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...the streaklantic ...

I like this idea so much, I am stealing it outright.

 

Been poring over the layouts of Gresley express designs, and it is possible, and for a perfectly good engineering reason. Consider, having demonstrated a six hour service London - Edinburgh, what next? It's blindingly obvious that the next goal is five hours. However, we cannot do this with manual firing, because the poor fellow with the shovel would likely die, so mechanical firing it has to be. But we run into space constraints using a pacific as the tender has to be of much increased capacity to allow for the stoking engine mechanism, and the extra coal that is going to be burned, both providing the extra power for a faster service and powering the stoking engine (generally reckoned at 10% of the loco output at cylinders). More water capacity is welcome too, avoiding the need for slowing for troughs so often. We need a much larger tender in short, but we don't want to exceed the installed 70' turntable capacity, which means a shorter engine.

 

The streaklantic is just the thing. On a 35 foot frame it comes in at about 82 tons, a shortened A4 boiler with thermic siphons, Houlet superheater elements and a double Kylchap, provides the necessary steam raising capability. The twin bogie six axle tender carries fifteen tons of coal and seven thousand gallons of water in addition to the stoking engine in its 100 ton maximum weight (no crew corridor required, as it's a five hour run). With the articulated 250ton train designed for the service, a 115mph cruise is standard, with bursts up to 140mph available for recovery of in-course delays. Just the train path to diagram now...

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A while back I bought a couple of Bachmann 'junior' locos from ebay - the not-thomas and the not-J94, with the intention of rewheeling the chassis with HO Bachmann S100 wheels as relaxinghobby has previously done, for an industrial loco project. Don't think I've posted pics of this before, it's a triang/Hornby 'polly' with a cut down bunker and shortened cab. The boiler, side tanks etc are going to be cut off and replaced with a saddle tank to represent an Avonside loco.

 

post-898-0-67788300-1503612983.jpg

 

The not-J94 chassis should be good for this. The wheelsets need a bit of work to make the rods fit properly but we shall see. 

 

Meanwhile I placed the not-thomas chassis alongside 'evil thomas' and had a thought (note I have already cut down the motor housing at this point, this chassis is much more cheaply made than the J94 one)

post-898-0-50587100-1503612982.jpg

 

Hmmm...

post-898-0-19239400-1503612984.jpg

 

So maybe I can make a 'Little Lambton Tank' ;)

Edited by Corbs
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Some progress on the Avonside...

 

The not-J94 chassis on the HO S100 wheels

post-898-0-53786100-1503613016.jpg

 

'Polly's cab hacked off - decided to retain the 'junior' footplate as it was sturdier and already mounted to the chassis, so a blend between the front of the cab and the main cab needs to be made, then the missing parts filled in and blended.

post-898-0-74517300-1503613019.jpg

post-898-0-15589400-1503613020.jpg

Edited by Corbs
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That 0-6-2T Thomas looks so wrong and so right at the same time.  The not-J94 looks good as well, pity I sold my last locos ages ago with that 0-6-0 chassis, useful one that.

 

Some of the many things on my workbench* include a (nameless) Connie/Polly/Nelly and the later one with the Margate telephone or telex number on it or whatever.  Got some Polly nameplates (had a kitten arrive on Christmas Day 1977 that was named Polly so that's the name for one of the engines - and why not?)  Only thing is with a necessary respray is that the original style nameplates won't look right, have to get some etched ones to suit the paintwork (any ideas of who does them would be welcome or am I thinking of replica paper lables?)

 

As we are on the subject of stuff from the spares box...

 

Current-style 0-4-0 chassis needs about a centimetre taking out for Connie & Co where the cylinders would have been, luckily the crude blanking insert used gives a more-or-less spot on cutting guide.  There is too much overhang if cutting a notch out and as the body is already 'stretched', looks stupid so needs the chassis shortening, which I tried ages ago.  However, if the front steps are broken off the body, a chassis with the cylinders makes an excellent alternative.  The spring clip for the motor sits tight against the body and holds everything in place but something better needs to be fashioned.

 

If using the original chassis, at least the later version with the Scalextric motor would make it a bit more DCC friendly than the X04 motor version.  Another quick fix would be the gubbins from a "German" tank enging (R254/R256) which with square axles, means no wheel quartering but may need an extra pick up which isn't a difficult job.

 

Won't be as an extreme reworking as others do, they have been in bits for a few years now.  Frustrating at the moment when I want to do stuff and can't.

 

Finally, the current-style 0-4-0 can go under a Dock Shunter body as well, a trim here and there.  Seem to recall that they may have been an NBL shunter with a higher bonnet and connecting rods (Cadbury Bournville perhaps).  Might be worth a try.

 

 

*For workbench, read a cardboard box.  Somewhere.

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In typical scattergun fashion, The Bastard returns to the workbench.

 

A GBL 'Schools' has donated a cab fall plate, side feed injectors, and under-cab pipework. A Hornby Princess gave front vac pipe and cab handrails.

 

The rear cab support looked stupid so I'm rebuilding it.

 

post-898-0-15542200-1503613064.jpg

post-898-0-52967800-1503613064.jpg

post-898-0-83074000-1503613064.jpg

post-898-0-13217200-1503613065.jpg

Edited by Corbs
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A little posed pic at the head of a van train

post-898-0-12653700-1503613096.jpg

 

I'm using leftover transfers from my 'Cathedral' project on this, so the first bit of boiler lining is on

post-898-0-51901500-1503613096.jpg

 

A GBL 'Princess' has now donated two of it's safety valves to TBB, as well as front and rear coupling hooks.

Edited by Corbs
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There was quite a bit of lining left over from 805, so here is where I have got to. I only have the splashers left that I can use from this set, so I will need to order some suitable for a Stanier cab and tender.

I'm quite surprised with how much I like the look of it.

 

post-898-0-49046200-1503613127.jpg

post-898-0-98120400-1503613127.jpg

post-898-0-45166700-1503613128.jpg

Edited by Corbs
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The fantastically fast service from Fox Transfers means that the 7P is now fully lined!

post-898-0-18545400-1503613188.jpg

 

What a difference it makes, really pleased with how both of them have turned out. Still plenty of detail to add, but the bulk of the work is done.

 

Buoyed up a bit by this, I went back to the Avonside project. This is using the cab from a Triang 'Polly' or 'Nellie', today I filed down the cab front from the Bachmann Junior loco to fit to the Triang cab (Which itself has been shortened). This is now glued in and requires filler and blending around the edges.

post-898-0-07973900-1503613189.jpg

 

I also removed the splashers and the bulge under the smokebox door.

post-898-0-56774700-1503613188.jpg

 

Here it is, roughly assembled. I need to build up around the base of the cab as there is quite a gap. Once the cab is done, I can blend the joins in the saddle tank to make a one piece body, ready for paint.

post-898-0-55136500-1503613189.jpg

Edited by Corbs
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A bit more from today....

 

A GBL 28xx has had it's chimney hacked off to provide one for 'Portbury'. The Junior one was far too squat and wide to be accurate, so was sliced off and the hole enlarged, with a scrap piece of plastic glued in behind. The two sides are now glued together for strength and to allow the join to be blended.

 

post-898-0-14329000-1503613257.jpg

 

I wasn't happy with the depth of the saddle tanks, which was more akin to a J94 than the smaller B4 loco. What I've done is slice the tank longways at it's flattest vertical point, filed down the surfaces, then added plasticard nubs to help locate it back in place, before gluing and adding a strengthening piece of plasticard behind, as shown here. I am using squadron green putty as filler, I've found it much better than either white putty or miliput, which had short and long drying times respectively. 

This also shows the GBL chimney base in place. The cap is separate and will be stuck down properly after painting.

 

post-898-0-76535000-1503613256.jpg

 

The tanks fitted to the cab. These are still separate sections but the clip-together design of the Bachmann Junior loco means it can be checked easily as you go along

 

post-898-0-31489900-1503613258.jpg

 

Then it was in to the bathroom (With the extractor fan on) with my favourite thing.. filler primer! This acts as both a blending aid and a reveal coat. Much easier to work with a bright colour.

 

post-898-0-50542900-1503613257.jpg

 

post-898-0-00482000-1503613258.jpg

Going to leave this to dry properly, then set to with the sandpaper. Still need to work out a way to construct the safety valve cover around that dome...

Edited by Corbs
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Hi Corbs,

 

Re: post No. 65.

When you do your tank in the Avonside (style) livery,

are you going to fit the dome mounted crane as well?

 

Jeff

I'll have you know that crane is very useful on the dockside. Mostly used for hauling the crew's tea delivery up to footplate level

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... the 7P is now fully lined!  What a difference it makes, really pleased with how both of them have turned out. Still plenty of detail to add, but the bulk of the work is done...

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.

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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.

Sounds fascinating, I admit I have only looked in to 'foreign' engineers like Chapelon and Porta quite recently but I find them very interesting. Would love to have a look at this.

 

Regarding Portbury, I am sorely tempted to try the blue livery she wore when first restored in the 1990s (and it would match my existing fleet!)

porbury-blue-1992.jpg?w=594&h=476&crop=1

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I managed to find a copy of Tuplin's book on Amazon for £3, it's in the post now, exciting stuff!

 

More cobblin' occurred today.

 

On Portbury, something had been niggling at me, I thought I could live with it, but decided I would always regret not doing it. So, out came the hacksaw and off came the bunker...

post-898-0-40760900-1503613322.jpg

 

Re-mounted in a more prototypical position (as evidenced by my previous post)

post-898-0-50837900-1503613323.jpg

 

 

A sheet inserted to form the back of the cab

post-898-0-58858400-1503613324.jpg

 

Some green putty to start the blend

post-898-0-99969000-1503613324.jpg

 

On the running plate, the smaller wheels mean no splashers are required, so I started to fill them in

post-898-0-50844200-1503613325.jpg

post-898-0-12425700-1503613326.jpg

 

Back to Evil Thomas/The Little Lambton, the cut down motor unit needs to be re-mounted to the chassis. This means reinforcing the closest point so it can be screwed down

post-898-0-03562300-1503613327.jpg

 

In place here to be measured up, I might add some more braces to stiffen it a bit more. The intention is to make this loco battery powered and radio controlled, so the pickups have been removed. The two motor wires will run to the receiver unit, supplied by DelTang.

post-898-0-03562300-1503613327.jpg

post-898-0-54742700-1503613326.jpg

Edited by Corbs
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Thanks! It's very encouraging to hear that :)

 

Had a spare evening so managed to make more progress on both industrial locos.

Here we have the Avonside cab being sanded and running plate filled more, and the Lambton motor mount prior to being drilled (for a bolt to hold it to the chassis, now fitted)

post-898-0-21338300-1503613409.jpg

 

Dug the coupling rods out and fitted them to the Avonside chassis

post-898-0-04893300-1503613408.jpg

 

To fit the Lambton body to the chassis at the smokebox end, I've added a plasticard brace, to which is glued a plastic tube. A screw then goes through the chassis and then into the tube, hopefully holding the body in place. I've added filler in here to (in theory) give it more rigidity. 

post-898-0-33314500-1503613408.jpg

 

The Avonside, after sanding, went off for another coat of FP, when this had dried I couldn't resist a test assembly. Here it is so far...

post-898-0-67475900-1503613407.jpg

post-898-0-58295200-1503613409.jpg

 

Still plenty to do, but hopefully the essence of the loco can be seen!

Edited by Corbs
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LIDL has these organisers for sale - good for organising spares!

post-898-0-37546000-1503613484.jpg

 

To stop the Lambton driving wheels rubbing on the running plate I built a spacer out of plasticard

post-898-0-10689600-1503613484.jpg

 

Here's a little pic of the 7P on the layout.

post-898-0-70069200-1503613483.jpg

Edited by Corbs
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I'm trying to think of a good back story for the 7P. Perhaps a dedicated 'Sudrian' locomotive produced as a one off from a house of spares by a joint LMSR/LNER effort? Lovely work, lots of ideas here.

 

ScR

Edited by scots region
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