LNER4479

Thanks Andrew! Yes, the Princess is scratchbuilt - including the valve gear. Here is a closer picture: I'm having to remember what I did as it was 30 years ago! I recall that Peter (Sykes) gave me a lump of 1/8th steel to make the motion out of(!) In my naivety, and without recourse to a lathe or pillar drill, each part was cut and filed down to shape by hand. Not so sure I'd do that these days! The cylinder, slidebars and crosshead arrangement all closely follows the Guy Williams techniques as I had no other knowledge of how to make such parts in those days. But it does at least convey a certain chunkiness that is all too often missing from RTR offerings. Being super-critical, I think that either the expansion link pivot point is a little low or that the expansion link is too long - the little end of the eccentric rod is too low to my eye (more obvious when the rods are bottom centre. Re the B7 by all means PM me with your contact details; I'll make a note for now of your interest.

Having spent not inconsiderable lengths of time in the cabs of both forms of traction, I can confirm that turning down the cab heating of a steam locomotive on a warm summer's day is by far the greater challenge compared to staying warm on a winters day.

Cab ... warm ... modern traction. Hmm, does not compute. He was obviously well-versed in the time-honoured BR practice of stuffing bits of newspaper, old rags and anything else that came to hand into all the rattling panel gaps where the cold air was pouring in. Know which cab I'd rather be on a cold day to keep warm. Or any other day for that matter.

Good morning Tony, In the spirit of 'show and tell' that you actively encourage, but also picking up on recent comments about kitbuilding and the availability of kits, I should like to post this on your thread: What started as an individual locomotive build commission has now evolved to become a joint enterprise between myself and Graeme King to produce a multi-media kit for the GCR/LNER B3 type, hopefully the first of several types using the same boiler. (please note that this picture is using an old K's B2 boiler and tender to show the finished effect. Graeme's resin boiler master is still being worked on.) Yourself and others of course already know quite a bit about this and indeed the test build came along to the recent LB retro event for critical examination. We now feel confident enough to spread the word more widely. More information about the build is on my workbench thread and full details of the kit are being provided on the LNER Forum modelling section https://www.lner.info/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12925 Whilst this is quite niche in the grand scheme of things, at least it is potentially something new in the field of kitbuilding and it has been fascinating to be involved with the process of development thus far.

I certainly found the Guy Williams book very inspirational. I was lent it by my mentor (Peter Sykes, of the Manchester MRC), an experienced scratchbuilder who had a lathe and a pillar drill. I must have been 18 or 19 at the time and just contemplating my first forays into kit or scratchbuilding. A few years later I built this: She entered service in 1987 and, other than a replacement motor / gearbox (the Anchoridge D13 gave up the ghost), continues to give faithful service as a 'layout loco' to this day. She was built without the use of a lathe or a pillar drill. A 12v hand held mini drill was all that was acquired specially. 30 years on, I still don't have a lathe and a pillar drill. Meanwhile, the 12v hand held drill is still giving sterling service. I guess we're all inspired by different things and figure our own individual ways of doing things we like doing.

Well that wasn't the case when I spoke to him last. Rather, he said he'd be interested in a set of B7 etches himself when we get round to them. He can however provide a set of etches for the Robinson standard 4,000 gallon tender that both types at various times on their careers.

You're alright Barry - you're not on the Grantham thread now (although even I have to admit a soft spot for an A3 here and there. There's space in the grand Carlisle plan for the Carlisle Canal quartet in time)

Noted - and I shared your concern as part of the planning. What might not be immediately apparent is that the sloping of the loft roof leaves little vertical room at the eaves so the layout will actually encroach no near than 12 inches from those walls, thus leaving plenty of space for the warm air from the radiators to circulate. The battens on the ground are there for bracing against the skirting boards; the legs will duly sprout up 12inches in-board.

PM me for now Richard and I can keep a track of expressions of interest at this stage. Forgot to mention (although maybe you've already spotted?) that both cab types are included on the etch so it's possible to make any of the six locos in their original format.

The etch includes EM/P4 spacer parts and at least one each of the pre-production etches are going to be built in EM and P4 respectively. I await feedback with trepidation from those builds in particular. I have talked to Nick about producing an etch variant for the B3 Caprotti version but I think we'll have to see how that pans out. The B7 will definitely be the next one.

A very enjoyable day at Baz towers and delighted to be able to assist the master of the house make a start on his own layout. Basically, just kept going until we ran out of wood! I'm promised a more extensive supply of wood for the next visit...

Any who are interested in reading more about this can now find the full story on my workbench thread: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/135798-g-train-locomotive-works-lner-b3-valour/?p=3291155

You're pretty much right on the money there. And it's turned into something rather more than first thought. Forgive Mr 3279 his reticence as we didn't want to go too early on this, conscious of the danger of over committing, false promises, etc. To take up the story. Conversations with model railway colleagues did indeed lead to a suggestion of producing an etch and to my surprises and delight, Nick Easton (Nicktoix of this parish) agreed to take up the challenge and produce an etch for chassis and footplating / cab with some input from myself in terms of certain design aspects. Anyone who has made up a kit from the LRM stable with the legend 'NJE' on the frames will have experienced Nick's work. This is my first experience of having an etch made and I am delighted at how it has all turned out to date. Having met up with Nick to 'sign off' his first design at this year's York show, I took delivery of the first etch for the test build at the end of April. I can post a series of 'blow-by-blow' account in due course; for now, here is a quick summary: Basic chassis assembled. This effectively got me to where I was above with the B2 re-working. Front bogie. A nice assembly of parts. Perhaps the biggest challenge for this loco type - the slidebar assembly. Completed frames. Footplating assembled on fold up cradle. Footplating detached from cradle with cab structure attached. Virtually complete - just the reverser rod to attach. Test build complete, posed with B2 boiler and tender to give an overall impression. It's now early July. As referred to above, this was the test build. However, it went together so well that I can certainly make use of the chassis to complete the original commission. There are a couple of alterations needed on the cab / footplate. All feedback comments have been fed back to Nick who has used them to produce version 2 of the design. Meanwhile - what about the boiler? Well, that's where Graeme (Gr. King) comes in. Those familiar with his work will know that Graeme specialises in producing resin parts for various LNER loco, coach and wagon types. If you chanced by the demo area at the Warley show then you will have seen his work. Although the B2 boiler could in theory be used, it is an old casting, quite crude by today's standard. Having seen some of Graeme's work on Grantham, I was confident that a resin boiler for the B3 was a viable alternative. This aspect is still 'work in progress' so just a couple of pictures for now (courtesy of Graeme). This is the master, photographed on the test footplate / cab just under a fortnight ago. And Graeme's latest picture, with the Belpaire shoulders now added. So - the current situation is that this has all led things on to quite a different place compared with the building of a single B3 'Valour'. We probably ought to find somewhere else on the forum for this but, for completeness sake, it is the intention to make the etches and boiler available for anyone interested in making one of these locos for themselves. Furthermore, Graeme's boiler is actually a common component for no less than 3 other GCR types - B2, B7 & B8. Having met the challenge of the B3, the adaption of the design to create the equivalent set of etches for the B7 (the mixed traffic version of the GCR four cylinder 4-6-0) is considered to be reasonably straightforward and Nick hopes to undertake this work over the winter. In the meantime, a further set of 10 B3 etches to the revised design have been run off and 8 distributed to immediate friends and interested LNER modellers; I'll use the other two to complete this commission and the further one I have. I would regard these as pre-production etches and look forward to feedback from the builders (all of whom are quite experienced modellers) for any further tweaks necessary to produce a finalised design for next year. Graeme and myself will both be in the demo area at Warley where we hope to have an example on display. Apologies therefore for the slight hijack - I shall resume the story of the build henceforth.

Stop it! I'm trying to get things done here ... !!

I also think we should put the Hornby model into the context of the times (1990s). Prior to that, there was only the Triang Princess!! Otherwise, it was a kit or scratchbuild if you wanted one. For it's day it was a good model, dimensionally accurate in overall terms. And with correct rivetted tender versus the welded one for the Duchess. But it's fallen behind now. You watch - Hornby will announce a brand new tooling now I've gone and hacked this one about

Chuck it on the Barbie and it'll be fine. NOTE: This applies to both meanings of 'Barbie'.

Hmm!! I'd worry about that poor ol' front pony truck - that's an awful lot of locomotive behind it to persuade not to keep carrying on in a straight line every time a curve is encountered (which is quite often in the northern fells). A mechanical stoker would also be a 'must', methinks, to prevent leaving a trail of dead firemen in its wake. Now, were it a 4-8-4, then you'd be in business... (Apparently, there was some serious thought given to a 4-6-4 Duchess with a 70ft grate and 300psi boiler - but the war put pay to such notions. I suspect it would have been a bit touchy on its feet, though!)

Now then, this 1967 stuff with them smelly-boxes-on-wheels is all very well, but ... Proper injuns! Drool, slaver, sober (etc) It was always - and remains - the intention that 'Hills of the North' will be firmly rooted in the 1950s steam era so, after the layout's appearance at Leeds next month (yikes!), shows thereafter will feature 1950s steam ... and a bit of 1960s transition, if you really must! So, with that in mind, the focus for attention now is to build up the locos and stock accordingly. A 1950s steam fleet is not as daunting as it sounds as this was the basis of my previous (ie pre-Grantham) layout so plenty of stock already in stock, so to speak. One of the notable exceptions to date, however, is the 'big stuff, specifically Stanier's imperious pacifics. If ever there was a signature loco for Shap they then were it. So, in recent times, in the background, there have been several surreptitious acquisitions and here are two of them. Let battle commence ... The Hornby 'Princess' is of course quite an old model and doesn't really 'cut the mustard' in several areas, notably the 'from a previous age' trailing truck which ludicrously chops the rear extension frames in half (ugh!). It is also very 'gappy' at the front end. Here is some work ongoing to attend to that, simply some plasticard sheet cut to shape and then carved and filed back to suit. The front bogie does it no favours either, with the ugly front extension to accommodate the front coupling. (double-heading a Stanier pacific? The very thought!). Here is a 'before and after' comparison. Not only have I cut off the front piece but I've cut further back to allow the front guard irons to be fully portrayed. Further plasticard enhancements has added the bogie transom and side bearers. For the - ahem - rear end, I have fashioned this unit for the frames (soldered nickel silver pieces) ... ... together with some severe hacking about on the trailing truck Putting it all together ... ahh! That's better. Then it was a quick trip to the paint shop before putting her before a critical eye of one of the best Stanier pacific aficionados I know - my Dad! He saw them all - frequently! This of course allowed us to pose her alongside my scratchbuilt 46208 (of 1987 vintage) An interesting comparison. One thing Dad pointed out was the difference in the front end appearance in terms of the built up 'skirt' underneath the smokebox - it shouldn't be there; the arrangement on 46208 is the correct one. Now he's pointed it out, it 'grates' with me so will have to do something about that. Otherwise, it 'got the nod' so I can proceed with confidence (the visit including running round his tighter two foot radius curves - no difficulties experienced). She will undergo an identity change to become 46206 (as per first photo), for which an indication of a coal pusher in the tender will be necessary. Meanwhile, there's a Duchess - or 2 - to be worked on as well ...

Blimey - that's a dangerous link to explore when you're trying to get on with something else

Two different types of cabs and some were subsequently fitted with Rotary cam valve gear which significantly altered the front end look (not for the better!)

Thanks Steve, I have already been supplied with a copy of said article so no need to go hunting around specially on my account.

Thanks! One RTP building, the station water tower. And it's not right. It does literally get 'plonked' in the approximate position of the actual water tower each time we set up. One day we might get round to replacing it with a more accurate version. A few small kit built huts but the rest are all individually built from photos, a combination of my work and that of Paul Bolton who also did much of the scenic treatment.

For my next project, a rather larger locomotive, still from the LNER stable. At the end of last year, I was 'challenged' to produce a model of this locomotive, in this condition - in time for 11th November 2018. With apologies to all LNER / GCR fans who already know, this locomotive was the GCR's and latterly LNER's war memorial locomotive (in a similar manner to LNWR/LMS 'Patriot' and SR 'Remembrance' locomotives). Every armistice day, it would be suitable bedecked and travel to Sheffield (Victoria) as the centrepiece of a remembrance service. The loco has long since been scrapped but the large memorial survives at the site of the former station. Anyhow, with no mainstream kit to fall back on this was envisaged as a (largely) scratchbuild job, although I did have this old K's B2 to use as a basis where I could. Learning rapidly about the GCR loco types, I became aware that not only did the B2 and B3 share the same wheel-base and wheel sizes but they also carried the same boiler - at the risk of over-simplification, the B3 was a sort of four cylinder version of the B2 (although I'm sure that the GCR aficionados will put me right on that) 20 judicious minutes with a screwdriver was all it took to reduce it to this (yes, it had been glued together). Despite a drawing being available (RM Oct 1972), If I'm making my own parts I like to make a drawing of my own. If nothing else, it helps you understand the prototype better. Using said drawing, I've cut some front extension frames from 1/16th brass (to match the thickness of the B2 frames) For such thick brass, I bring the gas pencil torch into play. This was the result. But at this point, there came an unexpected turn of events. A second commission to build one of these locos. And some 'expressions of interest' from some fellow LNER / Grantham collaborators. Now, scratch-building one loco is fair enough but a batch calls for a different approach (not to mention only having one B2 to sacrifice!). Time for a re-think. To be continued...

There is also photographic evidence of Duchesses at Aberdeen, having worked up from Perth (on the now closed Strathmore route) on the back of the famous Crewe-Perth sleeper workings.