LNWR Webb 2-4-0T - did anyone produce a kit?

[Dava]

This is just to ask if a body kit for the Webb 2-4-0T was ever produced? N Brass Productions supply a chassis etch which can also be used for the 2-4-2T version which some locos were rebuilt into or from. It’s quite a basic, compact loco with inside brake gear and a body kit could possibly also run on a modified Farish 0-6-0 chassis. The last survivors spent many years on the Cromford & High Peak, up to 1952.

 

I don’t have a background in 2mm finescale but have an idea for a little CHP project.

 

 

 

Dava

 

[Dava]

Clearly no-one interested in this topic! I’ll stick to 7mm scale then….

 

Dava

[2mm Andy]

3 minutes ago, Dava said:

Clearly no-one interested in this topic! I’ll stick to 7mm scale then….

 

Dava

 

Probably more the case that no-one knows of a 2mm scale kit. London Road Models produce an etched kit for an LNWR "Chopper tank" loco in 4mm scale, and John Redrup has previously been amenable to getting etches shot down to 2mm scale, so that might be an option. By way of a bit of inspiration, Nick Mitchell and Nigel Hunt have both built 2mm models from shot down LRM Coal Tank loco etches;

 

 

 

Andy

[Dava]

Thanks Andy,

 

Ive seen and admired the Coal Tank threads, which is why I thought there might be more interest in the 2-4-0T. It seems to have potential as a basic starter loco. I don’t know if I have the eyesight and skills for 2mm FS. I’ve seen some lovely layouts at the old Nottingham and other shows.

 

Dava

[65179]

Certainly not a lack of interest. A C&HP layout in 2mm scale would certainly be one to see; lots of scope to evoke the bleak High Peak in a reasonable space.

 

Have you contacted Nick Tilston at N Brass to see why the chassis was produced (and if it's 1:148 or 1:152)?

 

Ian Smith has built a GWR metro tank which might give you some ideas about building a 2-4-0T. He's got a thread for his Modbury layout on here and his website has detail on the tank: 

http://www.modbury2fs.co.uk/615.html

 

Getting enough weight for decent pick up is generally the issue for small 2mm locos, which is why something a bit bigger like a simple 0-6-0 tank or even tender loco is often suggested as a starter loco in 2mm.

 

Simon

[queensquare]

2 hours ago, Dava said:

Thanks Andy,

 

Ive seen and admired the Coal Tank threads, which is why I thought there might be more interest in the 2-4-0T. It seems to have potential as a basic starter loco. I don’t know if I have the eyesight and skills for 2mm FS. I’ve seen some lovely layouts at the old Nottingham and other shows.

 

Dava

 

A very attractive little loco, just the sort of thing the North Somerset Light would be interested in! As others have said though, probably not a good beginners loco because of its size - don't let that put you off though.

 

Jerry

[Dava]

Thankyou, some very helpful suggestions here. I’ll make contact with LRM & N Brass to explore further. 
 

Dava

[Argos]

12 hours ago, Dava said:

Clearly no-one interested in this topic! I’ll stick to 7mm scale then….

 

I've had one on my to do list for a while, even going as far as entering one of the RMWeb scratch build challenges, I didn't even get started though!

 

I am not aware of any kit but didn't respond because 2mm scale kits appear and disappear all the time. There isn't much demand so someone will produce an etch or get a kit for a larger scale reduced, normally for their own use, advertise and produce a few etches for others. The etch doesn't then get made available again.

 

So there maybe a "kit" lurking around at the back of someone's draw, or possibly not!

Completely different economics to 7mm kit supply.

 

If you do get as far as getting a set of etches from London Road I would be interested.

[Ian Smith]

Dava,

As someone mentioned I have built a 2-4-0T in 2FS (a GWR Metro Tank), a major problem is getting enough weight into the model (over the drivers), my solution was a solid milled brass chassis with the motor mounted in the smokebox pointing backwards to leave a little space above the drivers for some lead. Mind you I wanted a model with an open cab so had that as an extra restriction!

 

As to whether anyone has ever produced a kit for that particular loco, I would doubt it. The N Brass chassis is for a 2-4-2T, so although a potential starting point clearly wasn’t designed with the loco you’re after in mind.

 

One thing that potential 2FS modellers perhaps don’t realise is that the 2mm Association has less than 1000 members many (possibly most) of whom do not actively model 2FS. Of those that do, many will have very focussed modelling needs (myself GWR c1906, Jim Watt Caledonian Railway early 1900’s, etc). Therefore the pool of potential kits will have limited interest and consequently sales, hence small runs for almost personal use. In my own case, if I want a particular loco I will scratch build it because although I could design a kit of parts to be etched I find it quicker and far more cost effective to do it that way.

 

One further thing I must add though is that although small in number the 2mm modelling fraternity are a very friendly and helpful bunch and will offer help and advice freely, so I wish you every success if you do decide to pursue a CH&P model including that particular loco in 2FS.

Ian

 

PS. I hope that my statements above do not come across negatively or put you off, they are meant to be and do neither!  

Edited January 18, 2022 by Ian Smith
Added postscript

[Compound2632]

22 minutes ago, Ian Smith said:

One thing that potential 2FS modellers perhaps don’t realise is that the 2mm Association has less than 1000 members many (possibly most) of whom do not actively model 2FS. Of those that do, many will have very focussed modelling needs (myself GWR c1906, Jim Watt Caledonian Railway early 1900’s, etc).

 

Being involved in line societies, I'd say that looks like a healthy membership and the number of active members and their degree of specialisation seems typical too. 

[2mmMark]

Until the availability of good small coreless motors of 6mm or 7mm diameter, this would have been a challenging subject in 2mm scale.  2mm finescale has a back-to-back dimension of 8.5mm.  These smaller motors can now be fitted lower, between the wheels, giving a few precious extra millimetres of clearance inside the body.

Before the advent of these motors, you'd have to do a fair bit of surgery to a Tenshodo or Mashima motor and even then, it'd probably occupy a fair bit of the cab.

I agree with Jerry, it's not an obvious choice for a first 2mm loco but not impossible.

[Argos]

I seem to recall (although might be hallucinating, it was a while ago) that the LNWR 2-4-0t chopper tank wheelbase is pretty close to a 48xx GWR 0-4-2t reversed whilst appreciating that the rear axle of the GWR tank had outside axle boxes but the front axle on the LNWR tank did not.

 

I had it on my virtual "to do list" to see whether the Association's 48xx chassis could be used when thinking about my Chopper tank build.

 

[Dava]

Belatedly I d like to thank people who have contributed to this thread. I learn from and admire the work of modellers  in 2mm FS. I’m not discouraged, I just have to be honest about the time and skills I can bring to this. 
 

Scratchbuilding is an option, I’d probably start with building a body in postcard as a mock-up for folded brass tanks etc. I have built Heywood locos in 09 using this method. But I need to know ore about the chassis technology for 2mm and I don’t have a milling machine!

 

Im away in Turkey next week so I’ll come back to this project.

 

Dava