EMUs, locos, coaching stock and associated items for Balcombe

[Oldddudders]

2 hours ago, Re6/6 said:

The finished article, beautifully made by 'Taz'. There is in fact a second set which is un-powered at the moment.

 

 

 

 

"All things that creep and crawl" A Vic - Brighton slow. Brian has done a smashing job there. 

[Re6/6]

Something new has arrived on Balcombe. Photographed somewhere in the Mid-Wales borders!

 

 

It's a 'Crownline' kit build. It was originally made to 'EM' gauge but re-wheeled to '00' so it is anticipated that the P4 conversion should be fairly straightforward. 

 

The wheels are Markits (or maybe Romfords) so turning them down on the Unimat will be the first thing to try out and fitting them with Markits P4 axles. The treads would have to remain in their '00' width as nothing can be removed from the front faces.

 

It's fitted with a Portescap and runs superbly but does take a while to warm up. Maybe the grease in the box can be changed as it seems to have gone 'gooey' over time. 

Edited January 28, 2020 by Re6/6

[Dave Holt]

Good luck with the conversion. The brake gear will presumably need some adjustment, especially with the outside pull rods?

Dave.

[Re6/6]

The 6-PAN etches have arrived hot from the Worsley Works etchers! Of course they're up to Allen Doherty's usual high standards. I've only shown the sides. There are all the ends, droplights underframes etc that come with it.

 

These etches were commissioned by us so Allen at Worsley would most likely add them to his catalogue in due course as per our 4-LAV etches which are now available with the addition of the later Bulleid build. 

 

The plan is to have two 6-PANS (up line and down line). The first has already been started using Bill Bedford 'cut/n/shut' brass Maunsell etches and the pantry car sides have been very kindly cut for us by bgman on here on his Silhouette machine.

 

 

Also arrived recently are the 6-PUL etches which will complement the 'cut'n'shut BB etches and the original 6-CIT build.

 

 

All in all, we're very pleased with these. They will all be powered by a heavy Hornby Belle chassis and motor bogie. Satisfactory testing was done on the DRAG test track with one assembly. The cast chassis will need to be shortened by around 5mm.

 

    Instead of trying to file the insides of the soft plastic sideframes to give clearance for the P4 Black Beetle wheels they have been cut off in one piece and brass rods fitted to the main chassis so that the frames can be slid onto the spigots then glued and the brass trimmed. 

 

 

Edited June 9, 2022 by Re6/6
Re-instate pictures

[Jack P]

Hi John and the team, 

 

Any updates on this excellent project?

[Re6/6]

Hello Jack,

 

I keep looking at the box with the PAN and PUL etches.........!

 

'Balcombe' is stored away. We have some show bookings in 2022, but that's if exhibitions are hopefully back with us by then.

 

At the moment, we've all gone our separate ways with personal projects. I started 'Parkend Marsh Sidings' at the beginning of lockdown.

 

and then there's 'Rüthi' waiting to be started!

 

 

[Jack P]

14 hours ago, Re6/6 said:

keep looking at the box with the PAN and PUL etches.........!

 

How much work is required to bring them 'to life'?

 

Fingers crossed for 2022 - that still seems odd to say!

 

I've had a look, and followed the developments of Parkend Marsh. 

 

Thanks for the update!

 

[Re6/6]

9 hours ago, Jack P said:

 

How much work is required to bring them 'to life'?

 

...A lot! ....though I do have two complete cast motorised chassis from the Hby Brighton Belle which will require shortening.

[Re6/6]

It's been a while since anything was posted here, but I have just been lucky enough to acquire the 'Tin' HAL unit from the late Colin Parks estate.

 

Some of you on here will know the quality of Colin's work but only when it is seen 'in the flesh' that it can be truly appreciated. Everything is scratchbuilt from Plasticard. The unit has a lovely delicate look to it. The application required for cutting out all those openings really is 'old school'. That was the way that it had to be done (if one was good enough that is!) before the advent of etched/stamped metal kits.

 

It was photographed yesterday far from its southern home(!).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 9, 2022 by Re6/6

[KeithHC]

It’s great to see Colins work. He is sorely missed but as you say a masterpiece of modelling. I am glad it has found a rightful home and hope in future to see it in operation. Could now just build Copyhold junction then I can imagine it going past my mums house……..

 

it is a fitting tribute to Colin that his unit will be crossing the iconic viaduct.

 

Keith

[chrisf]

I'm sure I speak for many when I say that the tin HAL has gone to a good home.

 

Chris

[Siberian Snooper]

I was always amazed at Colin's dedication to cutting out windows,  definitely requires dedication and dexterity to get each the same, especially the 4sub? As seen on the other P4 layout, whose name escapes me.

 

 

[Re6/6]

It's been a while since posting anything here!

 

This will be one of the four BR(W) coaches needed for the south coast portion of the WR inter-regional. It was acquired from the estate of the late Geoff Brewin of Comet. It can be truly described as 'professionally built' unlike some described thus on Ebay! I have the Comet sides for the other three.

 

 

Here's an interesting picture of 20002 at Brighton hauling a set of Collett coaches which will be good to recreate. I have a good selection of 57ft bow-ended kits to build! They're all 'old skool'  BSL aluminium kits but with care decent models can be built.

 

Ctsy Southern Way Special Issue Booster Locos:   Lilley

 

 

An interesting 'oddity' is the short lived 4PUL set that ran prior to the 4CEPs being commissioned for around a year.

Ctsy First Generation Southern EMUs :  Ian Allan : Robertson

 

I have some side etches from Worsley Works for the Pullman car and have commissioned Alan Doherty to produce some etches for the RES car.

 

Edited October 17, 2022 by Re6/6

[SteveCornford]

On the side with the single window next to the oval window, the single window is too deep, I thought he had corrected this on the 6-PUL pullman composite etch after I sent him my Mike King 6-CIT,PAN,PUL drawings, but easily corrected with a spare bit of etch.

Have you made any progress with the your original 6-PUL set of etches.

regards Steve

[Re6/6]

Just noticed Steve that I hadn't responded to your post, most rude of me!

 

Nothing yet, apart from looking at them from time to time! I've been servicing the first motorized (B Belle) chassis which needed a good clean and now runs nice and smoothly.

 

 

Here's a reminder of the layout on it's first outing at Scaleforum 2019. There is much 're-scenicing' to be done and loads of other stuff including backscenes etc., in preparation for its next outing at Fareham in 2024 and Bristol 2025.

 

Edited December 5, 2022 by Re6/6

[Re6/6]

Another video. This time Nick 'Brinkly's' long van train that will run on Balcombe as a fast service to Brighton probably hauled by  the 20002 electric machine.

 

 

 

[Re6/6]

Edited December 18, 2022 by Re6/6

[tjf4375]

That HAL unit is incredible - just shows what level of finish can be achieved with plasticard! 

[Re6/6]

Indeed it is. Colin had a gift working with Plasticard. 

 

I was very fortunate to acquire it from his estate and also it's a nice memento. Although I never met him, we conversed frequently on all things Southern EMUs.

[tjf4375]

Very gifted, I can't believe the level of detail he's achieved, and it's so neat and polished as well. It certainly looks like it went to a good home where it's being enjoyed and appreciated, on a great layout. As a fellow southerner I really enjoyed the thread :)

[Re6/6]

Balcombe team's visit to 'Dulverton' 

 

Yesterday  CK, 10800, Brinkly and myself, the 'Balcombe' team, visited Ian Harrison's delightful 'Dulverton' P4  layout, set on the  former Taunton to Barnstaple line.

 

 

Ian very kindly asked us to bring 'stuff' along to drive around the layout. I took the opportunity to bring along the Raworth 'booster' loco to stretch its legs. I was very pleased with the smooth performance.  It was mostly scratchbuilt around an old MTK bare brass wrapper. I will be predominantly be used on 'Balcombe' hauling one of the Newhaven boat trains. Also I brought along the green CL 25 to give it a proper spin away from the confines of just running in and out on 'Marsh Sidings'!

 

 

CK's Cl 22 with some minerals from 'Marsh' and 'Fochriw'

 

More to follow!

 

 

 

 

Edited 5 minutes ago by Re6/6

[Re6/6]

CK's elderly Midland 2F

 

 

 

[Re6/6]

Some more work has been done on 20003 over Christmas. A bit more work needed on the body like screw link couplings, vac pipes, glazing and some items in the central area of  the underframe before painting.  Also the pan (Judith Edge) needs to be properly fitted to the body.

 

 

First proper test run on a Balcombe board.