N15class

Just a short update. I got on with the valve gear today. I was not overly impressed with it. But I got it all to work in the end. Some of the pivot holes were etched 1.2mm. I Had a couple of cast eccentrics which are better than the etched ones supplied. I am looking forward to putting the motor in and seeing if it works as it should. Each time I look at this loco I find something else that needs making or adding. Both sides are done just I only had time to sort out these poorly taken ones.

I have gone back to the chassis. There is a lot of bits that needed to be added. I fitted Laurie Griffins injectors and scratch built water filters. Once these were in place I could add the rear sandboxes and pipes. It was then on with the front platform to which I added the front steps and hand rail. The two small oilers were also fitted aswell as the lamp irons. The front sanding pipe. I think apart from the spring wires for ponies it is down to some white metal castings and then to the paint shop. Must remember the buffer bodies. I have hat this fellow hanging around the garden, he must be getting used to me an know that I mean no harm as he comes to within a couple of feet of my workshop room.

It has been slow progress mainly because detailing is like that. Here are some of the parts. First off is the injectors. It helps to do a left and right instead of two lefts. The next is the steam exhaust ejector. This I found is too long. It needs the pipe between the elbow and the ejector about half it's length. Then it is the two small oil pots fro the front platform step. Also there is a pear shaped fitting for the smoke box, I think it is to do with the superheater, Not a very good photo of it. I have put the pipes onto the platform oilers. I just need to make a representation of I think the atomiser that you will see later sat between the larger one and the smokebox. The next are the tank front oil boxes. The first to be added to the body were the tank front boxes mainly as they are easy to do. A bit of practice. The eagle eyed of you will of noticed the tank steps have been changed the originals were to small. They are now at the front step up. The left and right platform oilers were next and took some time to do. I do not know if it is right but looks better than nothing. I want to get back to the Victorian locos without all this visible nonsense. The final photos are of the tender rear with all but the vacuum pipe in place. Hopefully some more progress tomorrow.

Had a go at the final piece of major fabrication. The roof which needs to be removable. First problem which is my fault for not checking. The cab front and rear were different to each other and each side was also different. I normally check bits like this with each other before assembly. I made a pair of formers and adjusted the cab front and rear to fit better. The formers were assembled with two bits of tube and a bar of nickel silver. The gutter was made from 0,8mm wire, and the vent is modified from the one in the kit. The inside is not particularly tidy. I will get it tidied a little before painting. The rest of the time has been getting the smaller details sorted out. I started with the steps and promptly dropped a step on the floor. I have a tiled floor, that is swept daily and hoovered weekly. Could I find it, no. Decided to check the bucket of scrap to see if I had anything on old etched, and there it was in the bottom. I quickly soldered them together and put them in the parts box. I have added the brace to the rear of them which I have made to fit on the underside of the footplates, as the front one would be in the way of the pony, and the cab one because the frames are too far away. I also cleaned up the tank fittings that I have. After the episode with the step. I soldered these on before thinks went missing. I have got the tank stays, vents and the water gauge on order from Laurie Griffin. It is all beginning to take shape I still have a bit of scratch building to do on the small bits that are not in the kit. I then started on the bunker detailing. Half round beading was added to the top. A step from the scrap box for the rear, there was a half etched position for one but nothing in the kit. I also made one for the slope on the side. I made up the ladder which has been altered so that it will fit. I just need to make the mounting brackets before it can be added. There is a little flat of footplate over the rear buffer that is not in the kit. I added a bit of brass angle to make this the soldered the buffer plank under that. I think it looks much better now. It would of bugged me not having quite a noticeable part missing. The ladder just rested in place. I am getting close to needing the parts that are on order. I may press on with the frames and get it running ready for when they arrive. Although there is still the cab internals to do. As well as some of the pipe work oilers etc.

You have a couple of extra hours at the bench and you seem to get loads more done. First thing I did today was to tack in place the inner parts of the tanks. These made the whole thing a bit more rigid as the attach to both front and rear footplates. It was then a case of fitting the firebox in place, this then meant I could check the fit of the boiler, and the smokebox on the front of the saddle. Once all was level, I built the rest of the saddle. Then I joined the boiler to the firebox. I have made the firebox, boiler, and smoke box unit detachable at the moment. Hopefully I can keep it that way, as it will be easier to attach the lined boiler bands. It all seems to line up nicely. It also gave the old mojo a big boost. I can now see where we are going. I then thought I ought to add the bunker unit. So I fitted the cab handrails as it would be almost impossible with the 2 parts in place. This needed a little fettling and careful alignment to get looking right. I think I got it in the end though. Can you see what it is yet?? The only real bit of fabrication left is the cab roof. These are not my favourite shape to form. But you just need to get on and do it. Maybe that is tomorrows challenge. Then it is adding the arty bits.

I have done some more to the body. It seems to be going ok at the moment the only problem I can see coming up is the roof is too small. When the bunker section is attached I will see if I need to make a new one or if I can extend the one in the kit. The bunker went together quite well I tack it and will run the solder joints later. The footplate was a little wide for the bunker back plate, or that was slightly small, a couple of rubs with the file sorted it anyway. The cab front and rear were also too wide, but that is easy to sort than them being too narrow. I then made up and added the cabinets to the cab rear. The floor was also cut down as it was a little too long. I need to modify the cab entrance sides a little and ad the hand rails before I fix the bunker unit to the footplate. Next up was the firebox. Which went together very nicely once I did the top curves. It is of the old fashioned type that you need to file the front shoulders. I folded some 1/16^ brass wire and soldered this inside the front and wrapper join, to make sure I did not end up filing holes in the corners. I think I may need to do a little more but will check when the boiler end is cleaned up and adjusted to fit. A temporary fit to see how things are coming on. I think it is beging to look as it should. I suddenly realised this little tank loco is not as small as I thought. Here it is against my 0395. I hope I have built them both in the same scale. Yes I am pleased with the progress I would like to get most of the big soldering on the body done tomorrow, but lets see. I have ordered a few bits From Laurie Griffen tonight, so I should get then in a moth or so. I will when it comes to the time in the build when I need them it will have to be put aside. Something different next, another 2-6-2 tank but this will be from the LNER.

After finishing the second pony on Friday. I spent the rest of my time sorting out most of the body etches. I had already done the side. But the rest needed the awful riveting redoing. I needed to ease the frames for the ponies to swing properly along with a bit of adjustment to get the wheels in the right place. I just need to add wire spring to centralize and add a little downward pressure. The bunker etches had no provision for rivet detail, so I thought as the tanks have so many it would look odd with a rivet free bunker so with a bit of photo searching I came up with this. I rolled the boiler and smokebox. and with a little fettling they were tacked together, they will be joined properly when checked on the body and firebox. I then started to attach the tanks to the footplates. Getting this right is a nightmare. The front is ok but you still need to get the footplate level with the bottom of the tank. The rear footplate is located by the cab front. You then need to get the cab sides and footplate level from this. At the moment it is all tacked together until I do the bunker and check squareness etc on the frames. I am pleased so far, and feel better now it is actually taking shape. I not sure if my parts from Laurie Griffin will get to me before I need them for finishing the job. He seems to of gone awol at the moment. Hopefully tomorrows time at the bench will be just as productive.

We have had some success today. I tackled the ponies the front one is done and the rear one is almost there. Needless to say the first one took most of the morning the other about half an hour so far. During the process I did come up with a way of making two springs that look the same. It also turned out to be as quick as making them the way I used to. The Ponies are pretty basic, in this kit, whether the newer ones are different I do not know, this is what I had. The same for each end. As you can see not a lot to them. the casting for the springs is not so hot. I made a top plate and then soldered the newly made springs between the top and bottom. I then added the front plate from the kit. and made an extension for the bottom with the guard irons on. I also made up some detail on the front plate very similar to the detail on the 2MT I built. It may not be totally correct but it looks better than nothing. There is only so much time I can allow for the build. That's it till Monday.I am pleased with today's progress, The day started very poorly as I knock my box of 8BA screws onto the floor, so my weekend task is to sort out over 1000 screws in 20 sizes. I must close the lid when not using them. I must close the lid when not using them. I must close the lid when not using them.

Now the carnival is over and almost a week of not being near the bench. I managed to get the brakes for the loco sorted out. The hangers to my mind were too wide so I narrowed them a bit. I also had to move where they are hung. I also had to make up the linkage for the hand and power brake. You will see this in the photos. I am thinking of lining the shoes with plasticard one to close up the gap and the other to stop shorts. I also had to improvise the brake pulls as there is nothing in the kit. These may well of been with the castinggs that are not around any more. I then went back to the cylinders, crossheads, etc. As it was I did not have enough room for things to rotate. I for ease moved the slide bar casting out a tiny bit. This actually made the slide bars a better fit on the motion bracket, so whether it was my remake of the cylinders slightly out or the casting of the motion bracket. But the net result is I have the crossheads flying back and forth and the wheel rotating with nether meeting when they should not. I have for some reason got a tight spot which needs one axle bush moving the tiniest amount. I will do this when I next strip down the frames. I have been messing with the footplates such as the are to check the fit of it all so far. I still need to join all the valve gear together. I am actually struggling with inspiration on this build at the moment. Hopefully the mojo will come back, might need to do a wagon or something easy to finish. Lets see how it goes tomorrow, I may be more inspired if I get some decent time at the bench.

I finally feel as though I am getting somewhere at last. I am actually doing more putting together than taking apart. As you will know from the last post, I said I had the motion bracket too high, well, it was the cylinder angle not the motion bracket. Once that was remedied, everything went together very. As you will see I have got both the crossheads and valve supports in place aswell as the motion brackets. These needed a little more work to clear the screws. These next pictures show the front end off of the main frames. I have also added the step between the front frames and the smokebox saddle. I made a start on the brake gear today but could not do much in the hour I had at the bench today. hopefully tomorrow I can get it finished. It is a bit of a fiddle as I am making it removable. Why do I always complicate things?

I had a good day today. I have assembled all the valve gear I even managed to make two rods that do not belong to to the 2mt even though they were on the fret. I just need to put it all together in a manner that works. The motion brackets were cleaned up on Friday, They are not too bad I still need to repair the hole in one of them. I was lucky as they are slightly different to each other, fortunately I was checking all the time whilst filing or I would of been putting metal back I added two stripes of spare fret to either side of the frames attached to the cylinders with a length of angle for strength and a couple of 12BA screws to hold in place against the frames this will make the motion brackets detatch with the cylinders and front end. I have tacked one slide bar and bracket in place. I have the bracket too high but ran out of so will hopefully get it sorted in the morning. But it shows how the whole idea works. I did find that the connecting rods are about 4mm too long. They would of pushed the crossheads into the cylinder. I did then check all the other rods but they are fine.

I actually had a good morning at the bench today. The frames now actually stand on their own two feet. Well six wheels really. I needed to do a bit of fitting to get the bushes to fit the coupling rods. First job was to solder a pin into the hinge on the coupling rods. The compensation works well. I also quite like the way I did like the way the front drivers pivot worked out, may well do it again it saves on expensive horn guides and blocks. From the photos you will see the arrangement I have used for the compensation beams etc. You will notice I have made the rear compensation beams into the dummy firebox bottom, I will add the ash pan to them later. I now have started on the slide bars, crossheads etc. I want to get these and the valve gear fitted and running before I get with too many of the other details on the frames. One crosshead and slide bar fitted together ready for fitting to the cylinders, the other partly done. The motion brackets and valve supports and slides ready for fettling. The kit has etched motion bracket, but I had this one in stock and it looks better than the etched one Hopefully some more progress soon.

Struggling to get things done, yesterday was an odd day as the courts where SWMBO works had a new president sworn in. which meant I did not get much time at the house, and then today I had to collect her early as she is poorly, sick and not well. I did manage to get the frames back together with the cylinders and the front end. I will now solder all the necessary joints properly now. I am pleased how this has worked out. I have also remade but not fitted the cover between the front frames and the front of the smokebox saddle. It looks like I will be remaking the rest of the saddle too, as the sizes of the parts will be bigger. I tested the front footplate to see if the cylinders where in the right place vertically, I am happy that it looks about right to my eyes. Now I will be able to attach the slide bars and motion bracket with out to much worry. You will see from the overhead shot, the lining up marks on the footplate and see how much I have widened the frames in front of the cylinders. Although this is a pain, I think it will make the overall appearance much better. With the slide bars, wheels etc in the way it is not that easy to see the step. I also managed to start lining up the axle bushes. I have put the front ones into the holes as you would for a solid chassis except not soldered, The pivot arms are also in place. With some 3/16" rod in them I soldered in the centre pivot in place, now I will set up the other two axles now I know the front one is square and in the right place. Once they are done I can then enlarge the frame holes at the front so the compensation will work properly. Hopefully this will be tomorrows job after the supermarket run.

Just a small update to show the re manufacture of the front end. I needed to remake the buffer as the original did not survive the re riveting. I have assembled the front frames, front footplate and the buffer beam. This will be fixed to the cylinders when I have them fitted to the main frames. Having made the cylinder profiles. I decided to make new covers as I did not like the etched ones with the kit. There were to many rivets, and the straps down each side are too wide. I also made a spacer. These were all formed and fitted together. Now they can be fitted to the frames. The next job will be adding the slide bars and motion bracket. The two parts so far fit together nicely though still to be soldered.

Masked and sprayed the brown. It covered better than I feared. Now can I call it finished before I mess it up completely. Not sure if I will be able to the black tomorrow, as I have to go for yearly check up, and there are domestics too do as well. So it will probably be Friday, gives it more time to cure, always a good thing. Hope I'm right, I have assumed that in the 1920's and 30's the ends would be black.

Time to restart my blog. First item on the agenda is a long term scratch build. Hopefully it will be completed by the end of the year. I still need parts, so these will be sourced when I come to the UK in June. Let's start with what I will be building. It is an ex LSWR T1 class, designed by Adam’s, 20 built by him, and 30 by Drummond, they differed slightly, I have a feeling I will be building a Drummond built one. It will be finished in Southern olive lined livery with an E prefix. Here's what I've collected so far for the build. The drawings are basic, but contain enough information to build, if used with photos. If anyone has works drawing if be grateful of a copy. I have also got various castings, some of which will not be used, but until I get to them I do not know which would be best suited I got out most of my LSWR domes and chimneys. But the two I most likely to use are the loose flared Drummond chimney and the large dome in one of the packets The only thing done so far is the scaling of one of the drawings, I have printed a few and will use them for cut and pasting for cutting out the sheet material. Hopefully there will be an update soon. But, don't hold your breath as I've got some painting to do.

I managed to do a little painting today. I've given the roof of the K3 a coat of white inside and out. I have also given the body, or the top half a coat of cream. Not sure how others do it but I thought doing the cream first the brown will cover better than the other way around. Does any one know what the interior colour would be? I was thinking of using white. I bought a coffee stirrer the other day to try in paint pots, I had to make the end a little smaller. It does work well, but the lightest pressure stops it. Which is handy in a full 14ml tin. But it's great in the 50ml tins. I'm sure with practice it will be most efficient.

Well the end has come, the final assembly has been completed and the loco is now in a box waiting for postage to the UK. It seems to have taken too long to do, but when I think about how it arrived on my door step it is not too suprising. I don't think the kit was at fault. I think it was not starting from fresh etches. This kit came from a ACME kit, the etches where labeled as College kits, which I think were quite good. I have got one of their 43XX class to do, which looks really good, and what little I have has been nice to do. I like having made something slightly bigger than an 0-6-0 tank. Which I think my previous 15 or so builds had been. But with the west country and my next two projects. There is a rather nice little LMS 3130 0-6-0 to do. There is also a great likelyhood that the next will be a GWR Hall for rebuilding. That again is from ACME. When it arrives I will decide. So the trend is changing. Four tender locos on the trot, would be a record for me. I also have a Scorpio 850 in the UK which will Be coming here sometime in the near future. Well Hope you all don't mind this overdose of photos, Thanks for all the comments, etc.

I now think I have finished the painting on this. It has been a bit of a struggle to get it this far. All in all I am pleased with it. I just need to reassemble it all now, I just rested it together for these photos. I gave it a coat of varnish with black added, but I then gave it a coat of straight varnish. This was because I over thinned the first go and it was a little patchy for my liking. Having been a good boy by getting this one ready for final assembly, lining out the the PBV, and sending the A1 to England. I can now reward myself with getting the West Country out the box again and attemp to get it finished.

Here we are again. I am being very good at the moment and trying to get projects finished. I have finished lining the PBV and all in all I am quite pleased. I did the lining under a magnifying glass, which for me was much better. It is not as good as some peoples from this manor. From general viewing distance it looks very much the part. And a very cruel close up. The varnish should help to bring it all together. I have to give it a coat of varnish to protect the finish. I have discovered a set back. I have no transfers. I thought the S&DJR were on one of the LMS HMRS transfers sheets. I was not worried as I have all the LMS ones. But I have now found out they are on the Midland sheet. Now need to try and get a sheet sent here from the UK not the easiest thing in the world as HMRS do not do internet sales. So for now it will be going on hold for a month or two, which is a shame because I wanted to get it to the UK and sold.

I have done a little more to this, it has been a bit slow as I have been doing the West Country. I have now got all the valve gear fitted, there are a few screws that need trimming and locking. But it seems to run very well. The valve gear is in is cast nickle, most is quite good, the holes were slightly to large for my liking, I much prefer to have to open them up to suit. I have started the lining which I am quite pleased with. I still have most of the red to do, then to tidy it all up. I especially need to thin down the grey and cream line. It has been interesting as I have never done this sort of lining before. I am feeling more comfortable to tackle others now. I have also finished the backhead which I am very please with. I do need to do a little more to the inside of the cab before I can fit it in there. As long as it sill fits, as it was very tight without any paint on it. I will hopefully get it finished by the end of next week if I can get my mine from wandering onto other projects.

Well here is the last post on this loco. I have given it a coat of satin varnish mixed with some satin black. I feel that it has toned down the colours very well. I am sad to be losing it. I may well have to have another go in the future. But needs must I need to earn some money and to buy models for myself. I make no appologise for a photo overload, it's just I like the way it came out. I wil be getting on with another Southern engine now. For those hoping it was going to be my Beattie Well Tank, I am afraid you will be disapointed, I will be building a West Country class, again this is one of those that will be up for sale at the end of it. I do like them but thay are about 15 years too new for my modelling era. As I am making 2 coaches for myself I cannot justify more modelling time taken up with Items for me. I thank everyone for their comments and likes. I hope you all will continue to be interested in my models, modelmaking and whitterings.

I am almost ready to varnish, I just need to tart up a little of the black. It then will be given a coat of humbrol satin varnish with a few drops of black in it. This should then bring it all together. I for some reason numbered it as 753. whish is a comlete waste of time and transfers. At least we now have the correct number. E735. I do not know if it ever lost the E in Southern ownership. I have a few photos of 735 2 in LSWR and 2 in SR liverys. In each one it is painted differently, which I find so strange for having a fairly short time with the railway. The LSWR ones show the tank fronts lined and unlined, one with a Drummond boiler and safety valves in the dome, the other with salter safety valves. The SR ones look lke one cab front sheet is lined and the other not, but again one with Drumond boiler, and stove pipe chimney. The other with stove pipe chimney and salter safety valves. Here is the latest pics of 735. Almost at the end now. Next projects are being looked at.

I have been pottering along with No735. It ha not been a quick as I would like. But all in all I am happy with the progress. As you will see from the photo's I am in the process of lining. Something that I find very hard to do. It is slowly coming together though, still needs work here and there to get it more even. Hopefully it will not be too much longer before I can get 735 back together. As an aside, does anyone here now if the cab back sheet on tank locos were green or black?

Things here have been a little slow because of the house costing etc. But that should change soon as the builders will be starting very soon. Since spraying the Ivatt black I have managed to paint between the frames, and the buffer beams. I had a thought, at no time through this rebuild had I tried the loco and tender together, a sort of panic set in about whether they would line up properly. So as soon as the loco drivers were on I check. Big sigh of relief they when together almost perfectly. shame about the tender footsteps, need to sort that soon. The wheels, motor, and gear box were next. All seemed to roll quite nicely. The pickups were added to cooper faced board and rub on the flange. One the rolling road it ran straight off with any problems, always a nice feeling. I added the cylinder front end assembly, then I took it of and attached the connecting rods to the crossheads. Then it was reattached. The chassis was then run again, no tight spots at all. Just hoping the rest goes just as well. I managed to fit the pony truck. This was tricky as it is sprung over the top of axle and the pivot is under the brake gear. Another good reason for making detatchable brake rigging. There is not a lot of swing but the chassis runs through a peco point, I do not know what the radius is on these.