Northeastern J77

[ArthurK]

A New etch from NORTHEASTERN KITS

 

The last ten J77s which were rebult form Fletcher BTP 0-4-4 well tanks were given the worsdell style od cab. They also had new rear frames that were six inches longer than the previous 50 rebuilds.

I recently obtained a drawing show full dimensions for the new tanks and cab. The dimensions for my earlier J77 with the Fletcher style of cab had dimensions taken from drawings of the BTP and the weights diagram. The latter is not very reliable.

The first etches these arrived yesterday and I found it very difficult to resist finding out just what kind of a mess(?)I had made of this one. However fears appear to be largely unfounded and it looks as though this will go together very quickly. The construction closely follows on from the J73 useing the same design of fold up tanks and cab. The next posts will outline this build but first these are the etches.

 

As I said I coudn't resist trying bits out So here are the first few photos. No soldering yet!

 

 

 

ArthurK

[ArthurK]

A New etch from NORTHEASTERN KITS

 

Again I cannot resist a trial fit ot the bits so far.  This is just held by a couple of bits of Bluetac (actually white) to stop the tabs springing out of their footplate slots.

 

 

 

More next week.

 

ArthurK

[Wizard of the Moor]

I'll look forward to seeing this on your stand at Scalefour North in April.

 

The J77s are my favourite North Eastern tank loco. It's a shame that none of them made it to Aberdeen instead of the J72s.

[ArthurK]

Quite a bit of progress this week. I have assembled all the major prts of the body. Everything fitted perfectly. One problem is the roof flange along the cab top. I had relieved this bend with a fine slot over the cab side opening knowing that without some help making this bend can distort the cab top. However the fold was easy but because of the very narrow cabside top it left this bit extremely weak and fitting the cab beading was difficult and I am afraid that I didn't make a very good job of it. Problem two was the cab floor. It was a very tight fit and had to be relieved where it met the sidetanks. Speaking of which there was supposed to be a hole in the right hand side tank to fit the reverse lever quadrant. I didn't spot that until it was too late. That will have to wait for the next build.

 

The boiler, smokebox wrapper and the two layers of the cab roof were rolled. Nothing else needs rolling. The front splashers were formed by hand. Assembly of the smokebox was straight forwardand I did remember to solder the nut in the bottom. I forgot about the nut in the bunker so I hope my soldering iron will reach all the way down iside the bunker to the floor. Boiler and smokebox were a nice fit on the footplate, right up to the slot at the front through which the cylinder ends and valve chest will protrude. They are part of the underframe.

 

Next job is the steps. On this model the sandboxes will be cast. On my original J77 these were a fold-up unit. I cannot finish the operating rods for this until I have castings.

 

Next Week the underframe.

 

 

 

ArthurK

[ArthurK]

A little more progress yesterday The smokebox joint ring is in place as are the cleading bands.

The joint ring is 1mm X 0.5mm half round section. This was annealed and formed into a coil using a bar rather smaller than the boiler diameter. There is always some springback even when annealed. It was soldered flush with the front of the boiler and because the smokebox rear is recessed into the wrapper the front of the ring disappears inside giving the required quadrant visible.

Those of you that have recently bought my kits will know that I supply a small etch which comtains boiler bands, handwheels and various washers. The boiler bands being half etched from 12thou material are 6thou thick. This is over scale but just about acceptable especially if rubbed down using 'wet & dry'. I decided an improvement was worth a try. I used the same sheet that I used previously but this time etched from 8thou nickel silver. I realised that the handwheels on the sheet would probably be useless (they are OK but fragile) but for the cost of a single sheet of etch, no new artwork, it was worth a try. I can only say that although at 4thou they are still overscale thickness they are a big improvement on those in brass. An added bonus is that nickel silver is much stiffer than brass and I found the application of these bands much easier. I think that the results warrant new artwork specifically aimed at the boiler bands. Then I wonder should I try 6thou nickel!







ArthurK

[ArthurK]

I am making a bit more progress. The washout plugs are in place and also the handrails. It is difficult to get the boiler handrail knobs exactly in line with those on the snokebox. The blower valve on the left of the smokebox usually comes out a little higher that it should. I make these from a 7mm (long) knob with the foot removed but it is not easy to get the height just right. For this reason I often use the shoulderless knobs on the boiler so that the height can be adjusted.

 

 

 

 

I have tried the chimney, dome etc. (not permanently). With these these in place it is beginning to look like a loco.

 

ArthurK

[ArthurK]

A trial of the chimney ,dome etc.

 

I is beginning to look 'complete'. At least on the top half! Not yet removed the casting lines and the smokebox door is held with white sticky stuff!

 

 

 

 

ArthurK

[mikemeg]

As this thread covers Arthur's J77 and, as Arthur said at the start of the thread, as there were two 'families' of J77's with the basic - though by no means the only - difference being the cab profile then it would seem sensible to use Arthur's thread to describe the building of the other version of Arthur's J77, covering the Fletcher style cab with its various options.

 

Arthur has very kindly sent me the trial etches to build, as he has his hands full preparing various models for upcoming exhibitions. So, tomorrow (when I will edit out this sentence) I will photograph the start of this build.

 

Cheers

 

Mike

[ArthurK]

NORTHEASTERN J77 1920 Darlington Rebuilds
 
Made quite a lot of progress over the weekend. Steps were added . Also most of the boiler fittings  and other details. The bunker step was missing from the etch so I had to file up a bit of scrap etch for this. These 10 J77s were the only ones to have a step on the bunker.

 

Still to add are the sandboxes, front springs and tank vents. Again these were the only J77 to have the latter on the top of the tanks. The earlier ones had pipes from the tank tops inside the cab which vented through the cab roof.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Still a bit of cleaning up to do. Must straighten the rear lamp bracket! You never notice these things until you take the photograph.

 

ArthurK

[ArthurK]

NORTHEASTERN J77 1920 Darlington Rebuilds

It's been a busy few afternoons. I wanted to get this into a semi finished state and get on with the next job. The frames went together without any problems. This one is intended as a demo model only and to save time it was built as rigid but to P4 standards. Axles run in top hat bushes. The wheels were added and coupling rods made up (rigid). The wheels revolved soothly first time. I made add that this was built on the Avonside chassis jig. It certainly eases positioning and soldering the spacers. The brake brackets were next, then the hangers and shoes. These 1920 rebuilds had compensated central pull rod. This was my usual single piece etch with overlays to represent the shackles. This time as a trial I used 12thou brass from the body etch for these rather than the 18thou from the chasis etch. This a bit more delicate to handle but I think that this is a better choice. I have often thought the the thicker material is too bulky in appearance. Then it remained to add the brake cross shaft and levers. I seem to have omitted the vertical link from the brake standard. I must add that to the production etch.

 

There are still the front sandboxes and springs to add. These will be castings though I may use the fold up sandboxes from the earlier kits for this build if I have time. 

By and large every thing has gone to plan on this one. Only a few minor things to tidy up.

Not sure if I will do much more to this as I want to get the next projects into a presentable state for Scaleforum North. They will be announced on that date.

Next priority is the W 4-6-0T, all that it needs is the instructions. Then the Tennant 2-4-0. That needs the front axle boxes, front springs and sandbox fillers. I now have the masters for all of those.

 

ArthurK

Below are a selection of the latest photos of the J77.

(attachment=264637:DSCN0328.JPG]










 

[7mm Mick]

Somehow a 'like' doesn't sum this one up. A fantastic model which really captures the prototype, a handsome looking loco. Another triumph,

 

ATB Mick

[micklner]

Lovely , needs sprung buffers !!

[ArthurK]

Thanks both. That chimney doesn't look too well seated and I've bent the top lamp iron again!

 

Spriung buffers? Yes but I don't like those available. One day I will have some cast from brass. They will be sprung. I expect many who buy my offerings will replace those that I supply with sprung ones. 

 

ArthurK