Frappington Jct

Thanks, I'm quite pleased with how they came out

So, an update on the Sentinel. I hadn't realized that I hadn't posted here since February until yesterday, but then again I have been working on my two challenge entries, so I have an excuse. Since February, I have managed to get one side of windows done, though not using the method I outlined above. In fact, I used the method that I said I wouldn't use, and built the frames from scratch. However, it was such a tedious job, that I didn't relish doing the other side at the time, and then forgot to post an update. I won't go into how they were built, as it's quite obvious from the photos. The other major development has been the purchase and fitment of a Black Beetle motor bogie, which allowed me to watch it run for the first time under its own power last night, on my Grandads "Granby" layout. It was very easy to install, I simply cut a hole in the chassis, cut a rectangle of 60 thou. plasticard to mount it on, mounted it and let it run. Again, I'll let the pictures (and video) do the talking. https://youtu.be/3tohdhMpEMs

Now all I need is for Bachmann to produce an F5, GER push pull stock and motorise an EFE unit and I can build a multi era model of Epping station!

Oh, there are many of us hanging around here somewhere, just we're maybe not as obvious as one may think

Right, a quick update. The loco body is pretty much finished for now apart from transfers. As may be visible in the pictures, I've fixed the steam pipe, so that now extends the full length of the body, as on the prototype. I've also cut down the bunker as suggested above, although it's not quite far enough down as the solid block in the bunker was in the way - it looks alright to me though. One slight problem I had was fitting the smoke box door dart. This wasn't mentioned in the instructions and I couldn't find it... After some asking around, the components were found hidden amongst the handrail knobs (which I have decided not to fit for now as I don't have the correct drill bit and can't cut them down with the tools I have.) I then chopped the length of the "hands" (don't really know what to call them) down to what they should be for a BR engine and then after much super glue and cursing got the whole assembly together and on the front of the engine. So, next jobs are to sort the chassis out, add weight to the side tanks and apply transfers. Thanks

They stole my idea!

That K2 is a lovely beast, it'd be nice to see more of her. Would you mind awfully running a tape measure over the cab please? (height, width, rough window positions) It'd be a great help for me. The layout looks great as always Thanks

Ah, ok, that sounds more feasible, I might do that

Will we know in advance of the model arriving in the post whether our order Is one of those being fulfilled by the first batch?

Thanks, that's really useful. It's very typical of me that however hard I looked, I still got the steam pipe wrong! I'll probably leave the tanks as I'm loath to try making my own look good. I might try what you suggest with the motor though.

Right, an update. As I'm scared of drilling, I bought the L1 with me to my Grandads this week, and between us we've got all of the holes needed for the various parts done. This does exclude, however, the holes for the handrail knobs, as there were no marks on the model (as there were meant to be) and we were a bit wary of not lining them up/not doing enough. The lack of marks on the body where there should have been turned out to extend to every component which needed a hole drilling. Thus my Grandad and I had to spend quite a long time trying to work out where to drill the holes for the chimney, dome etc. It was rather lucky that the drawings provided with the kit were pretty much to scale, allowing us to take our measurements from there, and we recon we've managed to get pretty close to where everything's supposed to be. There was also the question of where the steam pipe should go on the right hand side of the loco - or rather how long it should be. The instructions which come with the kit suggest that the pipe should run the full length of the loco. However, through much consultation of the two photographs we could find of the right hand side of an L1 and a much blown up picture of the isinglass drawing which we got off their website, we concluded that the pipe actually terminated towards the front of the water tanks and thus drilled there. This may well be wrong, but it's done now and I think it looks rather good. The photo shows the body posed on the Hornby 'Jinty' chassis which forms the power for the loco (I still need to write to Dave Slater about the missing chassis parts), with the footplate perched underneath to prop the body up. Whilst the steam pipe, chimney, dome and safety valves are present, they aren't attached so that I can change my mind about them at a later date - the kit came with many different options! On the subject of safety valves, I'm assuming that by BR days the L1s would have lost the safety valves in the picture above in favor or the smaller LNER ones (of which I do have a casting), is this correct or can I keep the current ones? They do look rather nice! In addition, I'm still debating about whether or not to add a top feed. The trouble is that I can't find any pictures of the loco I want to model (69064), and thus don't know whether or not it kept its top feed. If I can't find a picture within the next day or so though, I think I'll just leave it off, as I won't know any different! The other major work done today was the recommended removal of material from the (solid resin) rear bunker. This prevents the loco 'rearing up' when pulling a load. Apparently. Anyway, this was a simple job of drilling a load of holes in the base of the bunker with a 5mm drill bit, which I hope will have removed enough weight.

As with a few others, I'm only staking my claim for now. This is my first loco kit, so I'm abit nervous, although it is only a resin body with white metal castings to fit. The only problem is that the kit as bought (new at Warley last year year) is that it's missing most of the chassis modification parts, so I've got to write to Dave and ask if he can send me replacements, unless someone has a kit they don't want to donate parts!

Well I just got an email to say that the br black ones are nearly here and that you should pay the balance soon

Thanks