orford

A lot of work on the other (O Gauge) exhibition layout, Peter.  This one's pretty much about done, other than waiting for a couple of Hornby D16/3's to arrive later in the summer.

Yep - not much can be done about the length, but I've tried to disguise it as best I can by redoing the front bogie, adding front bogie splash/stone guards, etc., cheating just a little bit on all.  The Hornby front frames are also rather too low in profile (in front of the smoke box) and again - there isn't a lot which can be done about it.

At the end of the day - it was never going to be a true scale model of a B12. the idea was simply to improve the Hornby model as much as possible within a reasonable time scale, until one of the big boys finally brings out a decent version to modern standards (we live in hope).

The biggest change was lowering it by about 3mm so that it sits at the correct height on the chassis - this alone makes a huge difference. Also fitting a modern (actually Sandringham) tender, to replace the original shapeless 'blob'.

But as I model the Aldeburgh branch (or at least, an imagined extension of it), I needed a B12. And I'm running out of years!

- Don

Thanks Ivan ...and others for the kind comments.  I've now got all the detail painting done, such as the pipes coming from the pump and the little brass oil pots at the front of the frames directly under the front of the smokebox (which are surprisingly conspicuous on the prototype) - oh and the rods are now red, as on many B12's in early BR days.

I just have to add a tail lamp bracket at the top centre of the tender and the 82B shed code plate, then it's about done and ready for some tasteful weathering ! Last thing will be my little ruse for disguising that bit of 'skirt'. Unsure yet how effective or otherwise it will be. Watch this space.

Running-wise, the Portescap motor/gearbox is now fully run-in and it will go from a crawl to a realistic top speed in both directions. The sound is in and is very good. I'll try to put a video clip up on You Tube when it's finally done.  It took it's first train (5 heavy Hornby lighted Pullmans) around the layout and back today without problems of any kind.

Off on holiday Easter week (to Orford of course - where else?).  So more updates on this in a couple of weeks time.

EXCELLENT work Pete.  VERY impressive.

I don't even pretend to be able to match those standards - never could and never will be able to scratch build in the smaller scales, although I have scratch built in 7mm and upwards, including a gas-fired live steamer in 'G' (Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington 'Prairie' N0 6). 

But when it comes to 4mm I can't match the current RTR stuff. No way. 

So far as the B12 goes, I had an old motorless chassis lying in a drawer, I had a never used Portescap and I had a spare B17 tender ..... so it really is a case of getting a believable loco together for cheap essentially from what happened to be in the bits box.  It will do for me as a temporary measure, skirt or not, until such time as Hornby or Bachmann bring out a decent one to modern standards (which I hope they do).  In fairness it was never going to be either a scale model or entirely accurate with the old Hornby body as a starting point........just an exercise is getting something running cheap and quick - but hopefully a bit better than the old Hornby offering, as it comes.

But I remain unrepentant about the skirt - wait until it's painted and then see what you think.

- Don

I've said it before and I'll say it again....

Removing that bit of skirt (quite apart from being devilishly difficult because there would be no room to get a needle file in there to clean up properly afterwards due to the proximity of the leading splasher) would reveal both the sides of the new gearbox AND the bottom of the new motor. 

To me that would be FAR more obvious than leaving that little bit of skirt in place. Trust me - when it's painted & weathered (with a crafty trick or two with the paintbrush) no-one will even notice it's still there.

...But if you care to post a photo of the one you've done then I will be quite prepared to admit that I'm wrong and will certainly consider having a go at it.

Thanks for the nice comments about the layout - more photos in previous sections of this blog (sections 1 & 2).

It is Ivan - and you should.

As I've said all along - it still isn't going to be an accurate B12 - but it is already a heck of a lot better than the original. A complete change of tender gives it an immediate lift on it's own! And it's amazing what a difference lowering the body to the correct height does for it as well. Suddenly the fact that it's 8mm too short doesn't look half so obvious.

Trust me - it's not going to happen - not on this particular one anyway, although having dispensed with the steel chassis 'extension bar' completely, I have actually now added the absent lower forward bit of the boiler using the method suggested - which is completely 'missing' on the Hornby model (which gives the impression of a much undersized boiler with far too much 'daylight' underneath, when it actually isn't quite as far undersized as many believe).

And I did actually consider cutting out the skirt but whichever way you look at it, bent plasticard or not, doing so on this particular conversion would reveal the sides of the Portescap RG4 gearbox which I have shoehorned into it, which to me would look just as unrealistic as the extended 'skirt' does - a fact incidentally, which I completely accept. The way I see it, the improvement in operation far outweighs the improvement in looks.

In any case, the Hornby body is a full 8mm too short - all of it at the front end - so a lot of compromises were always going to have to be accepted anyway. At the end of the day, it's a model to run, needed purely because my Suffolk prototype branch relied upon them ...rather than an attempt at building a full blown scale model, which it is never going to be. I don't have the time, certainly not the skill, nor frankly, the inclination to attempt that. Regardless, it is still going to look one heck of a lot better than the Triang/Hornby original, which is all I want of it.

I for one will be absolutely delighted if one of the big boys brings out a R-T-R version to modern production standards any time soon - and the sooner the better - but until such time as they do, it will at least allow me to run a prototypical service in my own train room with something which if you squint just a little a bit, will be a 'passable' B12.

Since the above photo was taken, much more has been done, including replacing the pump with a much more accurate GER style one and work has also progressed considerably on and around the pony truck and elsewhere, so I'll update this missive in due course.

Can't be done. Unfortunately the way it's moulded it would result in a fair bit of the boiler missing on both sides. Besides, it would also reveal a large part of the Portescap motor/gearbox which I've put into it, which has to drive on the leading axle due to the layout of the original Hornby chassis block casting. Won't look so bad with a bit of painting asnd clever weathering.

Good enough until something better comes along from the trade anyway.

I see your point - and to an extent agree ...but I'm unlikely to use it for anything else as I rarely buy kits any more given the current standard and performance of modern RTR locos. Anyway - the project is fun and that's what it's all about.

Exactly, Grahame.

As on the prototype, Glen - it's free ....on the proviso that you arrive and depart by train!  This was actually common practice in steam days, designed specifically to promote travel to the coast by rail. Accommodation was at best, 'rather primitive' in most cases.

And Mike - that was the general idea. Aldeburgh (the nearest 'real' station on the actual line), did win Best Kept Station Garden on a number of occasions!

David - Have just added a photo of the prototype (second-to-bottom pic).  I think this is what you are referring to - it's actually the pub, which dates from the 16th century, albeit not exactly in it's current form. Compare with picture of the model, immediately above.

Ha Ha - I checked for those (and also painted out a fairly modern 5cwt van in one place).....but never even thought about the burglar alarms!  Next time I have an appropriate colour on the paint brush, I'll touch them out.

OK David - Unlike the pub, I'll admit that the church is not entirely accurate - it's a modified Metcalfe kit. But that kit is actually surprisingly close to St. Bartholomew's in Orford!

Yes Mike - Auntie Triang.

TBG - As someone asked in the J15 thread - where's the 'smart-ass' key when you need it?

If you can get me a picture of the back end of Wickham Market without the burglar alarms - I'll use it!

Mind you - you are quite right - I really must touch them out.

You want a photo of it, David? - it's sitting there in a corner of the layout right next to St Bartholomew's Halt!  I can tell you the names on most of the headstones in the graveyard too if you really want me too - all authentic on the layout ....but no-one after 1880 out of respect for the locals.

Have modelled The Jolly Sailor too - that's just off the end of the station platform on Quay Street.

The track is perfectly standard Peco Code 70.