MR/LMS/BR Johnson 1377 class tank in 4mm

[k22009]

I know there's a really nice Bachmann rtr offering but after making a Craftsman kit a good few moons ago i had a hankering to try another, but one with a few more details added.

 

So after consulting Illustrated Midland Locomotives vol 3 i prepared the drawings.

 

I wasn't sure which variation to model so on the etch i've included for the original round top and the belpaire fireboxes, both with open cab, one type of enclosed cab (as there were at least a couple of varieties) and also a rear weatherboard to keep my options open.

 

 

Drawings are shown with a roadrunner gearbox with a drivestretcher 2 and a small chinese can motor.

 

Well the etch duly arrived after a few weeks so i have a nice Christmas project to tackle.

 

I've decided it will be the roundtop version with open cab and rear weatherboard.

 

 

Frames, spacers, footplate and sandbox supports, and also the fold up sandboxes removed. As with all my other recent locos i've included for half etched lines to the inside to act as a guide where the horn block guide cut outs need to be if so required.

 

 

Dave

 

Edited April 1, 2022 by k22009

[k22009]

I've posted this topic to the wrong area if it can be moved to Kitbuilding that would be appreciated

 

Cheers

 

Dave

[Richard_A]

This looks interesting, would this etch become available to buy? I have always been fascinated by the Swansea vale railway and I'm pretty sure that these ran on it. 

[hayfield]

Dave

 

I am always extremely impressed by the skills modellers like yourself show when designing your own kits, modern day scratch builders !!!

[k22009]

4 hours ago, rka said:

This looks interesting, would this etch become available to buy? I have always been fascinated by the Swansea vale railway and I'm pretty sure that these ran on it. 

 

Hi, when the build is cosmetically complete i'll know better if mods are required to the artwork. I'll probably ask if anyone is interested then.  

[Richard_A]

16 minutes ago, k22009 said:

 

Hi, when the build is cosmetically complete i'll know better if mods are required to the artwork. I'll probably ask if anyone is interested then.  

Thank you. 

[k22009]

The frames have been assembled, i've used the beams for the front 2 axles to give a very small amount of movement. Footplate supports at front and rear support the prominent sandboxes which protrude almost to the footplate edge. 

 

 

The spacers i use are 12mm wide for OO (14 for EM) so there isn't too much room once the wheels are on so i have the bearing flange usually on the inside, then on most wheelsets just a single nylon washer spacer.

 

 

Here with the foldup sandboxes on, i'll add the Wizard models sand box fillers later.

 

 

At this stage i like to make sure the spacers line up with the footplate holes so i've made the basic footplate with valances and buffers up too.

 

 

 

All fits nicely so on to brake gear, coupling rods and getting the chassis in a position to paint next.

 

 

Edited April 1, 2022 by k22009

[k22009]

Everyone have a good Christmas especially those that don't have company, we had a dusting of snow up the road at Glenshee yesterday https://www.ski-glenshee.co.uk/Webcam so i'll be out for some fresh air enjoying it tomorrow before getting my nose in the trough later.

[k22009]

Coupling rods made up and checked with the jigs on the chassis, the brakes have double hangers and are retained on wires by the hanger brackets (i'll take better pictures later)

 

 

 

 

 

Onto the footplate, where i've folded up the splasher sides and rolled the tops to fit into the half etched recess. 

 

 

After soldering those on i formed the tank sides and added the beading to the top, the cab front sits on top of this. Here the first mistake has appeared. I hatched the cab front window frames with the wrong colour on the artwork, red instead of blue so the frames on this version are at the front rather than in the cab as they should be, so i'll correct that on the artwork. I'll fit the tank tops and bunker next before starting on the boiler assembly. I'll leave everything tack soldered until i get the boiler unit to check for fit.

 

 

 

Edited April 1, 2022 by k22009

[Coal Tank]

This is Looking very nice indeed

John 

[k22009]

I've marked the center line of both the boiler/firebox and smokebox before rolling to suit the formers. I've added locating holes to the formers so it will locate into the cab front accurately and each of the inner diameters in the formers is a little different to the adjacent one so its easier to solder these when joining 2 parts together.

 

 

The boiler bands are somewhat overscale but in the flesh they don't look too bad, they are easily filed off if not required.

 

 

And test fit to the body just to check the tank sides are a good fit to the boiler, i can solder everything up now on the footplate, however i'll leave the boiler and smokebox assembly as a separate unit for ease of painting. There is a nut in the smokebox base which lines up with both the footplate and chassis spacer.

 

 

There is a small gap at the smokebox and splasher interface (you can see it clearly through the smokebox opening) so i'll modify the artwork to correct that.

 

Next it's on with the detailing, rear bunker, lamp irons, steps, cylinder cover, castings, handrails and pipework.

Edited April 1, 2022 by k22009

[Richard_A]

Looks very good. 

[k22009]

Happy New Year to all and sundry.

 

Pretty much all of the detailing has been done over the last day or so, there were only a couple of items that needed making, the salter springs and the clack valves, both made with bits of wire, tube, and small washers. With just a couple of small items to attend to, like buffer stocks and whistle (added after painting) to attach, the back head needs some dials, pipework and levers but this at the moment along with the roof isn't fixed. The reversing lever needs repositioning and cutting down a little too and a little judicious use of some filler won't be amiss around the dome and chimney.

 

 

 

 

It's too damp here to paint and in a day or so it'll be too cold so the chassis will have to wait, i will add the gearbox and motor once it's painted, i have some Gibson wheels, so those will be pressed on then too.

If anyone is interested in an etch just private message me please and i'll get the ball rolling.

 

Edited April 1, 2022 by k22009

[Coal Tank]

This really is very nice indeed 

[2996 Victor]

Hi Dave,

 

Just wondered if you had any photos of the completed loco?

 

Cheers,

Mark 

[MarkC]

Gorgeous work - and if I may ask, are the chimney, dome etc 3D printed?

 

 

[41516]

Some of the bits Dave provided with other kits have been resin cast clones from other kits I believe and not 3D printed.

[k22009]

7 hours ago, 2996 Victor said:

Just wondered if you had any photos of the completed loco?

 

 

Hi Mark, It's still in the paint queue but i'm hoping soon to do a batch before the weather changes.

 

 

1 hour ago, MarkC said:

Gorgeous work - and if I may ask, are the chimney, dome etc 3D printed?

 

 

 

Thanks Mark,

 

As 41516 said they aren't 3d printed but just resin clones mostly from my spares box.

 

I was at the Perth show last weekend and was asking at one of the stands about getting some of the more common parts like Johnson chimney, Deeley smokebox doors. Midland dome and safety valve etc 3d printed, but needed to know what sort of drawings they would need to get the ball rolling. The resin castings aren't always good quality with the usual problem of tiny air holes appearing as it sets. My intention was to provide something that could be used as a guide for purchasing from the likes of Colin at Alan Gibson. Although with some models (especially those with tenders) buying a batch of lost wax castings as nice as they are from suppliers can really add a considerable cost.

 

 

[MarkC]

1 hour ago, 41516 said:

Some of the bits Dave provided with other kits have been resin cast clones from other kits I believe and not 3D printed.

Ah, that makes sense - thank you

 

Mark

[MarkC]

8 minutes ago, k22009 said:

 

Hi Mark, It's still in the paint queue but i'm hoping soon to do a batch before the weather changes.

 

 

 

Thanks Mark,

 

As 41516 said they aren't 3d printed but just resin clones mostly from my spares box.

 

I was at the Perth show last weekend and was asking at one of the stands about getting some of the more common parts like Johnson chimney, Deeley smokebox doors. Midland dome and safety valve etc 3d printed, but needed to know what sort of drawings they would need to get the ball rolling. The resin castings aren't always good quality with the usual problem of tiny air holes appearing as it sets. My intention was to provide something that could be used as a guide for purchasing from the likes of Colin at Alan Gibson. Although with some models (especially those with tenders) buying a batch of lost wax castings as nice as they are from suppliers can really add a considerable cost.

 

 

I can certainly see a market for these parts being 3d printed, as it's becoming more difficult to source WM or lost wax parts for certain models.

 

Anyway, again, nice work 👍

[ianLMS]

Just finished priming 1 of the 2 '1377' kits you sent me. 

 

Rivets will be added next using Archers resin rivets as the brass strip i knew i wouldnt be able to fixed as neatly as i would want them to be.

 

Not as neat and tidy as your example but its coming along. 2nd kit will be the Belpaire version. 

 

Buffers came from Lanarkshire models. 

 

The only issue i had was working out how the lamp irons folded up lol so ended up using brass rod.

 

The main mistake was adding the rear cab panel and coal bunker before i added in the top trim which resulted in a sloping cab roof. Note for the next build!!!!

 

Great kit though and thank you!!!!

 

 

 

Edited November 23, 2022 by ianLMS

[ianLMS]

Archers rivets added. One thing i have noticed is that Halfords etching paint isnt adhering as well as it did on previos models i have painted. The only thing i have done differently over the past 3 kits is the cleaning. I have been using an ultrasonuc cleaning solution for removing flux and i changed to Ciff kitchen spray from Astonish. The next one will be cleaned differently to see if it makes a difference.

 

I am also part through the Belpaire version kit which has extra coal rails and will be fitted with vac hoses for passanger train working.

 

 

Edited December 1, 2022 by ianLMS

[ianLMS]

Hi Dave,

I am conscious that i have hijacked your topic and more than happy to create my own to continue the saga if you prefer. 

 

The kit is just superb and both have been a real pleasure to build!

 

Thanks

Ian

[k22009]

Hi Ian,

 

Thanks, it's great to see how your getting on with them, more than happy for you to continue, at least when other members search it'll be in one thread.

 

Cheers

[k22009]

On 01/12/2022 at 07:58, ianLMS said:

 

 

 

Looks like a well organised work bench there Ian 😁