JZ Posted August 25, 2016 Share Posted August 25, 2016 Apart from the Craftsman Models kit, is there another another available? This is the last regular loco class I need for Gurney Slade. I've scoured eBay, emailed, snail mailed and tried phoning Craftsman to no avail. Or maybe someone has one they have never built? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold phil_sutters Posted August 26, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 26, 2016 Apart from the Craftsman Models kit, is there another another available? This is the last regular loco class I need for Gurney Slade. I've scoured eBay, emailed, snail mailed and tried phoning Craftsman to no avail. Or maybe someone has one they have never built? That was the question I faced 50+ years ago! A Triang M7 chassis, re-wheeled and a combination of brass tube, cast white metal boiler fittings and Plasticard was the solution. There was, I think, a brass kit of a M.R. 0-4-4T , but I can't remember the maker. I know I had a brass 2P body kit for ages, that I never made up and eventually sold in a job lot when railway modelling went into abeyance for 40+ years. My Dad was always buying job lots and the chassis of 25A was in one of those. I added the pony truck using a block of sponge foam for springing. Sometime I must sort out the cab roof and give it its Salter valves. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Re6/6 Posted August 26, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 26, 2016 As far as l can see, 'Craftsman' is one of those 'bought out' cottage businesses that has disappeared into the black hole of many others. If this bloke is still trading (or intends to trade) common decency would dictate that if he isn't then he should take down his website, after all l would assume that it still costs him money. As for your problem Julian, keep looking on Ebay (via kits notifications). I was lucky a couple of weeks or so ago to be successful in getting an untouched kit. That was the second one to come up in a few months. The other was an already built one. If l see one l'll PM you. !t to was the last S & D engine type that l didn't have for that 'way down the road' layout! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brossard Posted August 26, 2016 Share Posted August 26, 2016 I'm in the process of building my Craftsman kit after having it on a shelf for probably 20 years. Castings are generally crap. The bogie supplied was a dreadful whitemetal affair so I used a Comet bogie reducing the length to suit. GB is Comet too. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poor Old Bruce Posted August 26, 2016 Share Posted August 26, 2016 I have no connection with the chap other than as a customer but try Rural Railways. His bit on UK Model Shop Directory says he only does exhibitions but I can't see an obvious link to which exhibitions. I would post his telephone number but he seems to have moved county. Happy hunting! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Re6/6 Posted August 26, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 26, 2016 ....try Rural Railways. He told me at Exeter that he was planning to retire soon. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Blandford1969 Posted August 26, 2016 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 26, 2016 Erm, I don't know if I can help. I had a go at doing some etchings a few years ago of an 0-4-4 as I did not like the Craftsman one. I lent half the etches which sadly got lost and were never returned. They are not perfect and I wanted 2 so have just enough to do what I want. I have got a couple of chassis, but would want to build one with photos to show how I worked it. If it was of interest I would be happy to see if I could get another set of 4 etches, but on the basis it may not be perfect. (I have found with my 2p I had to modify the platform and my 7f I had to modify the firebox which was too high) This on the other hand was better from memory. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JZ Posted August 26, 2016 Author Share Posted August 26, 2016 Erm, I don't know if I can help. I had a go at doing some etchings a few years ago of an 0-4-4 as I did not like the Craftsman one. I lent half the etches which sadly got lost and were never returned. They are not perfect and I wanted 2 so have just enough to do what I want. 044 a.JPG 044 b.JPG044 c.JPG044 d.JPG044 e.JPG044 f.JPG I have got a couple of chassis, but would want to build one with photos to show how I worked it. If it was of interest I would be happy to see if I could get another set of 4 etches, but on the basis it may not be perfect. (I have found with my 2p I had to modify the platform and my 7f I had to modify the firebox which was too high) This on the other hand was better from memory. I might get back to you. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Blandford1969 Posted August 26, 2016 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 26, 2016 Sorry I should have asked which one you were doing. If its the BR period I may have some views of it among my collection. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold phil_sutters Posted August 26, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 26, 2016 Dad's only photo of a S&D related 0-4-4T in BR times was this withdrawn Midland one, 58073, with hideous condenser pipes http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/uploads/monthly_02_2016/post-14351-0-20687700-1455363613_thumb.jpg However judging by photos in Ivo Peters' The S&D in the fifties, the only 0-4-4T to work the mainline north of Evercreech Junction was 58072, which also had the condenser pipes. It was loaned to Bath shed from Highbridge for a while in the first half of 1955. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JZ Posted August 27, 2016 Author Share Posted August 27, 2016 Sorry I should have asked which one you were doing. If its the BR period I may have some views of it among my collection. BR, at the end of it's life. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Blandford1969 Posted August 27, 2016 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 27, 2016 Let me see what photos from my collection as I have rather a lot of 0-4-4s on the branch. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Blandford1969 Posted August 28, 2016 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 28, 2016 I thought the following views might be of interest of each of the 0-4-4s which ran in the BR period. They come from the collection of John Clarke, who some may remember helped Charlie King to shunt Highbridge shed for Ivo Peter's to take his photo of the tanks. John took a shot, but not exactly the same. So here we go first 58047 seen at Highbridge at 1.15pm on 25 March 1951. All the tanks worked bunker first to Burnham on Sea. When this was withdrawn it was replaced by 58051 which arrived in August 1952, the month that 58047 was scrapped. Seen here on 26 December 1952 at Highbridge. Next we have 58088 which had arrived from Highbridge at Burnham on Sea with an ECS working before working the 4.50pm to Everchreech Junction on 20 November 1950 58073 replaced 58088 and is seen again at Highbridge on 1 June 1953 58072 is seen outside Highbridge on 3 February 1952 Next is 58073 seen at Bridgewater after closure to passengers, but before the line shut altogether on 1 June 1955 Hee is the shot in August 1952 of 58051, seen with 58072 and 58073. Finally the only one I have in LMS livery in BR days of 1404 waiting to leave on 24 February 1952 at Highbridge. Hope you all enjoy them, lets look forward to more 0-4-4 models. I will do a thread on my build of 58047. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poor Old Bruce Posted August 29, 2016 Share Posted August 29, 2016 Blandford, looking at the captions above, I think you need a new keyboard - or a trip to Specsavers . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted August 29, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 29, 2016 I'm sure it's just a typo. Many thanks Blandford for posting these photos, very useful for anyone building one of these. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Blandford1969 Posted August 29, 2016 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 29, 2016 Typo's now corrected. I'm lucky that these are some of about 60 I have of the class on the branch. Apart from that of course I've got the obligatory shots at Bath of the last one withdrawn. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold griffgriff Posted August 29, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 29, 2016 What, if any, would anyone suggest as a possible route for a chassis upgrade for one of these? Griff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted August 29, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 29, 2016 What, if any, would anyone suggest as a possible route for a chassis upgrade for one of these? Griff Are you looking to upgrade the Craftsman chassis provided with the kit? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brossard Posted August 29, 2016 Share Posted August 29, 2016 As shown in post #4, the Craftsman chassis that came with my kit is pretty good IMO. It IS designed for 00 and is a fold up, tabbed/slotted affair. It does go together well I think. If you were going to do EM or P4, you might want something better - or you could just separate the frames and use standard spacers. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Blandford1969 Posted August 29, 2016 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 29, 2016 I did my chassis for oo but with a fold up bogie, which was really my only complaint. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brossard Posted August 29, 2016 Share Posted August 29, 2016 Do you mean the Comet bogie? Mine has that as mentioned. The kit comes with a whitemetal thing. My complaints up to now are with the execrable W/M castings. I've been in talks with AGW for some better turnings/castings. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold griffgriff Posted August 29, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 29, 2016 Are you looking to upgrade the Craftsman chassis provided with the kit? Yes... Mine has always ran like a pigs ear... Probably mostly down to me and my difficulties with 4/4/0 compensation. However something a little more 20th century might help. Griff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brossard Posted August 30, 2016 Share Posted August 30, 2016 I've heard that 4 coupled locos can be difficult to balance. This is my first one so if anyone has wise words on the subject I am all ears. The Craftsman kit is designed for an X04 which would reside in the bunker - I'm thinking that would make it tail heavy. I'm putting my motor in the boiler (fingers crossed that it will fit) and will add a spring to the bogie, which is pinned not on a swing link. Very much a matter of making it up as I go along though. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted August 30, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 30, 2016 I haven't built mine as yet, but I've always thought that the older Craftsman chassis (which is what I've got), needed some beefing up, due to the thinness of the metal around where the space for the X04 motor is. I've considered scratchbuilding a completely new chassis, unless someone like Comet produces one (which I don't think they do). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jub45565 Posted August 30, 2016 Share Posted August 30, 2016 Comet don't do a chassis, but Alan Gibson does do a milled frame set for it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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