Airfix 14xx - A Family Favourite

[westernviscount]

Having decided to build a model based on the Wrexham to Ellesmere branch; specifically Caia Road goods, my dad dug out his old Airfix 14xx autotanks. 

I stripped the motor and made new pickups and, despite being very loud, the locos run beautifully. 

 

At 40 odd years old, they still are lovely models but the smoke box door does not look convincing. Once you see it, you can't unsee it!

 

 

I decided to spruce the appearence up a bit. Dad had already put cab side plates on many many years ago. 

 

I wanted to sort the front end out as the model has too flat a smoke box door and the shape of the handrails is more Manor than 1400. 

 

 

The smoke box moulding was filed flat and a mainly trains (wizard) drum head door glued using evo stick. New hand rails are shaped by eye and new handrail knobs added. 

 

Having done this, further issues leapt out at me and I will continue below. 

 

Cheers for now. 

Edited May 15, 2023 by westernviscount

[westernviscount]

Parts to improve or replace have escalated. The chimney is a white metal 247 developments part. Subtely finer and narrower than the airfix one. 

A nice modelu whistle fitting. The airfix one was molded to the cab roof. Also in this picture are the finer cab hand rails and the roof vent which I filed out a hole for. 

 

This picture includes the replacement handrails, a loosely fitted pipe along the length of the loco, some fire iron brackets on the bunker filed and shaped from 0.8mm brass wire and a scratchbuilt set of steps. I am not particulalrly experienced with scratchbuilding in brass but it is very absorbing. 

A bit of a cruel close up. The top step is slightly wonky so will need adjustment. 

Edited May 14, 2023 by westernviscount

[Nick Gough]

Very nice.

May I ask how you made the new pick ups? I need to do something for my ones.

[westernviscount]

21 hours ago, Nick Gough said:

Very nice.

May I ask how you made the new pick ups? I need to do something for my ones.

 

Hi Nick,

 

My Dad removed the plunger pick ups many years ago. He had replaced them with wipers underneath but these had become very tired. 

 

 

Copper clad sleeper are glued underneath then some .3mm wire used for the wipers. These ar just brass and probably not the best longterm but they work very well right now. 

 

The most convenient place to pass wires through is illustrated. .3mm wire is also used to join the front and rear pickups. 

 

 

This shows thr upper terminal and there is also one underneath. 

 

Cheers

[westernviscount]

 

Moving towards completion today. I made the steam lance next to the smoke box door with .5 mm wire and a filed down handrail knob. Pipes are by mainly trains (wizard).

 

The pipe along the length of the loco is almost fitted in this picture. The steps are completed and are fitted with .5mm soldered to the steps and drills into the body. 

I have added lamp brackets here and sprayed the smoke box and boiler (this is a seperate part. I have also made some replacement fittings for the top of the water tanks. The modelu whistle  has already broken and I should have left this off til the end. 

I don't think J will add the pipes to the rear and haven't bothered with lamp irons as this will be semi-permenantly to an autocoach. 

[Nick Gough]

5 hours ago, westernviscount said:

 

Hi Nick,

 

My Dad removed the plunger pick ups many years ago. He had replaced them with wipers underneath but these had become very tired. 

 

 

Copper clad sleeper are glued underneath then some .3mm wire used for the wipers. These ar just brass and probably not the best longterm but they work very well right now. 

 

The most convenient place to pass wires through is illustrated. .3mm wire is also used to join the front and rear pickups. 

 

 

This shows thr upper terminal and there is also one underneath. 

 

Cheers

 

Thank you, that's most helpful.

[Barclay]

11 hours ago, westernviscount said:

 

Hi Nick,

 

My Dad removed the plunger pick ups many years ago. He had replaced them with wipers underneath but these had become very tired. 

 

 

Copper clad sleeper are glued underneath then some .3mm wire used for the wipers. These ar just brass and probably not the best longterm but they work very well right now. 

 

The most convenient place to pass wires through is illustrated. .3mm wire is also used to join the front and rear pickups. 

 

 

This shows thr upper terminal and there is also one underneath. 

 

Cheers

Hi I have always used brass for pickups and have never had a problem - I reckon they'll be fine. The loco is looking great.

[cypherman]

Hi,

The loco looks great. Hope you will post a picture of the finished engine. I have several of these engines boxed and put away for quite some time. I found them in their original incarnation to be quite poor runners and susceptible to stopping on uneven track. I think your picks will help cure this.

[westernviscount]

2 hours ago, Barclay said:

Hi I have always used brass for pickups and have never had a problem - I reckon they'll be fine. The loco is looking great.

 

Thanks Barclay. That is reassuring. I must say, the few times I have needed to make pickups I have used brass and they seem ok. My locos do not clock up many miles to be honest. 

[westernviscount]

58 minutes ago, cypherman said:

Hi,

The loco looks great. Hope you will post a picture of the finished engine. I have several of these engines boxed and put away for quite some time. I found them in their original incarnation to be quite poor runners and susceptible to stopping on uneven track. I think your picks will help cure this.

 

Thank you Cypher. The loco is hopefully going to get primed fully in the coming days. Against my better judgement, I didn't bother stripping the paint as I normally do and I may need to attend to some dodgy bits. Painting should be straight forward with a coat of black. 

 

The pickups have led this to being an excellent runner. The removal of the traction tyres helps also. I have also found under tightening the retaining screws helpful too. 

Edited May 15, 2023 by westernviscount

[westernviscount]

A photograph of the two 1400s on their new territory. Baseboards are underway for the layout, Caia Road Goods Station, Wrexham. 

[Graham T]

Very nice work on that loco.  Please show us when it's finished!

 

[westernviscount]

I have decided to finish what was 1458 as 1423. My Dad pointed out that he had numbered the black 14×× as 58 but photographs suggest it was green during the period I am going to model (c1960). It was not until a few days ago that I realised I actually care about these things! :-) 

 

1423 was painted plain black with cycling lion BR logo and had top feed as per the airfix model. 

 

 

So the 1458 plates will go on the second 14xx. This will be finished lined green and have the topfeed removed as per the prototype. 

 

This time I have elected to strip the paint and soaked it in dettol over night. It has shifted the majority of paint with a further soak and toothbrush encouragement to come later. 

 

1423 was coming along nicely but I am very disappointed with my painting. I airbrushed revell black which left a very nice flat black as per the smokebox. However, things started to go wrong with the second coat which dried unevenly leaving a mixed finish. 

 

I then ploughed on with a top coat of humbrol glosscote sprayed on which has left a horrible, uneven, orange peal finish. 

 

I have for now retreated to a book and some coffee to consider my options. The dettol is on standby. 

[westernviscount]

 

Further evidence of the horrendous finish. The old impatience has taken over yet again! I clearly havent let layers cure properly hence the chipped paint already. 

Here, the tank side looks like the red primer is coming through! This was not noticable at all under normal viewing. 

 

So it looks like...

 

But first...breathe.

[westernviscount]

As above, I was very disappointed with my painting of the 14. After coffee and reflection, the following course of action was taken...

 

Somewhere in the murk is the 14xx I have been working on. I have previously used brake fluid but this is awfully...awful. I heard dettol was a good substitute so gave it a go With both the 14's and I am very pleased with the outcome...

The pint is just to weigh down the paper of course. The Gnome is for moral company I suppose. 

This is the one which has no modifications and is what I should have done to begin with. Both were a challenge to strip as they has factory finish, then Dad's paint then in one case my primer, black enamel then glosscote. 

After 24 hours with occasional scrubbing the paint came off the unmodified 14 a treat, with exception of the red bufferbeam. Which was at least cleaned up. The modified one required a little longer and refresh of the dettol. 

 

Some advice based on the mistakes of others, clean away ALL paint with dettol and rinse with the dettol before going near it with water. 

Edited May 21, 2023 by westernviscount

[westernviscount]

A disclaimer for the above, stripping paint is a scary process and all the advice in the world, when the model is submerged it is all down to YOU! 

[westernviscount]

After a disasterous  time with the airbrush and the use of dettol to get back to plastic, I am happy with the latest efforts...

As I should have done previously, I used halfords matt black over halfords red primer. 

I am glad I made a mess of the first paint effort as the total strip down has benefitted the finish. Everything is crisp and fresh compared with the cracked and flakey finish I had attempting to work over the original paint. 

I don't know how I thought I would live with this. 

 

Much nicer now and a better surface to take transfers which will simply be the cycling lion. Plates will be ordered from modelmaster soon.

 

Edited June 5, 2023 by westernviscount

[westernviscount]

With a renewed sense of patience 1423 will now be left to cure for a while and attention turns to 1458. 

This one stripped down lovely except the red bufferbeam  which isnt a problem. 1458 was finished in lined green with ferret and dartboard. I have never lined a model before so we shall see what happens. 

 

1458 also did not have top feed in any of the pictures I have, so it has been removed. Luckily, the mold is solid on top so does not need filling. The bulk was snipped away then filed then sanded. 

Some jobs done, all handrail detail scraped away, top feed gone, whistle and shield removed and smoke box door filed down to receive the white metal casting. 

Edited June 5, 2023 by westernviscount

[41516]

16 minutes ago, westernviscount said:

Plates will be ordered from modelmaster soon.

 

Might suggest you have a look at the current T&Cs for ordering from Modelmaster and google some of the closed/locked threads that have appeared here before making an informed choice.

[melmoth]

247 Developments would be a far safer pair of hands: https://www.247developments.co.uk/  I think Brian is on here, so there's a degree of community oversight 😊

[westernviscount]

2 hours ago, melmoth said:

247 Developments would be a far safer pair of hands: https://www.247developments.co.uk/  I think Brian is on here, so there's a degree of community oversight 😊

Thanks Melmouth, this is useful. The chimneys came from 247 and the service was excellent (no connection). Will check out the plates. 

[westernviscount]

Current status of 1423. The cab roof remains loose to allow the windows to be inserted.

The very obvious motor intrusion into the cab will be reduced by the coal being fitted in the bunker to reduce the amount of light and also the driver and fireman will be looking out for signals. 

An idea of how she will look like on her new home. 

[westernviscount]

[hayfield]

A super bit of modelling, thanks for sharing it

[On30runner]

have you considered a nice set of Ultrascale wheels?  You'll have to wait for them mind.

 

https://www.ultrascale.uk/eshop/products/view/CAT007/383