rowanj

Re the potential for using a GBL Scotsman boiler as the basis for a V2 hack. As has been said, it is modelled on the 107 boilers fitted to A4's, and there are some differences, many of them fairly subtle which can be either corrected or overlooked which would be an improvement on the Bachmann/presumed GBL model. However the GBL Scotsman's boiler has a very peculiar "coke bottle" shape which makes it a less attractive option (unsuitable, I suggest) for a V2 hack. The photos show this, I think. At the top is an early effort of mine to use an A4 cab, shortened A3 boiler/smokebox and A3 running plate to produce a V2. The other photo shows the completed loco. It has trundled round the loft quite happily for a couple of years until I dragged it out to photograph, and I now see the dodgy paintwork on the cab roof and the fact that I did not fit real coal, plus another couple of odds and ends. Drat!

If, as is likely, the V2 is a Bachmann clone, there will be some serious inaccuracies. The smokebox, boiler shape and dome are particular problems, and the Bachmann model is in serious need of an upgrade. Having said that, several folk have made a good stab at upgrading and it can be improved. Replacing the boiler with a suitably modified Hornby A3 is a common method, and if the GBL model follows the normal pattern of separate cab, boiler and footplate, this might be an easier conversion than cutting away at the Bachmann and Hornby donors. Latest work on motorising the Midland Compound, and an early start of converting a Bachmann/Replica/GBL B1/K3 to a K1/1 is on the thread at my signature John

Pair of D11's posed. More photos are on the thread below.

There is obviously something weird going on geographically about availability of these things. I have literally never had any difficulty obtaining the ones I wanted from outlets around Newcastle. Yesterday Smiths still had several T9's and a smallish Sainsburys had 2 on Monday, So I wonder if poor availability is more to do with local outlets ordering policy than Amercom's production and distribution. Of course, this is not to excuse poor service to subscribers or telephone customers. But it does suggest that they have found it difficult to gauge demand, and that outlets have taken a conservative approach to ordering. If anyone is still desperate for a T9 I' don't mind popping down to see if there are any left and posting them at cost, but bear in mind postage is likely to be steep.PM me if interested rather than clogging the thread.

Progress to date on the D11 on GEM Glen chassis. My posts on the link below show how I got to this point. As I used a video clip of "SOMME" to check how the loco was lined - note the cab is different on Scottish engines, SOMME she will be.

Will5210 was the member who pointed me in the direction of the ex Gem chassis. His topic on the LNER site is we'll worth a look.The chassis kit is very up to date, and has spacers for EM for those so inclined. It does have con rods being complete other than motor and wheels.Cost around £30, so with wheels and motor you don't get much change out of £80 to build.However I had these in the spares box so it doesn't count!!! You can follow the D11 build on the link below. I believe the man who was producing NuCast retired at the end of 2012.

For anyone thinking of motorising the T9, or converting to Ben Adler or the like, I've started the ex-GEM chassis designed for the Glen/Scott as a replacement for the Triang L1. It's probably the easiest etch chassis I've ever put together, and should be readily convertible for most 40mm wheelbase 4-4-0's. The etch is excellent, with accurate tabs to fit spacers, I'm currently sticking one under a Butler-Henderson. John Edit - Supplier http://www.lytchettmanor.co.uk/. They quote delivery 28 days, but I found them easy and helpful to deal with. Note the chassis kit, like almost all, does ny include wheels and motor.

Interesting use of the B12 chassis, Steve. It's one of the easier ones to get hold of. I see no reason why your method should not work for the D11, or the Compound if one can obtain the Compound cylinder and valve gear parts. Look forward to following your work.

I've posted some pictures on an ongoing project on a GBL Mallard here http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/89857-modifyingmotorising-gbl-models-k35-d11a4/ As it isn't a private thread over on the "Modifying" section, I'd personally be delighted if other modellers chose to use it to "show and tell" what they are doing with these models, as I find it quite hard to keep track on this thread amongst all the other posts. Just a thought...

"The GBL lining is a strange colour though so it will need repainting" Somewhere on this thread( post 2698) is a photo of my effort at a 4MT. I got away without relining by using Modelmates Soot to tone down the yellow, which should of course be cream.I also think adding the brass pipework under both side sheets makes a big visual improvement. Best of luck with yours.I hope Comet will be back in action soon after their tragic loss.Their parts are a godsend.

I see no reason why not. I was lucky enough to have a few A3/4 loco-drive chassis, bought when you could get them for £25 or so, rather than the £50+ you see them for now. The A4 was one of the easiest to motorise, as well as being a decent model in it's own right, so you will end up with a much better model than the original Hornby. The only issue may be the height of the motor v the tender top. Interested to see how you get on - I'm about to start " de-valancing" a GBL Mallard to pair with a Scotsman tender to become 60030 Golden Fleece.

Latest pics of my D11 on Hornby D49 tender-drive chassis are here http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/89857-converting-gbl-k3-to-k5-modifyingmotorising-gbl-models/ John

It's good to read some modelling plans. I did a Deltic using Lima 37 bogies, and forgot to "reverse" them so the steps sit under the cab door. Once fitted, it was too complicated to correct them, so if you can do it beforehand, so much the better .I also did a Jinty using a Triang chassis, but fitted scale wheels. I've done a K3 and K5, 9F's, A4's and A3's as I was lucky enough to have chassis in the spares box. Current project is a Director .I'm posting progress on the Modifying RTR list rather than here, and for completeness I'll post a couple of photos of each conversion and a brief description. But happy to answer any queries by p.m. John

I've posted the start of a D11 project on the Modifying/Detailing RTR thread. Tried to post a link here, without success.

Why indeed, Londontram? Bachmann 4mt -£85 GBL Loco - £8.99 Second hand chassis £32 Pleasure in upgrading - priceless. Skills developed in painting/ weathering - incalculable

Thanks Sarahagain- I always enjoy your posts. I suppose I used the term "very ancient" in the sense that in 1965 I was taking my "O Levels" and some days I too feel pretty ancient. I remembered the earlier chassis arrangement when I saw Hayfield's post. I only ever had one, lost many moons ago, and am sure it was riveted. This would make any alteration to the wheelbase more complicated. However the "false sides" would, I suspect, make life easier for filing out a sufficient gap for a gearbox/motor. I was given that idea by a modeller who converted his tender-drive 9F, and, though its slow and tedious work, it's not difficult, and the running improvement is obvious. having said that, I'm sure folks have had success with XO4 ' and 5-pole replacements. I agree about Mallard being straightforward as the boiler is virtually empty. I cut back the valences to meet my BR period and fitted wire handrails.Other than fiddling below the cab to get it to sit on the chassis at the correct height, it was pretty simple to fit to the latest Hornby chassis.

I fitted the GBL 4MT to a Bachmann chassis, at this stage just to see how easy it is. It turns out to be the easiest steam loco so far. The whole floor actually unscrews, making it simple to identify where cuts need to be made and actually make them. I imagine the same will apply to the Comet chassis.

I started using W&T to try to keep the costs down. They are almost half the price of Markits. I have had no trouble with them - they are designed to fit Romford axles. They have plastic centres so are insulated on both sides, thus both sides need pickups. Also being plastic centred, although tapped for Romford/Markits crankpins, you need to be in and out quickly with a soldering iron for the washers, and W&T recommend the deluxe ones with screws. They do a grooved version for fitting a traction tyre but I have no experience of them. Google search will find the website.

There is a big difference between a wishlist and speculation based on what has gone before..Previous models have been firmly based on Hornby or Bachmann clones - some of them not too old either- and unless WM with his contacts knows differently, I don't see why this should change for the remaining 28 or so. You would also have assumed that GBL would produce stuff based on mass appeal, so Tornado, Blue Peter, blue Deltic, Britannia might apply. Other regions will have their equivalents. Do the public really think that a blue prototype and green production Deltic are similar. Even to modellers,t hey don't look the same. Try converting one to the other and see how easy it is! We want accuracy, non-modellers want colour or locos they may have heard of. I'm glad the "froth" is amusing some people. I don't care one way or the other, though I confess I would prefer that, if individual guesses are known to be wide of the mark by those in the know, they would say so If confidentiality is an issue, surely it's best to say nothing. I've tried in my posts to show what can be done by someone of moderate skill with these models, and wish more people would do likewise. Surely this is how we learn to be modellers?

I think John's point about the visual similarity between a 9F and Britannia to the untrained eye is important. I doubt it matters that much to GBL,if they need to find another 28 prototypes to complete the series. They are surely going to produce models they can scan from Hornby and Bachmann and possibly Heljan. This makes a Brit, prototype Deltic, Standard 5MT/4MT, WD, CL37 as real possibilities. LNER A1/2....the list goes on.... Personally,I'm happy to wait and see.

I used the whole of the Lima chassis into which the bogies sit, squeezed into the GBL body after filing.The centre tanks are cut from the GBL chassis. So in theory I should be able to switch the bogies around but in practice my first few efforts to free them have been unsuccessful and I'm loath to pull and pry too much. I,ll have another look,but it may be best just to get the etch if cutting away the Lima steps looks feasible and can be done to leave a neat finish.If I do that, I'll also fit the missing etched lifting plates.

Thanks for the note about the steps. I think the same point was raised when the GBL Deltic came out and I forgot about it.It will be tricky to change now, but I agree it looks odd as it is, once you know! I may invest in a Shawplan etch.

I don't claim my method is any better or easier than TMZ06003 but I offer an alternative for those fitting Lima bogies to the GBL Deltic. I picked up a complete Lima Cl37 chassis for £20, I removed all the GBL model, leaving only the body shell. I then cut away the bogies and housings from the Lima chassis - basically cutting away the centre tanks/ weight which I discarded. After filing the sides of the supports holding the bogies, these were then force-fitted into the bodyshell, with a touch of Evostick used to give extra support. I then cut the GBL underframe to get the centre section with the tanks, etc. This section reconnects to the body using a self-tapping screw, but it's a good idea to add some weight, in my case lead shot n the tanks. Even with traction tyres, Lima can be poor pullers, but mine handles 8 coaches ok, even on my far from level loft layout. I used T-Cut to remove the name/numbers (as well as some other detail by accident) but I hope when it's renumbered/renamed a bit of judicious touching-up and weathering will hide my sins.

I've gone back to my source, and Weatheringman is correct. All 9F's allocated to WR were ATC fitted, but ER locos received AWS. Many 9f's received neither system. I see I do need to fit a bashplate.!! And the tank I fitted is,of course, an air cylinder.

As a follow on to post 2167, here is the virtually completed GBL 9f on a Bachmann loco chassis and Triang Brit tender chassis. I made a stab at the ATS battery box and conduit. The loco with ATS should have a small box/tube just behind the LH smoke deflector and I'll add this if I can find a way to fit it - it's tiny but has some thin wire coming from it which would be a nice finishing touch. The conduit should also run the whole length of the LH footplate and I'll add that if I get the box/tube sorted. I also discovered that 9f's did not have a plate on the buffer beam to protect the ATS , so that saved a job.