Jump to content
 

5&9Models

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    662

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Blog Entries posted by 5&9Models

  1. 5&9Models
    In the Summer 2016 edition of the Brighton Circular I posed a question regarding the identity of a loco illustrated in Samuel Brees' 'Railway Practice' 1846. His claim that the drawing was of London & Croydon Railway locomotive 'Croydon' was clearly an error and thanks to the perpetuation of this mistake by E. L. Ahrons and others, it's identity has never really been queried.
     
    Thankfully my article sparked a bit of debate and some excellent responses were written in subsequent Circulars. Unfortunately the conclusion was that we know what this loco was not, but who built it (if it was ever actually built) and the Railway it was built for remain a complete mystery.
     
    When I started the model, I was happily convinced it was 'Croydon' built by Rennies for the New Cross incline, and on that basis I determined to complete it. However, now it's somewhat enigmatic and I think I like it even more!
     

     
    The model itself is in 4mm scale to EM standards. Power is by a slightly modified but very sweet running (thanks to the benefits of running it in long before installation) Portescap RG4. The motor is a sliding fit inside the brass tube and veneer boiler, with the gearbox hidden inside the smoke of driving the leading axle. The second axle carries flangeless wheels as per the drawing and the trailing axle and tender wheels are wagon/coach wheels since these are appropriately more dainty than loco/tender wheels: all wheels are Gibson.
     

     
    The frames are cut from brass with 5thou styrene overlays to allow for rivet detailing etc. I confess I struggled a bit with the construction of the motion, the first incarnation was chopped off and started all over again as it never ran smoothly however much I swore at it! The assorted round bits were turned in the lathe, I wouldn't want to tackle a loco like this without one.
     

     
    It all dismantles into sub units; the boiler with motor and gearbox which can be slid out if required. The outside frames with motion and smokebox etc. And the inside frames with the final drive gear, wheels etc.
     

     
    The tender is entirely conjectural. There is no tender illustrated with the original drawings so I made one up (which was great fun by the way) based on standard practice for the period including a lever operated brake which I imagine was almost entirely useless! Sprung buffers and a bunker full of real coke complete the model.
     

     
    The smokebox front is very odd indeed. I've kept to the original drawings which show a convex front bolted all the way around. Either this is a very early attempt at streamlining (unlikely) or simply another error. Surely the cleaner was not expected to undo 48 individual bolts just to brush the tubes?!
     

     
    I completed the model on the last day of 2017 so 2018 is clear for the next loco. This will be a Bury Goods 0-4-0, watch this space....!
  2. 5&9Models

    Wagon turntables

    By 5&9Models,

    Just completed the first cassette of dummy wagon turntables to go outside the goods shed at Bricklayers Arms. This is a set of four, one table inside the shed and three outside. The set will sit at 90 degrees to the front of the shed serving one of the bays. There are six bays each with a set of turntables, three with three and three with four, plus another set of four at one end. Each set is joined by the running lines, one inside the shed and three outside.
     

     
    To start, two long rails were laid, soldered to PCB sleepers with extra long ones to support each of the four turntables. Then the rails were doubled up and the whole lot washed well to remove the residue before being glued to stout card. Cuts were made in the rails to indicate the edge of the turntable and also to provide electrical isolation between either side and each table.
     
    Card was used to infill between and around the rails and veneer wood cut into planks was glued in place.
     

     
    Finally the surround was filled with polyfilla which once dry was scribed with stone slabs and setts. The table furthest from the shed has been left ballasted as this line is more of a passing loop.
     
    The stonework was painted with Humbrol Matt enamels and given a dirty wash and a little highlighting. The 1840s wagons fit quite well and give an idea of scale.
     

     
    Each turntable consists of 24 pieces of rail and 55 pieces of wood. There are 25 required for the Goods Shed which makes a total of 600 pieces of rail and 1375 pieces of wood. Some of the turntables will also have to be operational. I think I have my work cut out!
     

     
    This last shot shows the start, should really be at the beginning of this blog but there we are!
     

  3. 5&9Models
    It's been a very long time since my last post (which I think was a 4mm scale chair!) but I've nearly completed my latest build: Canterbury & Whitstable Railway, Taylor 0-6-0 goods loco, no.121,  c1847.
    The bulk of it was constructed whilst convalescing with a broken left metatarsal. What a tragedy to be signed off work and have to sit there day after day with my foot up, drinking tea and model making, life can be so cruel!
    A friend offered some Portescap motor/gearboxes in exchange for kits so one of these formed the basis for this engine. The gearbox had to be dismantled and reversed so the driving axle sat under the motor and the wheels were some old Romford ones from the scrap box.
    One of the biggest challenges was the haycock firebox with it's brass beading around the corners. The box itself was build up from two strips of scribed 10thou brass bent into an 'n', cut and soldered together, then the brass corners cut from 5thou, bent and beaten into submission around the curves, a horrible job and much learned in the process but it doesn't look too bad. It hasn't put me off doing another one anyway.
    The tender was rest was gradually scratch built using good old fashioned measure, bend and cut techniques, as was the rest of the loco, a refreshingly 3D print free zone! It still requires some water feed pipes under the footplate and there is an annoying little short every time it goes left which I must sort out. Of course some crew will be required before it moves 'off shed' but they can wait.
    The photographs leave a bit to be desired, I find the low sun at this time of year a bit tricky, our house faces due south and not casting a shadow over the photo at midday requires some degree of contortion. Hopefully they will do for now, next up is an 1845 Bodmer Single but as usual it will take me ages!
    Thanks for looking and please feel free to ask if you need to know more.





  4. 5&9Models
    Over the few years I've been a member of RMWeb, I seem to have erroneously created several blogs. My clumsy grasp of computers has been a bit frustrating as I never know where I've posted and have a horrible habit of posting new material on the wrong blog and so on. Therefore a little bit of belated Spring Cleaning is required and I have copied the info from my previous 'George England 2-2-2' blog to this one so that I can have it all in the right place. So, apologies to those who have read the first bit before and I hope that the new material is sufficiently interesting to make up for it!
     
    The Railway Chronicle for December 16th 1848, carries an article on 'a specimen of a light locomotive, called the 'Little England', which, with its tender on the same frame, will work the ordinary stock of a company. The 'Little England' and tender weigh together when roadworthy 9 tons 5 cwt. It has a 7-in. cylinder, a 12-in. stroke, and 4 ft. 6 in. driving wheels. The diameter of the leading trailing wheels is 3ft. The distance between the extreme centres is 14ft.'  The article goes on to describe the journey from New Cross to Brighton station with three first-class carriages containing 31 persons of note. Its sprightly performance was much praised and George England went on to produce several versions at his Hatcham Iron Works just off the Old Kent Road.
     
    In the Summer of 1849, George made his first sale of his little 2-2-2 engine to the Dundee, Perth & Aberdeen Railway. Before the year was out, a further example (named Dwarf) went to the London & Blackwall, and the following year six more were sent to a variety of destinations. Of these, three (named England, Samson and Hercules) went to the L&B, one (also named England) travelled north to the Edinburgh & Glasgow and another to the Liverpool, Crosby & Southport Rly. A further locomotive (named Little England) was prepared for the Great Exhibition, becoming exhibit no.509 and receiving a Gold Medal for it's efforts.
     
    A charming contemporary illustration apparently shows 'Little England' and is probably the Great Exhibition engine with a wheelbase of 15ft. Clark also illustrated one of George's engines with a 12ft. 6in. wheelbase, so there were different versions along the same theme sometimes with the same name. Finally, a photograph of 'Dwarf' on the Sandy & Potton confirms the 15ft wheelbase version.
     
    The aforementioned etches provide a good basis for what is essentially a scratch build. Motorising such a tiny loco is always a challenge and I chose to hide an H&S mini motor in the bunker and drop the gears down under the footplate, up into the firebox, to a 40:1 worm and pinion on the driving axle. The gears themselves were robbed from an old toy engine from my childrens wooden train set, (don't worry, the motor was burned out beyond redemption - I'm not that mean)! It all seems to run very sweetly and does the job at a total of 90:1. I'm going with the 15ft wheelbase for my model although I'd like it to be 14ft to represent the original 'Little England' I can't face 'cutting and shutting' the etches and it's not obvious where to loose the 4mm without making it look very odd indeed. I suspect I would need to steel 2mm from behind the drivers somewhere and 2mm in front which is just too much hassle!
     
    I appreciate this little locomotive has graced the pages of RMweb before thanks to the excellent contribution by chris p bacon, however, thanks to the aforementioned gent sending me a set of etches to aid the scratch building of my own attempt, I thought I'd share the progress here. 
     
    The Railway Chronicle for December 16th 1848, carries an article on 'a specimen of a light locomotive, called the 'Little England', which, with its tender on the same frame, will work the ordinary stock of a company. The 'Little England' and tender weigh together when roadworthy 9 tons 5 cwt. It has a 7-in. cylinder, a 12-in. stroke, and 4 ft. 6 in. driving wheels. The diameter of the leading trailing wheels is 3ft. The distance between the extreme centres is 14ft.'  The article goes on to describe the journey from New Cross to Brighton station with three first-class carriages containing 31 persons of note. Its sprightly performance was much praised and George England went on to produce several versions at his Hatcham Iron Works just off the Old Kent Road.
     
    In the Summer of 1849, George made his first sale of his little 2-2-2 engine to the Dundee, Perth & Aberdeen Railway. Before the year was out, a further example (named Dwarf) went to the London & Blackwall, and the following year six more were sent to a variety of destinations. Of these, three (named England, Samson and Hercules) went to the L&B, one (also named England) travelled north to the Edinburgh & Glasgow and another to the L.C&S.Rly. (although what that stands for I'm not sure - help me out someone)! A further locomotive (named Little England) was prepared for the Great Exhibiton, becoming exhibit no.509.
     
    A charming contemporary illustration apparently shows 'Little England' and is probably the Great Exhibition engine with a wheelbase of 15ft. Clark also illustrated one of George's engines with a 12ft. 6in. wheelbase, so there were different versions along the same theme sometimes with the same name. Finally, a photograph of 'Dwarf' on the Sandy & Potton confirms the 15ft wheelbase version.
     
    The aforementioned etches provided a good basis for what was essentially a scratch build. Motorising such a tiny loco is always a challenge and I chose to hide an H&S mini motor in the bunker and drop the gears down under the footplate, up into the firebox, to a 40:1 worm and pinion on the driving axle. The gears themselves were robbed from an old toy engine from my childrens wooden train set, (don't worry, the motor was burned out beyond redemption - I'm not that mean)! It all seems to run very sweetly and does the job at a total of 90:1. I'm going with the 15ft wheelbase for my model although I'd like it to be 14ft to represent the original 'Little England' I can't face 'cutting and shutting' the etches and it's not obvious where to loose the 4mm without making it look very odd indeed. I suspect I would need to steel 2mm from behind the drivers somewhere and 2mm in front which is just too much hassle!
     

     
    Having cobbled together a working gearbox the rest of the loco could be built up. It's a combination of etches and bits of brass and nickel silver. The copper firebox top, dome, chimney and other round parts were turned up on the lathe, an essential tool when modelling engines of this period as one can certainly never expect to find the correct size and shape from proprietary sources.
     

     
    The final chassis has wiper pick-ups to the leading and driving wheels, but the trailing wheels had to be cast from resin. An issue I hadn't foreseen was that the usual steel-tyred wheels ran so close to the sides of the motor that all they wanted to do was stick to it. The only solution was to make them from plastic and the resulting wheels work just fine... thankfully!
     

    Facing right.
     

    Facing Left, and not quite on the rails...!
     

     

     

     

     
  5. 5&9Models

    Tartan paint !

    By 5&9Models,


    Tartan Paint
    Continuing the theme with some ModelU 3D printed figures, I've been experimenting with 'Tartan paint'.
     
    Seems to work quite well on Rose's shawl as she has it out with Charlotte over some recent unladylike behaviour. I mean really! What is she doing out in the street without her bonnet on? Disgraceful!
     

     
     

     

     
    Apologies for the horrible model makers fingers!
     

     

  6. 5&9Models
    A number of London & Birmingham Railway wagons were illustrated by Samuel Brees in his 'Railway Practice' published in 1846. This wagon is not specifically attributed to the L&B, however it is presented alongside a drawing of an open goods wagon (probably by Joseph Wright) which is. Brees rather unhelpfully labels this one 'Another Wagon'.
     
    Despite this lack of information (and the supporting text is of no further help), it does follow a reasonably standard design for early railway wagons. A period illustration of goods wagons employed on the Liverpool & Manchester Railway depicts remarkably similar stock and exemplifies the style of the late 1830s. Based on this I am confident enough that it represents a large goods and possibly livestock wagon of the London & Birmingham Railway.
     

     
    Brees points out that his drawing shows the wagon 'without lining' and details of what such a lining might be can be found in Daniel Kinnear Clark's 'Railway Machinery' of 1855. In describing the construction of wagons on page 275 he writes: 'If of wood framed, the lining is usually 1-1/4 inch thick..." and he continues: 'Sheet iron lining, on wood framing, may be No.12 wire-gauge, or nearly 1/8 inch thick; when built up with riveted joints and overings, it is 3/16 inch to 1/4 inch thick, in which case the joints should be welted, to stiffen them. W. B. Adams, and Henson, employ corrugated sheet iron, and require less framing with it; but they differ in their mode of using it, Henson using corrugations 4 inches pitch, and Adams preferring narrow corrugations less than 1 inch pitch'.
     
    It may well have been the case that these wagons were constructed without any lining for the conveyance of livestock and perhaps without the canvas tilt and roof hoops which were not always used.
     

     
    Given their basic construction and the rapid pace of rolling stock development in the 1840s, the service life of these wagons was probably fairly short. The L&B amalgamated with a number of other railways in 1846 to form the LNWR. In 1848 the General Manager of the LNWR, Captain Mark Huish reported to the Board the existence of 495 cattle wagons and 117 sheep vans. Further minute books into the 1850 record improvements made to these vehicles including roofs and the planking in of the ends to provide better shelter. Perhaps these notes refer to wagons such as this?
     
    The 4mm scale models illustrated were built from my recent cast white metal kit.
     

  7. 5&9Models
    The London & Croydon Railway ran it's first trains in 1839, and typically for Railways of that period with no facilities to build it's own locomotives, the L & C turned to established engineering companies. Some of them, G & J Rennie for example had reputations forged in other industries but we're nevertheless keen to exploit the rapidly growing demand for engines to run on the newly created iron road.
     
    Aside from a later locomotive Coryndon designed by John Chanter and built by Peter Borrie & Co. to research coal burning, the L & C's stable of eight locomotives came from only two manufacturers; the aforementioned G & J Rennie, and the Manchester firm of Sharp & Co. even at this early stage, Sharp's had settled on what could be termed a standard design. A compact and reliable 2-2-2 with a large distinctive brass dome to the front of the boiler and gracefully curved outside frames. A sturdy four wheel tender completed the ensemble, and these diminutive but effective engines provided the first motive power for a good number of railways both at home and abroad.
     
    No.5 was constructed by Sharp & Co. In 1839. Sporting 13" x 18" cylinders and 5' 6" driving wheels it weighed in at 13tons 13cwt, the makers number was 25. Initially working on the L & C it was included like all it's stablemates in the 1842 Joint Committee amalgamation to emerge later as South Eastern Railway No.5 after the dissolution in 1845. Two years later it was overhauled at Deptford (possibly receiving steel cladding to the boiler and improved tender brakes) and sent to work the Greenwich line. Further postings were made to the Tunbridge Wells branch and finally the Maidstone branch before being condemned and dismantled around 1859.
     
    Further details of the building of the model can be found in the latest Modellers Digest http://www.lbscr.org/Models/Journal/LBSCR-Modellers-Digest-5.pdf which I highly recommend. You will find many more excellent articles on some fascinating modelling projects. Read on.....!

  8. 5&9Models

    Greyhound Place

    By 5&9Models,

    I think I have finally completed the buildings at Greyhound Place, Bermondsey. This is the collection of buildings next to the Greyhound Pub at the Eastern end of Bricklayers Arms c1845. I've slightly tweaked the date of the layout by a year as I want things to show signs of settling in, and it allows a bit more artistic licence when it comes to the rolling stock.
     
    These images show the back yards, there are only a couple of children to add and a few bits of general domestic 'stuff' then we're about done. A couple of tin baths would look about right, and maybe a basket of more washing, although I have to admit, I don't think the maid at no.3 has done a very good job!
     
    The next step is to complete the Greyhound Bridge and then move west with the cattle yard and stables.
     
    I'll post some pictures of the fronts once I've given No.7 a front step.
     
     






  9. 5&9Models
    London & Greenwich Railway No.1 Royal William - Pt.5
     
    This is the last part of the series on Royal William for now until I make the Stephenson tender to go with it.
     
    It's all done, an interesting project and a good opportunity to try out a few ideas on the cheap! So the lessons learned are as follows:
     
    Sprung plunger pick-ups on such a tiny engine were more trouble than they were worth. In the end I simply fitted some tee shaped wiper pick-ups between the wheels. Easy, simple and effective.
     
    The use of a coarse worm and pinion with such a low ratio gearbox has created what I can only describe as a fine stutter as it moves. It runs beautifully slowly but the click, click of each pinion tooth engaging with the worm just shows. As it speeds up that disappears but it's a useful lesson. A finer worm and pinion and higher ratio box would be a better balance. I'm sure this is quite obvious to those who build engines more often than me!
     
    The casting of the main chunks in white metal has worked very well. Anything lighter and I'm sure it just wouldn't have the weight to pull itself along. As it is, it will pull a short train of third class carriages at distinctly third class speed. Good enough for me!
     
    I haven't yet fitted the nameplates. They're only small but the name Royal William is quite long and rather fills the boiler side. I might fit them with a spot of PVA so they can be picked off again without trace if I decide they look too daft.
     
    I hope this blog has inspired somebody to have a play with those odd motors and gears and wheels that gather in the bits box! Go for it!
     

  10. 5&9Models
    London & Greenwich Railway - Royal William – Part One


     
    The London & Greenwich Railway opened for traffic in 1836. Built on approximately four miles of brick arched viaduct, it was the first Railway to serve the Capital. Royal William was L&G No.1, built by Charles Tayleur & Company to Stephenson’s ‘Planet’ design. Although there is a fairly well known tinted drawing of this locomotive, we are lucky to have a drawing from the Vulcan Foundry archives, which confirms (or otherwise) the accuracy of the more familiar image. Combining both sources provides a fairly good guide and certainly enough information to have a go at building a model of this little engine, which in my opinion is a historically significant locomotive and deserves more attention.
     
    Scratchbuilding such a small loco in 4mm scale throws up myriad problems to be overcome. The first and most obvious is how to squeeze in a motor and gearbox where it is clear there is ‘nowhere to hide’. Building in EM helps as in 00 gauge the wheels would foul the boiler. I chanced on a small 12v motor and spur gear box on a well-known internet auction site. It was only a few pounds with free delivery from China (if you are prepared to wait a few weeks). The shaft output speed is a mere 100rpm. This may even prove to be too slow in the long run, however, it will not be required to take charge of a top link express so it’s just as well. With a bit of fettling I managed to shoehorn it inside the brass tube boiler with a slot cut in the bottom to accommodate one of the larger spurs and the pinion. A ‘new old stock’ Romford worm and wheel gear set was rescued from the scrap box. The worm was bored out to push fit onto the 3mm output shaft of the gearbox and the pinion sleeved to fit onto a 2mm axle. I don’t know what the reduction ratio is but it’s very crude and needs to be as the gearbox provides all the reduction you could ever wish for. I expect if the engine was set against a snail in a race it would lose by some margin.
     
    The second obvious sticking point was the wheels. The spokes are round, straight and sport a small decorative ball about half way along each one. Cleary proprietary wheels would not do, but could at least provide a steel tyre.
     
    I started with a driving wheel at 5ft dia., or 20mm in 4mm scale. A 2mm axle bearing was used as a hub to which twenty 0.7mm brass wire spokes were soldered. I then threaded a small nut and bolt through the centre and mounted it in a drill chuck on the lathe. Very gently the spokes were marked at the correct length all round and then trimmed to length. Tiny brass wire rings were made from some wire, which once graced a rather nice bottle of red wine (do they do they to stop the bottle escaping or persuade you to spend more?), and these were threaded on each spoke and spot soldered in place. The rim and tyre of the wheel were butchered from a Gibson driver, the rim being cut from its spokes and filed to take each new spoke before the whole lot was glued in place. Finally the hub was filled with Chavant and the completed wheel, sans tyre, was placed in a mould to be cast in whitemetal.
     

     
    I then turned my attention to the leading wheel. This is 3’ 6” or 14mm with 14 decorative spokes as per the driver. Choosing a small enough hub was a problem so instead I did away with the idea and soldered together a series of V shaped pieces of wire set inside a hand bent rim of the correct diameter to fit inside a steel tyre. These were soldered to a single full length spoke already soldered to the rim. The resulting blob of solder in the middle forms the hub. Under close inspection the spokes don’t quite line up but hidden behind the outside axlebox and frame this will not be an issue. The whole wheel was then clamped in the lathe chuck and the centre drilled out. Once done, the wheel joined the driver in a mould and both were cast in whitemetal.
     

     
    The freshly cast wheels were popped back in the lathe, re-drilled, trued up and generally tinkered with until they ran smooth and true, The final job was to fit them into their steel tyres, de-grease and etch prime. The last job will be to fit nylon insulating bushes to the centre to isolate them from the axle. Pick up will be in the usual way from the back of the tyre.
     

     
    Other major sections of the loco such as the smokebox, firebox, chimney and frames were fabricated in styrene and cast in whitemetal. The need to create as much tractive ballast in such a small engine is paramount and by casting the bigger parts as solid lumps it should help a great deal.
     

  11. 5&9Models
    Following a great little video recently produced by Anthony Dawson about the locomotive Jenny Lind of the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway, I felt inspired to give my own 4mm scale model a little break from the monotony of the display cabinet.
     
    The original locomotive was the first of a batch designed by David Joy and built by E.B.Wilson of Leeds. Delivered in 1847, it was a very successful class of locomotives which owed much to the  design of John Gray who had been Locomotive Superintendent of the LB&SCR. His express engine bears a strong resemblance to Joy's creation but his were built by Hackworth's and construction was so painfully slow that they were still being delivered after the better Jenny Lind class were entering service.
     

     
    I built it many ago from a set of castings loosely resembling a kit. Not an easy build and I ended up motorising the tender using a small transverse motor from an old defunct Apple computer. It works ok but isn't a very helpful example for others to follow and certainly not the sort of thing that's ideal to include in the 'kit'!
     

     
    At some point I should perhaps add some crew but for the purposes of explaining these photos, they have clearly gone off to the pub for swift porter before anyone notices they've gone...
     
     

    Note the similarity between Gray's design and the subsequent Jenny Lind's in the drawing below. The odd looking box in front of the driving wheel is the boiler feed pump. A much better drawing of Gray's engine exists but I am waiting for my copy to arrive soon so this one will have to do for now. Plans are afoot to model this one too.
     

     
    I hope the inclusion of the video link is within RMWeb rules, if not please accept my apologies and delete it. I had no part in the making of the video but I have to say the live steam model (not mine) in the video is really something special. I hope you enjoy it.
     
     
  12. 5&9Models
    Royal William Pt.3


     
    A little more progress and I've been able to trial fit the driving wheels. Clearance was a bit tight on the central boiler stays but I think this is due to the slightly over-scale flanges on the 00/EM tyres. A bit of fettling to the stays with a swiss file sorted the issue.
     
    The leading axle is only a spare carriage one at the moment, just to get a feel for where the front axle rocker should be and to determine the correct height and levels etc. It's difficult to appreciate how small the loco is so next time I'll pose it against a 50p piece, that's if my daughter hasn't spent it on chocolate....
     

     
    I'll update this again soon as since I took these pictures, the leading axle rocker is fitted and the whole lot has been cleaned and etch primed. I still have axle boxes to fit, the final connection between motor and pick-ups, firebox stays, leading axle and wheels to fit and the valve gear 'gubbins' to make and fit between the smokebox and buffer beam. Then all the painting to do. Oh yes, and the small matter of a tender!
     
    More pics to follow shortly....
  13. 5&9Models

    SER 'Coffee Pot' No.126

    By 5&9Models,

    Loco No.126 was made at Ashford in 1848 but was not completed until 1850. The engine was either started at Bricklayers Arms and finshed at Ashford or visa versa (I would be grateful for clarification if anybody knows better). Primarily used on line inspection duties, it remained in service until 1861 when it was sent to Redhill as a pumping engine, returning to Ashford in the early eighties where it was scrapped.
     
    The 4mm scale model is very small, I've posed it with a contemporary goods wagon for size comparison. Fitting in a motor and gearbox was always going to be tricky.The plan was to build it on a budget, so a small motor picked up from Branchlines at exhibition a few years ago was pressed into service, with a scratchbuilt gearbox using a combination of brass and nylon gears from the scraps box. Pick-ups are simple wires rubbing on Gibson 3'6" wheels and powering the motor in the boiler through the cylinder steam pipes up the side of the boiler.
     
    A couple of changes were made from the very basic line drawing that exists for this loco. It's drawn without buffers so basic dumb buffers were added and the drawing also shows (in error) the regulator and Salter spring on the wrong side of the boiler.
     
    It runs OK but lacks weight which is obviously very difficult to add when there is nowhere to hide it. Therefore the wheels spin a bit but only when travelling in one direction. If it goes tank first it's fine and will pull several wagons.
    The intention is to fit it with a portly crew cast in whitemetal to add a few grams as tractive ballast!
     

  14. 5&9Models

    Saturday morning on the Upper Grange Road

    By 5&9Models,


    Bricklayers Arms c.1845
    Ex petty officer Solly is in a bit of a pickle. 

    Having recently been suspended from active naval service owing to a regrettable incident with a cannon, he has decided to consume an increasing quantity of London’s best porter.

    Unfortunately, not only did the calamity result in the loss of his right leg below the knee, it also neatly removed his left thumb. He now has to swap his crutch to the left in order to hold a bottle in his right hand. After several bottles this balancing act can prove increasingly challenging.
     


    Meanwhile, Archibald Plummer calmly makes his way past the undignified display. He’s seen it all before and he knows it rarely ends well.
     

     
    A cab clatters past the houses at Greyhound Place. Inside, William Rolls peruses the morning papers on the way to his floor cloth manufactory.
     


    In January 1837, James Braby a coach builder of Duke Street, Lambeth was granted patent no.7279 to cover ‘Certain Improvements in the Construction of Carriages’. His patent was well illustrated with drawings of three designs for hackney carriages and one omnibus. The first, a one horse hackney carriage is the subject of my model. It's cast in white metal as a ‘kit’ and the driver, a heavily modified ModelU character. The horse was a spare from the scrap box.
     


    Whether James Braby actually built any of these carriages is unknown. Unlike many inventors he was at least in a position to manufacture his designs, even if only in model form to promote his ideas to prospective clients.

    Figures are ModelU’s finest (with minor and occasionally major modifications). The layout is my ongoing project to recreate Bricklayers Arms, Bermondsey, c.1845 in 4mm scale. Apologies for the low resolution of these images, I must buy a new camera!


  17. 5&9Models
    A recently completed early South Eastern Railway wagon by Joseph Wright c.1850. A fiddly kit as I had to re-think the usual construction process as it only has one rigid end. Once I'd figured out that I had to cut a floor first, then attach the rigid end, then the sides and finally the two end doors it went together well. Needless to say the first effort found it's way back into the crucible!
     
    Charmingly quirky wagon in that it has a pair of end doors at the dumb buffered end, and the opposite end has sprung buffers. A bit like two different half wagons joined in the middle!
     

     

  18. 5&9Models

    In a stable condition...

    By 5&9Models,


    Stables for Bricklayers Arms
    I hesitate to call this 'Bricklayers Arms Stables' because that's not what they are. However, they are the stables for Bricklayers Arms which is confusing I know but I'll explain.
     
    Whilst Bricklayers Arms station building, goods shed, carriage and loco sheds and coke depot are recorded (some photographically, others as outline drawings) the original 1844 stable block is not.
    There appears to be no record at all of its appearance. Therefore I have chosen to model the 1856 stables at Camden (because I like them) and position them in a relatively useful position behind the cattle yard to form an interesting backdrop to what would otherwise be a rather dull open space. Much of these stables still exist and form part of the famous stables market which makes it easier to model as reference can be easily made to the buildings. I am indebted to a good friend who braved the elements on a freezing February day just before Lockdown to take some invaluable photographs for me.
     
    Since there were several identical 'bays' to produce I chose to model one and use it as a master to cast duplicates in resin and stitch them all together to form the full block. The cart lodge and office at the eastern end was constructed in the same way but not used as a master as only one was required.
     

     
    Cutting the masters from embossed styrene sheet.
     

     
    Completed masters.
     

     
    Rubber mould with resin casting.
     

     
    The kit of resin castings.
     

     
    Bit of a jump but this is the assembled resin castings primed and in the process of having roof slates applied, (card strips on double sided sticky tape).
     

     
    Another jump to the finished article. I really am rubbish at taking photos as I go!
     

     
    The rat catcher calls...
     

     

     
    Arty black and white shot to finish.
     
     
     
     
     
  19. 5&9Models

    Bury goods 0-4-0

    By 5&9Models,


    Bury Goods 0-4-0
    This scratch build is something I have been wanting to do for years but have never quite plucked up the courage.
     
    There are several 'sticking points' in modelling a bar framed Bury loco, the obvious one being the distinctive wheels. All Bury locos had them so unless you get those right you might as well not bother with the rest. Thankfully, a friend very kindly drew some up and 3D printed the centres to be fitted into Gibson tyres of the appropriate diameter. However, I found the prints to be exquisitely detailed but not very strong. So I decided the best way forward was to use one of the prints as a master and cast a set in white metal. These came out well and are considerably stronger than the prints. The down side is that they are conductive so once cleaned up on the lathe and fitted with tyres, the centres had to be bored out and a tiny plastic sleeve forced in before being bored out again and secured to the axle.
     
    I first made a master for the bar frames out of styrene to use as a master for casting them in white metal but decided that the castings would not be robust enough so instead some brass bar was used to fabricate the frames. They're now plenty strong enough for the job as I made them slightly chunkier than the originals for peace of mind. Springs were made from some very useful etches, bearings added and a buffer beam built up from nickel silver and brass. 
     
    The buffer beam was soldered in position but a trial fit of the wheels revealed that the buffer centre height was too low by just over 1mm. Rather than unsolder and move the buffer beam higher which would look daft, I decided to unsolder the bearings and fit them lower down in the frames. This sounded like a horrible job, unsoldering the bearings whilst not accidentally disturbing any other soldered joints. However, it went well and before refitting the bearings I cut and fitted the footplate to ensure everything was square and spaced properly. This actually made it easier to get the bearing in exactly the right place. Lesson learned for when I tackle the Bury passenger 2-2-0 later on.
     
    The photo shows progress so far. The next job will be to scratch build the gearbox and ensure the motor sits at the right level so it can hide inside the boiler. Something tells me that this won't be particularly straightforward but I feel up for the challenge. Wish me luck...!
     


  20. 5&9Models

    LSWR and LCDR in Bermondsey?!

    By 5&9Models,


    LSWR and LCDR goods stock
    Not that these two will ever run at Bricklayers Arms but by request I dug out the old Woodham Wagon Works masters for a LSWR open wagon and made a new mould to produce the kit again. It went together very well and makes a lovely sturdy wagon. Not convinced about my choice of dark brown but I don't think the lighting helped. I'm in the process of reviving two GER open wagon kits as well, 1870 and 1883 versions, but more of that later. The LCDR van or 'covered goods wagon' to give it its proper title is from masters made by the skilled hand of Simon Turner. It went together very well as his masters always do and looks reasonably at home although both vehicles are somewhat 'modern image' for my tastes.
     
    I had an absolute nightmare when it came to painting this pair. Like a fool I decided to spray the etch primer when the weather was really cold back in April. The tiny particles of spray left the can, solidified, then deposited themselves like fine sand all over the kits. Both were shoved to the back of the cupboard in disappointment for a couple of months. i finally plucked up the courage to have a go at sanding down the LCDR van which resulted in a slightly better finish but I didn't bother with the LSWR wagon as you can see from the photos. It's particularly noticeable around the detailed areas like buffers etc as these are almost impossible to sand down due to the high risk of removing the detail altogether. I decided to hand letter them as well, I doubt transfers would take too well to a surface resembling course sandpaper. Hey-ho! Won't do that again...!
     
    Plenty more old masters to dig out and revive (eternal thanks to Burgundy for this) but it's a long slow process and a bit pricey if you consider the cost of the mould rubber these days. However, it keeps me busy and I suppose we should all have at least a few models that 'look ok from a distance'!
     
     
     


  21. 5&9Models

    Activity in the cattle yard

    By 5&9Models,


    Activity in the cattle yard
    Thankfully, in my case at least, lack of blog updates has not meant lack of activity. The past few months has seen slow but steady progress towards completing the cattle yard at Bricklayers Arms c1845 and therefore entering the final straight in terms of completing the first baseboard of this four baseboard exhibition layout.
     
    The following pictures are a collection of various cameos and scenes which hopefully go some way to telling the story of a busy (ish) mid 19th century yard in 4mm scale.
     

     
    The first scene shows a couple of chaps having some difficulty with a new chaff cutter. Chaff, or chopped hay/straw was an essential part of a horses diet. This particular model was Ward & Colbourne's Patent Chaff Cutting Engine, new in 1844. I scratch built it using brass scraps, following a drawing on the cover of Mechanics Magazine August 4th 1844. It's unusual in that it is a guillotine cutter and probably quite dangerous too! I modelled it so that it works. As you turn the handle the tiny crank turns and the blade goes up and down. Utterly pointless I know but fun all the same.
     

     
    The figures are modified ModelU 3D prints. I've fettled the clothing and hats a bit to take them back to mid-19th century labourers.
     

     
    Farmer Thompson is pleased to finally arrive at the cattle yard having driven his prize bull all the way from his farm just south of Peckham Rye. He got a good price for it so once it's on its way to Kent he'll reward himself with a pint in the Greyhound before heading back.
     

     
    The bull started life as a large white metal cow from the Dart Castings range. I cut the udders off, added some 'cahunas' and horns and beefed it up a bit with some judicious soldering before filing to shape.
     

     
    The characters are more modified ModelU figures.
     

     
    Of course a cattle yard would not be complete without a cattle wagon. This one is from my own range of kits, an early open South Eastern Railway type. Strictly speaking it's about 5-6 years too modern for the period I'm modelling but it's as near as I can get to an authentic vehicle.
     

     
    The characters hand-shunting are in fact me. I was lucky enough to be scanned by Alan Buttler from ModelU at the Severn Valley Railway a few weeks ago. He's done a fabulous job tidying up the scans and printing these out, and for once I haven't felt the need to modify them!
     

     
    It amazes me that even details such as individual fingers are reproduced. The only concern is the the painting does them justice, especially in 4mm scale.
     

     
    At the end of a busy day, Abraham is exhausted. He's diligently swept and shovelled to keep the cattle docks clean and is ready to go home to tea.
     

     

     
     

  22. 5&9Models
    I've had this loco simmering away in my work-in-progress tray for a year or so now. Originally it was to be South Eastern Railway No.13 'Vortimer' of 1842, but due to the way I've built the power bogie in the tender and the fight for space between the brakes and the pick-ups I've decided to complete it as L & C No.5 'London'.
     
    Essentially 'Vortimer' was braked on both sides as far as I can tell, whereas earlier Sharpies such as this one were braked on the right hand side only. I will post pictures of the tender at a later date but for now I thought I'd share a couple of images of one of my favourite jobs; applying the wooden lagging to the boiler.
     
    The strips are cut from 0.5mm mahogany veneer. The boiler tube itself is brass tube of a suitable diameter (1mm smaller than finished size). The firebox a simple wrap of brass, two layers to build up the correct difference in diameter. The brass beading front and rear of the firebox is simply brass rod.
     
    The boiler and firebox are first washed well in 'Acidip' and rinsed thoroughly to remove solder flux and greasy finger marks. Then a wrap of very strong double sided tape is applied and rubbed on to ensure a good bond, it sticks to brass very well indeed!
     

     
    Then the strips are cut and applied all the way around and then cut-outs for the dome and safety valve bonnet are made with a sharp blade. Once it's all on a gentle sanding smoothes everything off and fills in any gaps with the fine dust. A couple of coats of satin varnish with a bit of fine sanding in between secures it all in place.
     

     
    The next job will be to cut and fit the brass boiler bands and secure the dome and safety valve bonnet with a drop of epoxy glue. Attention can then be turned to the rest of the loco and tender body. More pictures to follow after Easter...
  23. 5&9Models
    In 1845 the Swiss engineer John George Bodmer constructed a pair of 2-2-2 locomotives at his Manchester workshops for the Joint Committee of the Brighton, Croydon and Dover Railways. Born in Zurich in 1786 and later apprenticed to a millwright, the young engineer showed much promise and a strong talent for innovation. He moved to Lancashire in the 1820s but continued his connections with Switzerland and Baden in Germany. His particular invention was that of an opposed cylinder steam engine in which two pistons moved in opposite directions driving two crankshafts, a 'balanced' engine. He continued to expand this idea and the two locomotives for the Joint Committee were his most famous, or perhaps infamous, machines.
     
    Purchased for £2100 the Committee took delivery of the engines in July and December 1845 and numbered them 123 and 124. The locomotives each had a pair of double pistons, the conrod of one passing through the hollow conrod of the other. This complicated arrangement was powerful but very costly to maintain. The tenders supplied were carried on six wheels with a mechanically driven feed pump mounted between the frames to feed the loco via a substantial hollow pipe which also served as the coupling between tender and loco! Typically the loco itself had no brakes but the tender sported huge wedges of timber with iron shoes which when wound down, wedged themselves between the wheels and the rails which in extreme circumstances could lift the tender clear of the rails altogether. Predictably this had disastrous consequences and the engine allocated to the SER after the dissolution of the Joint Committee left the rails at Pluckley on the 23rd May 1846 killing the driver. However a subsequent enquiry proved that a large stone left on the line by errant youths was the cause of this particular accident. Unfortunately this did nothing to assuage the opinion that this 'foreign' locomotive was more trouble than it was worth and after some modifications and very little further service the loco was sent to Ashford where it languished until being dismantled in 1880.
     
    The Brighton engine had better luck although it was rebuilt first by Craven, then again by Stroudley who even saw fit to name it 'Seaford'. Thankfully a photo exists of it in this guise but it can be seen that not a great deal of Bodmers original design survived, certainly not his balanced pistons which did not survive the Craven rebuild.
     
    And so to the model. A friend of mine declared that he was going to build Seaford which prompted my response that i was intending to build the 1845 version. "Let's build them simultaneously and do a joint article for the HMRS" he said. "Great idea" I replied not fully aware of what I was letting myself in for.
     
    Nevertheless the short straw had been drawn and everything else put on hold to scratch build Bodmers 1845 balanced locomotive in 4mm scale to EM standards. Since nothing about it is conventional it has tried my patience to the extreme and progress in painfully slow, however I hope the following photos show that it is at least getting somewhere and I hope to be able to add to this blog in a positive manner in the not too distant future.
     
    If you never hear from me again you'll know it didn't go well!
     

     
    Portescap gears in a scratch built box to get them in the right positions.
     

     
    It fits, just!
     

     
    Haycock firebox. I hate doing these....!
     

     
    Frames and springs. The trailing springs were double coil springs hidden in the axle guide casting as per the tender.
     

     
    The story so far.....
     

     
    Thanks for looking!
  24. 5&9Models

    Ballasting at last.

    By 5&9Models,


    Ballasting at last
    An opportunity presented itself to drag the baseboard outside yesterday and take some photos in the rather dull afternoon light. At last I feel some progress is being made, or in other words, what a difference a bit of ballasting makes!
     
    I took a few more photos to show how some of the areas are finally tying together after some further detail was added.

     
    Oooh look, ballast at last! This is my own somewhat unconventional technique since the ballast in the 1840s was all over with only the rails showing. This can be a bl**dy nightmare when it comes to keeping things clear enough for smooth running.
     

     
    A view under the bridge.
     

     
    The stables with the tall Greyhound  in the background.
     

     
    The tannery, with a little more detail added and some 'bedding in'.
     

     
    The somewhat neglected back yard between the Greyhound and the Tannery.
     
  25. 5&9Models

    An early carriage truck.

    By 5&9Models,


    Early Carriage Truck
    No drawings survive for these late 1830s carriage trucks but they frequently appear in contemporary illustrations and there are written accounts describing them together with references in company minute books. This one conforms to the dimensions given by Wishaw of a Grand Junction Railway carriage truck c.1837.
     
    ‘The carriage trucks are each 13 feet 8 inches long, 7 feet 1-1/2 inches wide, and the sides 1-1/2 inches high; the weight being about 43 cwt., and the price £130.’
     

     
    I should add that this is my interpretation of the scant historical information relating to these vehicles. That they existed is not in doubt, dimensions given by contemporary authors are as accurate as we’ll ever get. Such trucks were probably on their last legs by the time the LNWR was formed but some may have survived for a few more years. The London & Birmingham Railway board minutes record that the carriage committee should,

    ‘…consider the possibility of reducing the enormous weight of those in use on the Grand Junction Railway…’ 

    and Brees provided a drawing of a L&B’ham carriage truck of somewhat smaller and lighter dimensions, perhaps a direct result of this consideration.
     

     
    The truck and carriage, a ‘travelling chariot’ are 4mm scale, built entirely from scratch using a combination of brass fret off-cuts from the scrap box and my own whitemetal castings. I would also like to thank Tom Nicholls for sharing the results of his diligent research into such early vehicles.
     

     
    The truck itself is based on the ‘chassis’ of a London & Birmingham Night Second carriage (the subject of another kit and possible future post) which matches the dimensions given in Wishaw.


     
    The travelling chariot is based on photos and a few measurements of the real thing. 
     

     
    Thankfully such horse drawn carriages seem to have had a better survival rate owing to the fact that they can be stashed away in the corner of a barn unlike railway trucks…!
     

     
    The truck on the left is the London & Birmingham version illustrated in Brees. It’s smaller but fairly sturdy and I can’t imagine it was that much lighter really.
×
×
  • Create New...