything ran smoothly.

Buffers and scale couplings were fitted.

 

The footplate was covered with paper to cover the gaps left to provide clearance for the wheels.

 

Injectors and a toolbox were designed,  3D printed and then fitted.

 

The smokebox/saddle tank assembly from “Smokey Joe” was then trimmed and glued in place.

 

 

Front sandboxes were then 3D printed and fitted.

 

The replacement chimney, dome and safety valve were turned from brass and glued into position.

 

A smokebox door dart was made from a handrail knob and wire and then fixed in place. Handrails and their knobs were then fitted. Lamp brackets, made from office staples, added a lot of character.

 

 

The model was then painted with Humbrol enamels and acrylic paints. HMRS Pressfix numbers were mounted on the front buffer beam. Number- and name-plates were printed onto photographic paper and attached. The backhead from “Smokey Joe” was modified, painted and then mounted in the cab. Once the transfers and plates had settled, the model was varnished with Humbrol satin clear. The model was completed with a Dapol crew and “coal” in the bunker.

 

 

Reflections

 

This was not another “cheap and cheerful” project, because much material was bought in especially for this model. Its total cost has approached A$200. However, it is unique and has been a very satisfying exercise, allowing me to learn and practise new skills on my 3D printer. I guess I could have imported and assembled the Agenoria model, but its price (GBP210 – about A$386) was a bit too much for me.

 

I’m impressed with the High Level gearbox – the first I have used. It went together easily and precisely. In combination with the Mashima motor, it runs very smoothly and silently. It is a suitable substitute for the NWSL products I have been using recently and which have ceased production. With this project, I have acquired a very smooth shunter, capable of very slow but powerful operation. Very satisfying!

 

Parts List

·         Japanese brass American outline chassis (2nd-hand)

·         Footplate & saddle tank from Hornby Smokey Joe (R782)

·         Cylinders etc from Hornby Peckett 0-4-0ST (X7164)

·         15mm dia Romford driving wheels, axles and crankpins

·         Sprung brass buffers (source unknown)

·         Scale couplings (source unknown)

·         Tension-lock couplings

·         Mashima 1015 motor

·         High Level Slimliner compact gearbox (54:1)

·         Misc brass sheet

·         Brass rod

·         BA screws & nuts

·         0.4mm dia phos. bronze wire

·         Handrail knobs

·         Stainless steel strip (for coupling rods)

 

References & Further Reading

1.       http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/72460-gwr-1331-ex-whitland-cardigan-0-6-0st-project/

2.       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BP%26GV_4_Kidwelly_and_5_Cwm_Mawr

3.       https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/67786-gwr-1376-ex-bristol-exeter-0-6-0t-project/

4.       Railway Modeller, May 1989

5.       RCTS “The Locomotives of the Great Western Railway – Part 10 – Absorbed Engines 1922-1947 (RCTS, 1966)

6.       J.H.Russell: “A Pictorial Record of Great Western Absorbed Engines” (OPC, 1978)

7.       https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/147303-3d-freelance-manning-wardle-0-6-0t/

 

[DLT]

Very nice job, and should be a really good runner with that gearbox.

Cheers, Dave.

[RAWRlab]

Very nice work Rob. (and sorry to resurrect a months' old thread). It's nice to see that you've found some good use for that 3D printer!

I was wondering, as another Aussie who models UK stock but finds parts difficult to find: 
Where do you source your handrail knobs?
Suitable handrail wires are easy enough to come across, but knobs, not so much. 

Thanks, 
Al

[RosiesBoss]

G'day, Al,

 

For the last few years, I've been getting my knobs from Casula Hobbies https://casulahobbies.com.au/, usually at one of the several shows they attend around Sydney. Joe, his wife and crew are always kind, courteous and helpful.

 

A few years ago, I asked them to bring some dummy leaf springs to a show I aimed to attend, so as to avoid driving to the other side of Sydney from my home. They did so and I was then able to complete my model of 1565.

 

A visit to their shop can also reveal lots of other treasures not seen on-line or at shows.

 

I hope this helps.

 

Regards,

 

Rob