JMG's Workbench

[jmg123]

I have just started building a Mercian Models kit of an LNWR Jumbo  (Improved Precedent class).  I have had a look around on various forums, but can't seem to find anyone else's build logs or workbenches for the model. When it's finished it'll be in lined LNWR livery.

 

I decided to start with the tender, which is an all nickel silver construction, with white metal detailing The footplate has fled up tabs that go behind the wrapped sides, and the instructions helpfully suggest which size of drill bit to use to bend the corners, All in all it went together with no fuss,and  about an hour later, the sides were on, and the inner wrapper was fitted.

 

 

Luckily the tender flares are a casting, as I  did not fancy the solder and filing approach. 

 

 

This is the first loco that has a curly footplate that I have constructed, all the others have been flat. The instructions mention this must be done carefully, though I am looking for suggestions as to the best way to do it.  Do one side then the other, or do both sides at the same time?  I was thinking of marking out with a pen the centre of the curves, and bending it gently round a suitable raidius whilst one end is held flat in the hold and fold? Any suggestions would be gratefully received.

 

 

[jmg123]

I decided that the easiest way to bend the footplate without damaging the delicate  Valencing was to make a jig. As my CAD skills are much better than my woodwork skills, I felt the way to go was to knock something up for laser cutting.

 

First off I scanned the Valencing part.

 

 

Next up was importing into sketchup so as to be able to draw around the outline, and make a pattern for the jig. At the same time I also drew the opposite part, so as the footplate could be sandwiched in the middle.  The was a tab to for fit in the running plate slot, and hook on the end to help keep the tuning plate flat.

 

 

 

This can then easily be exported to inkscape, ready for sending off to cutters. I use http://www.razorlab.co.uk for all my cutting as the service is great and the turn around quick. I got it cut in 3mm MDF, as I thought it would be smoother than 3mm laser ply.

 

 

 

A few days later the parts arrived in the post, I was able to fit three of each on a single sheet. Turns out the tab was not very useful, so I just filed it off in the end.

 

 

Next up was the process of actually forming the footplate

 

 

Finally the jig was also very helpful for resting the Valence on during the soldering process, helping to get everything perfectly straight.

 

 

If anyone else makes this kit in the future, and would like the jig I can either put the file for laser cutting up (or send one of the spare Jigs I have knocking around.

Edited March 13, 2015 by jmg123

[jmg123]

Some more updates on the progress of the tender:

 

I decided to add some extra pickups to the tender, so as to improve the current collection,. There are slots in the tender floor for the top of the wheels, so it was very easy to just add some scrap PCB and a bit of phosphor bronze. My intention is to cut a hole in the top of the tender, so that I can access the pickups in the future, it will be easy to cover it with coal stuck to a bit of card.  It will also let me put plastic tube over the phosphor bronze pickups during painting.

 

 

Aside from that the tender construction has been straightforward so far. There s quite a bit going on underneath the tender, lots of detail

 

 

 

 

Luckily the  tender flares are cast rather than etched.

 

[Coal Tank]

Hi did you finish this loco

John 

[jmg123]

I did, but parenthood has curtailed my modelling time, so I currently haven't got around to painting it.