70021 Morning Star

Hello D869

If you still have this locomotive, please contact me.

If it's n gauge, then I have the parts. If it's OO gauge, then I'd be interested in buying it.

All the best,

Rick

(RMWeb name 70021 Morning Star) 

Hello Ray,
Now that is a very nice silk purse; err, 'County' class Pullman locomotive!

I see you followed the same process to fit a Flat-sided Hawksworth tender as I've used on 7016 Chester Castle; albeit, I've still got a little fettling to do, to get the body shell to sit completely horizontal on the frame.

The correct locomotive to tender gap is 8ft, which you appear to have achieved. My Castle is a scale 9ft to ensure she goes around 3rd radius curves. And the first Pullman carriage - Car No.55 - has her buffers retracted on the Hornby close-couplings I've fitted.

Only criticism: those coal lumps are far too small ! ...and you could lose some of the traction weight to facilitate a slope on your coal; otherwise, she looks superb. (I've purchased some ex church roofing lead to replace the 1/3rd of the traction weight I cut away but, surprisingly, my Airfix tender-drive Chester Castle isn't losing any traction with a rake of 9 coaches even before the extra lead is added.)

How about fitting a flickering firebox LED to compliment the lights in those superb Pullman coaches? (I've PMed you the wiring link.)

(Now, please PM me, how did you get that tender-drive to run so quiet??!)

All the very best,

Rick

Hello Ray,

I'm attempting to modify a pair of those 60' Collettes into a BR(W) dining car pair of 1960. To do this I need to fit bow-ends to the coaches. As I'd like to re-use those original rubberized corridor connectors, I'm wondering if you've any suggestions on the best way of removing them without damage?

They look like they might push theough, from the outside, but they may be glued on the inside rubber flange. So thought I'd ask before trying anything that might damage them.

Also, I'm wanting to fit NEM Pockets to these coaches, if you've any experience/advice in that arra.

As always, Ray, your assistance is appreciated,

Rick

Hello Ray,

If you're still pondering a Britannia class with its original 'railed' smoke deflectors, then 70021 Morning Star might be of interest. Despite serving at the Canton shed 1957 through early '58, she was the only Class 7 to escape the smoke deflector modification. Also, uniquely of all the Britannias, she retained her lined green livery throughout the entirety of her career. (For a good history of 70021, of course, it's David Hayes' excellent website.)

I'm currently working on detailing and weathering a Hornby R.2207 'Britannia' to represent 70021 Morning Star during her brief spell at Canton. Part of this will include the fitting a rubberized canvas weather shield between the cab and tender. Of course, to make this work, I'll need to do some kind of self-adjusting close-coupling system, as sometimes fitted to carriages. If you've any suggestions in that direction, please let me know. I see Hornby do offer a 'close-coupling sprung drawbar' for their Britannia (which one?), part No. X9053, which might be worthy of investigation.

Regards,

Rick

Actually, that's where I wanted to put it. But couldn't see how.

Is there a user manual anywhere?

Also, cut-and-paste doesn't seem to work.

Thanks,

Rick