Caley Jim

Every Scottish Pre-grouping company came under the Drummond influence in one form or other! Jim

Yes, Tim. Spokes are T-section. The wheels will be made by the same methods as the new Association range once the technical details for these have been sorted out. Jim

Thanks to nick and Angus for their kind comments. Firstly I must correct an error pointed out by Angus. These locos were officially the 323 class, not 232 class. After a certain age one becomes easily confused! A little progress. The frames have been attached to the spacers and the support for the rocker formed. The bearings have been fitted to the beams, the centre ones being only soldered to the front (outer) beams so that they pivot about these. this was a tricky operation involving two pieces of tissue with holes punched in them, one between the flange of the bearing and the rear beam and the other between half etched areas on the beams, in order to stop everything being soldered up solid. The support for the rocker is the projection on the LH frame and it will bear on the two lugs on the front beams. Next job will be temporarily fit the beams in place, make the rocker and adjust it so that the chassis will sit level. Jim Jim

Now if that was happening in a Clyde shipyard the unions would be calling a strike over job demarcation! Jim

While on the subject of station staff, I am I the only one for whom the ticket collector on the Achenseebahn last Friday reminded me of Mr Perks? Jim

It is now some 17 years since I built my last loco, my 98 class 2-4-0 No 108, though two have received new chassis since then. The bodywork for 108 was part of a sheet of etches from John Boyle's hand drawn artwork, reduced to 2mm scale. As well as several different 2-4-0's there was also the bodywork for a Drummond 323 Class 0-6-0ST. These were introduced in 1887 and became known as 'Jubilee Pugs', that year being Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. Drawings appeared in Model railways for July 1975. My model will be of No 217 of the 1888 batch and will be powered by a 0816 motor from Tramfabriek mounted in the boiler with the drive in the firebox. The chassis will be my usual beam compensated type and the parts for this were included on the same etch as the footbridge I recently completed. From the top, RH frame, RH compensation beams, PCB spacers, LH beams, LH frames. The rear beams pivot on the bearings for the worm wheel, while the front ones pivot about the bearings for the centre axle, with the front of the frames supported on them via a rocker which pivots on the little section projecting down from the front of the LH frame in the photo above, thus providing 3-point suspension. This will become clearer as the build progresses. My reasoning behind this unconventional approach is the it ensures that all wheels are in solid contact with the rails at all times, with the objective of improving current collection.

As far as I understand it, and I'm open to correction, Gordon has retired from doing the final machining of wheels for the shop, but is still willing to turn down proprietary wheels for members. Jim

It's pretty hot here too.despite being at c940m Maurach was around 34° today. We were up at the top station of the Rofanseilbahn which, at 1840m, was a bit more pleasant. Some weather sites were forecasting thunder this evening, but it hasn't happened (yet). Jim

Here's the plate I mentioned This one is on No 1. Theodor. They don't seem to have tightened up the screw on this one either. Jim

Not doing any modelling as I'm in Austria. Local railway. Pity they didn't tighten down the rear fixing screw or hide the big gear in the centre !

My own system, not based on John's, is equally simple. Two lengths of 8thou. p/b wire wound into a coil spring with a long tail each end. One tail is soldered to the outside of the loco frames at the back and the other tail fits into a tube on the front of the tender frames. Only tricky bit is threading the two tails in while also lining up the drive shaft when putting loco and tender together. The secret is to make the two tails different lengths and long enough to let you align the shaft once they are in. Jim

So you both work for B&Q then? Jim

Us. Seen that when we've been here before. Never mind a really useful engine, that's what you call a really useful wagon! Every layout should have one (or more), preferably fully loaded. One has to keep ones fluid levels up in this heat. Jim

Many happy returns, Linny. I'm in Austria at the moment and it's hot here too, 29° and we're at an alm at 1040m at the moment. Jim

Well, the scenery around there is pretty grand! Jim

Maybe the new tanks were an etch with the sides half etched and the rivets unetched. It would have needed a h**l of a soldering iron to put it together, though! Jim

The pillars were turned for me by one of the group building the layout. The jig was drawn up as part of the etch. Jim

There is a plate on the other side with a tick list for maintainance checks. I'll try and get a shout of that next time. I'll be having ein grosse bier with my dinner tonight! Jim

Think that's to let you disconnect the con-rod to check the quartering! Jim

At least this one seen today is in black, but it's a pity they didn't manage to get it to sit level or hide that gear wheel in the centre! Built Vienna 1889,so definitely Pre-grouping. Jim

That was because, the directors being Glasgow industrialists and merchants, they were driving a hard bargain over the share price! Jim

Being comprised mainly of Edinburgh lawyers and accountants the NB board were probably rarely prepared to commit to expenditure in a hurry! (Caley) Jim

I think the two being referred to were Jerry and I. I can see the merit in trying to create a product to, for example, simplify making uj's, but I think there are times when things tend to get too sophisticated. I'm a great believer in the KISS principle. Jim

A wire loop in a slot is far simpler than faffing about with drilling bits of plastic and supergluing them on! Jim

Somebody has been out with the tartan paint again. Jim