LaScala

That's a Gateneal kit then, later picked up by Home of O Gauge as a Mega. Pretty variable quality and most contemporary builders feel frustration! Dave Roberts did this one last year with many changes.

In a century or even a decade, will anyone care there are 7 Castles and 4709 and not 7 good Castles and a shrinking pile of ferrous oxide that used to be the eighth? Thornbury is not unique except in the minds of those who have done nothing for 50 years to "save" it and now faced with the inevitable, cry foul. Private ownership has failed TC spectacularly as it did the genuinely unique Scotsman. I strongly agree with the Steam Railway Editorial. TC and the many pipedream hulks may have made some sense in 1972 but not in 2022. I do however agree the GWS has a lot to answer for in letting 10 year certificates come and go with scant meaningful use of their prize possessions. Hopefully "Legend" and "Pendennis" will get more use than 6023. 4709 will be far more of a draw than TC ever could be. Might explain why their Halls have no timely prospect of being reinstated given the number of working examples elsewhere. Don't mention Bulleid pacifics please!

oh Doctor I'm in trouble.................

Any news on this one? I am underway with the same kit to become 2982 so curved frames. I am struggling with the motion bracket, valve rod and alignments of both, I think caused by the slots for the motion bracket being to scale position ignoring the extra 1mm put into the wheelbase to give clearance for flanges. I am also fighting the slidebar alignment for same reason as I want cylinders to be above the centreline of the wheels, as they all ended up.

I have built 2 88D kits and had few difficulties with boiler rolling. The broomstick and phone book routine works well and I didn’t anneal. I did use clamps and found the formers needed a subtle shave to get a good seam. I think the first action to resolve this could have been to give Mike Morris a ring as he is a helpful fellow. The big advantage of n/s is how terrific it is to solder. Boiler bands should be almost invisible so the half etched option always looks way too heavy imo. Good luck with the build.

Have had very good results with these https://taffvalemodels.ecwid.com/DC-Motors-and-Gearbox-c47395743

I just received a reply to a January 2016 email……..

That's looking good and a similar combination of variables to mine but without the compromises. Seems the fit of the dome is typical. I still have to contrive the front sandbox linkages.

Dome still not seated properly but looks a bit more 1920’s

I also built the JLTRT MItchell as a late era enclosed cab 517. It's a great kit and I used a Slater's motor/gearbox which is very smooth and powerful, much more so than the Dapol. Just do not run them double headed and draw attention to the fudges. The first problem with using a bargain Dapol chassis is that it is too long and the surgery required is serious. The next problem is that, truth be told, everything is incorrect with the Dapol superstructure for a 517. There is no part of it that is correct for any era of 517 except the Collett bunker (which I discarded but may re-use on something else). The big win is financial as most of the conversion parts are spares in the JLTRT kit and even with the lovely castings, the cost is not much more than half a JLTRT. The cheaper you can score the Dapol the better. It's all a bit Model Railway Constructor 1970 "I converted my Triang L1 into a Great Central Director". Here is a reminder of where this started out. I think Laurie must have choked sending me the bits knowing full well that a Chinese RTR was the recipient. I know the fittings should be green, but this was an instant gratification moment as I had waited a few weeks for the goodies. I was at least pleased the curve of my firebox was spot on! Please show us your efforts Hugh

A package from Scotland kick started some action on the 517. Boiler fittings and reverser a few things left and number plates of course. The character is changed by the proportions being altered by the tall chimney. The compromises are many but without getting too picky I think it has the essence of a Victorian branch tank. I think dome and SV should be painted for a 1920’s loco.

This Slaters offering doesn't hit the mark?

Nibbling away at the Dapol 48xx to 517 conversion. All the main mods done, now down to detailing. To recap, this is shortened to correct wheelbase, tanks lowered and shortened, new round top firebox in brass (both sides of spectacle using some Dapol fittings) and, new sandboxes in N/S, Slaters buffers, cab and tank handrails, new tool boxes in plastikard with brass lids, new N/S tank tops, spares box brass tank fillers, left over Mitchell cab, valances and bunker. A very tight fit for flywheel under firebox and compromises aplenty, but I think it is more convincing than just changing the cab and renumbering which limits prototype options and looks too high and long. The obvious error is a smokebox that is too long but to change would mean an entire boiler change. Is it worth it? Hmmm. Still well under half the cost of a MM1 and running is excellent. Room for a conversion kit that would ease the way perhaps?

I think you are correct in which case I can clip the plastic axleboxes back on.

Has anyone got any ideas which prototype had the key distinguishing features I'm kind of stuck with? To recap:- Long Wheelbase Round topped firebox Inside bearings for rear wheels Half cab Deep valance Armchair bunker I thought I was there with 1434 until I realised that it had outside bearings. I know there was much discussion a couple of years ago on RMW. There must have been at least one with this combo. Thanks in advance

Here is my take on the conversion. I think it’s pretty much on same page as yours, but will have round top firebox. Serious cut and shut but with bargain 5819 and your pathfinding I was sucked in.

Paul at EDM told me he intends to have a fresh start with the chassis and ditch the inside frames altogether and be more prototypical with working as opposed to cosmetic outers just as you have done.

All round excellence The original build was first class but the conversion outstanding; well done Giles! I built the EDM/Agenoria kit a couple of years ago and it's not easy, so whoever built yours was a master.

That looks very good. There's more work on the wiring front to achieve live frogs (also needing soldering) so Peco points are not exactly a walk in the park. Removing the "coffin" is an easy upgrade but losing the over centre spring that sits underneath pretty much means you need to go to a good point motor like the DCC Concepts Cobalt which has all the switches ready to go and are easy to hook up, quiet and reliable.

Seemingly that's a "yes" as this shot of the A class #71 shows. I do not think the routing of the pipes from the top of the firebox beside the whistles is typical as others show the steam feed going straight along the top of the tank. The overflow can be seen directly below the tank so must be routed on the inside of the tank in the gap between the firebox and then be cranked out at 90 degrees between the rear pair of drivers.

Only a few bits are printed: taper boiler, firebox, water balance pipes, sbd, splashers; otherwise n/s

I’m sure this will be stunning. I have gone the other route to Rhymney; 88d’s rebuilt “A”. A multi media kit of more recent design. just noticed an ugly blob on footplate and yes the safety valve needs fixing, but here she is suspended in the Queensland sun.

I found rolling the tops of my "45" tanks impossible without some serious annealing. Looked horrible but cleaned up

I have been building the closely related Brecon & Merthyr 45 class from the same stable. Not quite there as dome was missing. The 3D printing is much better than I thought it would be. The most obvious striations are on the splashers. The chimney is good. I found the fit to be excellent and the 3D springs and brakes are well worth pursuing for other projects.