Brassey

Yes but not always the case. This earlier one with S2 boiler; still lined though

Thanks Mikkel, I wondered if anyone would notice. The early Metros had far fewer rivets than on the Wills kit so I filed them off (you can see it on one of the early photos) and soldered in some wire as rivets. 18 each side but whose counting. It needs a lot of cleaning up which I hope to do towards the end. Of course it might not work in which case I'll probably file it flat. I do think they are noticeable and a quite feature of this loco:

Standard thread is here: Locos workbench: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/124584-gwr-lnwr-pre-grouping-4mm-locos-workbench/

Not too sure it's worth putting much up but I've added the next stage to the blog. If I'd put a coat of Johnsons Klear on a Hornby RTR loco they'd be 100's of comments! There does not seem to be much interest in actually modelling something. (NB: Not bought any RTR since my brother and I had a layout in our bedroom and that's a long time ago)

As is my wont, I am batch building again, this time two GWR Metros (amongst other things). Another blast from the past: back in the day, M&L Leisure sold a discounted pack of 2 kits a couple of which I acquired. The 633 kit in the header photo became surplus to requirements but it has donated some of its contents to this (re)build of a Wills Metro - mainly the bunker - hence its inclusion in the header. The 850 is in the roundtoit pile These are the etches for the Rod Neep kit. The chassis has been built since this photo. They are dated 1986 But I am starting with rebuilding my Wills kit. The tank sides broke of from the front valance when I dismantled it. (can't remember when that was!) Edit: you can see that I've filed off the rivets on the right hand tank side to be replaced later. I srcatch built a new footplate based on the Neep one as a template and, having fitted the front and rear buffer beams, I then decided it needed some rivets which was a bit back to front: The Wills kit is designed around the extended later bunker so the ends needed shortening as marked on the pic Soldered to footplate with bunker plonked on to check along with the cab front in progress. Now to the boiler which needed rolling (this from Nickel Silver). Again the Neep kit providing a handy template Held in position with screws. In the meantime both the chassis completed, the guard irons being the last bit to be added. and chimney attached: Currently the chassis and wheels are in the paint shop before final assembly.

My kit came with a cast whitemetal chassis but I never used it. I scratchbuilt at least 2 for it. I think that South Eastern Finecast probably do an etched chassis for it. I was going to say I was open to offers for the EM Ultrascale wheels but they went into the paint shop this morning. Currently waiting for the primer to dry.

Yes like I said: "...height from the running plate." (The LNWR called the footplate, running plate)

I also have a set of those. Before they and jigs came along, I first used Romford EM extended axles for outside frame locos. Still got them.

Your build is impressive and quick compared to my efforts. I model the LNWR/GWR joint line but pre-grouping GWR is also still a challenge. The LNWR used many standard features whereas the GWR employed a myriad of alterations in boilers, livery etc. I happen to live quite close to what was the joint line in Cheshire between Chester and Manchester but happen to model a station just in Herefordshire about 100 miles down the A49.

I also have 2 x 4mm Coal Tanks that need doing (old Jidenco). I have a LRM 4mm Coal Engine on the go and the instructions gives dimensions of the spacing between the handrail knobs and the height from the running plate. IIRC it suggests marking the line in pencil. I have done this already successfully on a LRM Special DX . Unfortunately, I don't know if the Coal Tank uses exactly the same dimensions but if you need it I can send you the dimensions I have in 4mm and you can convert to 7mm.

Surely Mikkel the old broom handle was never discarded but used for something else! And so it continues - In these days of austerity/lockdown/80% salary furlough, I have become even more mean than usual and have looked to reusing things that I once discarded but never actually got rid of. OK I'm a hoarder. So this Wills Metro kit may have a London Road Models gearbox which I abandoned some time ago in favour of High Level boxes. I've so many of the LRM versions, I thought I'd put them to use. This Frankenstein's monster will also have the bunker from an M&L 633 kit that I decided long ago was surplus to requirements (the front sandboxes of that are on my Beyer Goods, the chimney went elsewhere long ago). The jury is still out on the EM Ultrascale wheels and whether they will run on my dodgy P4 track. If that fails, I do have a couple of axles of Gibson 5' 2" P4 wheels left over after I broke a set trying to get them off a Dean Goods! Anyway I seem to enjoy trying to make silk purses out of these pigs ears rather than attacking the pristine newer kits in their boxes. I must build some carriages though!

Here's a GWR 2-4-0 MetroTank on my Hobby Holidays jig this afternoon. This P4 chassis has twin beam compensation with hornblocks on every axle. I bought this jig as the late Geoff Holt, who wrote the Wild Swan series on Locomotive Modelling, used one. If it was good enough for him, it would do for me. Not cheap but it is extremely useful. Not least as I have found you can take the work off the jig to check it and then put it back on again sometimes the other way up! PS: my bench often looks like a bad game of pick-a-stick but here you can see a number of tools in play: 1/8" reamer, tapered broaches, back-to-back gauge, needle files, pliers and ruler. I have found kits where the rods don't match the wheelbase centres on the chassis so it's always worth checking.

Like a lot of my stash, this is like the fisherman's knife that's had 3 new blades and 2 new handles but still the same knife. I bought the Metro kit donkey's years ago and scratchbuilt a chassis in EM. Then swiftly moved to P4 and scratchbuilt a compensated P4 chassis. Then bought a new chassis and then bought an etched kit. The original EM chassis had Ultrascale wheels which the EM Gauge Society sold at the time. I recently put the EM wheels on the scratchbuilt P4 chassis to see if they would be usable and coxed around my P4 layout. Ultrascale wheels are nice and I was loathed not to use them. Scratchbuilt P4 chassis with EM wheels: Having satisfied myself that it might work, I thus embarked on another distraction of building not one but two Metros including rebuilding the whitemetal one. I have two chassis from the Rod Neep/Perseverance stable (the etch is dated 1986!). Herewith the second on my trusty Hobby Holidays jig. This one has twin beam compensation and dummy valve gear.

Possibly right. I might be mistaking the front lamp for the bufferbeam. Eitherway, I'm not changing it now. No 453 at Craven Arms circa 1910:

I've only recently noticed, but on all these loco pictured here, (from the same era) the front buffer beam extends above the running plate. None of the kits I have provide for this option unless I am mistaken. Does anyone know?

my No. 334 will also have an Armstrong door (I bought two from the Broad Gauge Society stand a few years back at Scaleforum ostensibly for the Dean door which is on the same casting). I also have in my stash probably dating back to the 70's, a number of turned brass doors that are labelled Armstrong. That's how I became aware there was a difference.

Ver nice loco. I find gloss black to be the most unforgiving paint. I am too embarrassed to show mine!

Some of my GWR 4 & 6 wheeler kits have holes etched through the body where the ventilators go allowing solder to be applied from the rear. PS: having looked at the picture, I think I drilled these but you get the idea. And I know; a coach should not be in a goods yard, this was taken to check clearances!

I have both a Large Jumbo and, currently on the go, a small Jumbo/Whitworth. Both are LRM kits but formerly of the George Norton stable. They still have the Norton branding. I think it's a large jumbo in the picture. Both types were allocated to Shrewsbury in 1912. Having looked at my build list last night, I have 20 GWR coaches ahead of the LNWR 6 wheelers - so it could be a while before I get round to these. That is if I can stop myself building locos. The carriage lining is of course the greatest challenge, I guess a tad easier in 7mm! There is an article on lining LNWR coaches by Jol Wilkinson in MRJ 52.

I bought some from David Geen when at the time he was doing an offer at a show of buy 2 for a certain price. I also picked up some MicroRail etches on eBay. I am not sure that LRM do exactly the same diagrams but from them I have another break van and an invalid carriage. I think I have some 6 wheel parcels stock in the stash. This is the only pre-grouping picture I have of Berrington and Eye but it shows a standard set of van, compo, third, third, compo, van, behind a Jumbo. I will get on with this train once I have produced the Jumbo: To add some discipline to my wayward build schedule, I am trying to build trains in the order they appeared on the timetable but I'm easily distracted. This is not of of the initial sets so don't hold your breath in seeing this rake anytime soon! On the other hand I might change my mind - it is a hobby afterall.

I believe that the LNWR all third was the must numerous coach ever built by any railway company. Very nice thread which I will follow intently. I have a number of these to build in 4mm too.

I guess you cut them into strips and overlap them to get a 3D effect

Coming together slowly, GWR Beyer Goods No. 334. Shedded at Shrewsbury in 1912, she had a variety of S4 boilers in her lifetime. Seen on the Tenbury branch: This tender came with the rescued parts on eBay. But I'm working on an OSF tender to replace it. This tender is destined for a GWR Duke "Severn".

John Can I ask how you achieve such consistent gold/yellow lining around the beading. Jol says he's doesn't follow the Ian Rathbone technique which I too have trouble with? Cheers Peter

Looking good and the lining and finishing is exquisite. I too have quite a few coaches to build but always seem to be drawn to building locos.