signaller Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 4mm scale Ruston LA I first saw this in the Narrow Gauge and Industrial Review by Roy Link. I contacted the maker and he has asked me to highlight it here as he doesn't have computer skills. Photo by M Thornton. It is a nickel silver etch with motor from Nigel Lawton and cast white metal coupler pockets to add weight. Wheels are to N scale standard. It is hoped to be available in the near future. Prices around £50 for the complete kit and the chassis will be available separately. I will try and answer any questions and post further information as it comes to hand. It would be nice to hear from you if you would wish to acquire a model to gauge interest. Many thanks Roger Murray Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Garry D100 Posted March 5, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 5, 2011 Hi Roger, Thanks for posting up. This is something I would be interested in as there are not many decent Rustons in 4mm. Be interesting to see how this develops. I think a price of around £50 for a complete kit is very good value. Cheers. Garry Edit. It would be useful if possible to get a picture of the rear of the loco too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jub45565 Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 So whats are the differences between this LA and the LB available from Brian Madge? And presumably the one in that photo isnt motorised, or one tiny motor! Brian Madge Sorry - link corrected. Or maybe not, its refusing the save the links I am adding to this post now! Buffalo has the same link though... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Garry D100 Posted March 5, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 5, 2011 So whats are the differences between this LA and the LB available from Brian Madge? And presumably the one in that photo isnt motorised, or one tiny motor! That link does not work for me but Nigel Lawton specialises in tiny motorisation. So would not be suprised if the one in the phot is containing a motor. If you have not seen his products take a look here http://www.nigellawton009.com/VeeTipper.html I have one of his O&K kits to do and the motors are tiny. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffalo Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 That link does not work for me ... Try this http://www.madge00n3.co.uk/Shop/Shop.htm Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jub45565 Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 Sorry- Ive corrected the link above now, too many http:// 's The Brian Madge kit uses a Nigel lawton motor, but this is still the full length and up to bonnet level in the cab. What were the differences between the LA and LB though the photo looks identical to my untrained eye! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Garry D100 Posted March 5, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 5, 2011 Thanks for the corrected link, not seen this kit either before. And yes I see what you mean now, I cannot see a difference either. Also on the pic in this thread is that a hole in the cab floor where the chassis would go looking at the design of the other kit. Interesting kits though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Garry D100 Posted March 5, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 5, 2011 Picture 21 on the assembly instructions http://www.madge00n3.co.uk/pdf/LB009Inst.pdf shows how much the chassis shows in the cab. Not too bad really, especially when a driver is added. I wonder how to get a DCC chip in lol, might have to have a running wagon with it in. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
signaller Posted March 5, 2011 Author Share Posted March 5, 2011 It is motorised and I am told the motor extends into the cab by 1mm so the cabless mining version could be modelled. Well the Brian Madge kit is a complete surprise to me! A nice surprise I might add! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jub45565 Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 There does appear to be room for a motorised chassis in the photo on this thread, agreed, but there is a body fixing screw just to the right hand side of the cab opening and just in view which makes me wonder how it is done. There is somene on the NGRM forum (Narrow Gauge Railway Modellers) who has added a decoder to the Brian Mage variant, by placing it up the far side of the cab. Unfortunately the thread in question appears to have lost its photo links. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium cornelius Posted March 5, 2011 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 5, 2011 The body is the same for both kits - Brian Madge supplies it to the other manufacturer. The chassis designs are different, Brian's version has a larger motor which extends into the cab and, as it is the LB, larger ballast weights. The prototype LA was less powerful so perhaps this is quite fitting Brian is also working on the larger 48 DL. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Garry D100 Posted March 5, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 5, 2011 The body is the same for both kits - Brian Madge supplies it to the other manufacturer. The chassis designs are different, Brian's version has a larger motor which extends into the cab and, as it is the LB, larger ballast weights. The prototype LA was less powerful so perhaps this is quite fitting Brian is also working on the larger 48 DL. Thanks for the information. This is all very exciting for my plans. As is the Quarry Hunslet project he is working on http://www.madge00n3...k/velinheli.htm hope that comes out in a kit. . Edit. I have sent him a mail re the Hunslet so will see where he is upto with that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenton Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 4mm scale Ruston LA I first saw this in the Narrow Gauge and Industrial Review by Roy Link. I contacted the maker and he has asked me to highlight it here as he doesn't have computer skills. Your very slow, (and evidently didn't do a basic search on RMWeb first, I put up a thread about this kit (It is a Ruston LB not a LA BTW!) on 3rd March and it even had a link to Brian's site - that worked. I have already started the build and the details are on one of my websites, in due course ... and if any one is interested (only Paul (Halfwit) has expressed an interest so far), I'll copy details on to that thread as well. The build has already been well documented on both a French and Japaneze Forum. :( Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
halfwit Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 I have already started the build and the details are on one of my websites, in due course ... and if any one is interested (only Horsetan has expressed an interest so far), I'll copy details on to that thread as well. Are you mixing me up with the Horsey one K? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenton Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 Picture 21 on the assembly instructions http://www.madge00n3.co.uk/pdf/LB009Inst.pdf shows how much the chassis shows in the cab. Take a closer look in the cab of the prototype and you will see that it is pretty prototypical. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenton Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 Are you mixing me up with the Horsey one K? Apologies - I was a bit peeved and working from memory I will correct it I meant Halfwit (paul) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
halfwit Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 No Worries Kenton Just had a look at your build, very neat so far. Definetely going on my wishlist! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Garry D100 Posted March 5, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 5, 2011 Your very slow, (and evidently didn't do a basic search on RMWeb first, Not a nice attitude or way to speak to people is it? I'll assume your just miffed that we did not spot your thread first. Take a closer look in the cab of the prototype and you will see that it is pretty prototypical. Not coming across this prototype before I would not know. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Garry D100 Posted March 5, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 5, 2011 Kenton, I just took a look at your thread. Maybe it would have been better putting it under Narrow Gauge Modelling rather than Kitbuilding and Scratchbuilding. I know its both but in my mind it going to get better viewing from Narrow Gauge modellers like myself under the Narrow Gauge area. I model NG I look in the NG section, I guess most would. Just a thought. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenton Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 Not a nice attitude or way to speak to people is it? I'll assume your just miffed that we did not spot your thread first. I could guess you could say that. It was the first post after logging on after a mad drive home returning from Abingdon Show and had not had any sleep for probably 20+hrs (no real excuse) but then signaller is not exactly new to RMWeb and a simple search would have exposed the other topic. Not coming across this prototype before I would not know. This link should take you to a side on shot showing the cab of the one at Devon Railway Centre. Photos of the Ruston LB are few and far between - to almost being non-existent. I have been going through my critter books (which are not exactly exhaustive or numerous) trying to find more and the even more elusive LA but all I have come up with so far is this I model NG I look in the NG section, I guess most would. Just a thought. I also model in NG and lots of other scales and gauges - I never look in the "NG section" or any other section as I take my RMWeb diet from "Active Topics" ... but it is a kit, and kits get built in "Kitbuilding" Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Garry D100 Posted March 5, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 5, 2011 ....but then signaller is not exactly new to RMWeb and a simple search would have exposed the other topic. Its was fair point re searching although we don't all remember to search before launching a thread. I was simply making the point it could have been done in a nicer way This link should take you to a side on shot showing the cab of the one at Devon Railway Centre. Photos of the Ruston LB are few and far between - to almost being non-existent. I have been going through my critter books (which are not exactly exhaustive or numerous) trying to find more and the even more elusive LA but all I have come up with so far is this Thanks for the details and the LA city looks nice, but I prefer the slate hills of North Wales I also model in NG and lots of other scales and gauges - I never look in the "NG section" or any other section as I take my RMWeb diet from "Active Topics" ... but it is a kit, and kits get built in "Kitbuilding" I guess its just down to how individuals use the forum. Since its upgrade everything has become watered down into too many areas meaning you miss things. I preferred the old RMWeb. But its been discussed elsewhere and change is always good...right? lol. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenton Posted March 8, 2011 Share Posted March 8, 2011 OK some days further on and a bit more research with thanks to Roger (signaller) who has pointed me in the direction of a useful book "A Guide to Ruston Narrow Gauge Locomotives", D R Hall, The Moseley Railway Trust (2003) ISBN 0-9540-878-3-6, a copy of which was delivered into my collection this morning. The LA really did exist - well that's egg on my face! So what essentially were the differences. Well it seems very little - but there were some and they have thrown up a few warnings over both of these very similar kits. The LA and LB originally had quite an angular bonnet (as illustrated in a R&H photograph in the book of a 1953 LA) this is not the case with either model. Both of them also had larger front cab windows than shown and present on later production versions. Working from the same early photo it is apparent that the exhaust was directed out and under the chassis rather than through a bonnet stack as in later production versions. The only original real difference between the LA and LB was the engine, (hardly a concern of the modeler).The LA was fitted with a 20hp 2VSH engine where as the LB was fitted with the more powerful 31.5hp 3VSH engine. Both used the same gearbox a 2/3-speed constant mesh with a hydraulic cone clutch. Later versions (sometime prior to 1960) the bodywork was smoothed out and the front cab window was made smaller, more in line with both of the kit representations. By 1960, the LA model had been dropped from the range and at the same time the LB was produced fitted with the 2YDA air-cooled engine. These later LB locomotives were distinguishable by the oval air intake on the front of the engine cover. Therefore examining both models from the available images and the above reference source. As built the Madge kit will make up into a LB as built after 1960, by filling the oval air intake cut-out an earlier model may be produced, but not the original angular form. The kit in the OP would also produce an acceptable LB. Though I am yet to see a photo of overlapped cab roof (there may well be one). The problem still exists that the LA were not produced with the air-cooled engine - that is not to say one might not have been converted in-life use. Finally the "undressed" photo in the above reference clearly shows, just like the linked to photo above, that the gearbox protruded quite alarmingly into the cab. I still find it incredible (or should that be typical) that there is so little photographic record and virtually nothing to speak of in preservation. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenton Posted March 8, 2011 Share Posted March 8, 2011 There are also other subtle differences between the two kits: In the OP kit vs Madge kit: The use of white-metal casting instead of overlays for the buffers, the plain axle guards and cab side window, the overlapped vs plain or rain-stripped cab roof, and the absent vs present exhaust. Interesting that you can go months without a kit of a particular prototype then you are presented with two of the same prototype within a matter of months. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Garry D100 Posted March 8, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 8, 2011 Excellent research there Kenton. Thanks very much for the information. The only original real difference between the LA and LB was the engine, (hardly a concern of the modeler). And there was me thinking of modelling one bonnet open lol. Of course another way if you don't want to or cant produce an accurate model is to adapt it with small changes to your specific working environment. Then noone can complain its not fully accurate as in our modelling world it was adapted by the owners for specific use, like a lot of industrials especially NG were. And you end up with a unique model. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium cornelius Posted March 8, 2011 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 8, 2011 There might be a few useful images in this Flickr account http://www.flickr.com/photos/34938158@N02/page2/ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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