RosiesBoss

G'day, Sophia, Nice work, as usual. As you've asked for advice re completion as a 6-wheeler, I append a link to my "cheap and cheerful" conversion: https://www.rmweb.co.uk/topic/159541-cheap-and-cheerful-6-wheeled-gwr-coach/#comment-4181393 As the images have disappeared (temporarily, I hope!), here are some shots of the underframe under conversion, as well as the completed model. Keep up your good work! Regards, Rob

On 18 Dec 2021, I was given an old 00-scale Graham Farish 81XX 2-6-2T by one of my fellow club members. He had received it with a job lot of Dublo models and it didn’t fit in with his collection. A quick inspection revealed that it had an intact body, with no “Mazac cancer”. Its motor was strong and operated smoothly. It was somewhat playworn and had been repainted and relettered some time in its life. It bore etched numberplates for 8103. A bit of research revealed it was from the batch of GF models made 1961-71. The prototype 8103 was allocated to Oswestry for much of its service life, so would fit with the rest of my collection. Some aspects were a little crude by today’s standards, but would have been quite acceptable in the 1960s. I considered it a worthy candidate to be given a minor makeover. Improvements made: · Slimline tension-lock couplings fitted to pony trucks · Plastic pony truck and trailing wheels replaced by finer scale examples · Rear of chassis narrowed to make room for scale trailing wheels to pivot around curves · Original cylinder block etc. replaced by parts adapted from Hornby 28XX (X2417, X2418, X2649, X2650, X2940, X6968) · Driving wheel gauge reduced to 14.3mm back-to-back · Whistles fitted (generic castings from Peter’s Spares) · Front lamp brackets and scale couplings added · Balancing pipes made and fitted · Complete repaint, using Humbrol acrylic GWR green and Tamiya acrylic NATO black plus Humbrol enamels for details · Relettered consistent with 8103’s build date of 1938 I aimed to refinish it to have a slightly weathered appearance, inspired by this image of 8105: https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4977976 Running trials on the overhauled model revealed that it now runs smoothly at all speeds and has a haulage capacity better than my Dublo Castle class model. It doesn’t look too bad, either.

Hello, Thanks for your interest. I'm afraid the layout pictured above has been retired and most of the stock dispersed. Polly has been reduced to components and those have been used for other projects. Her smokebox ended up as part of GWR 28, as detailed here: https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/167158-gwr-28-“cleobury”-–-ex-cmdplr/ The 6-wheeled chassis has a new life under GWR 680, as described here: https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/154031-gwr-680-–-ex-alexandra-docks-0-6-0st/ Good luck with your modelling. Regards, Rob

My GWR/WR model collection has grown a lot since the first true GWR loco (3046) arrived at Christmas 1965. Several themes can be set up on my layouts using selected models: · Edwardian (c.1903-4) · Post-grouping (1922-30) · Later grouping (c.1934-8) · BR (1948-60) Apart from 3046 and her sister 3011, most of my other Edwardian period locos have been built from kits, kitbashed, motorised from static models or scratchbuilt. Needing a change of pace after completing yet another loco absorbed at Grouping, I revisited some models that had sat for some time in a glass case – my Edwardian passenger locos. Several of them were very tired or had become quite unreliable. So – back to the workbench for diagnosis and rectification. These were the “patients” and a summary of the work done on them: 3046 Lord of the Isles (acquired 1965, modified with Bullfrog Snot & extra pickups 2013) · Dead magnet replaced by Neomydium magnet bundle 3297 Earl Cawdor (built 1971, rebuilt 2016) · Front bogie spring replaced and reset 3440 City of Truro (built 1970, rebuilt about 1977) · Faulty pickup redesigned and replaced · Moulded handrails removed and replaced with new handrails and knobs · Missing details restored · Repainted and relettered 3713 City of Chester (built 2015) · Tired motor replaced · Springing of front bogie rebalanced 3814 County of Chester (built 1971, rebuilt 2000) · Tired motor replaced · New motor mount fabricated · Noisy gears replaced and reset · Wheel splasher clearances eased around driving wheels · Sprung front bogie rebalanced They all now run very well and are capable haulers. They don’t look too bad, either. Other pre-grouping GWR locos in the collection extant in Edwardian times (but not necessarily in Edwardian condition or livery) include: · 848 (517 class) · 1195 (388 class) · 1331 (ex-Whitland & Cardigan) · 1376 (ex- Bristol & Exeter) · 1565 (1076 class) · 1890 (1854 class) · 2322 & 2573 (2301 class) · 2620 (Aberdare class) · 2783 (2721 class) · 2818 (28XX class) · 3283 “Comet” (Duke class) · 3515 (3201 class) · 4508 (45XX class) Further Reading · https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/167158-gwr-28-“cleobury”-–-ex-cmdplr/ · http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/70438-gwr-4-4-0s-on-carmarthen-junction/ · https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/107593-gwr-1076-class-double-framed-pannier-tank/ · http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/134586-gwr-stella-2-4-0-kitbash/ · http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?app=core&module=search&do=user_activity&mid=17793 · https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/72460-gwr-1331-ex-whitland-cardigan-0-6-0st-project/ · https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/67786-gwr-1376-ex-bristol-exeter-0-6-0t-project/ · https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/96216-motorise-gbl-city-of-truro/

Question: What do you get when you cross a Bachmann AT&SF 2-6-0, A Tri-ang clockwork 0-6-0ST and a Tri-ang Polly 0-4-0T? Answer: GWR (ex CM&DPLR) 28 “Cleobury”. Model before painting: Finished model: For more information about this build and more images, see: https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/167158-gwr-28-“cleobury”-–-ex-cmdplr/ Regards, Rob

Introduction In mid-2020, my club was donated some pre-loved model railway bits and pieces, some of which were shared among the members. Among them was this sad wreck of a Bachmann H0 AT&SF H0 2-6-0, which had a shattered body, non-working DCC chip, but a smoothly working motor and rolling chassis. A search though my scrapbox revealed the saddle tank from a Tri-ang clockwork 0-6-0ST (given to me in the 1960s): and a very playworn Tri-ang Polly body, whose chassis block now runs under 3440 “City of Truro” (Airfix, motorised in 1970). Comparison of these with the sketch in Ref.2 revealed that I could make a passable model of GWR 28 “Cleobury”. The driving wheels were (in 00 scale terms) 3’9”” diameter, spaced at 4’10” + 4’10”. The closest fit that I could find for this wheelbase was GWR 1386, from the W&C Rly, but this chassis was far too tall to fit within the saddle tank of that loco. The next nearest I could find was GWR 28, which was built with 3’6” wheels, spaced at 4’10” + 5’8”. In its original saddle tank form, the body could fit over the Bachmann chassis, with a few bits shaved off the chassis. Technical details of the prototype may be found in Refs. 2 and 3. A list of preserved cousins may be found in Ref.1. Other details of the railway she served may be found in Ref.4. Overview of Construction The chassis was slightly modified to fit within the new body. The non-working DCC circuit was removed and the motor connected directly to the chassis. The new body was made from a mix of polystyrene sheet, a few bits of modellers’ brass and aluminium, parts of the Tri-ang models and other components from my scrapbox. (See parts list for more details.) The body and chassis were painted separately, using Tamiya NATO black acrylic (XF69), Humbrol GWR green acrylic RC405) and Humbrol matt red (60) and gold (16) enamels. HMRS number transfers were fitted to the front buffer beam. Name- and number-plates were home printed and attached. The model was then varnished with Humbrol satin clear (135) enamel. It was then glazed, coaled, fitted with a crew and the cab roof glued down. Here is “Cleobury” with a typical early grouping-era branch line passenger train, preparing to leave “Gennigael”: Here she is, on the main line this time, passing Carmarthen Junction mpd: And again, seen next to other saddle tank locos (1331, 680, 968, 2195 and 682): Reflections Does “Cleobury” run well? You bet! She is very smooth, from a slow crawl through to a maximum speed probably faster than her prototype. Her haulage capacity is more than adequate also. Total cost: A$20.50, as nearly everything was made of scraps. The equivalent kit from Agenoria is listed at GBP205 (around A$410). Parts list · Chassis from Bachmann AT&SF H0 2-6-0 · Smokebox from Tri-ang “Polly” · Saddle tank from Tri-ang clockwork 0-6-0ST · Tank filler from Tri-ang “Polly” · Lost wax cast dummy leaf springs (very old stock from scrapbox) · Lost wax cast chimney (Mansfield Models H0 scale NSWGR D50 class chimney) · Misc. copper and aluminium sheet · Tri-ang buffers · Lost wax cast Ramsbottom safety valves (Mansfield Models H0 scale) · Whitemetal whistle & pipes (from scrapbox) · Handrail knobs · 0.4mm dia phos bronze wire · Clear glazing plastic References and Further Reading 1. https://preservedbritishsteamlocomotives.com/manning-wardle-company/ 2. RCTS: “The Locomotives of the Great Western Railway – Part 10 – Absorbed Engines 1922-1947 (RCTS, 1966) 3. J.H.Russell: “A Pictorial Record of Great Western Absorbed Engines” (OPC, 1978) 4. https://wyrefarmed.blogspot.com/2012/09/cleobury-mortimer-and-ditton-priors.html 5. https://www.svrwiki.com/2047_Warwickshire 6. https://www.warwickshirerailways.com/misc/misc_coll-locos053.htm 7. Photo on p.116 of C.J.Gammell: “GWR Branch Lines” (OPC, 1995) 8. Photo on p.92 of R.C.Riley: “Great Western Album No.2” (Ian Allen, 1970)

G'day, Mark, Living in Sydney, Australia, I share your pain and frustration. I used to buy lots of bits and pieces from Peter's Spares, but not since they increased their postage rates to the level you quoted. I now make a lot more things myself, using my lathe or 3D printer, but these are not always the best solution. I have bought a couple of things from Wizard Models, who seem to have more competitive postal rates. The parts you seem to want now are listed here: https://www.wizardmodels.ltd/?s=safety+valve&post_type=product&title=1&excerpt=1&content=1&categories=1&attributes=1&tags=0&sku=1&orderby=date-DESC&ixwps=1 Another possibility is Scalelink: https://www.scalelink.co.uk/acatalog/sitemap.html I hope this is of some help. Regards, Rob

Introduction In the 1970s, I first saw and photographed some British-built 2-8-2Ts working on privately-owned railways serving collieries in the Newcastle (NSW) area. Here are two of the images I took over the next few years. I have an affinity for trains that ran in South- and Mid-Wales. My most recent scratchbuild was an 0-6-0ST described in Ref.6, which also includes a list of my other South Wales locos. This project is aimed at producing another GWR absorbed loco design: a Sharp-Stewart 0-8-2T purchased in 1901 by the Port Talbot Railway (PTR) and operated by the GWR from around 1908 until just after Nationalisation, in 1948. See also Refs. 4 & 5. I chose to model GWR 1358 , the last survivor, as seen in photos of her from the 1930s, complete with top feed and parallel-bodied buffers. (See Ref.5) A drawing and photographs of the closely related Barry Railway (BR) version are found in Ref. 9. Its style clearly resembles that of the locos I photographed in NSW. Apart from a weight diagram in Ref.2, I have found no modellers’ drawings, but closely similar engines were also operated by the BR. Ian Beattie drawings of the latter class (in pre-grouping condition) are found in Ref.3. These were used as a basis, with such modifications as listed below and as seen in photos of the PTR examples. The Sharp Stewart GA of the PTR locos is found at Ref.7. The resulting model is not aimed to be of museum quality, but to be a robust working model, capable of taking its turn among other South Wales types. A major constraint on this project has been the poor availability (in Australia) of affordable parts from the UK, so most components have come from my stash of odds and ends, picked up from “bring and buy” stalls over many years or bought cheaply as “job lots” on eBay. Construction – Chassis The heart of any working model loco is its chassis, including its motor and gear train. In this case, I chose to use a 2nd-hand H0 die-cast chassis that came complete with wheels, a gearbox and a cylinder block. The wheels were scale 4’5” dia and the axle spacing was 5’0”+5’0”+5’0”. The actual PTR loco’s wheels were 4’3” dia, with spacing 5’3”+5’2”+5’0”. Not precisely the same, but near enough for practical purposes. According to Ref.1, the PTR locos shared the same frame design as the BR examples, so the drawings in Ref.3 could be relied upon as published. The H0 chassis was trimmed, front and rear. Cylinders were sculpted to a more appropriate shape, then re-mounted on the frame closer to the front driving wheels. Crossheads and connecting rods (left over from the H0 chassis used for making GWR 680 – see Ref.8) were then trimmed and fitted. A Hornby motion bracket was modified and mounted. The pony truck was adjusted and fitted. The rolling chassis was test-rolled on curved track and through points and adjusted where necessary to ensure reliable running. A simple Inexpensive) motor was then fitted. This motor was later found just too large to fit inside the firebox of the body and so was replaced by another held in my stock of spares. (It does feature in one of the construction images of the body.) The original keeper plate under the chassis was replaced by a piece of PC board, to which were soldered phos bronze wire pickups. These were then connected to the motor. Construction – Body According to Refs. 1 & 2, the visible differences in the post-grouping condition of 1358 and the drawings in Ref 3 were: · Swindon bunker · GWR boiler fittings · GWR smokebox · Square cab windows · Buffers · Top feed The footplate and buffer beams were cut out from 0.5mm copper sheet and soldered together. Valences were made from 2.5 x 2.5 mm L-section modellers’ brass and soldered into position. Paper patterns for the cab front and rear were made from spare copies of the drawings in Ref 3. They were used to trace their shapes onto thin (0.2mm) brass sheet. They were then cut out. The cab front was soldered into place as a reference point for mounting the boiler. Copper pipe was cut to length for the boiler, with much of the section concealed by the water tanks cut away or reshaped to make room for the motor and gearbox. This was then soldered to the cab front and footplate. Wheel splashers for the front two wheelsets were fabricated from thin brass sheet and glued into place. Dummy front frames were cut from thin brass and soldered into position. The smokebox saddle was made from balsa. The smokebox from a Tri-ang Hall-class body was stripped of redundant moulded details, then attached to the front of the boiler. Curved fillets for the footplate valences were cut from thin brass and soldered into place. Paper patterns for the cab/bunker/tank components were used to prepare those parts, which were then soldered into position. Beading, made from 1mm x 1mm U-channel brass, was formed to shape and soldered to the cabsides and bunker top. Handrails for the cab and bunker sides were bent up and soldered into place. Dummy rear frames were soldered to the rear of the footplate, under the cab, to improve the silhouette. Front and rear steps were made from scraps of brass sheet and soldered into place. Details were added to the smokebox: dart, handrails and step. Cylinder sides were flattened, then sandboxes, cab floor, chimney, dome and safety valve were fitted. Tank fillers, tank vent, buffers and scale couplings were then added. Top feed & pipes, cab roof, water balancing pipes & backhead were fitted. Boiler bands, whistles, lamp brackets, reversing lever & handbrake completed the model. The body was spray-primed. The chassis and wheels, as well as the footplate and steps were painted with Tamiya NATO black. The smokebox, tank tops and cab roof were painted with Humbrol matt black enamel. Tank sides and bunger were painted with Humbrol GWR green acrylic. Buffer beams, reversing lever and regulator handle were painted with Humbrol matt red enamel. “Brass” details were picked out in Humbrol “gold” enamel. GWR lettering was made using HMRS Pressfix transfers. Cabside numbers were home-printed. After allowing time for transfers etc to stabilise, the model was varnished with Humbrol satin clear and the windows were glazed. Reflections Estimated costs: · Sheet brass: A$10 · Whistles: A$2 · Chassis, including wheels, gearbox & cylinders: A$10 · Motion bracket: $2 · Motor: A$0 · Boiler fittings: A$5 · Buffers: A$5 (Old stock) · Tank fillers: A$2 · Couplings: A$5 · Copper pipe: A$2 (from local scrapyard) · Modellers’ brass: $20 · Tri-ang body: A$0 · Pony truck: A$5 · Paints & transfers: A$5 Total: A$75 (about GBP38) Comparative price of a Hornby RTR GWR 2-8-0T in Oz: Around $270. A body-only kit for a GWR/Rhymney Railway class R 0-6-2T from Nucast partners is listed at GBP89.50 (about A$156). After adding the local costs of motor, gearbox, wheels & axles, that cost would just about double. Is my model good value for money? I think so! Parts List · Unbranded H0 rolling chassis from 2-8-4 · 2nd-hand pony truck frame & wheels · 2nd hand brass chimney & dome · 2nd-hand crossheads & connecting rods · Hornby motion bracket (L6968, from 28XX) · Home-turned brass safety valve cover · Lima tank fillers (Part 5U015, from 45XX) · Steel tank fillers – made from panel pins · Slater’s GWR Collett buffers · Whitemetal top feed · Brass scale couplings · Hornby tension-lock couplings · Misc. brass and copper sheet · Copper plumber’s pipe · Smokebox from scrap Tri-ang Hall class body · 12V motor from stock of spares · 0.4mm dia phosphor bronze wire for pickup and handrails · Commercial turned brass handrail knobs · Whistles: Peter’s spares · HMRS transfers · Home-printed numberplates · Home-3D-printed backhead and sandboxes References 1. RCTS “The Locomotives of the Great Western Railway – Part 10 – Absorbed Engines1922-1947 (RCTS, 1966) 2. J.H.Russell: “A Pictorial Record of Great Western Absorbed Engines” (OPC, 1978) 3. Railway Modeller, November, 1986 4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Talbot_Railway_0-8-2T_(Sharp_Stewart) 5. http://www.gwr813.org/pagept27.html 6. https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/162738-gwr-682-–-ex-cardiff-rly-0-6-0st/ 7. https://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/news-photo/drawing-of-0-8-2t-tank-locomotive-1900-drawing-of-0-8-2t-news-photo/90747154 8. https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/154031-gwr-680-–-ex-alexandra-docks-0-6-0st/ 9. Eric Mountford: “The Barry Railway – Diagrams & Photographs of Locomotives, Coaches & Wagons” (Oakwood Press, 1987)

G'day, Daniel, Thank you for your question - taking me by surprise after all this time. The simple answer is that there is only one: at the front end of the chassis where an X171 had been mounted. To do this, I ground away the original mounting, milled out a slot for the NEM pocket and then glued the pocket into place. This meant that the replacement brass buffer beam could be much neater. At the other end, I reused the mounts for the X171 coupling and attached a Bachmann long coupling. I hope this helps. Regards, Rob Ps; I plan to restore the bent pickup (which I just noticed in the image) later today. R.

G'day, Adam FW, Nice work! Your model reminded me of a preserved example at the NSW Railway Museum, which I snapped in 2019: More information on this example may be found here: http://www.australiansteam.com/1034.htm Keep up the good work! Regards, Rob

G'day, Matti8, The use of RTR chassis for kits scratchbuilds is a time-honoured strategy. Where feasible, I continue to do so and find this can make my projects much more affordable - especially if the chassis has come via a second-hand purchase. Over the years, I have compiled a long list of loco wheel spacings, with a view to using whatever chassis come to hand from time to time for models of locos that take my fancy. From that list, I have found the following that may be of some use to you. LNER J6: 7'3" + 9'0" LNER N2: 7'3" + 9'0" LNER N7: 7'6" + 8'9" LNER K3: 7'6" + 8'9" LNER J50: 7'3"+ 9'0" LNER J11: 8'1" + 9'0" The above are dimensions of actual locos. RTR ones may coincide, but it's always best to check. Some RTR ones, not as close as those above include: Tri-ang/Hornby 0-6-0: 7'9" + 8'3" Bachmann Jinty 0-6-0: 8'0" + 8'6" No doubt others will add to the above. Good luck with your project. Regards, Rob

Hello, This is a common challenge. My club's web page has a step-by-step method. Just scroll down to the list of pdfs. https://stlukeschurch.com.au/st-lukes-railway-modellers-club/ I hope this helps. Regards, Rob

G'day, Londontram, I used one of these chassis to motorise a Kitmaster Stirling Single, as described here: https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/67037-motorising-a-kitmaster-stirling-single/ The trailing wheel is a Romford 18mm driving wheel, with the crank hole modified. Regards, Rob

Some Wills models or components from my collection: GWR 1890. 1854 class. Wills body & chassis. Model built 1966-7 (my first whitemetal loco kit). Romford wheels & gears, X04 motor. Still running well. GWR 411 – ex TVR O3 class. Wills body with scratchbuilt chassis. Model built Sep 2014. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/90340-taff-vale-railway-o3-class-0-6-2t/ GWR 1565. 1076 class. Kitbashed from Hornby body and Wills chassis. Model built Jan 2016. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/107593-gwr-1076-class-double-framed-pannier-tank/ GWR 1195. 388 class. Kitbashed from Mainline body, Wills chassis, Airfix tender. Model built Jan 2019. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?app=core&module=search&do=user_activity&mid=17793 Regards, Rob

Introduction Why do we make models of certain prototypes? I suppose it’s because we can! For this project, I chose to model ex-Cardiff Railway 0-6-0ST 682 – the last member of its small class to be converted to pannier tanks in 1939. (Ref.1) This model sort of chose itself, as I had in my scrapbox a 2nd-hand K’s chassis with (scale) wheelbase 6’6”+6’9”, which, when turned around, could work for the 6’6”+6’3” wheelbase of 684. (This chassis had been bought for about A$50 at a “bring & buy” stall at a model railway show about 3 years ago.) Drawings of the class of four were found in Ref.3. I chose to model the loco in its “westernised” condition, complete with GWR safety valve bonnet and injectors, as seen in some photos. Photos of the class as saddle tanks are much scarcer than after they were converted to pannier tanks. However some of the same general design were sold into industrial use, as seen in Refs.6 & 7. One of those has survived into preservation, so the industrial cousins are helpful in clarifying some details that are unclear in the rare images of the GWR examples. Most of the body could be fabricated from copper or brass sheet, with the saddle tank adapted from a 3D print of a J94. Other details would come from my parts bin, scrapbox, the printer or my lathe. Given current COVID-19 issues, I planned to avoid purchasing anything not already to hand or able to be turned, fabricated or printed. When finished, the model would fit into my group of South Wales models (see Appendix). Construction The 2nd-hand chassis was a mess! It required the following to restore it to running: · Motor rotated on frames to achieve correct polarity · Fabrication and installation of new pickups · Rewiring On the bright side, the plastic-centred K’s wheels still ran true and were tight on their axles. After these modifications, it then ran sweetly, even through 1st radius curves. The footplate, buffer beams and cab/bunker components were cut out from 0.5mm thick copper sheet (very old stock in my scrapbox). Valences were cut from L-section brass, then soldered under the footplate. Buffer beams were then added. Wheel splashers were fabricated from brass and copper sheet, then soldered into place while ensuring that there was enough clearance for all driving wheels. Seen from the side, it was obvious that the profile of the K’s underframe wasn’t right at each end, so thin brass skirts were soldered to the underside of the footplate, the edges of which would be disguised by sandboxes. The cab/bunker parts were soldered to the footplate, starting with the sides, then trimming/adjusting other parts to suit. Steps and dummy front frames, seen above the footplate next to the smokebox, were then added. A 3d-print was made of a J94: The saddle tank was removed from the rest of the print, trimmed to length and then hollowed out. Firebox and smokebox mouldings were trimmed to fit the footplate assembly. The moulded smokebox door, chimney and dome were cut off and the remaining bare tank sanded smooth. Visible lower parts of the smokebox and firebox were extended with thin polystyrene sheet. The motor and gears were screened by additional thin plastic sheet. Test fitted to body: The “face” of this loco is quite distinctive, with a prominent rivet pattern surrounding the smokebox door. This was prepared from thin brass sheet, cut to size, with rivets simulated by lightly punching them from behind. The sheet was then super-glued to the front of the tank. The smokebox door was then attached. The “piano lid” valve cover was made from balsa and glued in place. Imperfections in the saddle tank print were filled with car body filler and then sanded smooth. Dummy leaf springs, injectors and the reversing rod were then added. Some more filler was applied and smoothed, then boiler fittings were turned from brass and fitted, followed by the cab floor, buffers, couplings and sandboxes. The handbrake control rod was soldered together from oddments of brass. The reversing lever was adapted from a spare signal lever from a Springside kit. A 3D-printed backhead was detailed slightly with extra pipes (stripped single-core electrical wire) and a regulator handle (scrap brass strip). The cab roof was cut from thin brass sheet, curved to shape, then reinforced under each side with pieces of square-section brass tube. (These locate it in place and allow an un-soldered fit.) A piece of copper sheet was cut to size and soldered to the top to represent the roof ventilator. The tank filler and its handle, smokebox door lock, handrails, whistle and lamp brackets were made up and fitted. Finishing I chose to apply GWR green, with “cast” numberplates, but no “Great Western” lettering, as implied on p.54 of Ref 4 and as illustrated in the rare images of this class in GWR livery (eg Ref.5). The body of the finished model was spray primed grey, any remaining blemishes removed, then brush painted to finish. HMRS number and route availability transfers were applied to the buffer beam and cabside. Home printed numberplates were fitted to the cabsides. The windows were glazed and a crew fitted. Finally, the loco was coaled. 682 doesn’t look out of place when seen near other absorbed South Wales locos: The model is not quite as powerful as the 0-6-2s, but that’s ok – the real ones weren’t either. Still, it pulls a very respectable load anyway. Reflections Many modellers now avoid the types of skirts used here to hide the motor. This approach was considered, but would have required the use of a new motor, gearbox and replacement wheels, as the plastic-centred K’s wheels would not have survived being disturbed. (Ask me how I know!) Given that one of the prime objectives was to avoid buying any modelling resources, I used what I had. I estimate that the total cost of the components purchased “just in case” over time would not have exceeded A$75. The current list price of a generally similar Agenoria kit is around GBP210 – around A$390 (not including airmail to Oz). A Hornby RTR Peckett 0-6-0ST is listed at GBP103 – around A$190. A Finecast 1854 class kit (without wheels, axles, gears or motor) is listed at GBP89.50 – about A$165. I believe I’ve achieved good value for money and had a lot of enjoyment for my A$75. Parts list · Motorised whitemetal K’s chassis – probably for a J65 class · 3D-printed J94 class body from https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3705470 · 3D-printed injectors, backhead and sandboxes (all designed on FreeCAD and home-printed) · Buffers (new, old-stock H0 scale NSWGR lost wax castings) · Chimney, dome & safety valve cover (home-turned brass) · Whistle (Peter’s Spares) · Scale couplings (new, old-stock H0 scale NSWGR lost wax castings) · Springs – resin parts from Casula Hobbies · Tension-lock couplings (Hornby) · 0.4mm dia phosphor bronze wire for pickups & handrails · Handrail knobs (misc. commercial turned brass) – used also for smokebox “dart” and tank filler handle · Crew: Dapol · Smokebox door (from old Airfix City of Truro) · Brass & copper sheet · Domestic office staples – for lamp brackets · Printed circuit board material for pickups · 8 BA screws, nuts & washers · Humbrol and Tamiya paints · HMRS “Pressfix” transfers Appendix: South Wales Loco Models Absorbed locos: · 3 (ex-Barry Rly 0-4-4T): Modified Craftsman etched brass kit of LSWR T1 class · 83 (Rhymney Railway P class 0-6-2T): Rebuilt from Dublo ex-LNER N2 · 151 (ex-Cardiff Railway Kitson 0-6-2T): Scratchbuilt · 411 (Taff Vale O3 class 0-6-2T): Wills body on scratchbuilt chassis · 680 (ex-ADR 0-6-0ST): Scratchbuilt body on 2nd-hand H0 chassis · 968 (ex SHT 0-4-0ST): Modified 3D printed body on Hornby L&Y Pug chassis · 1346 (ex-ADR 0-6-4T): Scratchbuilt · 1670 (ex-Brecon & Merthyr Railway 0-6-2T): Rebuilt Dublo body on scratchbuilt chassis · 2161 (ex-Brecon & Merthyr Kerr Stuart Victory class 0-6-0T): Centre Models kit · 2195 Cwm Mawr ( ex- BP&GVR 0-6-0ST): Modified Hornby Smokey Joe body on 2nd-hand H0 chassis · 3026 (30XX class ROD 2-8-0): K’s kit GWR designs: · 848 (517 class 0-4-2T): Kitbashed from Airfix body on scratchbuilt chassis · 1195 (388 class 0-6-0): Kitbashed from Mainline, Wills and Airfix parts · 1565 (1076 class 0-6-0PT): Modified Hornby body on Wills chassis · 1890 (1854 class 0-6-0PT): Wills kit · 2251 (2251 class 0-6-0): Kitbashed from Tri-ang & Airfix parts · 2322 (2301 class 0-6-0): Hornby · 2573 (2301 class 0-6-0): K’s kit · 2620 (26XX class 2-6-0): K’s kit · 2783 (2721 class 0-6-0PT): Detailed Hornby · 2518 (28XX class 2-8-0): K’s kit · 2953 Titley Court (29XX class 4-6-0): Kitbashed from Tri-ang, Dublo & Airfix parts · 3515 (3201 class 2-4-0): Kitbashed from Mainline, Airfix and Rivarossi (H0) parts · 4034 Queen Adelaide (40XX class 4-6-0): Unknown whitemetal kit · 4508 (45XX class 2-6-2T): Lima model rebuilt with Crownline kit · 4833 (48XX class 0-4-2T): K’s kit · 4908 Broome Hall (49XX class 4-6-0): Upgraded Tri-ang · 5025 Chirk Castle (4073 class 4-6-0): Upgraded Dublo · 6435 (64XX class 0-6-0PT): Rebuilt Hornby References and Further Reading 1. RCTS “The Locomotives of the Great Western Railway – Part 10 – Absorbed Engines 1922-1947” (RCTS, 1966) 2. J.H.Russell: “A Pictorial Record of Great Western Absorbed Engines” (OPC, 1978) 3. Railway Modeller, June 1988 4. J.Lewis et al.: “Great Western Way” (2nd ed., HMRS, 2009) 5. http://www.gwr813.org/GWR682a.htm 6. https://rcts.zenfolio.com/industrial-and-light/industrial-steam/national-coal-board/other/hA0FD7990#ha0fd7990 7. https://rcts.zenfolio.com/industrial-and-light/industrial-steam/national-coal-board/other/hA0FCED4F#ha0fced4f

G'day, all, I did a minor upgrade to a couple of old Tri-ang Caledonian coaches a few years ago, detailed here: I hope this is of some help. Regards, Rob,

G’day, all, The venerable Tri-ang Hall is a good candidate for inexpensive upgrades and a great way to build experience in such projects. I have done two such upgrades, both of which have had further work done, as my skills improved. The first was 4908 “Broome Hall”. I began work on this in 1967. This model now has: · Romford wheels and gears · Hornby Saint class crossheads & slidebars · Separate nickel silver handrails and brass knobs · Complete repaint · HMRS GWR transfers and lining · Etched name and numberplates The second was 2953 “Titley Court”. I first converted this model in 1975. This model now has: · Hornby Dublo Castle Chassis block and wheels · Whitemetal/nickel silver cylinders, crossheads & slidebars · Tri-ang X04 Motor: · Airfix City of Truro Tender: · Modified Tri-ang Hall Body and front bogie frame · Hornby A4 bogie wheels · Romford gears · Separate nickel silver handrails and brass knobs · Complete repaint · HMRS GWR transfers and lining · Etched name and numberplates Both models still work well and are still in use. I can recommend such projects to anyone who wishes to have a go at making something a little different to what slides out of the box. Regards, Rob

G'day, all, Your wish, Sophia, is my command! Here's my 0-4-4T, converted from a Tri-ang Jinty, generally in accordance with an article in Railway Modeller, Jan 1978: More details of the conversion may be found here: http://www.gwr.org.uk/galevans.html Happy modelling! Regards, Rob

G'day, all, I have been using 0.4mm nickel silver and phosphor bronze interchangeably for several years. I bend the wires with circlip pliers, which have rounded jaws, thus avoiding the more acute angles that conventional, flat-jawed pliers make. In this way, I also avoid the breakages that used to happen when using ordinary pliers. For the handrail at the front of the smokebox, I achieve the curve a little at a time, moving along the length bit by bit. Here's a "work in progress" shot of GWR 680, which shows the result to good effect: + Details of the project may be found here:https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/154031-gwr-680-–-ex-alexandra-docks-0-6-0st/ I hope this helps. Regards, Rob

G'day everyone, Thanks for all your interest. LNWR18901910 was interested in whether the Bachmann Emily coaches could be converted into LNWR ones. I am not familiar with the design details of the latter, so I just don't know. The mouldings are rather chunky, as seen in the image above of the one I repainted into GNR colours. The clerestory roof comes off easily, making a plain roof easy to achieve. I reused the windows that came with the ones I repainted into GNR colours, but replaced them in the GWR repaint. I wish you well with your 6-wheelers. Regards, Rob

Disclaimer This blog describes the production of an approximation of an ex-Cambrian Railways coach, towards the end of its service with the GWR. Photographs and plans of the chosen coach are scarce, so numerous assumptions have been made. The resulting model is not meant to be seen in a glass case. Rather, it is intended for use in a rake of assorted coaches as seen on Central Wales branches around 1930. Background Some time in 1966, while still in high school, I purchased my first whitemetal kit: a K’s 6-wheeled GWR low siphon. It went together fairly easily, but did not run too well until I adjusted its chassis to be more flexible. It’s still in my collection, but is not in regular use. Fast forward to 2000 and another K’s 6-wheeler was bought at a “bring and buy” sale. Assembled, painted and adjusted, it now runs reliably as part of a branch line train. I was looking for more six-wheelers for branch line use, so converted a Bachmann “Emily’s coach” to a U9 composite in 2018. As received: As remodelled (See Ref 4): Two other 6-wheelers are in my collection, both finished in GNR colours to run behind my motorised Kitmaster Stirling Single. (See Ref 1.) Recently, I decided to try to make another coach, inspired by the image of Cambrian Railways coach 172, on page 29 of Ref 2 a 35’ long 5-compartment 3rd which lasted until 1931. It would be numbered as GWR 4066. As the basis for construction, I chose to use a pair of Hornby generic 4-wheeled coaches, bought cheaply second-hand. Parts List · Hornby 4-wheeled coaches · Misc. small self-tapping screws · 1/2” by 2mm Brass strip · Modellers’ matchsticks · 8 BA screws and nuts · Thin card · ¼’ x ¼” balsa rod · Clear rigid packaging material · 0.5mm dia polystyrene rod Construction The coaches were dismantled. The roof/window mouldings were removed and discarded. The underframes were unclipped and set aside. The body mouldings were cleaned up. In the case of the blue one, class letterings were carefully scraped away from the doors. The blue body had its ends cut off with a razor saw in a mitre box. The red body’s outer compartments were similarly cut free of the centre compartment, which was discarded. After minor corrections, the three retained pieces were joined with 5-minute “Araldite”, using matchsticks to reinforce the tops of the body and a ½” wide piece of 2mm thick brass to both reinforce the floor and provide ballast to the model. After cleaning up any excess adhesive, this was the result: I did consider using a Brassmasters kit for a Cleminson coach underframe. I have just one of these fine kits in my scrapbox, but with current COVID-19 restrictions on international trade forcing some airmail prices to quadruple, I decided that this would be wasted on the admittedly crude body mouldings. Instead, one of the two chassis was shortened slightly, by cutting off the buffer beam at one end. The other was shortened by cutting off one of the wheelsets. After fine adjustment, the two sections were joined with “Araldite”, using an ice-cream stick screwed on top of the chassis to reinforce the assembly and keep it true. The centre wheelset was replaced with a pair of flangeless wheels. The wide X171-style tension-lock couplings were replaced by narrower ones. The middle axleboxes were modified to provide more vertical movement. Running tests were conducted on the sharp curves of “Gennigael” (Ref 5) and adjustments made as required. Placed together before painting, this was the result: The frame was painted satin black using an aerosol can paint. The body was spray-primed grey. After masking the rest of the body, the upper halves of the sides were sprayed cream. The lower halves and ends were brush painted with Precision Paints brown. Window frames and droplights were picked out in Humbrol 133 brown. Mouldings were picked out in black with a Uni Posca PC 3M 0.9-1.3mm paint pen. The windows were glazed with clear acetate packaging material. Compartment dividers were cut from cream card. Seats were made from ¼” x ¼” balsa and then painted with Jo Sonja Burgundy folk art paint. The roof was made from 180 gsm card and curved to shape. It was fitted with ventilators from my scrapbox and rainstrips made from 0.5mm polystyrene rod. It was then painted dark grey with Humbrol 67 enamel. A few passenger figures were added and then HMRS transfers were used to complete the model. Results Reflections This model is not an accurate model of GWR 4066. Rather, it is an approximation of the real one, with more than a few compromises made to facilitate the use of the original Hornby toy. It has the “look” of a coach that the GWR absorbed in 1922-3 and fits in with the oddments used on my “Gennigael” fictional branch line, as seen here behind 1376: This project was both challenging and fun – a good distraction while in self- isolation during the current COVID-19 crisis. Oh, yes, I almost forgot. How cheap was this “cheap and cheerful” model? I believe I did not spend more than A$5 each for the two donor coaches. Everything else came from my scrapbox. A Peter K kit for a Cam Rlys 6-wheeled 3rd is quoted as GBP 18.58 on their website. Before post and GST, this translates to around A$37. I’m happy with the result. References and Further Reading 1. https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/67037-motorising-a-kitmaster-stirling-single/ 2. C.C.Green: “Cambrian Railways Album – 2” (Ian Allen, 1981) 3. E.R.Mountford: “A Register of GWR Absorbed Coaching Stock 1922/23” (The Oakwood Press, 1978) 4. https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/138426-gwr-diag-u9-composite-coach/ 5. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/83929-gennigael-a-fictional-mid-wales-branch-terminus/

G'day, all, When researching for my model of one of these trains, I also found the image of the weedkilling train with a cab which had indistinct empty/full markings. This was the set from Wolverhampton: http://www.westernthunder.co.uk/index.php?threads/a-little-fun-can-we-identify-this-tender.6476/ The Taunton Division set had no such markings: https://www.alamy.com/great-western-railway-launches-weed-killing-campaign-scratch-them-with-spray-express-the-spray-express-and-you-train-which-deals-out-death-at-20-miles-an-hour-to-weeds-growing-on-the-great-western-railways-lines-has-started-work-in-the-oswestry-district-of-shropshire-the-train-is-composed-of-an-engine-three-locomotive-tenders-holding-9-12-thousand-gallons-of-water-which-have-been-converted-into-huge-water-cans-with-adjustable-jets-a-tank-truck-holding-2000-gallons-of-chemical-in-concentrated-solution-and-guards-brake-van-solution-a-six-part-of-water-to-one-part-of-weed-killer-image359615847.html This was the inspiration for my simple model. I hope this helps. Regards, Rob

G'day, Mr Wolf, The Barnum project is still in the planning stage. I've been gathering photos for some time. References so far include Model Railways, May 1980 and Railway Modeller, May 1988, both of which have drawings and other useful data. I do intend to scratchbuild most of it, but I do have a suitable tender, possible chassis block, wheels, axles, gearbox and motor. So, "watch this space". Regards, Rob

G'day, Andrew, Thank you for your kind comments. I'm impressed by the detail you managed to incorporate in your model - especially the chassis. I did enjoy reading through the account of your build. I see how you mounted the underhung springs and how you incorporated the outside frames into the chassis, instead of attaching them to the footplate, as I did. Nice work! Regards, Rob

G'day all, This thread reminded me of a conversion from a Tri-ang Princess I did while very impecunious in 1971. I attempted to make a model of a NSWGR C35 class, like this: This was the result (rather crude now, by my current standards): The tender body came from a Dublo Castle. It was useful kitbashing experience at the time. Regards, Rob