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Focalplane

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  1. Focalplane
    I had started to notice some problems with poor running of the two Connoisseur locos when moving slowly on the turntable bridge. Various red herrings seemed to get in the way, but with some on line help from Tony Wright and friends I think I have found out the problem. The rails on the bridge are slightly uneven and the wooden planks either side may have been too proud. This caused both locos to stutter. When I removed the body of the Jinty it seemed to run better and this caused me to think it was the locos, not the bridge. But the stuttering always occurred at the same place, so I started to try to straighten the rails (vertically) and also shave off any timber that was too high. This is starting to make things a whole lot better.
     

     
    Which is excellent news as I really don't want to rebuild the turntable (or build a replacement).
     
    The 4F having been completed (minus coal and crew) I took the opportunity to tidy up the work bench so that I can continue with the Compound chassis. I also decided that it would be useful to make some mock-ups of the shed buildings. So these are likely to be my aims for the next two weeks.
  2. Focalplane

    New Priorities

    By Focalplane,

    I went out early this morning to cool off from the current heatwave hitting southern France and had a hard think about modelling priorities for the next few months. Lots of people are promising to show up and even one extra baseboard module is going to be an inconvenience within what is a not very large apartment, so I have decided to delay baseboard construction until October and focus on smaller projects such as coaches, locos and buildings for Penmaenpool. Legge Lane can also be included in the list of "to dos".

    To this end, and because I have just finished one wall of the engine shed for Penmaenpool, I think it would be good to complete it and have something tangible. Other module 1 buildings can follow in due course.

    Also posted on the Penmaenpool and Workbench topics.
  3. Focalplane
    More ballast has been added, completing the left side of the turntable. So now I need to finish and add the engine shed, already started several months ago.
     
    The structure is shown here placed roughly in position but minus the bothy on the left hand side:
     

     
    I have ordered some plastikard paving to add to the floor under the shed. This will allow the shed to register with the baseboard as it will be removable (for obvious reasons). Once that is installed later this week (hopefully, it depends on the combined efficiency of Royal Mail and La Poste) I will be able to design the scenic ground cover, etc. that remains.
     
    There will also be retaining walls to place behind the shed approach road to the right of the Jubilee. I have yet to come up with the best option for these.
     
    Edit to add that ongoing construction of the engine shed will be reported on my Workbench topic.
  4. Focalplane
    Although Penmaenpool is now my main future layout (even if it doesn't have a home at the moment) there is every reason to continue with what is essentially my kit building test track - engine shed - turntable apartment layout. Penmaenpool had a small engine shed, so scenicing Legge lane is a good test run.
     
    Here is the latest attempt at ballasting the shed roads:
     

     
    There's a lot of Woodland Scenics cinders there, but sprinkled on top is some real French coal dust.
  5. Focalplane
    A new loco arrives at Legge Lane:
     

     
    Ivatt 2MT 46512 arrives at Legge Lane from 89A Oswestry Shed. A San Cheng brass loco, painted by Coachmann, and one of his Gauge O locos for the aborted Oswestry layout, it will now run on Penmaenpool. It runs well and the sound file is excellent. it will look just right agead of a local passenger train consisting of a GWR B Set, or on a pickup freight. A future stable mate is Collett 14XX class 1459, also transferred from Oswestry where it was stored on one of the Works bays for several months.
  6. Focalplane
    A quick note to direct anyone following this blog to my new workbench topic:
     
    http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/117178-focalplanes-workbench-mostly-7mm/
     
    This blog will from now on only contain posts relating to the layout, not the locos, coaches, etc. that will populate it.
  7. Focalplane
    Over a week ago I left France and the 14XX in an almost finished state prior to painting, etc. The remaining parts will be fitted later this year when I return. These include the buffer beam piping, auto train parts and various pipes and conduits. Otherwise, there is not much more to do. I was tempted to try to finish these additions but good sense prevailed. Why rush?
     
    The following black and white images (I think they look better than the coloured versions) give an idea of the current status, but there also remains some cleaning up to do before primer painting.
     
    The classic frontal view:
     

     
    And its opposite:
     

     
    And full frontal, showing the missing buffer beam parts:
     

     
    It will be full steam ahead to complete the model when I return. It will be 1459, an Oswestry loco in the late 1950s, painted plain black with early BR totem. It will need an appropriate pair of (auto) coaches which I still need to research.
     
    Meanwhile I just took delivery of two, yes, two more locomotive kits from David Andrews. A second LMS Compound 4P that will eventually have a fully working inside motion and an original (un-rebuilt just doesn't sound right, does it?) Patriot which will be 45506, a Bristol based loco often seen on the MR side of New Street.
     
    So I now have a lot of kits to build, including the Midlander coaches. And Legge Lane needs its buildings and scenery.
  8. Focalplane

    LMS Jubilee Sound Demo

    By Focalplane,

    Having successfully uploaded one sound demo, here is another. It's a Lee Marsh Jubilee, 45688 Polyphemus, one of the famous Bushbury Jubilees that pulled the Midlander in the late 1950s. It came with a DCC sound chip which has a number of interesting features. First the classic Jubilee whistle, second a very authentic coasting "clank" that is featured in this video. To obtain the coasting sounds I had to accelerate hard, not at all prototypical across a turntable! Please forgive me.
     
    The locomotive has a 3 cylinder axle sensor that drives the chuff rate. This really comes into its own if I could produce wheel slip on demand but that is just about impossible on the layout.
     

     
    The full screen HD version can be accessed by clicking on the Vimeo logo at bottom right of the embedded thumbnail.
  9. Focalplane

    LMS 4F Sound Demo

    By Focalplane,

    Coachmann (Larry Goddard) is having great fun with his new indoor outdoor layout, based on Oswestry. DCC sound features prominently and as he says, with good sound you can "drive" a train far more realistically. His latest video is of an LMS 4F and it sounds very good. My own sound chip is different (Digitrains Zimo) and has some original 4F recordings included in the sound files. Both sound authentic but, as with the actual prototypes, their sounds can be quite different.
     
    The following video is my first attempt at recording a sound-equipped loco, using an iPad Mini. The latter was propped up at the end of the layout and then the 4F was moved up and down the central track across the turntable. Momentum was set to 2 which means that coasting occurs when the speed control is lowered. I have also included wheel squeal when crossing the turntable and the single whistle.
     
    https://vimeo.com/184296253
     
    I am using Vimeo and have no idea how this post is going look, so it may well be edited or even removed! And if so then I will try again.
     
    Edit to add: If you click on the share icon and then click on the link it will open as Vimeo HD. It is much better viewed that way!
  10. Focalplane
    A quick post to update on the progress so far. The chassis is nearly complete, just need to wire up the plunger pickups. Running in has started and the compensated suspension seems to be working OK on the Poppy's test rig.
     
    The body has been started and here the tab and slot technique really comes into its own. The design is quite superb with solid square assembly even before solder is applied. With solder it feels almost bullet proof.
     
    Photos to follow, sooner rather than later I hope!
  11. Focalplane
    Since penning the half year report I have managed to do very little modelling. This has been due to many visits from family and the need to close down my work bench, etc. But the urge is definitely there to continue once they all leave!
     
    Meantime I will miss Guildex Telford. So that means Reading is the next Gauge O meet I can attend.
     
    I have started on the Just Like the Real Thing coach kits and have been learning their approach to kit building. Roket super glue is certainly a well recommended product but I have used solder wherever possible on the etched bogies. Flickr has provided some excellent go by photos of Mark 1 coaches to supplement the occasionally superficial instructions that come with the kits.
     
    I also started on the engine shed windows, taking a lot of time to cut open the window spaces with great care. But then the local wind came up and any thought of balcony spray painting of the frames went away. At about this time the grandchildren arrived. . . . . . .
     
    To be continued!
  12. Focalplane
    A good place to stop and report on progress. The Sidelines Kitchen Car has been sitting on one side for too long so this past few days there has been a concerted effort to get it advanced to the current state - fully primed, ready for final painting inside and out, glazing, lining and adding a final few items. This may take a while as I will need to assemble a few necessities and also research the interior design (as far as it goes, the kitchen is glazed with privacy glass).
     
    The build has been strait forward and everything ended up square with no significant problems. The all brass body certainly needs a 40 watt soldering iron but my trusty 25 watt Antex was also useful for the under frame. The roof is fixed with epoxy as it is aluminium and there is some use of CA adhesives associated with the multitude of roof fittings.
     
    The LMS Period III Kitchen Car had a long history, some being temporarily converted for use on the Coronation Scot in 1937, while after Nationalization they came into their own on expresses like the Midlander, working with both ex-LMS coaches and BR Mark 1s. Surprisingly, they were gas powered for both cooking and lighting, the only electrical cables being the pass through ones from adjacent coaches. At 50 feet long they are shorter than other Midlander coaches. Typically they were located in the centre of the train, separating third (later second) from first class coaches. The kitchen area was in the centre with two parlors each side for serving up meals and there was also a staff compartment at one end. This is the only enclosed area with clear glazing ( though the corridor was also clear glazed).
     
    The first photo shows the frame sitting on the two bogies, complete with partitions, the corridor being closer to the camera:
     

     
    Next, the body before being sprayed with Halfords Etch Primer:'
     

     
    And finally, the end of a few days and many hours work, on the turntable:
     

     
    Next, I placed the Kitchen Car between a finished Sidelines Coach (First Open) and The Jubilee:
     

     
    A few comments about the build so far. Malcolm Binns has been selling a wide range of Gauge O LMS coaches (Period I, II and II) as well as older LNWR coaches for quite a while. The kits are competitively priced and come with brass etch, aluminium roof, brass castings and white metal bogie sides. The bogies can be built compensated (I didn't). Couplers are not included (at least if they are I have lost mine and will be using Dapol couplings anyway). And the kit also needs wheels (I use Slaters). Cutting the aluminium roof extrusion was easier than I thought and drilling out the many holes for the brass roof fittings was made easy by mapped details in the instructions.
     
    There is one thing I need to source and that is thin strips to replicate the canvas roof panels. Thirty years ago this would have been easy - drafting supply shops sold reels of tape of various widths. With computer drafting taking over these supplies are hard to find.
     
    So exactly when I finally get to spray the Crimson Lake, Cream, Black and Grey outside, plus the interior trim colours, is anyone's guess. But I am in no hurry now that this stage has been reached.
  13. Focalplane
    My great great grandfather was a Birmingham brassfounder, his son followed suit as did his son. My father broke with tradition and became a metal finisher (electroplating, anodizing, etc.) but still was associated with brass as the substrate of many items being finished. So it seems quite possible that there is some brass in my genes and this often shows when I visit the hardware store/bricolage as I usually make a bee-line for the brass rod/strip/angle display.
     
    This natural need to have brass on my workbench therefore extends from locomotive kits and the past few days I have been scratch building a few accessories to the engine shed construction.
     
    The most logical parts to be added with brass rods and tubes are the cast iron columns to hold up the shed roof. Legge Lane only needs three, one holding up the front girder, two inside. Using plans available I designed these columns and soldered them up:
     

     
    Next I thought about a standard LNWR water column. Well, Nelson's book shows two standards and the second one was an easy build using 8mm diameter brass tubing. It still needs a valve control and a leather water hose. The latter will probably be made out of thin plastic bin bag material.
     
    The gutters between the north light roofs can be made out of almost any material but I just remembered that Tridome, the local bricolage, is open on Sundays in June, so a visit tomorrow is required to buy some brass strips! These will be soldered together to make a "V" and also provide the necessary strength to the less rigid styrene sheets that will make up most of the roof.
     
    Later on there will be brass rain drainage downpipes to add to the building but that activity will be a long way off.
  14. Focalplane
    I have to admit a serious breakdown in one of my resolutions - not to start a loco project before the previous one is completed. The LMS 4F, which was started back in February, has dragged on recently while I waited for a few detailing parts. The final one arrived yesterday so I have begun to complete the model.
     
    But in the meantime I could not resist opening the box of my next project, a David Andrews' LMS Compound. I won't report here on what I have done until the 4F is at least in the spray shop, but a sneak preview can be seen on Wright Writes, post #9376.
     
    The two remaining items on the 4F are the second lubricator and the completion of the pickup wiring for DCC. The latter is half done and will be reported on once completed.
     
    The brass lubricator kit is the second of two fitted to the footplate of the 4F. These replace the white metal ones in the kit and are from Laurie Griffin.
     
    The kit comprises four parts, the lubricator housing, fine brass tubing, front handle and rear drive shaft:
     

     
    The housing has start holes which must be drilled out. The first hole runs front to back for the drive shaft:
     

     
    The handle is soldered on one end of a piece of thin brass wire which the rear drive shaft is drilled so that it can be threaded onto the shaft and still be able to move (though the mechanism will not be driven from the locomotive like in the real thing):
     

     
    Next, the eight lubricator pipes are added by passing thin wire through four sections of the brass pipe. Drilling the holes for these took a while. The assembly is currently waiting for the Loctite to set before the wires are bent into shape.
     

     
    Finally, the drive shaft was completed:
     

     
    I will wait 24 hours before bending the wires and soldering the assembly onto the loco. Then I will post a final photo of the loco body before it goes to the spray shop. I am finding this little job quite exhilarating. Don't ask me why, perhaps it's the brass-founder in my genes?
  15. Focalplane

    7mm scale men

    By Focalplane,

    Lots more small tasks completed today, including tender transfers, a shed code plate, sprung buffers, and little red and silver men!
     
    The latter include two figures from Modelu and two that were included in the Connoisseur 4F kit. The former are 3D printed scans of real people in period clothing (i.e. they volunteer on either the SVR or the Llangollen Railway, I am not sure which). They come in red 'plastic' straight from Alan's 3D printer. The latter are traditional white metal figures which Jim McGowen includes in his kits. I have already painted up two of his for the Jinty (a.k.a. Dobbin).
     
    Modelu's figures are perhaps the more realistic in that the shovel in the fireman's hand is actually being used rather than leant on (though all firemen lean on their shovels, don't they?) I am, however, not sure if Modelu's driver has his hand stretched out in the right place for the 4F's regulator. These are not criticisms at all, just that getting the perfect static pose for every situation is just not going to be possible. One of Modelu's characters has longer hair than was customary in the 1950s so he is not going to be on my list. But isn't it good to have choices?
     
    I found that the white metal figures painted better with some etched primer on and so did the same with the 3D printed figures. By the way, a quick word to the couple who run Porthmadog Models in North Wales and who specialize in military figures. Mrs. "PM" took the time to give me a quick guide to selecting paints and then on how to apply them to small figures. If you are ever in Porthmadog, look them up if only to see the huge display in the centre of the shop. They do not carry much railway stock but have the full range of paints, etc.
     
    So here are some before and after priming photos:
     
    First the Modelu men unprimed:
     

     
    And primed (I didn't use flash for this shot and it has some camera shake):
     

     
    Next the Connoisseur men unprimed:
     

     
    And primed:
     

  16. Focalplane
    Now that the cabinetry is completed (see previous post) the urge to press on with the actual layout really came alive. Like a chicken without its head I did seem to be running off in all directions but this was partly a result of waiting on paint to dry and also watching the French Open.
     
    The first direction was to cut and glue down paving slabs approximately 2' square as an edging to the turntable well. These will be painted whit(ish) and then grouted in with cinders, etc. when I come to add the ballast, etc. The edge to the pit is uniform but the outside is quite random, on purpose. I will probably break off a few corners prior to painting as well.
     
    Then I finished the dummy inside motion to the Compound. This went together well once I re-read the instructions a few times. The actual motion consists of inside Stephenson valve gear for the outside cylinders as well as the inside high pressure connecting rod and its associated valve gear. On the LMS Compounds the high pressure cylinder is central with its valve piston below and offset to the right. David Andrews' instructions suggest soldering the whole thing together once installed and that is what I have done. I used a 3/16" shaft from the Poppy's chassis jig but this has since been replaced by the actual Slaters axle. I have done the inside dummy motion out of order - the brakes and outside motion should be done first, but I felt that this way round might be easier and I think it is. At least so far.
     
    Here are two pictures:
     

     

     
    Next I assembled three Peco station benches and spray painted them with etch primer. They will be suitably aged to look like hand-me-downs from New Street Station to provide a rest for cleaners and ash pit crews. As a result of doing this small task I have started a shopping list of other items to populate the shed yard.
     
    Then I painted the buffer beams of the assembled 4F (front and rear) and Compound (rear). I can't say I like brushing with Humbrol acrylic paint though, so will try other makes in future.
     
    The third photo shows the turntable well and the painted buffer beams:
     

  17. Focalplane
    The design of Legge Lane II was set a long time ago (nearly a year it seems). The design was dictated by a number of factors, including space available, location of space (in living room in a small apartment) and the need for storage to contain large Gauge O boxes, tools, etc.
     
    Having built two IKEA kitchens in the last 6 years and added several built in cupboards, the approach was a no-brainer. IKEA offer an on line design app and this together with SketchUp provided an excellent mating up of storage cabinets below and layout above. The design concept looked like this. It hasn't changed very much since.
     
    Buying the cabinets was no problem - drive to Montpellier, buy and collect. Except the trim for surrounding the layout was not kept in stock and had to be delivered! Two pieces of trim cost €36. Shipping would be €96.00!!!!!! I put the whole plan out of my mind. By the way, the two pieces of trim in IKEA UK would be £62.00, approximately double the cost in France. What is going on, IKEA?
     
    The trim has two purposes. First to finish off the boundary between furniture below and scenic layout above. Second to act as a barrier to runaway locomotives falling off a scale cliff. Such things can happen.
     
    Finally, I found myself in Montpellier last week and stopped at IKEA to order the trim pieces. To be told that they were now in stock! I snapped them up and drove back with two cardboard packed strips sticking out the window, hoping it would not start raining. It didn't.
     
    I don't know about others, but I find mitred joints a real pain. Picture framers must be a special breed! Measure twice cut once took on a new meaning at this stage. The good news was that the boards were square so 90º is truly 90º. Or at least nearly 90º!
     
    The strips are 2.2 meters long while the layout is 2.4 meters long. So there has to be a join and I have elected to put it half way, above a join between two cabinet doors. This is not the strongest point to make the join but it will look "right" and the layout isn't exactly going anywhere just yet. Incidentally, should I decide to move from the apartment the task of removing the layout and putting a new work surface on top of the cabinets will be reasonably straightforward - all part of the master plan!
     
    So what does it look like?
     

     

     
    The brackets will disappear under scenery, in fact the inside "wall" of the trim will be part of the layout scenery.
  18. Focalplane
    Many years ago I worked in the Celebes, also called Sulawesi. The capital, Makassar, also called Ujung Pandang, was famous for two things - Makassar Oil which gave birth to the anti-Makassar and the Bogeyman. Remember those scary stories, the Bogeyman will come and get you? The Bogeyman was actually a tribe of fearless sailors called the Buginese and they hailed from Makassar, built ships without nails and traded spices from the East. A fine people, in my opinion.
     
    Well, my Compound bogie sort of reminded me of those far off days. Although designed for compensation, the instructions suggested soldering the whole thing solid. After giving this some thought I remembered an archived Gauge O Guild article on building a S&D 2P 4-4-0 and looked it up. Sure enough, the author had decided to build the bogie with compensation. So I decided to do the same. Enter the Bogeyman.
     
    This required a good deal of experimentation as I have not built a compensated chassis before. However, after several failed attempts at getting a free running bogie I finally achieved a reasonably good effort. All part of the learning curve, never let the Bogeyman frighten you!
     
    Three photos of the Compound chassis with bogie:
     

     

     

     
    Note that the brake fittings remain to be completed and the sanding pipes will need to be added.
     
    Meantime, despite very changeable weather today (currently blowing a gale outside) I managed to apply a black gloss coating to the Compound's tender. The storm has just smashed the shutter against the window of my work room, plunging that room into temporary darkness as I have had to secure it in the closed position. I need to get some really good desk lighting for such occasions.
     
    Edit to say that photographs never lie and that front left sand box is skew. Well, it was!
  19. Focalplane
    Beautiful weather (hope it was wherever you, the reader are) and perfect for spray painting. The Compound tender got its primer coat (Halford's etch primer, what else?)
     

     
    While the 4F finally got a matching gloss black loco to go with its tender:
     

     
    And a more "down to earth shot":
     

     
    Next there will be some touching up to do before painting the buffer beams red and brass/copper fittings. Then it will be time to install the DCC sound. The 4F is a tough looking loco, ready for almost anything you throw at it, just let it take its time getting to its destination! Together with the Jinty a nice contrast to the passenger locos on shed.
  20. Focalplane
    On returning to France (via Deauville and Saint Emilion) some work has gone into Legge Lane II and, following the start made a month ago, the shed tracks have been laid and are now waiting to be wired up. The state of affairs found after three weeks away was a bit disappointing in that a lot of track cleaning was required (particularly on the turntable) and this may be an ongoing problem to be resolved. Does anyone use WD40 on steel parts that conduct electricity? The steel wheels on the turntable bridge were particularly oxidized.
     
    The Jinty was tested for the first time on the turntable and has a few pickup problems which I have yet to resolve. The Jubilee has no problems at all.
     
    Having already laid the ash pit and coaling roads, my first priority was to lay the opposite tracks into what will be the two road engine shed. This required cutting the slots for the inspection pits and then devising a way to lay the track. I had some Canadian basswood strips and sheets and these were used, together with C&L chairs, to construct the inspection pit tracks: Butanone was used to glue the chairs to the basswood and this worked really well.
     

     

     

     
    The bottles of olive oil and tequila are invaluable weights for glueing down the track parts. One of these days I might just drink the tequila but it has been with me for 20 years so perhaps I may never do so!
     
    Next, I addressed the short tracks either side of the turntable for the ash wagon and attendant tank locomotive, before building the ramp for the coal stage:
     

     

     
    The striped nature of the coal ramp is due to using a variety of media to create the ramp. It will all disappear beneath ballast and other scenic material. The height of the coal ramp is a bit of a compromise due to the compression of the layout. It will mean more hard spade/shovel work for the staff but I don't expect them to complain too much!
     
    Finally, back to the inspection pits, which will be located within the engine shed. The floors of the pits are in but not the steps.
     

     
    The final track, not yet fixed in place, will be the access road from the rest of the system. I am still thinking about how this will be incorporated. One possibility is to have a short demountable sector plate off the layout.
  21. Focalplane

    Ash pit in use

    By Focalplane,

    To round off a week in France, here is the status of Legge Lane.
     

     
    The good news is that what has been accomplished works well. I did have some problems with the DCC auto reversal module but that turned out to be shorting across the brass strip that fits between the bridge rails. The strip was filed narrower and repainted and all is well. The NCE Power Cab works loco and turntable motors but NOT both at the same time! Which is a good thing.
     
    Adding more roads should take a lot less time when I return in a couple of weeks, then the task will switch to loco construction and some scenery. After the fiasco with my lost suitcase I am driving this time and will have three locos with me, namely 3F, 4F and Compound. I hope to have at least the first two completed before summer kicks in.
     
    I am typing this at 3:30 am in an aire south of Caen. It s freezing outside and too cold to sleep! I left home far too early, not realizing how cold it is in northern France.
  22. Focalplane
    The previous post ended with a problem - apparent swelling of card used under the C&L flexi-track. I have now relaid the track with only minimal plasticard shims added next to the turntable bridge. So far so good.
     

     
    The second road off the turntable has also been added, this one including the ash pit. Ash pit design differs from inspection pit design, though the end result may not be all that obvious. The most important thing about ash pits is that they need to withstand the heat of a dropped fire, so no wood can be used in their construction. Fishplates were directly bolted into stone or concrete and the lining of the pit itself would be of stone, concrete or brick. I am opting for a mix - concrete floor and ramp, brick walls (Staffordshire blues) and to support the rails plastic sleepers disguised as lengths of stone. The plastic sleepers are left overs from C&L point kits, laid lengthwise, with C&L chairs glued to them with Butanone. The gauge was maintained through this process, as seen in the photos.
     

     

     
    I have yet to add the brick paper and paint the various components, but after this is eventually done I will then add ash and clinker to the pit and generally weather it. An adjacent platform will be built for loading ash into a wagon. This short stub will be at the back of the layout, fed straight from the turntable bridge. Manual labour will be used to move the ash out of the pit, onto the platform and into the waiting wagon. Messy work, so a small hut will be added and a bench for the cleaners to take their tea breaks in the summer months. There will also be a standpipe and hose and other accessories to populate this corner of the shed.
     
    Next, wiring the track. The first element to be live was the turntable bridge, next came these two sidings. All the wiring is done under the central cabinet except for the NCE Power Cab panel which has been fitted in place. This will be concealed by a small mess hut when the layout is in static mode.
     
    Finally, I could not resist a classic ground eye view of Polyphemus on the bridge deck:
     

     
    The bridge is currently high relative to the top of the baseboard but this will change when I add paving around the edge (painted white for safety) over more brick walls. See my gallery of photos taken of the Didcot turntable.
  23. Focalplane
    Finally back to work on modelling and the Sidelines LMS Period III Kitchen Car. To get back in the swing of things I decided to build one of the two bogies. It's the one on the left.
     

     
    The one on the right belongs to a Period III Open First, built by Sidelines' owner Malcolm Binns. Malcolm's kits are a joy to build but I am very pleased to have a "go by" made by the man responsible for designing the kits. When in doubt, simply check the original.
     
    When it comes to painting, I will follow Malcolm's example by first priming the entire bogie (Halford's etch primer) and then use a matt black acrylic spray. Given the design of the Slater's bearings it seems the paint will not clog the axles.
     
    The kitchen car body needs a good going over with fine steel wool - I am sure I left it clean and with no residue of flux, etc., but it doesn't look like it.
  24. Focalplane
    As Easter approaches I find myself roped in to some DIY projects in Wales, so that is where I am heading and the modelling will stay behind. Internet access may be very poor, so I am basically closing down the blog for the rest of the month.
     
    But it will be good to return because:
     
    The LMS 4F has been run in and the final touches can now be made to the chassis, while the loco's body needs a coating or two of black gloss paint.
     
    The LMS Compound's tender is nearly complete and will be ready for primer in a matter of a few hours of detailing, etc.
     
    Some really useful discussions were had recently on Wright Writes concerning crank angles and this will help me to assemble the Compound's third crankshaft, etc. Time away from the Compound will help me work out the best way(s) to assemble the chassis and inside motion.
  25. Focalplane
    The end is near! Well, there are still many small things to do, but at last the detailing on the 4F's body is complete and I have also wired up the plunger pickups to the DCC socket. The driven rear axle is being run in as I type this.
     
    The first photo is of the loco's chassis with the rear driven axle being run in:
     

     
    The DCC socket and blanking plug are clearly visible just in front of the motor. To change from DC to DCC the blanking plug is replaced by the built in plug of the Zimo 645R sound decoder. I am hoping that the entire DCC assembly will fit inside the firebox. This will probably mean that the shaft of the Mashima 1833 will need to be trimmed back. But it does mean that the tender will not have to be wired in to the locomotive in any way
     
    The next photo shows the primed loco body with the chassis still running in in the background.
     

     
    And finally, a close up of the two Laurie Griffin lubricators. The drive shafts are free to move.
     

     
    What remains to be done? Well, the coupling rods need to be reamed out to fit the Slater crankpins, and then attached. This will allow the two axles not driven by the motor to be run in, no doubt with some adjustments along the way. The axles feel tight at the moment so the broach will have to be employed.
     
    Then the body will be sprayed gloss black to match the tender, followed by detail painting of buffer beams and the cab fittings.
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