81A Oldoak Posted April 23, 2016 Author Share Posted April 23, 2016 Further progress on the Ixion Fowler conversion. The superstructure has been fixed to the footplate. I had planned to use the sandboxes from the donor corpses, but it proved to be quicker and easier to fabricate them from plasticard strip rather than sawing off the originals. The buffers are Markits from the stores, but I added cosmetic 1.3mm bolt heads from the military modelling pack. The cab steps are made from scrap plasticard and the air brake reservoirs are from the donors. I think we are almost there. Prototype photos show some simple steps behind each buffer that I will probably solder up from scrap brass strip and wire and the cab doors need handles. A toolbox or two may also appear, but as this is a War Department loco run by the Army I expect it to be kept tidy and bulled-up. Stay tuned to this frequency. Regards, Chris 13 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Isambarduk Posted April 23, 2016 Share Posted April 23, 2016 (edited) I have only just spotted your write up here of your conversion, Chris. Like it and I am fascinated to see the end result. As I said 'elsewhere', I see have some serious competition when it comes to 'knocking about' an Ixion (see: www.davidlosmith.co.uk/GCR_Humber.htm) As for "Is there likely to be any butchery to the chassis?? Pretty please?" I expect Chris will need but a few minor tweaks but it can easily be done; here is a sandbox disappearing from the frames of an Ixion Hudswell Clarke: David Edited April 23, 2016 by Isambarduk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
81A Oldoak Posted April 24, 2016 Author Share Posted April 24, 2016 I have only just spotted your write up here of your conversion, Chris. Like it and I am fascinated to see the end result. As I said 'elsewhere', I see have some serious competition when it comes to 'knocking about' an Ixion (see: www.davidlosmith.co.uk/GCR_Humber.htm) As for "Is there likely to be any butchery to the chassis?? Pretty please?" I expect Chris will need but a few minor tweaks but it can easily be done; here is a sandbox disappearing from the frames of an Ixion Hudswell Clarke: David David, Fortunately, this Fowler conversion is a simple "top and drop". The chassis needs no modification at all so the job is essentially a DIY Airfix kit. One of the pleasing features of industrial railways is that the owners often altered their locomotives to suit particular local needs so we can get away with almost anything unless one belongs to certain school that probably wears hair shirts or, worse still, the age old British Army KF shirt. We had a dour Scottish quartermaster in the Staffords who famously declared, "The KF shirt; another word for discipline". 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hartleymartin Posted April 24, 2016 Share Posted April 24, 2016 A write up on how to do this would be most welcomed. I didn't buy the Fowler diesel because frankly, I don't like it, but the centre cab version has much greater appeal for me. (Even if they never had one here in Australia.) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Osgood Posted April 24, 2016 Share Posted April 24, 2016 There does seem a certain inevitability about the next CK bodge - given his access to Fowler diesel bodies and Hudswell Clarke chassis……... http://akehoe.smugmug.com/PontypoolBlaenavonRailway/Rolling-Stock/Industrial-Diesel-Engines/i-WWqJfgS 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
81A Oldoak Posted April 26, 2016 Author Share Posted April 26, 2016 Monty has been on the receiving end of a drive-by shooting with a can of Halford's primer. Actually, it has pulled the model together nicely. The buffer beams were masked up and a top coat of satin black was applied this evening. 12 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
81A Oldoak Posted April 29, 2016 Author Share Posted April 29, 2016 MONTY has received a top coat of Halford's satin black and stands in ex-works condition at Cwm Bach awaiting some finishing touches. Nameplates and British Transport Commission registration plates have been commissioned from Narrow Planet. I need to make some later WD transfers with the crow's foot replaced with an inverted V. I have looked at the Modelmaster and Railtec 4mm scale decals, but by the time P&P is included I will have to spend about £8, which seems rather dear so I will hold fire for the time being. The buffers are Markits and look rather undernourished. If I knew how to use my Unimat 3 lathe I could turn some replacements, but that will have to wait too. Weathering will be minimal as this loco will be an Army Brat and kept bulled-up. MONTY is shown next to KITCHENER for comparison with an original Ixion Fowler. . There seems to be an optical illusion as both locos have the same length of footplate, but the original Fowler looks longer. 15 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pauliebanger Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 Chris, OK, that's the concept realised, when's the model going to be released? LOL. Nice freelance conversion with the right 'feel' of thecentre cab versions. There looks to be plenty of space in the new engineroom for a decent speaker, too. Kind regards, Paul Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jintyman Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 Excellent conversion Chris, it's strange how the original Fowler looks longer, yet the running plates are the same length. Maybe it's something to do with the angled front on the Fowler. All in all, a lovely little conversion. Jinty Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hartleymartin Posted May 1, 2016 Share Posted May 1, 2016 (edited) So where can we buy the spare fowler bodies to do this sort of conversion? Any factory rejects you are willing to sell off? Otherwise, there is an opportunity for an after-market parts conversion kit with instructions. Edited May 1, 2016 by hartleymartin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hartleymartin Posted May 1, 2016 Share Posted May 1, 2016 I've been wondering why no-one has done body kits for the Ixion RTR chassis... possibly because the Ixion models are so nice it is hard to bring one's self to either throw away a perfectly good body or worse still, hack one up! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
81A Oldoak Posted May 1, 2016 Author Share Posted May 1, 2016 THe quality of the Ixion Fowlers was so good that we have only had a couple of returns from about 600 sold. I think it would be quite easy to design and make a cast resin or 3D-printed kit of the centre-cab version, but that still leaves the problem of finding a decent spare chassis. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BG John Posted May 2, 2016 Share Posted May 2, 2016 Here's a source of some parts for a conversion http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ixion-Fowler-0-gauge-dummy-loco-with-a-drunken-chasiis-and-poor-body-for-repairs/172155118684 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Isambarduk Posted May 2, 2016 Share Posted May 2, 2016 Here's a source of some parts for a conversion http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ixion-Fowler-0-gauge-dummy-loco-with-a-drunken-chasiis-and-poor-body-for-repairs/172155118684 Just how does this happen? :-( David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BG John Posted May 2, 2016 Share Posted May 2, 2016 Just how does this happen? :-( David Someone tries to follow your example, but just doesn't have the skill you have . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Isambarduk Posted May 2, 2016 Share Posted May 2, 2016 Someone tries to follow your example, but just doesn't have the skill you have . So kind Brilliant! Made me laugh out loud so thank you for that David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
34006 Posted April 20, 2020 Share Posted April 20, 2020 (edited) Hi Chris,just dropped on this thread.Somewhere lurking in the "things to do box "is a Judith Edge kit( I think) of a very similar loco.It's been sitting there about 25 or 30 years waiting on............ Phil Well look what I found...not Judith Edge after all,apologies. Cant remember what it cost now,but about 80 quid all in seems to ring a bell.(told you it was a long time ago). Edited April 20, 2020 by 34006 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ixionmodels Posted November 26, 2021 Share Posted November 26, 2021 Our dear friend Chris Klein passed away in April 2020, so we can consider this thread (and all his others) closed. Lindsay O’Reilly, Ixion Model Railways Australia Pty Ltd. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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