UM T9 modification

[Dorsetmike]

Something pre WW2 to go with the UM 700s and Dapol M7s on my layout; problem, in 1930s nearly all the T9s with wide cab with 6 wheel tender were on the Eastern and Central sections; I'm modelling "somewhere in East Dorset" so need a narrow cab and an 8 wheel Drummond "Watercart" tender.

 

Luckily a reasonable representation of the Watercart is available using a Langley S15 kit and Fleischmann 716x tender drive; problem - UM locos only pick up on one side the Fleischmann drive wants both sides. See the attached pics for how I made and fitted the pick ups. The channeling of the top of the keeper plate for the wire was done using a slitting disc in a minidrill. Would have been better taking the pics while the job was in progress not after painting! Green background to some of the pics don't help either.

 

I've noticed that older Flieschmann tenders have tyres an all 8 wheels but newer ones only have tyres front and back, if using one with all wheels tyred it will be necessary to remove the tyre from the wheel being used for pick up, or fix a piece of PB strip behind the step to bear on the rail top.

 

The cab and splashers were "narrowed" by milling a bit at a time, checking the thickness of metal remaining with a micrometer, I was able to take off about 1mm, leaving 1mm of metal, the conn rod splashers were made from 1mm plastic card.

 

I ordered the model in primer so I didn't have any problems matching paint on the milled parts! Vac pipes and lamp irons added, still need to fit headcode discs, when I figure out which is most appropriate.

 

Lining all hand done (and it shows!) I chose 120 as it was shedded in this area in the 1930s which is the layout period, plus being the preserved member of the class it could legitimately run on a more modern layout.