Barclay

Thanks all - very interesting. I think the idea that the wheels could be carrying/tender wheels is a possibility, and the Reidpath connection is a good notion, the wheels are bushed. I think the crankpins/cylinders are definitely the shorting culprits and a night run is the answer! 5050 - I'm delighted to hear you've seen a similar track layout in the real world, as I dreamed it up many years ago. It just goes to show you can get away with a lot in industrial modelling - even a 15" radius curve that bisects 2 other lines and a crossover looks like something that actually existed.

Following on from 5050's success submitting his Prairie for inspection I wonder what others can tell me about this old EM gauge LMS/Kitson dock tank? I bought it at expo-EM as a pile of bits for a fiver a few years ago, but there are aspects of it that make me think it's very old. The motor is the old type Romford with the bearing outside the worm and the wheels are solid brass, insulated at the hub on very thin axles. Initial thoughts were to modernise it with new wheels or even a new chassis but I soon realised that I had to keep it as original as possible. It has therefore been 'bodged' back together and runs quite well, especially on the Pentroller. There are some shorting issues occasionally, which I am still struggling to isolate, but it runs well enough for light use. The loco is scratchbuilt in brass and is a lovely piece of work, especially given the lack of suitable bits back in the day. It would be fascinating to know who might have built it, and if anyone recognises the type of wheel.

What a great picture, thanks for the information - here's one I built slightly more recently - it's still being painted in fact. Bought it on ebay for £13 about a year ago.

I think I'll have to go against the flow and vote for the industrial estate. Wild Swan's book on the Slough Estates railway is full of evocative pictures. 20's and 30's architecture, pipe gantries running over the road, loco's squeezing between parked cars. Almost enough to make me start again!

I've never done anything this big but for smaller loco's in 4mm it's not hard if you anneal it first over a gas flame (cooker!); clean it up with emery paper then roll using brass tube or wooden dowel a fair bit smaller than the size you want. Small ones can be done on your thigh like a cigar but otherwise a soft surface with some give like a cutting mat, or several newspapers in a pile. The mating edges are the hardest part as they don't want to curve so they need more pressure and perhaps a smaller tube to roll with. I would use 10 thou brass in 4mm as it forms quite easily, but you might need it a bit thicker for gauge 1. If you leave it for a few weeks after forming it will regain some of it's former hardness.

Looking forward to reading this. I built the class F some years ago as my first scratchbuild using the MRJ series as a guide. There's loads of useful info and templates in there - they are similar loco's I believe?

Agreed it's possible to hide the motor/gearbox in practically anything these days. But maybe it's a good thing if it has this fault. It shows that it's still worth making stuff yourself!

Thank you, but they are not mine to distribute - would that I had the talent!

Hi PGH - It was the builder of that 7mm version shown on your layout who kindly sent me his own drawings of the loco., enabling me to build an EM version. I've attached a photo. for comparison.

Cary S2 kit on an old Athearn chassis - this will be my first US model!

Thanks Adam - Yes I read your thread as well. It's thanks to you I shortened the chimney, although you can still see the mark unfortunately! Yes the Nasmyth Wilson was my previous project. I have vowed never to build a loco with outside valve gear again...

Great to see it finished - I've been following your progress and it certainly helped me to finish mine. I can certainly recommend the Narrow Planet Builders' plates.