RMweb Gold NHY 581 Posted October 22, 2022 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 22, 2022 Cowing lush... 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold JustinDean Posted November 5, 2022 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted November 5, 2022 I’ve decided to go off on a bit of a tangent from layout building and feel it’s time I start sorting out the motive power for both Llanyblod and Middleton Top. I have a number of RTR locos that need modifying to varying degrees along with a large pile of unmade loco kits. Rather than plunge straight into these I thought I’d purchase a cheap RTR model to hopefully develop some skills and learn from any mistakes. Inspired by @NHY 581’s recent Hattons 14XX acquisition and the (de) weathering process he applied I found this Dapol version for £20 so no great loss if I totally arse it up! I’ve heard there’s running issues with this particular model - bad pickups/traction tyres/sprung back wheel all apparently contribute. We’ll see. I’m going to focus on the body first and there’s a few things I personally find offensive straight away. The moulded smoke box handles and the couplers with their associated pockets really spoil the overall look of the model. As far as I can tell from photos of the real 1438 it never had the top feed cover located behind the smoke box either. I’m not 100% sure about removing that yet as I’m not confident about getting a decent finish on the boiler afterwards. Happy to receive advice on that or any other elements! Last of all I want to keep this cheap and cheerful so all I’m planning on ‘upgrading’ are number plates, smokebox number, smokebox handles and screwlink couplings. The numbers are on order and the rest I have in the spares box. Jay 6 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Graham T Posted November 5, 2022 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 5, 2022 Good luck! 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrWolf Posted November 5, 2022 Share Posted November 5, 2022 Enjoy, it's quite addictive though. I have two 14xx from the same source that I am going to backdate and detail. One will become a late surviving 517 with a bit of luck. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold JustinDean Posted November 5, 2022 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted November 5, 2022 43 minutes ago, MrWolf said: Enjoy, it's quite addictive though. I have two 14xx from the same source that I am going to backdate and detail. One will become a late surviving 517 with a bit of luck. Have you had either of them running Rob? If so any issues? Jay 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold JustinDean Posted November 5, 2022 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted November 5, 2022 First progress report. removed couplings and chopped out a load of the bulky plastic at the ends of the chassis. sliced off the smoke box handles. I’m wondering what the best way of getting this back to a smooth finish is when there’s so little room to work. sliced out moulded coal and refined upside down with a slight recess for some of the real stuff. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Graham T Posted November 5, 2022 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 5, 2022 Fibreglass pencil might work for the smokebox darts, followed by some very fine wet and dry, perhaps held on the blunt end of a pencil with some blue tack? 1 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold JustinDean Posted November 5, 2022 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted November 5, 2022 13 minutes ago, Graham T said: Fibreglass pencil might work for the smokebox darts, followed by some very fine wet and dry, perhaps held on the blunt end of a pencil with some blue tack? I’ll give it a go Graham. Cheers! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold NHY 581 Posted November 5, 2022 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 5, 2022 Try really fine grade w&d.......2000 maybe ? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold JustinDean Posted November 5, 2022 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted November 5, 2022 1 minute ago, NHY 581 said: Try really fine grade w&d.......2000 maybe ? I’ve used a fibreglass pencil as Graham suggested followed by grade 2000 as you’ve mentioned Rob. Just needs a paint now. Oh and hole for the handles. Photos soon… Cheers! Jay 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrWolf Posted November 5, 2022 Share Posted November 5, 2022 4 hours ago, JustinDean said: Have you had either of them running Rob? If so any issues? Jay I've only run them enough to know that they work. Usual thing with such locos is dirty wheels, dirty contacts and a lack of oil. A good clean and service is important before giving it a good run to wake it up, otherwise the motor tends to grenade itself. Most spares seem to be available as Hornby reissued the 14xx with a few improvements. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold JustinDean Posted November 5, 2022 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted November 5, 2022 16 minutes ago, MrWolf said: I've only run them enough to know that they work. Usual thing with such locos is dirty wheels, dirty contacts and a lack of oil. A good clean and service is important before giving it a good run to wake it up, otherwise the motor tends to grenade itself. Most spares seem to be available as Hornby reissued the 14xx with a few improvements. Thanks for the info - any recommendation on oil? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold JustinDean Posted November 5, 2022 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted November 5, 2022 Refinished smoke box. Looking at this photo the pipe under the buffer beam needs raising. I’ve realised I’ve left my box of bits at my gaff in Wirksworth so it’ll be a few days till I can return to this but I feel it’s a satisfactory start. Jay 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold NHY 581 Posted November 5, 2022 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 5, 2022 4 hours ago, JustinDean said: Thanks for the info - any recommendation on oil? Hi Jay, I use the Gaugemaster 'oil pens'. A little drop goes a long way............ Rob 3 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrWolf Posted November 5, 2022 Share Posted November 5, 2022 52 minutes ago, NHY 581 said: Hi Jay, I use the Gaugemaster 'oil pens'. A little drop goes a long way............ Rob You beat me to it! Same here. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrWolf Posted November 6, 2022 Share Posted November 6, 2022 Must Resist Digging Out My Airfix 14XX ('s) ..... 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold NHY 581 Posted November 6, 2022 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 6, 2022 6 hours ago, MrWolf said: Must Resist Digging Out My Airfix 14XX ('s) ..... 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barclay Posted November 8, 2022 Share Posted November 8, 2022 If you want to go a bit further, Wizard sell the old Mainly Trains detailing kit for the 14xx, which I think was designed, mastered etc by Iain Rice. There is a chimney, safety valve, backhead, smokebox door, and some other bits. 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrWolf Posted November 8, 2022 Share Posted November 8, 2022 (edited) Now that I am a fully authorised Soviet motorcycle dealer as in: "I have a rock and a chisel" I might just make a start on the 517 class conversion... http://www.gwr.org.uk/pro517.html Or: Edited November 8, 2022 by MrWolf Add links 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold JustinDean Posted November 8, 2022 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted November 8, 2022 2 hours ago, Barclay said: If you want to go a bit further, Wizard sell the old Mainly Trains detailing kit for the 14xx, which I think was designed, mastered etc by Iain Rice. There is a chimney, safety valve, backhead, smokebox door, and some other bits. Thanks for that I’ll take a look! Jay 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium 2996 Victor Posted November 9, 2022 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 9, 2022 23 hours ago, Barclay said: If you want to go a bit further, Wizard sell the old Mainly Trains detailing kit for the 14xx, which I think was designed, mastered etc by Iain Rice. There is a chimney, safety valve, backhead, smokebox door, and some other bits. 20 hours ago, JustinDean said: Thanks for that I’ll take a look! Jay Also, FWIW, there were articles in Model Railway Journal issues 1 and 2 giving the Airfix 14xx a make-over (and also a new chassis) which is well worth a read. High Level also do a chassis kit for this loco, complete with dummy inside motion. All the best, Mark 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold JustinDean Posted November 14, 2022 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted November 14, 2022 Just waiting on a set of etched numbers for this now. I’m not going to go the whole hog on detailing; this is staying cheap and cheerful costing approx £30 in total. Jay 15 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold JustinDean Posted February 18, 2023 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted February 18, 2023 Three months later and the etched number plates have finally arrived and have been attached! Jay 9 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrWolf Posted February 18, 2023 Share Posted February 18, 2023 Three months? I didn't realise that you were having a full size set cast and polished! 1 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold JustinDean Posted February 18, 2023 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted February 18, 2023 13 minutes ago, MrWolf said: Three months? I didn't realise that you were having a full size set cast and polished! On the one hand it’s great that a service exists where you can order a custom made set of etched plates for a few quid but then on the other hand, three months. 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now