Wright writes.....

[Tony Wright]

34 minutes ago, Compound2632 said:

 

The Triang Jinty chassis was designed in Imperial measure: 1 7/32" + 1 9/32" = 2 1/2" (30.96 mm + 32.54 mm = 63.50 mm)

Its Hornby (1980s?) replacement was designed in metric measure: 31.0 mm + 33.0 mm = 64.0 mm.

Too short for a scale LMS Standard 3F 0-6-0T (32.0 mm + 34.0 mm = 66.0 mm) but too long for most of the other classes it has been put under.

Thanks Stephen,

 

I should have known that. It's just that Tri-ang were very good at using the same chassis for different locos. For instance, the B12 chassis which also 'suited' the 'Hall', turned round and fitted with larger drivers went underneath the A3 and (original) streamlined 'Coronation'. The old 'Princess' block also went underneath the original 'Britannia'. 

 

I wonder how many Wills kits (or BEC, or GEM, or other body-line types) are still running on top of Tri-ang mechanisms.

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

[Tony Wright]

5 hours ago, Barry Ten said:

Here's another floor-diver (it's been shown on here before, but since we're talking about damage and repairs):

 

 

This is the Airfix/Craftsman Schools I built from a kit very kindly offered to me by Tony. During test-running-in it took a fall from nearly head height onto hard wooden floors, managing to derail on the only part of the layout where there wasn't a protective barrier. On the way down it managed to clip a metal radiator. The tender stayed on the rails. The chassis was undamaged, with all the major harm being done to the cab area, presumably analogous to the buttered-toast rule. The side sheets came away, with the one on this side being fractured diagonally. The front cab plate was badly damaged and needed extensive scratch-rebuilding. The boiler suffered some paint damage and all the steps were broken or lost. However, it was eventually fixed.

It doesn't show, Al!

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

[APOLLO]

2 hours ago, Barry Ten said:

I had a kitbuilt loco arrive in a damaged condition from Ellis Clarke trains. I contacted them, suggested that since I could probably fix the damage, it wasn't worth the trouble of sending it back and getting a full reimbursement, but maybe they could do me a partial refund, They asked me to suggest a figure, which I did, and then they doubled it, which I think shows a good attitude to customer care.

 

Yes I agree Ellis Clarke trains is a good firm to deal with. I have bought several O gauge N American locos from them, always well packed for delivery.

 

Brit15

[micklner]

1 hour ago, Tony Wright said:

What is the chassis, Mick?

 

You say 'Tri-ang', but it looks to have an asymmetrical wheelbase (did any Triang ones have that feature? The ubiquitous 'Jinty' perhaps?). 

 

The Little Engines A7 I built for Manxcat came with an etched chassis. 

 

How is the loco put together, please? If glued, it should be able to be dismantled with relative ease. Then rebuilt to meet your standards.

 

Is it worth asking the vendor what he/she is prepared to accept? 

 

Just a thought.

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

He has already offered a good discount, but in this case the loco is a total bodge. I could fix the body no real problem , there is no chassis I am aware of that will fit a A7 loco ?? . The one it has is a very old heavy mazak casting , there are no makers marks so the Triang comment was a vague description. I gave another less polite description when i took it off the body. The cylinders are screwed with one screw to the footplate.Whats left of the intact bodywork is probably glued together. They have even plonked a piece of plastic on the cab as a roof. as said its going back I cant do much with it without a decent chassis as a start.

[Dunsignalling]

On 05/09/2020 at 18:16, Headstock said:

 

Good evening Frank,

 

Got you, the Chivers LNER dia 120 BY. I'm slightly disappointed, I thought you may have discovered a new GNR NPC type, such as a hound van.

 

Two things to consider, the dia 120 BY were built for the former Great Eastern section, they wouldn't have been seen pottering around the moors above Bradford.  A further five, to a different diagram, were built for the southern area or the GN mainline, a tad more plausible but they differed considerably from your kit.

 

A second thing to consider, beyond historical accuracy. Many different  manufacturers have produced kits of these annoying little vans over the years, none have succeeded in producing an accurate one. Unfortunately, the Chiverse kit is no exception. You would end up with, a typically beautifully crafted sprung chassis, carrying an inaccurate body, of a prototype unlikely to be seen in the vicinity of Clayton, unless kidnapped by local sheep farmers. Sheep van anybody?

Depends on your period. These vans really got around in BR days; one being a regular cast member on the Helston branch in deepest Cornwall in the late fifties/early sixties. They also turned up in various places across the Southern Region and (of course) the Somerset & Dorset. 

 

Yorkshire, and even "the other S&D" are almost on the doorstep by comparison.

 

I think the problem with these in model form is that, although there was only one diagram number, they weren't even all the same length, and the footboards and battery box locations varied. I've built the plastic Chivers kit more-or-less as per (do you have one of the older brass ones?). It was a delight to build and I'm quite happy with it. It's for running and I haven't even put handrails and handles on it, just picked out the moulded ones with a gold marker. The next one, I'll do properly, honest.....

 

John

 

 

[chris p bacon]

5 hours ago, great central said:

In my experience most parcels are transferred from one vehicle to another in the quickest way possible, often as not that means throwing them.

 

I agree.  I've been travelling regularly from Bedfordshire to the Borders over the last 12 months, as I'm in a small truck I take a break at Scotch Corner and park right at the back of the car park where it's quiet (stops people helping themselves to things off the back) On the way back on a Sunday evening I'm always there at roughly the same time and watch a procession of small vans arriving and parking up to swap over bags of parcels. There are sometimes 8-10 vans swapping over and the amount of stuff that is flung from one van to the other and kicked about is astonishing.  

I thought at first it was a 3rd rate courier company, but after a while it became obvious it was Amazon. 

[MJI]

35 minutes ago, Dunsignalling said:

Depends on your period. These vans really got around in BR days; one being a regular cast member on the Helston branch in deepest Cornwall in the late fifties/early sixties. They also turned up in various places across the Southern Region and (of course) the Somerset & Dorset. 

 

Yorkshire, and even "the other S&D" are almost on the doorstep by comparison.

 

I think the problem with these in model form is that, although there was only one diagram number, they weren't even all the same length, and the footboards and battery box locations varied. I've built the plastic Chivers kit more-or-less as per (do you have one of the older brass ones?). It was a delight to build and I'm quite happy with it. It's for running and I haven't even put handrails and handles on it, just picked out the moulded ones with a gold marker. The next one, I'll do properly, honest.....

 

John

 

 

Any details about the Helston one?

[Tony Wright]

Mention of Wils kits on top of old Tri-ang mechanisms prompted me to dig out pictures of one example I still have. 

 

 

In the early-'70s, when the notion of building working mechanisms was still daunting to me, by building a Wills kit to go on top of a Tri-ang chassis at least one obtained a 'runner'. This old thing originally retained its Tr-ang wheels (with flangeless centre drivers!). I immediately considered myself a 'scale modeller' when later I bushed the chassis (including the gearwheel, which was Araldited in place on the axle!) and fitted Romford wheels; then, made Jamieson valve gear for it. When built, it had the Wills tender (beading on an A2 tender, with  turn-ins at the front, no rivets and corridor tender width?). A few years later I built a DJH tender for it. 

 

My painting of it is 'of its day'. 

 

 

Despite still retaining its original XO4, it still sees service from time to time on LB. 

 

When I first built it, I used the dome provided (a 'banjo' type - Mr Roche, Oh dear!).  The multiple valve regulator gear was scratch-built. 

 

As can be seen, down its 45+ years of existence it's been 'improved' piecemeal, but only up to a point. 

 

 

For my Crowood book, I used it as a comparison with a Bachmann A2 (which I detailed/renumbered/renamed). Quite a difference!

 

Does anyone out there have examples of Tri-ang-powered pieces of antiquity?

 

 

Edited September 8, 2020 by Tony Wright
typo error

[Willie Whizz]

I too use an Excel spreadsheet workbook with separate 'tabs' for locos, carriages, and 3-4 sub-categories of rolling stock (vans, tanks etc.).  Trouble is, having accumulated and/or built a lot of this stuff over 30+ years while waiting for the "Wheel of Opportunity's" three categories of Time, Space and Money to align - and three 'false starts' on building layouts that never got much beyond tracklaying before the Wheel moved again - I have absolutely no idea now what any of it cost before I set-up the system about five years ago, and finally started to keep receipts.

 

I wonder what my Home Insurance Company would make of a claim that said (for example) "35 model carriages of various makes and types, typical 'replacement cost' say £40 each"?

[Tony Wright]

Though SE Finecast have updated its A2 considerably, my preference for making a model of a class member now is DJH.

 

 

As shown here by BRONZINO. I built this for Right Tracks 1 and 2, and Ian Rathbone painted it.

 

The layout looks bare without the point rodding.

 

Several A2s have been visitors on LB..................

 

 

Including this DJH example, brought along by friends last year. 

 

 

And three years ago, friend Eric Kidd brought along his 60539 (much-modified Bachmann). Two BRONZINOs on Little Bytham? What will the 'spotters think? 

 

 

 

 

[Jack P]

I hope this qualifies for posting here, as its slightly more 'on theme' than my usual stuff.

 

I was asked to add etched plates and weather my friends A4 'Kingfisher'

 

 

 

I understand that the painted plates weren't added until much later, but this is how he wanted it. Also my first time seeing an A4 model in the flesh. I really enjoyed picking all the rivet detail out on the valences.

[Tony Wright]

13 minutes ago, Willie Whizz said:

I too use an Excel spreadsheet workbook with separate 'tabs' for locos, carriages, and 3-4 sub-categories of rolling stock (vans, tanks etc.).  Trouble is, having accumulated and/or built a lot of this stuff over 30+ years while waiting for the "Wheel of Opportunity's" three categories of Time, Space and Money to align - and three 'false starts' on building layouts that never got much beyond tracklaying before the Wheel moved again - I have absolutely no idea now what any of it cost before I set-up the system about five years ago, and finally started to keep receipts.

 

I wonder what my Home Insurance Company would make of a claim that said (for example) "35 model carriages of various makes and types, typical 'replacement cost' say £40 each"?

Good evening Willie,

 

My recommendation is to take out a specialist insurance for your model railway items, especially if you have a lot.

 

I use Magnet (I have no commercial connection with the firm), and their rates are very good.

 

I would imagine that most 'ordinary' house insurances would be bamboozled by a claim for model railway items damaged, destroyed or nicked; unless you have a clause in the policies. 

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

[Tony Wright]

5 minutes ago, Jack P said:

I hope this qualifies for posting here, as its slightly more 'on theme' than my usual stuff.

 

I was asked to add etched plates and weather my friends A4 'Kingfisher'

 

 

 

I understand that the painted plates weren't added until much later, but this is how he wanted it. Also my first time seeing an A4 model in the flesh. I really enjoyed picking all the rivet detail out on the valences.

Beautiful!

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

[jwealleans]

Lovely.   Compare that to the real thing here (starts at 6:28).   I think you've pretty much got it.

[Headstock]

1 hour ago, Dunsignalling said:

Depends on your period. These vans really got around in BR days; one being a regular cast member on the Helston branch in deepest Cornwall in the late fifties/early sixties. They also turned up in various places across the Southern Region and (of course) the Somerset & Dorset. 

 

Yorkshire, and even "the other S&D" are almost on the doorstep by comparison.

 

I think the problem with these in model form is that, although there was only one diagram number, they weren't even all the same length, and the footboards and battery box locations varied. I've built the plastic Chivers kit more-or-less as per (do you have one of the older brass ones?). It was a delight to build and I'm quite happy with it. It's for running and I haven't even put handrails and handles on it, just picked out the moulded ones with a gold marker. The next one, I'll do properly, honest.....

 

John

 

 

 

Good evening Jon,

 

I don't think what went on in the hippy dippy sixties, is in the slightest bit relevant to Clayton. A layout set on an ex GN line, close to Wuthering heights country,  in the mid 1930's of the West riding of Yorkshire.

 

Your second paragraph is not accurate as regards one diagram with different dimensions. See later posts. The kit goes together very well but its not a good model of a dia.120 BY, even the ducket is of LMS styling, rather than LNER.

 

Fortunately, Clem is not one for just copying other modelers and manufactures mistakes. I'm sure he will make a cracking job of converting it into a more appropriate dia.170, based on the kit and also suitable for the real train that he is researching and constructing. I look forwards to seeing the results.

[Jesse Sim]

6 hours ago, Northmoor said:

When you say it landed on your doorstep, exactly what altitude was it dropped from?

My sympathies, I once sent a loco to someone and when it arrived badly damaged, I think the package had a tyre mark over it.

Haha, that one was as good as Jonathan sending me a yellow pages directory for a taxidermist. 
 

Sh*t happens as they say, no matter, I’m going to go to the post office today and the blame will probably go round in circles. Just ganna get on with it and strip and re build it

[Jesse Sim]

1 hour ago, Jack P said:

I hope this qualifies for posting here, as its slightly more 'on theme' than my usual stuff.

 

I was asked to add etched plates and weather my friends A4 'Kingfisher'

 

 

 

I understand that the painted plates weren't added until much later, but this is how he wanted it. Also my first time seeing an A4 model in the flesh. I really enjoyed picking all the rivet detail out on the valences.

Not bad for a southern modeller  

Edited September 8, 2020 by Jesse Sim

[t-b-g]

1 hour ago, Jack P said:

I hope this qualifies for posting here, as its slightly more 'on theme' than my usual stuff.

 

I was asked to add etched plates and weather my friends A4 'Kingfisher'

 

 

 

I understand that the painted plates weren't added until much later, but this is how he wanted it. Also my first time seeing an A4 model in the flesh. I really enjoyed picking all the rivet detail out on the valences.

 

With all the talk of building vs. RTR I looked at that and thought "How many modellers could build one as good as that?".

 

Your weathering has really transformed the model into something rather special.

 

I know it is all down to personal opinion but isn't the shape of an A4, especially in that livery and condition, the most stunning shape to have run on our railways? It still looks modern today and isn't too unlike some of the present day train designs.

Edited September 8, 2020 by t-b-g
Spelling

[Jesse Sim]

6 minutes ago, t-b-g said:

 

With all the talk of building vs. RTR I looked at that and thought "How many modellers could build one as good as that?".

 

Your weathering has really transformed the model into something rather special.

 

I know it is all down to personal opinion but isn't the shape of an A4, especially in that livery and condition, the most stunning shape to have run on our railways? It still looks modern today and isn't too unlike some of the present day train designs.

I agree completely 

[Dunsignalling]

1 hour ago, MJI said:

Any details about the Helston one?

I've seen two or three photos where it seems to be in use on the branch passenger service, along with a single coach; a BC or BCK, I'm not sure which. 

 

My guess is there was too much traffic on offer for the small van compartment in that, and it wasn't uncommon for a useful van turning up with no "Return to Xxx" branding, to get "borrowed" until somebody asked for it back. By then BY vans were distinctly under-employed, so its possible nobody ever did!

 

Something similar happened on the S&DJR Burnham branch with a Thompson BZ, which got teamed with a LMS CK, IIRC.

 

John

 

 

[Dunsignalling]

44 minutes ago, Headstock said:

 

Good evening Jon,

 

I don't think what went on in the hippy dippy sixties, is in the slightest bit relevant to Clayton. A layout set on an ex GN line, close to Wuthering heights country,  in the mid 1930's of the West riding of Yorkshire.

 

Your second paragraph is not accurate as regards one diagram with different dimensions. See later posts. The kit goes together very well but its not a good model of a dia.120 BY, even the ducket is of LMS styling, rather than LNER.

 

Fortunately, Clem is not one for just copying other modelers and manufactures mistakes. I'm sure he will make a cracking job of converting it into a more appropriate dia.170, based on the kit and also suitable for the real train that he is researching and constructing. I look forwards to seeing the results.

Thanks for the heads-up on the ducket, I'll make a point of acquiring/making the right sort for my next attempt. 

 

From photos, it also looks like most lost their full-length footboards in later life, though I'm guessing some might have been built that way.....

 

John

[31A]

12 minutes ago, Dunsignalling said:

Thanks for the heads-up on the ducket, I'll make a point of acquiring/making the right sort for my next attempt. 

 

From photos, it also looks like most lost their full-length footboards in later life, though I'm guessing some might have been built that way.....

 

John

 

I've made two from Chivers kits; I think they make up into nice enough models despite what's been said previously.  This is the most recently made one.  I replaced the ducket with a brass one from MJT.  I also replaced the handrails and upper door handles with ones made from wire; the lower (small) door handles are the moulded ones picked out as you did with gold marker pen.  I also fitted jumper cables at both ends; a bit of a mystery as to why the kit only shows them at one end.  I hope I've got the layout of the underframe equipment correct; I did spend a lot of time looking at photos of real ones, and may well have confused myself in the process ....

 

[Headstock]

1 hour ago, Dunsignalling said:

Thanks for the heads-up on the ducket, I'll make a point of acquiring/making the right sort for my next attempt. 

 

From photos, it also looks like most lost their full-length footboards in later life, though I'm guessing some might have been built that way.....

 

John

 

Evening John,

 

a suitable duckett is available as a fold up etch fro MJT (Dart castings) When assembled, it will require filing down a tad on the back face.

 

I have never seen a photograph of one with short foot boards but I have little interest in later life modeling. I'm told that at least one photograph exists but I doubt that most lost their long footboards. Non were built that way.

 

1 hour ago, 31A said:

 

I've made two from Chivers kits; I think they make up into nice enough models despite what's been said previously.  This is the most recently made one.  I replaced the ducket with a brass one from MJT.  I also replaced the handrails and upper door handles with ones made from wire; the lower (small) door handles are the moulded ones picked out as you did with gold marker pen.  I also fitted jumper cables at both ends; a bit of a mystery as to why the kit only shows them at one end.  I hope I've got the layout of the underframe equipment correct; I did spend a lot of time looking at photos of real ones, and may well have confused myself in the process ....

 

 

Good evenIng 31A,

 

nice to see one in the flesh. Wow, it really does look a bit short in height, up to the level of the cornice! P for pygmy van?  I'm not sure what to make of the top lights, some sort of amalgamation. For dia 120, on first impression, I would be tempted to file out the lip in the lights on the double doors and the two in the centre above the ducket and leave the three at each end as they are. For the other diagrams I would perhaps file them all out.

 

SP Steve was right about the solebars being set too far inboard, again a feature more like dia 170 etc, except the latter have wooden not steel underframes.

 

Edited September 8, 2020 by Headstock
add info on toplights.

[St Enodoc]

5 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

I wonder how many Wills kits (or BEC, or GEM, or other body-line types) are still running on top of Tri-ang mechanisms.

My Wills 2251, built in 1971, is still "runnable" although it's a long time since it has actually run. It might be disqualified though as it had a 5-pole motor and Romford wheels fitted about 30 years ago.

[MJI]

2 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

Mention of Wils kits on top of old Tri-ang mechanisms prompted me to dig out pictures of one example I still have. 

 

 

In the early-'70s, when the notion of building working mechanisms was still daunting to me, by building a Wills kit to go on top of a Tri-ang chassis at least one obtained a 'runner'. This old thing originally retained its Tr-ang wheels (with flangeless centre drivers!). I immediately considered myself a 'scale modeller' when later I bushed the chassis (including the gearwheel, which was Araldited in place on the axle!) and fitted Romford wheels; then, made Jamieson valve gear for it. When built, it had the Wills tender (beading on an A2 tender, with  turn-ins at the front, no rivets and corridor tender width?). A few years later I built a DJH tender for it. 

 

My painting of it is 'of its day'. 

 

 

Despite still retaining its original XO4, it still sees service from time to time on LB. 

 

When I first built it, I used the dome provided (a 'banjo' type - Mr Roche, Oh dear!).  The multiple valve regulator gear was scratch-built. 

 

As can be seen, down its 45+ years of existence it's been 'improved' piecemeal, but only up to a point. 

 

 

For my Crowood book, I used it as a comparison with a Bachmann A2 (which I detailed/renumbered/renamed). Quite a difference!

 

Does anyone out there have examples of Tri-ang-powered pieces of antiquity?

 

 

 

One day I will finish the transfers on my Triang A3, I decided 30 years ago the lining was not good enough and the boiler had to be see through underneath.

 

Got a 5 pole MRRC motor in it and used its X04 in another Triang loco.

 

Then started modding the tender to be like the 1970s version.