Wright writes.....

[Ken.W]

On 19/04/2024 at 20:48, Tony Wright said:

Good evening Stephen,

 

Will this do?

 

 

It's certainly big and (very) ugly, in the form of Thompson A2/2 60504 MONS MEG (Crownline/Wright/Rathbone) hauling a train made by Ken Wilson.

 

Ken and his (real railway) driver mate, Andy Swan, popped down from Newcastle today for one of their twice-yearly visits to operate Little Bytham. They always bring things with them they've made; things of great interest, and today was no exception. 

 

Interesting things such as.........

 

 

 

 

 

This Buffet Car built by Andy.

 

 

And this scratch-built M&GNR wagon; Andy's work, and a gift!

 

Some of the vehicles made by Ken included............

 

 

 

His BR version of the same Buffet Car.

 

 

This 12-wheeled Kitchen Car.

 

 

A steel-panelled Gresley BG.

 

 

And this suburban pair. 

 

Thank you gentlemen, for your tolerance of my operating incompetence, your hospitality at lunchtime, the gift and for your donation to CRUK. 

 

I'll leave it up to Ken to describe the models above.

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

 

Thank you Tony for your kind comments. Both Andy and myself throughly enjoyed our visit, and the privilege of being able to operate your great layout. It was fine, just a few small errors, not really operating incompetence on your part, and after all, you were doing two jobs, the fiddle yard and main panel, while also talking with us at the same time.

 

There's a bit of a story to the Buffet car conversions.

I'd built an Isinglass D27 Open Third / Diner kit which I'd got when these first appeared,  then, needing more Tourist Open Thirds, which wernt then available, got a second kit intending do a conversion.

Then, following a request, Andy Edgson at Isinglass made a TTO kit available (closely followed by the long awaited re-introduction of ex-Kirk kits). So, what to do now with the extra D27?

Well, I'd read in 'LNER Carriages' that one D27 TO was converted to a Buffet in 1933 when the LNER were experimenting with the concept. Then a diagram was found on Steve Banks' website which showed the necessary changes, panelling in 3½ windows and new interior layout.

So, the resulting model of a one-off vehicle.

My mate Andy, liking my model, then did a similar conversion himself, using a Kirk Open Third, and in his usual impressive rendition of LNER teak, so now two versions of a unique vehicle, lol.

 

The 12-wheeled full kitchen, another unusual vehicle, though there were three of these, which were converted mid-30s from redundant ex-GNR Composite Restaurant Cars. Again, from an Isinglass kit, but this time as intended.

 

The steel-panelled BG also has a bit of a story. A  Kirk kit, it's sides were donated to make the correct pattern brake compartment of a BT-CL Twin set l was converting from Kirk kits (5 in total). The BG kit was resurrected with a pair of Comet brass sides for the steel-panelled version, which l happened to have!

Partly visible behind it, yes just the old Bachmann  Thompson SK, but as can just be seen, running on 'Fox' bogies (Isinglass) which, from a photo I've seen, bear very close resemblance to the 'Metro' bogies fitted to the first batch of these. It's original bogies were donated to the Buffet car above.

 

The pair of Gresley suburban CLs. The right hand one's a Hornby model of a standard D50 teak panelled coach. On the left, a steel panelled version, again from an Isinglass kit.

Note the coupling between them, screw coupling, and with the brake pipes connected! As nicely detailed as modern models are, as a (now former) Driver it's something of an anathema to see a passenger train running with the vacuum pipes neatly stowed on their dummy plugs, particularly on non-corridor stock where its very visible.

It is, of course, a bit of a cheat, as shown here...

 

 

 

It's all on one coach end, the screw couplings soldered rigid, and it's tommy-bar acts as the hook over the goalpost wire on the next vehicle

 

On 19/04/2024 at 21:17, Compound2632 said:

 

Handsome is as handsome does, they say, and I never heard that these engines couldn't 'do'!

 

And I do like that 12-wheeler, while lamenting that it's not in its original Great Northern splendour.

 

I've heard that as rebuilt those engines 'couldn't do', at least what they were intended for, hence their rapid banishment south of the Border.

 

Thank you, yes that 12- wheeler full kitchen does make for an impressive and unusual model. As a 65 footer, l knickname it the beast. Although of course, in its original GNR splendour, it would be a RC. A kit for the original version's also available.

 

PS, the usual disclaimer, no connection with Isinglass other than a satisfied customer

Edited April 26 by Ken.W
Another typo spotted, lol

[Captain Kernow]

On 24/04/2024 at 08:02, Tony Wright said:

The replacement Comet frames for the Mainline 75XXX..............

 

 

 

Fitted perfectly.

 

 

 

 

Looking good, Tony.

How will you replicate the firebox below the footplate? I found that difficult when I did my 75023, due to using a Portescap driving the middle axle. I would do it differently now.

 

[St Enodoc]

11 hours ago, Dave John said:

Those Micro Metakit models really are impressive. I did a bit of research, they were produced in small batches so could be described as rtr though they were hand crafted with prices to match. The level of craftsmanship does justify the price but even so sit down before clicking the link;

 

https://iehobbies.com/collections/micro-metakit

 

 

 

 

How would that compare with the price of, say, a Korean brass King, adjusted for inflation?

[Bernard Lamb]

10 hours ago, Northmoor said:

<cough>

If I had that kind of money spare, I'd probably buy a share in the real thing.

Going back to the early 1990s, you could have bought a real BR52 Kreigslok, for anywhere between 5 and 10 thousand DM. The only problem was finding a place to keep it.

Bernard

[Tony Wright]

50 minutes ago, Captain Kernow said:

Looking good, Tony.

How will you replicate the firebox below the footplate? I found that difficult when I did my 75023, due to using a Portescap driving the middle axle. I would do it differently now.

 

Good morning Captain,

 

I, too, have arranged the drive on the middle axle, using a big Portescap.................

 

 

The lower firebox sections were made from brass sheet, cut to shape and soldered to the inside top of the frames.

 

One other thing I noticed was that with the new chassis, there was no representation of the bottom of the boiler. As luck would have it, I'd just acquired some dud Hornby A3 bits, so I used a section of one of the boilers from those. Though flat at the bottom, the effect works.

 

I've added plenty of lead ballast, too.

 

 

I know the Portescap will be visible between the boiler and the frames, but there'll be plenty of 'stuff' in the way when the loco is complete to mitigate this. And, from most viewing angles it won't be seen (a poor excuse, perhaps).

 

The thing is, this already works superbly!

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

 

 

[lee74clarke]

12 hours ago, maico said:

 

That's right. I had one back in the 80s when they were winning world championships before going bust!

 

Restored ones like this fetch good money.

That is a a lovely looking motorcycle, and I think I've just got a whiff of two stroke fumes. Perfect.

[30368]

12 hours ago, maico said:

That's right. I had one back in the 80s when they were winning world championships before going bust!

 

 

I remember them well. I raced a KTM 495cc Enduro bike back in the 1980s and early 90's. Great fun if you didnt fall off too often.

 

 

 

Kind regards,

 

30368

 

 

[31A]

1 hour ago, Bernard Lamb said:

Going back to the early 1990s, you could have bought a real BR52 Kreigslok, for anywhere between 5 and 10 thousand DM. The only problem was finding a place to keep it.

Bernard

 

You could maybe plant it..... 😁

 

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/389772542757064283/

 

[ecgtheow]

12 hours ago, maico said:

Here's a more mainstream Micro-Metakit the BR03 in photographic grey

 

 

 

Edited April 26 by ecgtheow
no text

[ecgtheow]

Something went wrong with my post above as it didn't include my text or the photo hopefully now attached. I write to fly the flag for Swiss model loco builders. The loco below is from G.B. Modell, which is essentially a one man show. Appropriately for a Swiss rather than German outfit he makes only smaller loco models but they are good, don't you think? They cost a bit less than Micro Metakit examples& so I have bought a few.

 

William

 

[MikeParkin65]

1 hour ago, Tony Wright said:

Good morning Captain,

 

I, too, have arranged the drive on the middle axle, using a big Portescap.................

 

 

The lower firebox sections were made from brass sheet, cut to shape and soldered to the inside top of the frames.

 

One other thing I noticed was that with the new chassis, there was no representation of the bottom of the boiler. As luck would have it, I'd just acquired some dud Hornby A3 bits, so I used a section of one of the boilers from those. Though flat at the bottom, the effect works.

 

I've added plenty of lead ballast, too.

 

 

I know the Portescap will be visible between the boiler and the frames, but there'll be plenty of 'stuff' in the way when the loco is complete to mitigate this. And, from most viewing angles it won't be seen (a poor excuse, perhaps).

 

The thing is, this already works superbly!

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

 

 

Dare I say that whilst the bogie wheels have the correct Stanier bevel that same bevel is noticeably missing from the drivers? Strangely Hornby did the same with the recent 2MT 

[ecgtheow]

4 hours ago, ecgtheow said:

Something went wrong with my post above as it didn't include my text or the photo hopefully now attached. I write to fly the flag for Swiss model loco builders. The loco below is from G.B. Modell, which is essentially a one man show. Appropriately for a Swiss rather than German outfit he makes only smaller loco models but they are good, don't you think? They cost a bit less than Micro Metakit examples& so I have bought a few.

 

William

 

 

I should have waited before writing about GB Modell to check his website gbmodell.ch It's amazing & for those interested in scratch building well worth a visit. Have a look at how he builds Lokomotiven & Personenwagen in section Bilder aus der Werkstatt. He seems to build almost everything except the Maxxon motors from scratch including locomotive wheels & valve gear but in batches of at least 20 locos or coaches & maybe even 50. I marvel at the skill.

 

William

[bbishop]

Rather gorgeous.  Pity they are HO.  Now if they were Spur Null and I were a millionaire ...

[Tony Wright]

5 hours ago, MikeParkin65 said:

Dare I say that whilst the bogie wheels have the correct Stanier bevel that same bevel is noticeably missing from the drivers? Strangely Hornby did the same with the recent 2MT 

Good afternoon Mike,

 

I used 'standard' Romford/Markits drivers I had in stock of the correct (scale) 5' 8" diameter (actually, 5' 6", but that's more than made up for by the over-scale flanges). 

 

I assume Markits makes the correct pattern wheel type (with the bevel) for all the BR Standards.

 

They're certainly available for the Brits (and Clans and 71000)............

 

 

I fitted them when I made this previously tender-drive Hornby Britannia into a loco-drive one using Comet frames.

 

The bevel is certainly there.

 

 

It's now the property of Graham Nicholas and works on Shap. 

 

Later Hornby loco-drive Brits have the correct pattern wheels now...........

 

 

 

Though why Hornby's rendition of BR green varies so much is anyone's guess. 

 

 

However, under weathering any 'oddity' is hidden (the work of Tom Wright). 

 

The bogie wheels have been changed. 

 

 

When 'I' took its picture on Little Bytham, it was hard to tell it was green!

 

A recent DJH Brit build of mine, certainly has the 'correct' wheels...........

 

 

 

Now painted/weathered by Geoff Haynes.

 

But, that was not always the case.............

 

 

This one has the 'generic' drivers supplied by DJH in the kit, though I changed the bogie wheels (painted by Ian Rathbone).

 

 

When Mick Peabody built this DJH Brit, he used the driving wheels supplied as well (though not the bogie wheels). 

 

I painted it and Mick weathered it. 

 

For years and years and years, Model Loco/DJH 9Fs I've built have run on the drivers supplied in the kits..........

 

 

With too many spokes!

 

 

Until Markits made the correct-type 9F driving wheel. 

 

Still..............

 

 

 

At speed, counting spokes is difficult!

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

 

 

 

 

[Tony Wright]

Yesterday, I took some pictures for the CM of Ian Wilson's American HO layout...........

 

 

 

The layout contains much in the way of scratch-built structures. 

 

 

[Geep7]

1 hour ago, Tony Wright said:

Yesterday, I took some pictures for the CM of Ian Wilson's American HO layout...........

 

 

 

The layout contains much in the way of scratch-built structures. 

 

 

As a somewhat lapsed US outline modeller (hence my RMweb username), that layout looks fantastic. Looking forward to seeing it in the CM.

Edited April 26 by Geep7

[Tony Wright]

Seeing the couple of panned shots I posted earlier, prompted me to take some more this afternoon.............

 

 

Last year I bought this SE Finecast A4 off Geoff West, to whom I'd originally sold it some years earlier from the estate of the late Geoff Brewin.

 

I renumbered/renamed it from 60007 to 60032 (one of the last pair of A4s to retain a single chimney). 

 

 

Today, I panned her going south.

 

Views such as this can be 'highly-critical'; note the wrong angle of the slidebars on this side (correct on the other side), rather like 'Hornby's with the rear end higher than the front. 

 

Such views also 'invite' comparisons...........

 

 

With the likes of a Golden Age A4. 

 

Despite this being superior to the old white metal A4 (it should be, considering it cost nearly ten times as much! Why I bought it I'll never know), I hold it in almost no affection. There's nothing of me in it (it's a real example of 'chequebook modelling'), whereas GANNET is a tangible memory of a late friend, with a little of me in it. 60032 gets used, while 60027 lives in its (rather swanky) box. 

 

More panned comparisons..........

 

 

60847 (Crownline/DJH/Bachmann/Wright/Rathbone).

 

 

60885 (Nu-Cast/Comet/Wright/Rathbone). 

 

 

60948 (Nu-Cast/Comet/Wright). 

 

Observers can pick out the differences.

 

And, some B1 comparisons..............

 

 

61002 (Bachmann/Comet/Smallshire/Wright), complete with leaning-back cab. 61139 (Pro-Scale/Comet/Wright/Haynes weathering). 

 

It leans forwards slightly.

 

 

And 61213 (Bachmann/Wright). A wreck of a thing, bought for a fiver just over a week ago. 

 

Now, after a fair bit of work, a more-than-useful Bytham loco - a spilt chassis which works! 

 

It needs the tender-to-loco gap narrowing, and a fall plate. 

 

Then a further selection of panned shots. 

 

 

61846 (builder/painter unknown); one I got running recently.

 

It leans forward a lot!

 

 

Power and speed epitomised; Tony Geary's superb DJH A1. 

 

 

And, something of a contrast, 61553 (Coopercraft/Wright - one of only three Coopercraft B12/3s known to have been made to work, and all having run on Little Bytham). 

 

These images show that (in some cases) I still have work to do.

 

 

 

 

Edited April 27 by Tony Wright
clumsy grammar

[1471SirFrederickBanbury]

1 minute ago, Tony Wright said:

Seeing the couple of panned shots I posted earlier, prompted me to take some more this afternoon.............

 

 

Last year I bought this SE Finecast A4 off Geoff West, to whom I'd originally sold it some years early from the estate of the late Geoff Brewin.

 

I renumbered/renamed it from 60007 to 60032 (one of the last pair of A4s to retain a single chimney). 

 

 

Today, I panned her going south.

 

Views such as this can be 'highly-critical'; note the wrong angle of the slidebars on this side (correct on the other side), rather like 'Hornby's with the rear end higher than the front. 

 

Such views also 'invite' comparisons...........

 

 

With the likes of a Golden Age A4. 

 

Despite this being superior to the old white metal A4 (it should be, considering it cost nearly ten times as much! Why I bought it I'll never know), I hold it in almost no affection. There's nothing of me in it (it's a real example of 'chequebook modelling'), whereas GANNET is a tangible memory of a late friend, with a little of me in it. 60032 gets used, while 60027 lives in its (rather swanky) box. 

 

More panned comparisons..........

 

 

60847 (Crownline/DJH/Bachmann/Wright/Rathbone).

 

 

60885 (Nu-Cast/Comet/Wright/Rathbone). 

 

 

60948 (Nu-Cast/Comet/Wright). 

 

Observers can pick out the differences.

 

And, some B1 comparisons..............

 

 

61002 (Bachmann/Comet/Smallshire/Wright), complete with leaning-back cab. 61139 (Pro-Scale/Comet/Wright/Haynes weathering). 

 

It leans forwards slightly.

 

 

And 61213 (Bachmann/Wright). A wreck of a thing, bought for a fiver just over a week ago. 

 

Now, after a fair bit of work, a more-than-useful Bytham loco - a spilt chassis which works! 

 

It needs the tender-to-loco gap narrowing, and a fall plate. 

 

Then a further selection of panned shots. 

 

 

61846 (builder/painter unknown); one I got running recently.

 

It leans forward a lot!

 

 

Power and speed epitomised; Tony Geary's superb DJH A1. 

 

 

And, something of a contrast, 61553 (Coopercraft/Wright - one of only three Coopercraft B12/3s known to have been made to work, and all having run on Little Bytham). 

 

These images show that (in some cases) I still have work to do.

 

 

 

 

Not to mention that the buffer beam valence on that Golden Age A4 is just as bad as the SE Finecast model.  The Hornby and Finney ones are better, but are clearly based on the original drawing and thus look only like the first batch of A4s when that part was hand formed. the later A4s had a very different appearance (IMHO) to the likes of Silver Link and makes it easy to tell when an A4 is of that early batch. 

 

The best I've seen was a well built Pro-Scale model, but I can't seem find the photo at the moment.

 

Ps, the photo of Silver Link and the one where Mallard doesn't have any lamps are not mine, but were necessary to show the difference.

[Bernard Lamb]

On 26/04/2024 at 08:54, 31A said:

 

You could maybe plant it..... 😁

 

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/389772542757064283/

 

There is a ready made hole, in the form of a pond, in the garden of the family weekend house. However I do not think the MIL would have been too happy to have discovered a sight like that. Mind you, if I could have found a Skoda built example, complete with a welded boiler I would have been very tempted.😀

Bernard

[Chas Levin]

On 25/04/2024 at 19:44, Dave John said:

...The level of craftsmanship does justify the price but even so sit down before clicking the link;

 

https://iehobbies.com/collections/micro-metakit

 

I was sitting down; I still fell over 😬.

[maico]

10 hours ago, Chas Levin said:

 

I was sitting down; I still fell over 😬.

 

Have another dose of Ho Meta-Microkit. Fotos by Fitz Osterthun

 

 

Edited April 27 by maico

[Tony Wright]

On 26/04/2024 at 20:23, 1471SirFrederickBanbury said:

Not to mention that the buffer beam valence on that Golden Age A4 is just as bad as the SE Finecast model.  The Hornby and Finney ones are better, but are clearly based on the original drawing and thus look only like the first batch of A4s when that part was hand formed. the later A4s had a very different appearance (IMHO) to the likes of Silver Link and makes it easy to tell when an A4 is of that early batch. 

 

The best I've seen was a well built Pro-Scale model, but I can't seem find the photo at the moment.

 

Ps, the photo of Silver Link and the one where Mallard doesn't have any lamps are not mine, but were necessary to show the difference.

 

 

Good evening Rohan,

 

After the recessed draw-hook and short buffers were altered, all the A4s (whatever their batch) were more or less the same. Yes, there were single or double chimneys and a variety of tenders, but by the time all the class had double chimneys (by late-'58), other than different tenders all the A4s looked exactly the same. 

 

Except.............

 

 

 

60014, SILVER LINK was unique in having her main horizontal handrail only drop down after the final stanchion, not the penultimate one as on all the others. 

 

Latterly she towed a 1935 streamlined corridor tender fitted with roller bearings.

 

Something I didn't incorporate on the model I built of her.........

 

 

 

Though I did model the unique handrail.

 

Built from an old Wills kit on a scratch-built chassis, Ian Rathbone painted her.

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

 

 

[Tony Wright]

Just in for photography/review, Hornby's final member of the 'Big Four' quartet, the Urie 'King Arthur'..........

 

 

It looks superb, with performance to match.

 

My review will appear in BRM, with a video on WoR. 

[MJI]

A rake of mineral wagons.

 

 

Printing

 

 

 

 

Curing

 

 

Painting.

 

About 1 hour per wagon to fit bearings, buffers, wheels, brakegear.

 

Even though they turn from resim to wagons here, I consider it more like kit building.

[MJI]

For interest 10 MCV clasp brake gear, 4 MXV converted from something else with 10ft wheelbase, and 20 MXV with Morton. Printing 10 this weekend.

 

With ABS like and standard mix, more flexible. But ABS like not rigid enough for bodies.