Midland 3F flush rivetting.

[prodnose]

I have just purchased Messrs Hunt, Essery and James's excellent book on the Midland 3Fs. It has answered many of my questions but raised at least one.

There is a photograph of no 3502 showing a flush rivetted smokebox describing this as one of the characteristics of the early rebuilds. Does anybody have any more information / pictures of this? For example which other locos had flush rivetted smokeboxes and did it extend to the smokebox support structure . I'm looking to model a 3F in 1950s in EM and this would make an interesting, (not to mention easier to construct) variation.  

Thanks in anticipation.

[asmay2002]

Many classes of locos had flush riveted smokeboxes, tanks, tenders, etc. until the railway companies decided to cut costs and use the snap head rivets which didn't require a countersunk hole to be drilled first.  When smokeboxes were replaced they would have got the snap head type.

 

[Steamport Southport]

I would have thought that the 1950s survivors would almost certainly all have pronounced rivets.

 

Even this fine example of an early LMS liveried 3F has smokebox rivets. I would think that was typical condition by Grouping.

 

https://transportsofdelight.smugmug.com/RAILWAYS/LOCOMOTIVES-OF-THE-LONDON-MIDLAND-SCOTTISH-RAILWAY/LONDON-MIDLAND-SCOTTISH-RAILWAY/i-ZVRBtcC

 

 

 

Jason