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Alex's Workbench - Southern Region & Other Projects


A.R.
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Class 70 Update

 

Evening All, 

 

I have managed to progress the Class 70 considerably over the weekend. Firstly, I changed my mind and instead of 3D printing the above parts, I decided to make them from sctrach - you can see them on the model in the pictures below. 

 

Pantograph 

I started with the pantograph - a really good Judith Edge kit. This was built up on a jig made out of my cutting board and went together well - it was very fiddly but this was mostly down to me having not made one before! You can see the stages of the build here: 

1207718610_Electric1.jpeg.a2df0d1e803fcb7a916f0f20f8fa4a8f.jpeg1477643203_Electric2.jpeg.2bc6806adfd2da3b4e6a9fc11f23208b.jpeg196961643_Electric3.jpeg.7ff8e6c4a801b9e1ca0103cbf94e60c4.jpeg713066398_Electric4.jpeg.5a0ee6f3f72925cb046d03f9f88e8f61.jpeg833854582_Well4.jpeg.c795176c4c7bad1ea6ab77e74a60cbac.jpeg

 

Well Removal

Once I had completed the pantograph, I realised the roof well for the electrical gear was too short. Therefore, I made some small modifications to the roof well and then used filler to re-shape it. 

1013995504_Well1.jpeg.e9810bb809bbcdf63e5de10435ecb1b7.jpeg696609059_Well2.jpeg.ba22186c7d84abf377c60561da7d8066.jpeg

221747985_Well3.jpeg.96608ac3bcd48dfb8b14ef713c3bd950.jpeg

 

Complete

I also added the handrails and the model is now virtually complete with only a few final jobs to do before painting can commence. I need to make and fit some light covers, and then file the flanges on the driving bogie wheels - I have done this on the trailing bogie now by way of a big metal file! 

1778684802_Complete1.jpeg.83beb98f035e2af72fa6ff52afa1fd30.jpeg1539338327_Complete2.jpeg.cb8fdbcfc82cc40247ca3c28f686beaf.jpeg

 

I look forward to hearing your thoughts! 

 

Cheers, 

 

Alex 

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On 10/05/2021 at 21:29, A.R. said:

Hi All, 

 

Thanks for the kind comments! 

 

Class 70 

I am hoping the wheelsets will fit - they did on the CAD but only when I fit them in reality can I be sure! The motor bogie is certainly an unusual design and is essentially a bit of an experiment to see if I can get a largely 3D printed power bogie to work. The chain drive is also a bit of an experiment so we shall see how it all goes! 

 

The loco will indeed be twin bogie drive, but I am focussing on getting one working first before I start the second so any mistakes I make aren't repeated! 

 

Southern Region Mk1 Upgrade

More work should follow shortly on the Class 70. However, in the meantime, here are some pictures of another side project I have ongoing - the upgrading of some very old Mk1 coaches (mostly Triang). Whilst the modern RTR coaches are exquisite, they are quite expensive and for long rakes that will be going at speed, and think a few rakes of these Triang conversions will do nicely! I have a set of 5 parcels coaches to do next!

 

These Mk1s have been repainted, re-wheeled, had new whitemetal buffers and glazing strips added, details picked out in gold, window signs and numbering added. I have also added scratchbuilt corridor connections and lightly weathered the underframes with powders. 

 

657794656_Coach1.jpg.0e09fe98dd4fe846f60049b573c4d8dc.jpg1288774214_Coach2.JPG.5853b543bbeb1acda21ccecd56c8840b.JPG1497654182_Coach3.JPG.370ff1d595f687d61b671cec126c0ab7.JPG1248912161_Coach4.JPG.04c2aad8bcc175b5a5a074608cc18aa2.JPG

 

I look forward to hearing your thoughts! 

 

Cheers, 
 

Alex

 

 

 

Again, sorry - but those gaps are something of a letdown.

 

I have upgraded dozens of Tri-ang Hornby and Lima Mk.1s over the years.

 

First, check the bogie centre dimensions; they will need changing. Cut out the pivots in an off-centre rectangle of the floor; rotate through 180 degrees, and glue back in place to correct the bogie centres.

 

Get rid of the raised moulded lines on the coach sides; the absence of lining on BR green coaches made the sides look decidedly plain.

 

Get rid of the tension locks couplings, and bring the corridor connections as close together as your curves allow. IMHO, if you need paper corridor connections, your coaches are too far apart!

 

Fit compressed buffer castings - except perhaps at each end of your rakes.

 

If you have not already done so, replace moulded roof vents with castings.

 

The transformation will make this work well worthwhile.

 

CJI.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Hi All, 

 

Thanks for the comments! 

 

The project is almost complete now, with just numbers left to apply - these have arrived from Railtec and will finish the loco off nicely. I will take some final photos as soon as the numbers are done, but here is a preview of the model in monochrome. 

 

460796578_MonochromeClass70.jpg.937d70d3a96b430575a115e65e1b0fcf.jpg

 

Hopefully the full colour photos will follow in the coming days!

 

Cheers, 


Alex 

Edited by A.R.
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Regarding the 4-8-0 there was an entirely feasible LSWR proposal for a 4-8-0 Tender engine based on the G16 4-8-0 Tank, which pretty much shared the Urie S15 and N 15.    Just two outside cylinders so no crank clearance problems, but no slow heavy freight traffic to justify it.

Its in the Arthurs Nelsons and schools of the Southern book. See pic 

 

DSCN5654.JPG

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Evening All, 

 

SR Class 70

I am glad to say that the Class 70 is now finished! Apart from some possible weathering, everything has been completed. I have taken some ordinary photos and then a couple with filters that I think really add some character to the loco. I look forward to hearing what you think!

 

@Michael EdgeThank you for producing an excellent pantograph kit for this loco - it finishes it off perfectly! 1.jpeg.b73c0427f642bb2a054ef18657b19a09.jpeg2.jpeg.7d22cd896a1f51144c23a313a1ee16b2.jpeg3.jpeg.8121b0665bffdcbc666911cca81b36ce.jpeg4.jpeg.0e5adf597acd3b98eea682607b0ca8ca.jpeg5.jpeg.2c0a209a3ff6654b01cc7e609551702c.jpeg

 

Freelance SR 0-4-0

Here is a preview of my next project, a freelance industrial steam loco which I aim to make predominatly out of brass:

 

1.JPG.43b4e63eb8d921c7551d83d609247df8.JPG

 

Cheers, 

 

Alex

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Hi Alex. I'm hoping it's just me and the angle of the photo but it look's like it's bowing up at the buffer end and there's little/ no clearance between the bottom of the chassis and the top of the bogie third wheel set back.

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4 minutes ago, 73c said:

Hi Alex. I'm hoping it's just me and the angle of the photo but it look's like it's bowing up at the buffer end and there's little/ no clearance between the bottom of the chassis and the top of the bogie third wheel set back.

Hi, 

 

You're right, it does look like that. I think in reality there is an ever so slight misalignment but the photo makes it look worse than it is. At normal viewing distance it isn't noticeable. 

 

Cheers,

 

Alex

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hi All, 

 

A quick update on the small 0-4-0. I am making this completely from scratch, with only the buffers, bearings and springs for the hornblocks being bought. I have made the rest from brass of various sizes and thicknesses. I really enjoyed making the hornblocks, and it took some trial and error but I think I got there in the end. 

 

1.jpeg.63fc2dac8eb6782d499f57217e29a3bf.jpeg2.jpeg.ce50a1922f170e03c02801c72bb86754.jpeg3.jpeg.8065b30b13c1b0d59770cca4988c3b9b.jpeg4.jpeg.5fb45bc66b6b9c779ccb7b9cf19581cd.jpeg5.jpeg.b673e897b9dbbc3c31a7cb787b8bde6f.jpeg6.jpeg.6086e406ac642b44f60791f99d6aeba2.jpeg

 

It is far from perfect (and far from finished) but I think it has quite a lot of character and I look forward to hearing your thoughts!

 

Cheers, 

 

Alex

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  • A.R. changed the title to Alex's Workbench - Southern Region & Other Projects

Hi All, 

 

After a bit of time away, I thought it would be good to give a quick update on some projects I have completed recently, and kickstart this thread again for upcoming projects. I have also started a new layout which I will create a seperate thread for in the layout section of the forum. This is a real mix of weathering projects, kitbuilds, 3D printed designs and scratchbuilds. All run well, apart from the 009 that needs a new chassis. 

 

This is a freelance 009 loco made entirely from scratch. It just needs a better chassis...

303287822_009Freelance.jpeg.ce0636e38a92b919688bdce01764cdc2.jpeg

 

This is a Hornby Railroad 9F that has been fitted with lights, sound and my own water vapour steam generator....

9F.jpeg.80c95a059efd4c9b0988d5870a754823.jpeg

 

This is the BR never-was 2-8-2 which I think I have posted before. Scratchbuilt chassis and heavily modified body

875360127_BRMikado.jpeg.ce86770d219044dd7c8e42c1c83a9735.jpeg

 

BR Class 28 designed by me and 3D printed. I have made two of these as they often ran in pairs, although only one is currently powered

1930304211_Class28.jpeg.21a8d7b0dbe1f41645460a8f5ae81d7b.jpeg

 

Class 89 made from a SilverFox resin kit and lovely Judith Edge pantograph. DCC fitted with lights

729945191_Class89.jpeg.2daad7862b7149beb725cbde409fc7f7.jpeg

 

An old design of colliery locomotive. This is entirely 3D printed, including the chassis, tender etc. Only the wheels, axles and crankpins were bought plus a very small integrated motor/gearbox. I have many pictures of this build and can post more detail if people are interested

750163213_CollieryLoco.jpeg.f048e3d04ec6562497567da548814f1a.jpeg

 

This is the finally completed Maunsell 4-8-0 in a rather splendid fictional SR livery. Just needs a light weathering and it can pull a rake of pullmans in spectacular fashion!

1442032251_Maunsell4-8-0.jpeg.46ad4f4ae0c70a67f165649336ebdaeb.jpeg

 

A Hornby Q1 weathered by me.

Q1.jpeg.2e78d7b7aa34ce906262e84bad19f8b0.jpeg

 

Finally, I have weathered my rake of Pullmans...here is just one that will help form the Bournemouth Belle. 

Pullman.jpeg.77a301a2dab08916731ea9825b904134.jpeg

That gives a quick summary of what I have been up to, and for most of the projects I have more pictures so if there are particular ones that are of interest, I am more than happy to post some more detail! 

 

Cheers, 

 

Alex

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On 29/09/2022 at 07:55, Corbs said:

Excellent!

I would love to see more pics, especially the little colliery loco.

 

Hi, 

 

No problem at all, here are a few of the build from just printed and primed shells to the complete thing: 

 

3.jpeg.3eb857733b16cdf52d6fb957ceae1ba4.jpeg4.jpeg.4ea8baed80ab5a99e1021a06f06d7af4.jpeg2.jpeg.804063005db86d955d01729a09cd105f.jpeg7.jpeg.fffb7a8b76ddb00e1457b031d5cf86d2.jpeg5.jpeg.01bad4e032f13a998987662cd2f4e106.jpeg6.jpeg.2ffac14e28698aa42a4807749f0b8611.jpeg1.jpeg.582885f9a2607d94296566057c4550cf.jpeg

It is a very smooth runner with the little motor/gearbox combination. 

 

Cheers, 

 

Alex

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  • 2 weeks later...

Evening All, 

 

I have started on another project - a GWR Class 1101. Not Southern, but I saw a picture and thought it was a really interesting loco so decided to model it. I am building the chassis from scratch, and the I designed the body for 3D printing. Progress has been fairly quick and I now have a half done chassis and have begun detailing the bodyshell. 

 

I hand cut the chassis frames (including the spacers) from brass strip, fitted axle bushes and soldered it all together. I have also done one side of the motion (which is adapted from a 2MT valve gear etch). I have also modified some Gibson buffers to have bigger heads as the industrial ones never seem to be in stock! 

6.JPG.1476e1f3537fb150171d3372b282dcee.JPG1.jpeg.e9f257dc3d2603143bd63d55ea4a5b3b.jpeg2.jpeg.30bb405088fd1ee863d5e3f175d971a1.jpeg3.jpeg.9682cad9c05ccd35dc459a39cb1956b8.jpeg4.jpeg.96497ea9396e4070ff6d0820c3367da0.jpeg5.jpeg.38aed2b665e58cbe0d771430e8e817b9.jpeg

 

Next up is adding more brass details and rivets before painting etc. and also finishing the valve gear on the other side!

 

I look forward to hearing your thoughts. 

 

Cheers, 


Alex

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hi All, 

 

Just a quick update on the GWR 1101. I have now completed all of the rivetting and added most of the brass details to the loco. I have now commenced painting and most of the block colours are now done. It does look a little bright, but this is mainly the lighting - plus, I will be weathering the loco which will tone it down further. 

8.jpeg.bf4b0ab8782085a032151a8ae3f80781.jpeg7.jpeg.2ff65800026f1b364613490b7d0662c8.jpeg6.jpeg.6d8403903b5ba86648fc1544d5136e3c.jpeg

 

Next up is finishing the chassis and getting it painted - I also need to order the motor/gearbox from High Level at some too so I can actually finish it! 

 

Look forward to hearing your thoughts.

 

Cheers, 

 

Alex

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  • 1 year later...

Hello All, 

 

Apologies for the long break on updating this thread! However, I have been doing a number of projects recently, and thought it was time to put up some pictures here. These projects are now finished but I have included some in-progress pictures too! I will spread them out over a couple of posts. 

 

Firstly, I finished a tiny little gasworks loco (Beckton No25), which is  laser cut brass and 3D printed. This was a challenge to get everything to fit and work, but it does have space for a decoder and stay alive (yet to be fitted!)

BecktonProgress1.jpg.2b7890ded25f3e3273af3f738feb01fc.jpgBecktonFinal1.jpg.8b28fb529380a77aa86fb64529da8f78.jpgBecktonFinal2.jpg.66d7d20c4e96977146890184b04e9872.jpgBecktonForScale.jpg.68fef71593f9d9ec4590c663fe93cf4e.jpg

 

Cheers, 


Alex

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Next up is (after about a year) a Bulleid Booster (coincidentally at pretty much the same time the EFE version was announced!). I am pleased with how this loco turned out as it did feel at some points like it may never be finished! It is DCC, and a mixture of laser cut brass and 3D printed parts, all to my own design. I used a Class 40 bogie and motor setup, heavily modified to fit. It also has full custom lighting boards too! 

BoosterUnpainted.jpg.da25c7d85619901cecb0bf9304104046.jpgBoosterPaint.jpg.6253120a3a3ddab10280675b4a872795.jpgBoosterFinal2.jpg.09065c20dfd0ae2e6d9e0a85e802fffc.jpgFinal.jpg.96acf9387df204de07c510b91d2e977f.jpg

More than happy to provide more info or more progress photos if people are interested! 


Cheers,


Alex

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1 minute ago, Michael Edge said:

Is that one of our pantographs? Looks good anyway.

Hi Michael, 

 

Thank you! It absolutely is one of your excellent kits, good spot- really enjoyable build! It's from a couple of years ago when I wasn't as used to soldering so I am not sure I fully did it justice but as you say I think it finishes off the model nicely!

 

Cheers, 


Alex

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