prodnose

I have just purchased Messrs Hunt, Essery and James's excellent book on the Midland 3Fs. It has answered many of my questions but raised at least one. There is a photograph of no 3502 showing a flush rivetted smokebox describing this as one of the characteristics of the early rebuilds. Does anybody have any more information / pictures of this? For example which other locos had flush rivetted smokeboxes and did it extend to the smokebox support structure . I'm looking to model a 3F in 1950s in EM and this would make an interesting, (not to mention easier to construct) variation. Thanks in anticipation.

Thanks Mike. I was once buying parts for a fowler 2-6-4 from The Comet stand at an EM Expo and remarked that I may never get around to completing it. He said "Look around. All these businesses exist by selling stuff people will never get around to completing!" I do use a Mk1 Unimat so could do the skimming but thanks for the tip re sideplay.

Had another thought. Following on from Dave's comment regarding the centre wheels dropping and jamming on curves, is this perhaps why Comet don't allow for articulating the centre axle in order to support it? Would that work? Incidentally it is my intention to make my own frames from sheet as I have done on past projects. I'm intending to fit it to a much modified Airfix/Dapol kit body. (More hollow laughter perhaps - have I just blown my credibility?)

Thanks Dave. An interesting solution! I hadn't thought about wheel spacing. A bit more drawing board work required. What wheels did you use?

Hi Having scratchbuilt a few chassis for use with RTR bodies of simpler prototypes, eg 0-6-0s, moguls, and a couple of 4-6-0s, I thought I'd bite the bullet and try the big'un ie the BR 9f. I'm modelling in EM and I usually scratch build the frames and compensate either with commercial hornblocks or using the Guy Williams Pendon approach of bearing tubes. I have also used Comet valve gear sets to good effect. When it comes to the 9F, I notice from the diagram on the Comet (Wizard) site that the Comet rods are only articulated at the 2nd and 4th crankpins. (I haven't bought the 9f motion set yet) Given that the reason for compensating the thing in the first place is to have as much wheel contact for pickup purposes as possible, could it be that it is considered that there will be enough contact given the number of axles without full compensation. I know this should be a question for Comet but thoughts from members on the principal of compensating the 9f would be welcome. Regards

Hi All I'm new to this blog business. Hope I've got this right. I have recently returned to railway modelling after about thirty years. I'm modelling in EM. Before putting everything in the loft years ago, I acquired a quantity of Post Office relays intending their use as point/signal motors. This was quite common in the old days. I am now retired after a career as an architectural model maker so I have some skill but little money. (That's self employment for you.) I would therefore like to use the relays on my proposed layout. They vary in resistance from 200 to 2000 ohms. Does anyone have experience of their use? Drawbacks power requirements etc. Thanks Prodnose