5&9Models

Really interesting work. I can’t get used to seeing something so ‘narrow’ on your blog!

I wonder if running a dehumidifier in your printing room would help keep the ambient moisture to a minimum? It might raise the temp a couple of degrees but presumably that could be compensated for at the print head? You’d be working in a nice dry atmosphere which the printer and filament might appreciate.

17 hours ago, Mikkel said:

Exciting loco! Very impressive build. Can I ask how you created the effect of the laminated frames? They aren't actually laminated, are they?

Thanks. Indeed they are. It’s nickel silver strip soldered in a bunch at one end then gently soldered, bent, coaxed and soldered a bit more until I got to the other end....I never want to do it ever again! 

29 minutes ago, pete_mcfarlane said:

 

I guess the question here is whether it was an original idea of Bodmer's, or was adapted from somewhere else. 

Really interesting question although we can be sure it wasn’t from DeHavilland. The thing about that period was that it was such a frenetic time of experimentation, many of these engineers would try anything, often to get around a problem that didn’t exist in the first place. A lot of Bodmer’s personal archive still exists with the family. I wonder if there’s anything in there that would explain his reason for making frames from laminated wood.

14 minutes ago, pete_mcfarlane said:

Holcroft, in one of his books on GWR engines, talks about watching sandwich frames flex as locos went through pointwork. It seems to have been one of the reasons for chosing them on GWR locos running on the rigid baulk road track  as they gave a bit of extra suspension as mentioned. 

Although traditional sandwich frames are plated either side, these were plated above and below so must have beee even more flexible. I find the use of laminated timber beams way ahead of its time. The sort of thing you expect in modern architecture.

Indeed, the frames were laminated timber! Several layers of steamed and bent wood (I can’t remember the variety without looking it up) sandwiched between wrought iron plates top and bottom. Various bolts held it all together. It must have flexed an awful lot but perhaps that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing given the apparent ultra smooth running of the balanced engine.

I love it. What a great engine and well worth the time and effort. I think you’ve done a brilliant job. 

Fabulous, and I love the back story too. Beautiful brickwork.

Only thing troubling me is the joints between the roof tiles lining up, that roof would leak like a sieve.

This evening’s test was to see if Little England would actually pull six cast white metal 1st class carriages on a level road, and... “Oh ye of little faith”... it did!

But, (and there’s always a ‘but’), it would only do it bunker first and the gears make quite a racket! I also need to adjust the spring loading on the front axle as the wheels slide a bit. Perhaps a weighted collar around the axle would help.

For the sake of BBC style balance, I also tried my 0-4-2 on the same rake and it strolled quietly away with them like they weren’t there! I love that engine..!
 

2 hours ago, Compound2632 said:

 

The rear ones look dicier as they appear to lack the diagonal brace. One heavy shunt and buckled bunker...

In Mr England’s obsession with lowering the centre of gravity he seems to have forgotten that the buffers really do work better with the support of the frame behind them. As you say, one heavy shunt and they would buckle.

18 minutes ago, Compound2632 said:

"will work the ordinary stock of a company" - the writer forgot to add "one vehicle at a time"...

To be honest I’ve yet to see if it will work the ordinary stock of a model railway!

Nice work Ian!

Excellent model making and a very interesting wagon. 

51 minutes ago, TurboSnail said:

 I think I'll stick with lead for now, as it's much, much cheaper and I already have a big roll of it! 

Well, if your local church ever ask for it back, at least you have a plan B ! 

I would try using tungsten putty instead of lead. It sticks where you put it and remains pliable so if you ever have to pick it out it’s a simple job.

Extraordinary work! Nothing like making life difficult for yourself, I admire your tenacity. Hope you get it sorted, I’m really looking forward to seeing what will be a fabulous piece of model making.

David Austin of the South Eastern & Chatham Society and of the HMRS has a lovely big model of Folkstone Harbour in 7mm.

Fabulous work as always, (and a very tidy and organised blog too)!

Thank you!

44 minutes ago, Compound2632 said:

 

If they had been coaching inn employees looking for a brighter future, they would have been used to it.

Good point, I hadn’t thought of that. However Thomas Buckingham and two of his Porters were soon dismissed for ‘being inefficient’ and Buckingham was replaced by a Head Porter from London Bridge.

In 1844, the Head Porter at Bricklayers Arms, Thomas Buckingham, had sixteen men under his control so I suppose many hands make light work.

I think in terms of weathering it’s fine, although perhaps a darker wash around some of the lower sections to darken the mortar would look good but only in small amounts.
 

For me, the biggest improvement would be to add a bit of variety in the brick shade. It’s all very uniform at the moment and I think picking out some individual bricks in a couple of darker, and perhaps one lighter shade would make a big difference. It takes a while and it’s a bit fiddly, but it adds a realistic variation in brick tone. It’s only modern bricks that are a uniform shade. In the past when bricks were made from coarser clay and fired in clamps they came out all sorts of shades and colours.

Hope this helps.

Chris

I hope you don't mind but I tinkered with one of your photos. The view was so good I just couldn't resist it.

A brilliant bit of modelmaking! 

3 hours ago, Florence Locomotive Works said:

The last one looks excellent in blue, similar to the shade on the later Orient Express carriages.

Thanks. The London & Croydon painted their carriages blue with the City Arms on the centre door and the Company monogram on the other two. That’s about as much as we know, the exact shade and tone of blue is guesswork really but as you say it’s quite smart.

3 hours ago, A Murphy said:

Those are excellent. Model making! 

Thank you.

That's very nice indeed. Looking forward to seeing it up and running.

17 minutes ago, Ian Simpson said:

I've always thought these are such wonderful kits, Chris. Are they still in production?

Thank you and yes, they’re still available.