EHertsGER Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 Some strange ideas come to me in the wee small hours... So, let me set the scene. On 10–11 December 1891, the Great Eastern Railway's Stratford Works built a Y14, better known, perhaps as the J15, and had it in steam with a coat of grey primer in 9 hours 47 minutes; this remains a world record. The locomotive then went off to run 36,000 miles on Peterborough to London coal trains before coming back to the works for the final coat of paint. It lasted 40 years and ran a total of 1,127,750 miles. So, it occurred to me that, given a prepped workbench and a decent amount of knowledge, could one build say an Alan Gibson kit in the same amount of time? (Me? not a hope...) Undeterred, my thoughts wandered to such a task as a challenge. A public attempt to do so en masse at an exhibition, driven by some kind of sponsorship for a 'good cause' etc (GERS, J15 preservation group etc) in the light of Hornby's impending release it is a locomotive that is on the radar of a lot of people and the effort would keep alive the modellers in all of us. At, say, Warley, model making suddenly becomes a spectator sport...? So, could Hornby do it? Given the extended supply chain from here to China, they are dead in the water. Don't forget, our challengees - and nobody said it was a solo effort as Stratford had one or two folks on the task - have the nine hours or so taken by Stratford to do this - no ship I know can get from China to set the loco 'in steam/running' at the venue in that time! Now if they want to assemble one from their 'bits' at the challenge venue, that is another story... All in all more of a wheeze conjured up in my thoughts, but the fund raising thing has possibilities. So, in true Blue Peter fashion, 'over to you...' Best, Marcus Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
david.hill64 Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 Stratford works of course had the advantage of employing more than one man on the build. I would have thought that by splitting the kit into different components: chassis, body tender and with one or more people preparing parts for assembly, it would be possible to complete a kit quickly. Perhaps it brings a whole new meaning to the 'competition stand'! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
69843 Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 I wonder if this would have been a good idea for a challenge at somewhere like RMweb Live, or at somewhere like Warley. I do think it is a fantastically fun idea, and I've had similar thoughts myself. The only way I can see Hornby doing this in the UK is by having all the bits there but the body, and 3D printing the body (I don't think a mould machine would be able to be used at an exhibition, but I stand to be corrected if it is possible). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 Do you get a Blue Peter badge at the end of it? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
34theletterbetweenB&D Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 The competitive event aspect is a good thought. Each competitor gets a CKD kit for the entry fee, and gets to keep the assembled loco presented for validation by inspection (all parts in kit used, external appearance matches sample) and then the test run (starts and runs smoothly in both directions round a complete circuit at a minimum voltage determined as just sufficient to start and run the motor.) Just one inspector of course, and the competition is won by the loco that following its assembly validation completes the running requirement. Failure at any stage, after adjustment joins the queue for inspector validation behind any that have since been presented. Biased for 'right first time'. What would add real spice is bringing over the best assembly worker from the factory as an R&R trip. She would probably do the assembly job in half the time of the best entrant, and could then act as inspector. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 Wonder if it would merit an entry in the Guinness Book of Records? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Tomlinson Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 Given recent trends on TV, maybe we could have "The Great British Kit Build". Or perhaps Kirsty Allsopp might do a new series based on recycling old kits (of which there are thought to be lots), to be assembled as part of a model railway displayed in her delightfully homemade lounge! John. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 Given recent trends on TV, maybe we could have "The Great British Kit Build"..... What, with the camera panning across to a squirrel toting some unfeasibly overscale reproductive organs? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steamport Southport Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 I've seen somebody build an O gauge etched brass coach kit whilst at an exhibition. I think it was a Chowbent LNWR or L & Y one. He had only just started as I first had a look and after a couple of hours after walking around the exhibition once and deciding to have another look it was virtually finished. He had a pile of other coaches, so I presume he was going to build those as well. So he probably built enough for a decent length train over the weekend. Regards Jason. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris-GNR Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 I like it..... It might even help relight some of the lost interest in the kit & scratch building side of the hobby, showing that its not some dark art it just requires a bit of practice. Good idea... Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
EHertsGER Posted September 12, 2014 Author Share Posted September 12, 2014 OK, so who we pester (OK, I started this, so I guess 'volunteered' for it..) to get this thing going? Warley organisers? (Contact page from their web site?), RMWeb Live - no idea, Hornby (their PR department?) GERS - got that, J15 Preservation group - web site contact etc etc.. James May...Blue Peter (gotta get you that badge...).....really? Anyone who can name names would be a huge help... No promises...lets see what I can come up with. Seems a few of us like the idea... Best, Marcus Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
EHertsGER Posted September 12, 2014 Author Share Posted September 12, 2014 What, with the camera panning across to a squirrel toting some unfeasibly overscale reproductive organs? Mission Impossible? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
EHertsGER Posted September 12, 2014 Author Share Posted September 12, 2014 Wonder if it would merit an entry in the Guinness Book of Records? Well it is possible that anyone beating Stratford's time could claim the fastest J15 build...nowhere does it mention how big it had to be...just 'running' at completion... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeavyDuty Posted September 13, 2014 Share Posted September 13, 2014 Do you get a Blue Peter badge at the end of it? I think I need to investigate this "Blue Peter" term - it implies something quite different over here and makes me snicker like a 14 year old. Think fanny pack vs. bum bag. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisonic Posted September 13, 2014 Share Posted September 13, 2014 The Brits will not understand why a band called “The Swinging Johnsons” is funny either..... Blue Peter is an ancient British TV program for kids - A Blue Peter badge (pin) was a prized possession. Just to show you how old it is - Jimmy Page has one for performing on guitar on it when he was 12. I’m 62 and he is older than me! Sorry my memory deceived me - it wasn’t Blue Peter but I guess you get the gist of of the program : Best, Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
EHertsGER Posted September 13, 2014 Author Share Posted September 13, 2014 I think I need to investigate this "Blue Peter" term - it implies something quite different over here and makes me snicker like a 14 year old. Think fanny pack vs. bum bag. Oh, you are going to have a real problem with 'get down, Shep!'.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
EHertsGER Posted September 17, 2015 Author Share Posted September 17, 2015 Ok, an update to my (our) thoughts. As Brassmasters is planning an 'Easichas' conversion set 'shortly', perhaps we should 'nobble' the Hornby contribution by stiplulating a P4 version should be built. A stunt put on by Brassmasters/Gibson/Scalefour Society...more than one way to a P4 J15...? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
manna Posted September 17, 2015 Share Posted September 17, 2015 G'day Gents To go to the other extreme, how long would it take to demolish a J15 with a gas axe............. manna Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bigbee Line Posted September 17, 2015 Share Posted September 17, 2015 Crewe LNWR erected a loco in something like 8 hours. But at a cost of a few fingers..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
EHertsGER Posted September 18, 2015 Author Share Posted September 18, 2015 ...but Stratford had it in steam in nine and change... So, a P4 J15 in the same time frame...? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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