david.hill64

Happy Birthday!

Enjoy your day out.

I too worked on Taiwan High Speed Rail.

THSRC's engineers insisted that the rails had to have UIC metallurgy, even if they had the JIS60 (if that is the correct standard) profile.

The job was further complicated because the civil works had all been designed and constructed to UIC standards and some very long 200km/h turnouts were installed to facilitate the skip stop operation that was planned to get the service frequency up to the expected levels. The Japanese did not have a design for of these long turnouts, so switches and crossings were sourced from Germany with Japanese rail profile.

In the end the limitations of the Japanese compound catenary overhead system and pantograph design limited the speed on turnouts to 80km/h, so the system has not been able to take advantage of the high speed turnouts.

In the end I think that even the Japanese engineers were impressed with what was achieved on this project.

LT trolleybuses ran at 600v, which was supplied at -300v neg and +300 pos, and I have no idea why this was chosen as the old trams were -0 and +600, perhaps to do with minimising corrosion?

I wonder if this was to do with insulation? Insulators suitable for 300V will be smaller and lighter than those rated for 600V.

For a tram the rails have to be at earth so the overhead must be at working voltage, just like electrified railways. I did read about problems with stud contact systems where horses could depress and energize the stud with their hooves leading to unfortunate consequences, but perhaps this is an urban myth.

I have really enjoyed following progress of this build. I remember trolley buses in Derby, Reading, Cardiff, Walsall and of course Bradford most;y seen as incidentals to train spotting trips in the 60s. When going to Leeds for my University interview in 1971 I did take a trip to Bradford for a quick ride on a trolleybus. My only experience in the UK. I also remember seeing what I think were ex LT trolleybuses near the railway station at San Sebastian Spain in 1973.

No picture, but I remember when the news went round the Tech Centre at Derby that a Deltic was on its way with a dead Peak heading for Derby Works. Must have been in 1980/1. In the offices of Brunel House we heard the beast before seeing it, even though it was running on one engine only. I wish I could remember which one it was.

 

 

 

Just going back to 44767 again, the GA drawings confirm that 4 inches (or 1.3mm in 4mm scale) were added to:

 

- the chassis (between the centre driving axle position and the oval lightening hole in front of the trailing axle position)

- the trailing coupling rods

- the smokebox (between the chimney and join to the boiler)

- the running plate

 

I recently picked up a second Brassmasters LFB Black 5 kit for an experiment, and can see that you would need to:

 

- saw the resin smokebox vertically behind the chimney position

- add in a plastic insert to lengthen the smokebox to a scale 6'8", and rejoin

- cut the footplate valencing and add in a 1.3mm insert

- add corresponding inserts to the running plates

 

- cut the chassis frames in the positions mentioned

- cut and graft in 1.3mm inserts, then rejoin

- lengthen the trailing coupling rods.

 

For the last three tasks you'd definitely need some sort of jig (Chris Pendlenton-style) to hold it all in the right place whilst soldering back together again.

 

It's quite involved.

 

Interesting.

It's on my 'will I - won't I' list at present. I thought that the body changes to the Brassmasters kit were feasible and I was planning to use the Comet LWB chassis. Still pondering this one.

I suppose that 01 002 (and possibly 01 001?) were unique in having the Lion-on-Wheel emblem and a TOPS number.

Great photos.

Hi David I will be using a spair djh coprotti valve gear for the mod and scratch built other parts needed. Crownline use to do a conversion but they are hard to find now.

Ah! Lucky to have the spare! I wondered if anyone produced it. I know that DJH do for the Duke and standard 5 models, but didn't think that they would supply components. I remember the Crownline conversion but was drifting away from modelling and never bought it. Pity. Impossible to have too many Black 5's on a layout!

Just an update 44767 has been on test and the motion has lasted   so now its time to modifiy another black 5 YES another one

The loco what will be a coprotti high running no 44686 coverting Hornby black 5 into it. I will be taking pics when i start it

Looking forward to seeing it.

I thought that these two were much better looking than the earlier caprottis, though I never saw them. Actually I cannot remember seeing any of the caprottis though I can remember seeing 44767 at Edge Hill in 1967.

Where will you source the valve gear?

The crosti 9F looks as good as it is possible for one of those beasts! I can still remember seeing 92028, but in rebuilt form.

Which ABC gearbox did you use? I'd like to try the normal 9F or the Crosti.

Thanks! David

  A good idea - along with the spare tiny bits that always seem to ping as they are removed. So often there is wasted space on the fret that could be put to good use by a simple copy & paste in the CAD.

 

Of course if you use a press like the GW one you don't need to practise

I have an unmade Brassmasters kit that includes the following in the instructions:

"Wherever possible, spares of small component parts have been included to allow for those which refuse to be parted form their hiding place in the carpet."

Priceless!

I use the gravity rivetter: I like it a lot as it is easy to get consistent sized rivets.

Here is a suggestion for etched kit manufacturers who produce etches that need to be punched out. Please include somewhere on the fret a test section where you can practice rivetting to set up the correct drop. If you are also going to use part of the fret as strip material, include half etched holes so that they can be used if needed.

The reson i used a rtr model is that it has a depth of detail i was going to ues the comet lwb kit and roll my own boiler but and use the gibbson wheels but I didnt want to spend loads of coinage to do the mod. Plus I  have about 10 black 5s (yes I can be classed as crazy  )  so I could loose one to do the mod on it.

The next move after 44767 is to do a caprotti high running plate verson to go with the comet low plate one but thats for a nother day

 

Mark

Well you have a very good looking model and can be pleased with your efforts!

Santa was very generous this year and provided the bits for mine.

10 Black 5's seems entirely reasonable! I have three Comet Caprotti's (one of each variant) and the DJH kit to make yet. I fancy a couple of Brassmasters variants too.

44686/7 are also on the wish list. I know that there was a conversion kit available some years ago. Comet's website shows how someone has used their Caprotti kit as a base for the high running board version: it looks very good.

_{I too used the brassmasters kit as a basis for mine but chose in the end to use the chassis that canme with the kit.}

_{The extra length 4" equates to 1mm and I thought it not worth the extra effort.}

_{The cab, firebox & boiler on the long wheelbase versions are moved back 4" and the smokebox increased in length by 4".}

_{Also if you use the comet chassis then the Bill bedford rods will be too short (they are for the short wheelbase version) I presume that when he did the etch he assumed that most people would convert a RTR model to achieve the result.}

 

_{Personally I think people would be hard put to see the difference in wheelbase legth unless there are two versions side by side and then it's only 1mm}

 

_{the choice is yours of course and good luck whichever route you take.}

 

_{over to you horse!}

I agree that it will be difficult to see the difference and it gives me a problem of what to do with the smokebox. I'll find a way!

Actually will need to check other dimensions too: is the running plate 4" longer if the cab etc are moved back?

Great to see this model: it's prompted me to make my first post!

I am plucking up courage to start my own model. It will be based on the Brassmasters loco and part welded tender kits but with the long wheel based Comet chassis, Gibson wheels and of course the Bill Bedford etch. I also have some Comet Ivatt tender detailing parts. To be completed in OO.  I have all the bits.

I am near the finish line with a DJH/Piercy O gauge B1 kit. If anyone is interested I'll post some pictures when it is done. After the marathon of building this model I will probably go for something small and quick(ish) - the Brassmasters Deeley 0F - before starting the Stephenson.