Corbs' Cobbling - Is it electric?

[Corbs]

My thinking was it's the missing link between the 'Jubilees' and the later 'Princess Royal' class, when Stanier decided a 4-6-2 design was necessary to get a larger firebox. Much in the same way as 704 (Another testbed loco, the A0) was sold to the NWR by the GNR when it's usefulness was over, this was acquired as it shared many parts with 503, the 'Green Five', but with more power.

[Nelson Jackson]

Lovely work converting that Bachman junior locomotive, it's coming along very well.

[scots region]

Hmm, how about this. Sir Topham, in the earlier part of the 1930s, is made aware of the need for a relief engine for the crucial 'Flying Kipper' nightly goods from Tidmouth. King George has a preference for Sudrian Kippers you see. So he shops around, the NWR is a company that was never rich enough to build its own machine and so usually collected the rejects and refugees from other companies. He initially enquired at LMSR for another Class 5, remembering the help they'd gotten with number 3. But surprisingly, none were available for a permanent posting, Stanier, a personal friend of the Tophams was aware of the importance of the NWR to the LMSR as a link for services to Ireland and the revenue generated from the China clay traffic, in fact it had been imagined that the LMSR would have absorbed the NWR at the grouping, if not for the Tophams shrewd business practices. Therefore he proposed that a 'Sudrian Railways General Service Locomotive' be constructed with the dual purpose of accommodating the night traffic, but could also service most of the Sudrian network. Besides the Island was only a hours transit by train and a large single class locomotive would be capable of the work of most of the Sudrian Fleet.

 

He invited Nigel Gresley, for his work on the A0, the last major contribution to the Sudrian network, and sent E.S Cox to report on the island. Will Cox was mounting his expedition, Gresley posited that the Loco should receive a cylinder layout similar to the A0 for ease of repairs, and broadly agreed that the Class 5 frames offered the best base for the GSL, however he did propose that a 4-4-0 arrangement as preferable. Though was later convinced by Cox's report recommending a light 4-6-0. For greater availability Stanier designed a new boiler for the GSL. It often pondered weather or not the cooperation between the LNER/LMSR later played a role in the design of the British Rail Standard classes. The new machine was then constructed at Derby, and delivered to the NWR in mid 1935.

 

ScR.          

 

Edit: Sorry started you before you posted, your idea is probably more plausible though. 

Edited March 3, 2015 by scots region

[Corbs]

heh heh, it's pretty cool that we both arrived at such a similar conclusion! 

 

In essence this is an enlarged, 4 cylinder 'Jubilee' (or to be more precise, an enlarged, 4 cyinder 'Patriot' with a tapered boiler), built in 1933, so predates the first 'Jubilees'.

Likely acquired by the NWR at the same time as 503, as the LMS built a 2nd batch of the more successful 'Princess Royals'.

 

There's more things I want to flesh out in this reboot, I'll add it to my blog as I go! A few key changes include the size of Tidmouth - much larger in this, more the size of Southampton in the 1950s, so bigger quantities of traffic, requiring more locos.

[Corbs]

More bodgin'...

 

Trailing axle for the LL presented itself in the form of a front pony truck for a Hornby 2-6-4T.

 

Needed to be cut down, which with a hacksaw and a dremel takes AGES (and two dremel discs), but got there in the end

 

In about the right place, will need to be fixed to the chassis before the missing parts of the frames are built up to meet the running plate

 

Meanwhile on 'Portbury', I chopped out the skirt under the boiler, losing the large toolboxes. The back of the skirt is to form the tank support, and the front forms the beginnings of the smokebox. I'm going to add a skirt (Painted black), recessed and from thinner plasticard, behind these and disguise it with pipework etc.

 

Rear of the cab showing filler progress, slowly but surely.

Edited August 24, 2017 by Corbs

[Corbs]

Now here's a suggestion since you obviously like tinkering, and are clearly not bothered about taking the 'different path'. That sometime well known critic of UK steam loco design and engineering W.A.Tuplin had thoughts about the ideal form of a maximum output 4-6-0 express class. There's an outline sketch that I recall in his 'British Steam since 1900', along with similar thoughts on how an equivalent to the Chapelon 4-8-0 might have been achieved within the UK gauge restrictions. I foolishly loaned away my copy so haven't seen it for quite a while, but do recall one or two blithe assumptions which wouldn't quite have worked out as sketched (the cabs are far too shallow for a start) however as 'interesting thoughts' they might inspire a project.

 

Hello!

I got the book through the post today and scanned in the image of both a proposed 4-8-0 and 4-6-0 - take a look:

 

Edited August 24, 2017 by Corbs

[Corbs]

To affix the trailing wheelset to the chassis, I decided to try and bond the two together as best I could. First I added a tab to keep them square to each other.

 

Added chemical metal to the join, a bit too much, so I filed it down again. Then cut some frame extensions from plasticard.

 

 

(I'm not really happy with the front body support, it currently rides a bit too high and is a bit flimsy so will likely get rebuilt next.

 

After this I added more cross braces and dumped a load of chemical metal in the cavity between the pony truck and the chassis.

 

Screwed the body back on to see if it all still fits, and it does!

 

 

 

Front body support/front frame extensions next, then a coat of black paint needed to see how it all looks.

Edited August 24, 2017 by Corbs

[DorchesterCastle]

Looks absolutely stellar, Corbs!

[Corbs]

While I wait for some bits to start soldering up the BPRC conversion, here's some progress on 'Portbury'.

 

I've added a blanking plate to mask the motor, and extended the smokebox under the tanks.

 

Some work with the drill to extend the rear cab windows to match Portbury's distinctive oval ones - will need finishing with a rounded file.

 

The smokebox needs a front plate adding - this is my first attempt, not very satisfactory as I'm having trouble cutting out a mirrored shape. Might try designing a template on photoshop I can print out, stick on and cut around to make the right shape. The smokebox door is the closest match I've found so far, although it looks deceptively large due to incorporating part of the smokebox front.

 

I've also been practicing weathering using humbrol powders (wet) on these old NCB wagons.

One of them I wanted to look a lot more battered than the others. I used a soldering iron to melt the top edge of the wagon, to look as though it had been hit with the occasional grab bucket etc.

 

This one lost a buffer, so a GBL replacement was found

 

I've fitted Kadees to the NCB wagons, but these may need redoing as they are much too low and tend to catch on the magnets. Might try adjusting the trip pins first and see if that works.

Edited August 24, 2017 by Corbs

[hartleymartin]

I must say that I am impressed. It is actually much harder to model a convincing freelanced locomotive than most people think.

[Corbs]

Winter is coming!

 

Dusted off the workbench and layout and started trying to figure out where I'd left things off.

 

Had some plates made up by Narrow Planet, these are affixed using a couple of drops of superglue. Originally had planned to put them on the smoke deflectors but due to their size, I felt they looked better here.

'Westlin' is my partner's surname but I felt it sounded racehorsey enough to be a loco name.

Edited August 24, 2017 by Corbs

[Corbs]

Must be something in the air around October that makes me want to model.

 

I'd like to ask for some help from fellow RMwebbers. I'm trying to find a suitable dome/safety valve cover for my 'Portbury' project. I have tried to find a suitable donor to no avail.

Is there anyone who makes one that would work?

 

Here's a picture of Portbury to illustrate the style I am looking for:

https://bristolharbourrailway.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/img_1595.jpg

 

Any and all suggestions greatly appreciated.

 

Meanwhile, here's a few pics of the Little Lambton on my layout, awaiting conversion to BPRC.

 

Edited August 24, 2017 by Corbs

[Corbs]

Think I've solved Portbury's safety valve cover.

 

A triang/Hornby 'Lord of the Isles' dome from Peter's Spares, cut down to 5-6mm high, shaped to the saddle tank with a curved file.

 

The GBL 28xx, having already given up its chimney to the NWR 7P, donated the top of its safety valve cover. I filed the top of the dome flat, drilled a hole in both, and used a pin to hold them together while the poly cement did its work.

 

Rather pleased with that

Edited August 24, 2017 by Corbs

[BlueLightning]

Good to see you posting again Corbs. I have missed seeing your modelling.

 

Gary

[Corbs]

That's very nice of you to say, it's nice to be tinkering again! Haven't had a workbench until this last week.

[Corbs]

Had my first 'proper' go at weathering with powders last night.

I had picked up these vans in a job lot a while ago and am in the process of fitting kadees to them. There are two cattle vans and two ventilated vans, allowed me to show the ex-works and weathered versions side by side.

They are very grubby but I do quite like the run down look. I used a paintbrush to apply a powder/water/microsol mix, then a damp cotton bud to rub most of it off, and accentuate streaks (especially on the roof)

 

Only noticed the right hand van's body isn't clipped down properly after I took the pic!

Edited August 24, 2017 by Corbs

[Corbs]

Here's how Portbury looks at the moment. Am seeking cylinders, motion etc., if anyone has any ideas then please let me know!

 

Anyway, this shows how the smokebox frontplate and door. I've also added styrene sheet to the bottom of the body to even things out. Am going to try and find some grey paint tomorrow.

Note: I know the wheelbase is wrong for Portbury, I'm going to try and hide the leading drivers a bit, and fudge the dimensions.

 

[Corbs]

Today's efforts on the little Avonside....

A trip to Halfords to get some paint and primer, think I managed to find a good match for its IW&D grey.

 

First into white primer, with some white paint being used for filler.

 

Then after quite a few coats of grey, I couldn't resist posing it to see what it'll look like. Needs a few spots sanding out still but it's taking shape

 

Edited August 24, 2017 by Corbs

[Nile]

What was the grey paint you used?

[Corbs]

It is Ford Polar Grey, I had a good look through to find a non-metallic grey and there were 3 of them in the shop.
The lining will be tricky, as the real loco has outlines of black on each vertices. Do you think I should do this using something like HMRS lining? I don't really trust my hand to be steady enough to do it with paint.

 

Here's what it looks like with some black thrown on (whistle from a GBL castle):

 

and here's the real thing showing the black accents:

Edited August 24, 2017 by Corbs

[Moxy]

It is Ford Polar Grey, I had a good look through to find a non-metallic grey and there were 3 of them in the shop.

The lining will be tricky, as the real loco has outlines of black on each vertices. Do you think I should do this using something like HMRS lining? I don't really trust my hand to be steady enough to do it with paint.

 

and here's the real thing showing the black accents:

 

Hi Corbs

 

Not a technique I have used myself, but seen used elsewhere to good effect - if you can apply some single black lining on the outside of the black accents, then fill in between the transfer lines with black paint that might give the effect you seek.

 

HTH

 

Moxy

[Edwardian]

Hi Corbs

 

Not a technique I have used myself, but seen used elsewhere to good effect - if you can apply some single black lining on the outside of the black accents, then fill in between the transfer lines with black paint that might give the effect you seek.

 

HTH

 

Moxy

 

That's a good idea.

 

Really like this conversion.

 

The lining itself looks like it could be achieved using Great Northern lining transfers.

[Moxy]

That's a good idea.

 

Really like this conversion.

 

The lining itself looks like it could be achieved using Great Northern lining transfers.

 

Can't claim any originality for the idea, I had seen it on NGRM Online forum by a gentleman called James Hilton.  I'm sure he won't mind me linking to one of his photos that illustrates the idea:

 

 http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UbiqkFupbgw/WBm4QkK_BiI/AAAAAAAAPnc/vFZO4sNXU1oKTmWI4tPbMV0lH9Uq9R7TgCK4B/s1600/IMG_9336-776899.JPG

 

In this case he has used Fox N gauge BR orange/black/orange lining, then painted out one of the orange lines.  Simple but effective.

 

Thanks

 

Moxy

[Corbs]

While waiting for new lining and lettering purchased from Fox Transfers to come through, I've been trying to make as much progress on other things.

 

Painting the rods grey is a huge difference, a damaged Hornby Pug has arrived to possibly donate cylinders and valve gear.

Am sanding and filing the dome to get as snug a fit as possible.

 

Meanwhile the Lambtonesque Tank got a new face, think this is from a GBL loco but fits nicely. Posed alongside the LBSCR E2, soon to go under the knife to become No.301 'Thomas Allen'.

Need some NCB lettering before it can be grubbied up.

 

 

 

This should really be a blog entry but meh - Finally got around to lettering one side of the tender for 805 'Suddery Cathedral'. Think it's the longest time I've held my breath for as long as I can remember!

Modelled here by 704 Duke of Gordon

Edited August 24, 2017 by Corbs

[Corbs]

I know I'm in danger of saturating this thread with similar pics.

 

So here's some more!

 

Got the Lambton lettered up and sealed with some Klear

 

 

Portbury has acquired a filler cap courtesy of RT models, upper handrails from the Pug donor, and handrail knobs and rail fitted on one side so far.

 

Most of the straight black lines have been done with lining transfers, the curved ones I did with a cotton bud but not totally happy with them. I'm tempted to re-mask and re-do.

Due to the size of it, I'm tempted to simplify the white/black/white lining and possibly just do it on the tank sides. Tonight I'm going to attempt the other handrail, then lettering the tanks.

 

Edited August 24, 2017 by Corbs