Tetarch60
-
Posts
21 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Blogs
Gallery
Events
Exhibition Layout Details
Store
Posts posted by Tetarch60
-
-
jwealleans The J17 kit sold by PDK, is that the same as the Crownline one you mentioned?
-
On 11/08/2018 at 17:58, Rudolf_Diesel_V16 said:
Hi,
I have just recently heard the sad news about the demise of JLTRT.
What sort of price would I expect to pay now for an unmade brand new boxed JLTRT class 40 kit (if any were available). The demise of JLTRT has scuppered my plans of building a few class 40s for display purposes as the JLTRT models were the most accurate depiction by far. Being a class 40 enthusiast for many years I tend to be very critical of detail and I can say that the Heljan and DJH are nowhere ..near the JLTRT for detail and accuracy.
Cheers
Andy
Have you tried advertising in the wanted section of the GOG Gazette advertisement section? Give it a try you may find what you need. Depending on the kit,£300 to £450 perhaps. The latest price for a new kit from MM1 on their website is today (18/07/19) £699.
-
On 08/07/2019 at 21:18, mullie said:
I am just about to start building a Comet chassis for a J39 in EM. Can I ask how anyone who has built a J39 chassis has dealt with this linkage as no provision is made in the kit for adding it? It would appear that to add it a very precise hole will need drilling in the chassis side and I'm not sure I'm up to that.
Many thanks for any help offered.
Martyn
Have you looked into using the Dave Bradwell J39 chassis kit as this apparently has all these linkages included in the kit. Can be built rigid if you so desire.
-
On 09/07/2019 at 08:20, Michael Edge said:
That suggests your 0 gauge builder was going to take an awfully long time to build the kit. Disregarding any comments about how much I currently charge per hour (nowhere near enough apparently), my main point was that it shouldn't take nearly as long as some imagine.
This is the Finney A4 which took me 71.5 hours to build, including the inside connecting rod and full valve gear. Although I didn't make the crank axle or machine the wheels in this case, these costs would have been irrelevant using Slater's wheels and ignoring the middle engine - which is all but invisible anyway.
Finally painted and photographed by Ian Rathbone.
I was surprised how quickly you built the Finney A4. The photos Show really good workmanship.This also proves that before commissioning someone to build a model for you a great deal of research into who can build what for the budget you have needs to be done.
-
On 09/07/2019 at 08:20, Michael Edge said:
That suggests your 0 gauge builder was going to take an awfully long time to build the kit. Disregarding any comments about how much I currently charge per hour (nowhere near enough apparently), my main point was that it shouldn't take nearly as long as some imagine.
This is the Finney A4 which took me 71.5 hours to build, including the inside connecting rod and full valve gear. Although I didn't make the crank axle or machine the wheels in this case, these costs would have been irrelevant using Slater's wheels and ignoring the middle engine - which is all but invisible anyway.
Finally painted and photographed by Ian Rathbone.
-
On 08/07/2019 at 20:11, Tony Wright said:
Thanks for that,
Firstly, I'm intrigued by your 'name'. Because there never was an A3 numbered 113. Is it because GREAT NORTHERN has already been taken?
And so to the purpose of my response.............
'Even Golden Age Models with their expensive brass Eastern Region BR pacifics have got the return crank lean wrong on the Peppercorn A1 and A2s. In 0 gauge these cost around the £3000 pound mark'.
The following two images prove you right.
Both of these (to be fair) were pre-production models. In the case of the A1, I pointed out to the proprietor that 60156 was Doncaster-built, so should have a (visible) riveted tender, and that it was a roller-bearing example; thus, should only have one lubricator and round-ends to the axlebox keeps on the Cartazzi frames and tender. As for the red-painted tender dragbeam! Whether my observations were acted upon, I don't know, but the proprietor was surprised when I refused to take pictures of two of his O Gauge A4s. 'Why not?' Do you really want to see an image in the mag of an A4 named KING FISHER and another one named LORD FARRINGDON?' I suppose language problems - English/Korean? One would have thought that, at the price, the correct 'lean' to the eccentric crank should be evident.
It's actually right on the rebuilt 'MN', leaning (as it should) towards the rear. It's right on both sides as well.
That correct 'lean' is also apparent on the OO Golden Age A4.
Regards,
Tony.
Tony, the reason i chose the name is nobody else is using it, a Hornby A3 I have will soon be renamed and renumbered to 60113. this is to suit my personal modelling needs. Since my "modellers" licence is some fifty years old it was about time it was used. A P1 kit from PDK may well end up in BR livery with maybe a double chimney,that decision is yet to be made.
-
1
-
-
On 09/07/2019 at 08:20, Michael Edge said:
That suggests your 0 gauge builder was going to take an awfully long time to build the kit. Disregarding any comments about how much I currently charge per hour (nowhere near enough apparently), my main point was that it shouldn't take nearly as long as some imagine.
This is the Finney A4 which took me 71.5 hours to build, including the inside connecting rod and full valve gear. Although I didn't make the crank axle or machine the wheels in this case, these costs would have been irrelevant using Slater's wheels and ignoring the middle engine - which is all but invisible anyway.
Finally painted and photographed by Ian Rathbone.
-
On 02/07/2019 at 07:35, Tony Wright said:
Thanks Mike,
Might I ask what your hourly rate is now, please? And, does anyone know the price of a complete DJH O gauge kit for an LNER Pacific? Or a Finney one? Or what a top paint job in O Gauge costs?
I'm also in agreement (in part) with your last statement, but what about RTR manufacturing constraints? The expansion link has been mentioned on the O Gauge A3s. I accept it's 'wrong' because it's only a single piece (it should be a 'thick'sandwich, with the radius rod going through it, of course). Though I don't know the exact cost-imperatives, clearly to do it properly would increase the end-price. Beyond the target markets' purse?
Certainly, in 4mm Scale, most valve gears in kits just has a single-piece expansion link, as does most RTR. The same is so for the union links, where the ends are not forked.
As for building something correctly being as easy as building something incorrectly, how come I'm much better at the latter? I find that much easier!
Regards,
Tony.
Tony
During my researches into A3's I found out that an 0 gauge loco builder charges around £15 an hour, so taking the cost of a Finney A3 0 gauge kit plus Wheels, Tender,motor and gearbox the total cost of the build is around £3500. As for 4mm RTR manufactures getting valve gear wrong, what is annoying is getting the return crank lean wrong, when running the engine doesn't look right. Even Golden Age Models with their expensive brass Eastern Region BR pacifics have got the return crank lean wrong on the Peppercorn A1 and A2s. In 0 gauge these cost around the £3000 pound mark. It seems these days nobody cares about the small details anymore. As the late David Jenkinson once said " It is the small details that make or break a model"and on the evidence of the last few years it certainly looks like he was right.
-
1
-
-
Good evening,
Thank you for your comments.
As I hope the following pictures show, the trap points and ground dolly you mention are actually on the model.
The working ground signals are the work of Roy Vinter, to whom any praise should be given. They are little works of art in my view.
Regards,
Good evening,
Thank you for your comments.
As I hope the following pictures show, the trap points and ground dolly you mention are actually on the model.
The working ground signals are the work of Roy Vinter, to whom any praise should be given. They are little works of art in my view.
Regards,
Tony.
Thank you for the reply to my query.Does Roy Vinter make the dolly signals from kits or scratchbuild or use both mediums?
Tony.
-
Afternoon all.Tony,that triplet set is absolutely gorgeous,a lovely rich red.how do I contact Rupert Brown to obtain some etchings to produce a similar coach set? Being one of the last luddites of this parish, how do I post any photographs onto these pages?Having collected the 1938 'Scotsman triplet catering set from Geoff Haynes yesterday (after he'd painted/lined the bodies), it was my job to glaze it all today and add the concertina gangways.
The superiority of the bow-pen lining is clear to see (it gives 'space' for the brandings to 'breath'). The 'Kitchen' signage on the RK doors was missing (something I didn't notice on collection and - of course - until after I'd taken this picture). That's not a problem because either Geoff would immediately put them on, or, as in my case, I've now done it.
As is evident here.
Great care was taken in getting the car brandings in the right place. The open cars had a vertical beading band just about midships on their lower sides (unlike on the earlier catering triplets). Though absolute photographic evidence is lacking, it would seem that 'Restaurant' and 'Car' could be separated by this bead, but not the letters in either of the words themselves (which would be the case if they'd be placed dead centre). BR Roundels were applied to these cars in 1957.
I've yet to add the curtains to the RFO, and make both interiors (including the standing bar in the RFO).
This model is tripartite in its origins/finishings. The bodywork and some of the underframe detail was built by John Houlden, using Rupert Brown's etchings, MJT parts and Comet parts. I completed the underframes, made the bogies and painted the running gear, Geoff then painted the bodies, leaving the finishing off to me. It's shown in use as part of 'The Northumbrian', for which I've also got to build the Southern Pride Cravens SO Prototype Mk.1.
The subject of 'prototype colour' has been brought up, and how it could/can differ (though beware older trannies being used as absolute guides). Model paint manufacturers have many different opinions as to which tint or shade of colour is correct, given the variations in their interpretations in their products.
May I also mention 'finish'? The cars above were painted by Geoff using Ford Burgundy Red, but decanted into an airbrush for a better finish than the 'spluttery' can at source. I asked him to leave them in gloss (though it's not mirror finish). Comparing prototype pictures of ER wooden-bodied and steel-bodied stock, when freshly-painted (and freshly-cleaned), they had a beautiful gloss finish.
The triplet in this 1958 Down Newcastle express is an earlier, turnbuckle underframe type. It's very clean, and note the roundels. Obviously, the carriage to the left is just ex-works, and would anything as vibrant as this be 'right' on a model (it is a near 60-year old image, remember).
-
Morning everyone. Tony, that A5 pictured on your layout looks exquiste, proves the adage,if it looks right then it is right. Should an RTR manufactuer do an A5. I bet it won't have a flywheel drive in it but an obselete mashima motor that is not made anymore. A good kit is available from 52F.have a look on their website, some very good photos on there.
-
Morning everyone. Looks like there may have been a misunderstanding regarding RTR or kit building. From my needs in a model engine, a flywheel drive is a must, why? To give a momentum effect when running,also smooth out the running on less than clean track.Having seen how some US outline HO diesel and steam outline models run with a flywheel each end of the motor, this high standard is what I am looking for. Have only found it in one British out line steam outline model, that is the Hornby J15 0~6~0 locomotive.Most RTR diesels have this,Why not the steam locos? Now with the cost of RTR escalating, a kit built loco is soon going to become more cost effective,especially large GN mainline steam, Pacifics etc.
-
Tony the A1 in particular looks stunning.
Looks very good. Surely it is by DJH and not Crownline? Pity DJH say they will not do the A2/1 in 4mm scale.Still, we can only hope.
-
Thanks once more Robert,
You're quite right about the Carriage Working books being a statement of intent. They represent an 'ideal', but in the real world the services still have to be run, often with the nearest possible substitute.
I've included some more images of 'mixed' ECML trains for comment, please. I think this is where (on a personal level) a thread like Wright Writes is of great value. Not because of my involvement - I don't mean that - but because so much invaluable expertise is instantly on tap. Putting together this (these) books for Booklaw is proving extremely interesting (if puzzling and time-consuming) and the huge help from Daddyman and the likes of yourself (and Mark) has made it possible for my being able to do this. David Jenkinson once observed of Keith Pirt 'Brilliant photographer, but useless at writing captions'. I can understand his point of view. There are various notes as to when locos were built/rebuilt/named/renamed/repainted/scrapped, etc, all of which can be gleaned from the RCTS or Yeadon. Yet, nothing on locations, dates or workings. I'm certainly not going to write captions where all I've done is open the RCTS or Yeadon. The books have to be much more than that to have any worth in my view.
It's also extremely interesting (at least to me) where the prototype pictures can be linked to model-making - once more, Wright Writes joins the two, so thanks to all who contribute in this manner.
Anyway, some more interesting trains..............
A non-stop at Retford around 1959. Note the two Thompson pressure-ventilated cars in this set.
Gresley all-door and end-door stock in this set at Eaton Wood, which includes a Kitchen Car. Again, 1959?
An express at Red Hall (Hatfield) includes some ex-LMS cars. Note the leading Mk. 1, carrying the BR roundel suggesting work in a more prestigious diagram (what's that chalked or painted on its side?). A Saturday working?
Stoke in 1962, with a Thompson RSO carrying the BR roundel.
Probably taken on the same day as the above (a Saturday), with an A3 in charge of a rake of mainly ex-LMS cars. There appear to be one or two Mk.1s at the rear.
A more uniform Mk.1 rake at Ganwick in 1962 (though two carmine/cream cars are still there). I've never seen an A3 with a blue-backed nameplate before (SINGAPORE). This rake could well return north behind a Deltic, so running C/C stock is legitimate behind an EE Type 5.
Leaving Grantham, an Up express is seen in 1961/'62 - note wing deflectors on WOOLWINDER and electrification warning flashes. The leading car is a Four-Compt Gresley Brake Third, with turnbuckle underframe.
Stoke, again in 1962, this time a Down train. On this occasion, the leading car is also a Four-Comp Gresley Brake Third, but this time it's on angle trussing.
Gresley 4 Compt Brake Third 01.jpgGresley 4 Compt Brake Third 02.jpgMention of a Gresley Four-Compt Brake Third leads me on to this latest car I've completed. It's the usual mix of Hornby donor and MJT replacement sides. Folk might recall I did several of such conversions for Gilbert Barnatt, and I've done even more for myself (of all diagrams). It's a shame that Hornby's Gresleys as supplied cannot be used (at least as far as I'm concerned), but they do make useful donors.
Out of interest, the lining is Cambridge Custom Transfers on one side and Replica on the other (I forget which). This is much finer than other transfer alternatives, even though (because of physical limitations) it cannot be applied to the central beading (as it should be), but just beneath it. I thought I'd got it (and the numbers/lettering) absolutely dead straight, but the camera highlights my deficiencies. It is, in my defence, like every carriage I make/paint, a 'layout carriage' - nothing more.
The dates and locations of the prototype locations are my conclusions/suppositions. If any are clearly wrong, then will folk please let me know. Any other comments and observations will be gratefully received.
My thanks in anticipation.
Thank you tony for the wonderful photographs. First one is a real beaut, WOOLWINDER, first postwar A3 to be fitted with a double blast and chimney.The second one shows poor SOLARIO, unkempt and looking very uncared for, looking as if it going to it`s own funeral. Must be summer 1959 as SOLARIO was withdrawn in December 1959 to supply parts for FELSTEAD damaged in a derailment. Has Booklaw changed its way it reproduces colour pictures/slides in it`s books. Some of the ones in the Grantham book have smudged numbers and totems and look as if in some photos the colour intensity has been turned up,a similar effect like turning up the colour on an old style TV right up. Totally spoils the enjoyment. One or two pictures have appeared in previous albums and the reproduction was spot on. Has anyone else noticed this? Will there be any goods trains hauled by A3`s in your new book? Especially number one speed fully fitteds?
-
For a steam model to match a diesel/electric, the motor would have to be in the tender, driving via a shaft and universal joints-the same as RTR diesels/electrics. Just having a gearbox in the steam locomotive would leave room for ballast-also the motor could be replaced/upgraded easily.
Evening all, it seems all that is really needed is a good motor/gearbox mated with a good size flywheel for present day RTR to run smoothly with a momentum effect. Both my Bachmann 9f`s have this type of mechanism and run superbly. The Hornby pacifics on the other hand do not and are a mixed bag. Still, should I decide to go fully EM the a new chassis for each will be a requirement. Does anyone have a recommendation for this job?
-
I have the honour to be that friend, and a donation to Cancer Research has been made.
The AA16 will become the subject of Plate 626 in the A, B & T "GWR Goods Wagons" 'bible'.
A scruffy S&T department tool van, with a ladder lashed to the footboard; it has always fascinated me when I flipped through the book.
Unfortunately, the caption to the J. H. Russell photo does not quote the running number of the van - can anyone enlighten me, please?
I strongly doubt that, in reality, it survived until 1961 on the S&DJR, but I won't let that deter me from running it in due course - stranger things did happen!
Regards,
John Isherwood.
Looking through a GWR wagon book called "A History of GWR Goods Wagons" by AG Atkins W Beard DJ Hyde R Tourret (Volume 2) on page 114 at the bottom of ,there is a photo of an AA16 Toad ( post WW1 uprating to12 tons and given the Ref AA16) number 12009 in small GWR lettering as built in circa1888. On Page 116 of the same book there is a written history of this type of Toad. I bought both volumes of this title some time back from Robert Humm's bookshop in Stamford Lincs.Seeing the photo on Tony's layout it looked LSWRish, Hope this helps.
-
The recent discussions about the various Thompson locos made me think just how many models I've made of them (many on commission), how many I still own and how many which are the work of others which are now my property. I know I've made at least twice as many A2/2s as were in the class, though never models of EARL MARISCHAL and LORD PRESIDENT - most seemed to want MONS MEG or WOLF OF BADENOCH.
Here are GREAT NORTHERN and a pair of A2/1s, 60510 and 60508. I built all of these, and Ian Rathbone painted 60113 and 60510. 60113 is from a Crownline kit, 60510 from a Nu-Cast kit and 60508 (which I painted) from a Jamieson hand-cut kit. I've made two other A1/1s and two other A2/1s.
Here are my current A2/2s, from left to right, DJH (prototype kit), Crownline and DJH. I built these and Ian Rathbone painted them.
Three of my current A2/3s (I've made fewer of these than A2/2s for some reason), from left to right Crownline, DJH and DJH. I built these and Ian Rahbone painted them. I hope the detail differences are evident.
I built none of these three. John Houlden built and painted the B16/3 (from a PDK kit), which Tom Foster weathered, Graeme King did one of his magnificent conversions of a Bachmann A2 into an A2/3, which I patch-painted, part relined, numbered, named and weathered, and John Houlden built, painted and weathered the J11/3 (from a Little Engines kit). I rebuilt the chassis.
The K5 is a most singular model. I made this from a much-modified Wills K3, scratch-building a chassis and a tender for it, finally doing the painting and weathering. The left-hand L1 is a modified Hornby one by me and the right-hand one my ancient ECJM example, which Tom Foster weathered for me.
A real mixture of Thompson freight classes, all made/modified/altered by me. The O2/4 (ex-O2/1) is from a PDK kit, the O4/8 is from K's O4 bits with a scratch-built boiler and cab, the left-hand O1 is my 40+ year old scratch-built one (or should I say, I built it and it got scratched?) and the other two O1s renumbered/detailed/weathered Hornby examples (far superior to my old scratch-built one).
Finally, what is the collective noun for several B1s? As they were nicknamed 'Bongos', how about herd?
Most of these are Bachmann/Replica bodies on Comet frames, mainly my work, though there's one each from Tony Geary and John Houlden. There's also a renumbered/detailed/weathered Hornby one (the weathering by Tom Foster) and my ancient Nu-Cast example and even more ancient Jamieson one.
I have one or two other Thompson locos, but they merely duplicate what's illustrated here. I've astonished myself by not realising before I took these pictures, just how many Thompson locos I have. They were, after all, just as everyday a sight on the ER/NER/ScR (and other regions) as any Gresley or Peppercorn types. Since I make models of what I saw. then they have to be included, as they are, in their own right.
So, as a celebration of his work at this celebratory time, may we see some more models of Thompson's locos, please?
Good afternoon one and all. Firstly, wishing everyone the compliments of the season. Just had a look at all those Thompson engines, very nice indeed, Though I think I would make Great Northern an A3 and number it 60113, a project for the coming new year. A question Tony, what make is the soldering iron holder you use in the BRM Right Track Volumes 1&2 Locomotive Kit Building? the only ones I have seen lately are coil spring shape with a piece of plastic at the top of for the iron to pass through, not a very good arrangement. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. The most important thing that your Little Bytham layout shows, is the overall picture that matters most, not so much the gauge and standards used.
-
Good evening,
Thank you for your comments.
As I hope the following pictures show, the trap points and ground dolly you mention are actually on the model.
The working ground signals are the work of Roy Vinter, to whom any praise should be given. They are little works of art in my view.
Regards,
Tony.
Thank you for kind reply. Was " Ganger" N. Soloman responsible for laying in the new trap points? Do they actually work? I ask this as some layouts that I have seen have none working ones , this means the layout in that area does not look right. The resin V2 body seen in an earlier thread, is it available to order? would a Branch Lines V2 chassis fit? Your layout is really coming on in leaps and bounds, really looking good. Will there be a DVD update any time soon? How does Roy Vinter make the ground (Dolly) signals work?
-
Though I can't imagine anyone travelling to Peterborough just to see this, it will be running on Canons Cross (one of Market Deeping MRC's layouts) over the weekend after next. I built it from a SE Finecast kit, which Ian Rathbone painted so well. By restricting the bogie movement (effectively making it a sort of non-coupled 0-8-0) and making the chassis electrically dead I was able to fit the bogie splashers.
At the Wigan Show over the weekend, the conversations I frequently had, returned to the theme of kit-building and/or RTR. Most acknowledged how the current crop of (OO) locos are as good, and in many cases better than a kit-built equivalent. It set me thinking (once again) about my personal approach.
Wills A4 painted by Ian Rathbone.jpgThis is one of my ancient Wills A4s, built long before any RTR A4 (in my opinion) was worth considering. RTR alternatives at the time included Hornby-Dublo, Wrenn, Trix and the original tender-drive Hornby one. I scratch-built a chassis for this and years later Ian Rathbone repainted it for me. It's had a replacement motor/gearbox, not because the original failed, but its open-framed 5-pole XO4-style motor and 40: gears were a bit noisy. Other than that, it's completed nearly 40 years of service and run many faultless miles on Fordley Park, Leighford, Stoke Summit and Little Bytham, as well as guesting on Biggleswade and Gamston Bank. It'll pull any train I hang behind it. At close (slightly-unfair, in my opinion) quarters, it's a bit lumpy now, but Ian's painting raises its standing.
Hornby A4 slightly detailed, painted by Ian Rathbone.jpgIan also raised the standard on this A4 as well. It's an original Hornby CHARLES NEWTON, which came in plain black. I fitted a front number plate bracket, changed the bogie wheels and close-coupled the loco/tender. Visually, there's no doubt this is superior to the one old enough to be its father. However, the valve gear is weak and puny in comparison (not that my Jamieson set is brilliant) and the slide bar supports have long gone. Its performance is also weak in comparison and anything like 13/14 kit-built bogies is way, way beyond it, though easily within the capability of 60014. It's the only Hornby A4 I still keep, mainly because of the perfect painting - Hornby's BR green is far too blue at source in my view.
Another topic of conversation at the weekend was the longevity of today's RTR locos, especially ones worked really hard (like mine, or what were mine). Today, I've had to fix a Hornby rebuilt BB; not what I'd expect for a loco having run just a few 'scale' miles - dodgy pick-ups and a motor jumping out of gear.
I have no regrets in following my personal path of building the locos I require. A personal view, of course.
Good afternoon,I have just found your blog, if that is the correct term, the RTR of today has ,one ,for me, big fault, you are stuck with whatever mechanism the manufacturer decides to put in their engine. Most steam outline models need a good size flywheel attached to the motor for smooth running and a momentum effect For what I mean just look how Bachmanns class 08 diesel shunter runs. All model locos in 4mm should run as well as that, with the appropriate top speed. One observation, on your Little Bytham layout where the down siding meets the down slow/goods near to the M&GN bridge,there should be a set of trap points to prevent conflicting movements towards the down slow/goods. There was also a dolly signal at these points to authorise any movements out of the siding. If you look carefully at your 1957 copy of the BR plan you will see this feature. Hope this information will be of help.
Wright writes.....
in Modelling musings & miscellany
Posted
In my forty odd year career on the Railway, ballast that was seen/handled/off loaded out of wagons: red,pink,green,grey and silvery black. this depended on wether it was granite,slag from an iron works or loco ashes. So there is scope for varying the colour of track ballast on a model.