TangoOscarMike

Well, in that case, shame on me for thinking it didn't look quite believable. I had thought that the boiler of an 0-4-0 tank engine couldn't possible be that big in real life. And to my eyes it is indeed very reminiscent of the clockwork tinplate tank engines. I'll be getting one of these (and the other one) in due course, when I start to design bodies for the inside-cylinder chassis.

Thanks Gibbo I'm glad you've said that, because when I look at Corbs's picture, I want to move the dome back for visual balance. If this is also technically correct, then so much the better. This might be hard to reconcile with the clearance around the motor. But the accumulated feedback is going to result in quite a lot of re-design, so the least I can do is try. The more I look at it, the more I think I am going to make two versions. An 0-4-0 for people who don't want to alter the chassis, and an 0-4-2 for people who don't like the overhang. Would the additional rear axle alter what you have said above, about the firebox placement? Oh, absolutely. I couldn't agree more. For me, technical considerations trump design aesthetics not only because of common sense, but also because things that are designed to function correctly frequently end up looking best. Well, I'd be grateful for your views on boiler bands. Am I right in understanding that they are not (as one might imagine) reinforcement, but rather to hold cladding in place? I suspect that any raised boiler band would be significantly over-scale. If I choose half a millimetre, that corresponds to a piece of metal an inch and a half thick, whereas in reality they are thin metal straps. So perhaps the most realistic approach is simply to paint them. Thanks in advance Tom

Well to some extent this whole project is a nod towards the Hornby clockwork locomotives. My grandmother had a box of Hornby tinplate trains, and my brother and I would set it all up when we visited at Christmas. I suppose it belonged to someone of my Father's generation, but I don't know for sure. If I recall correctly, the tank engines and the tender engines all shared the same clockwork mechanism and wheel arrangement. And this is exactly what I'm trying to do with the 0-4-0 chassis. In terms of appearance, perhaps the closest modern RTR equivalent is this: https://www.Hornby.com/uk-en/shop/brands/Hornby-railroad/railroad-locomotives/railroad-0-4-0-kelly-son-paper-mill.html Hitherto I'd regarded these engines as rather ugly, but now I'm seeing them in a different light. I hadn't considered actually trying to recreate the aesthetic of the Hornby tinplate trains, but I am now that you've suggested it.... I'll add it to the list of ideas! Thanks Tom

What I particularly like about these (especially the King) is the way the smooth curve passes through the running plate. I had considered completely covering the Hornby cylinder, as you suggest, but I rejected the idea as too difficult. Now I'm inspired to try again. Thank you Tom

Thank you both very much, that is exactly the sort of thing I was hoping for. The mechanism does indeed dictate the boiler/firebox dimensions (and the height of the centre-line), but I may have been over-cautious. I might be able to shave off a millimetre, which could make a big difference visually. I can see from the doctored picture (thank you!) that you're both right about the items on top of the boiler. I shall make these changes forthwith. As for the smokebox saddle: I was certainly trying to achieve an appearance reminiscent of the Stirling Single (and many other Victorian locomotives). Since the cylinders are part of the chassis it wasn't too hard to do what I've done (valve chests incorporated into the smokebox saddle, cylinders left alone). I've just had a quick look on the internet for pictures of real locomotives like this, but so far I've found nothing. It might be a little difficult to incorporate the cylinders into the smokebox saddle because of the precision required. A small gap could be obvious and ugly. Nevertheless, I will attempt it.

Dear All Here is a prototype of my freelance tender engine design for the Hornby 0-4-0 Holden chassis. I would be very grateful for any comments you can offer, since I would like to make some improvements before I declare it finished and offer it for sale in my Shapeways shop ( https://www.shapeways.com/shops/toys-or-models ). The attached pictures speak for themselves, but please bear in mind that I was very excited when I received the print (and it is only a prototype), so the paint job is a little slapdash. Please don't judge it by the wavy lining on the tender! On the whole I'm very happy with it - I was afraid that it would look silly next to a model of a real locomotive, but in fact I'm perfectly happy with how it looks next to my County class. I am interested in any and all feedback, but I have a few remarks of my own, some of which are questions and some of which are responses to questions that I anticipate: 1) I'm going to add a whistle on the firebox or the front of the cab. 2) I've already re-worked part of the tender frame, to make it match the engine's running plate a little better. 3) The boxes on the side are to conceal the motor mount (especially the loop at the end of the motor retension spring). I sized these boxes quite generously, and in the next version I will make them a little smaller. I'm considering replacing them with an elongated splasher, but I'm not sure how this will work out. 4) I'm not sure about the proportions of the dome and safety valve. Perhaps the safety valve should be bigger? 5) Looking at the side view, I think it would be better if I added a pair of wheels to make it an 0-4-2. Unfortunately, I can't see a way of doing this without breaking my golden rule - no modifications to the chassis. Perhaps in the future I can make two versions: an 0-4-2 with chassis alterations, and an 0-4-0 without. 6) I have deliberatly not included handrails on this (or my other two models). I think that (without moving to more expensive plastic) they would simply be too chunky and ugly. It's better for people to add them themselves, if they want. 7) Boiler bands. Do you think it would be a good idea to have raised boiler bands included in the 3D print? It would probably make it easier to paint them. Right, that's more than enough words from me. Please let me know what you think. Thanks Tom

Thank you! At some point I will buy one of Hornby's inside-cylinder 0-4-0 tank engines. I assume that (apart from the missing cylinders and connecting rods) the chassis is identical to the Holden/Pug version, but I don't know. For this chassis I would like to design something like a cut-down GWR 517 class. Clearly the inside-cylinder chassis would also be ideal for a diesel. Until now I hadn't considered diesels, but now that you've suggested it I'll start mulling it over. Cheers Tom

Thanks a lot! Indeed, the shape of the saddle tank in particular is inspired by the Ffestiniog's George England locomotives. And I've looked at a lot of narrow gauge prototypes. Decades ago I could see that 009 modellers have a lot of fun putting freelance (and prototypical) bodies on N gauge mechanisms. I wanted to join the fun, and it seemed to me that the barriers to entry would be much lower if I stuck with 00 (and, as you point out, the most readily-available chassis that there is!). Cheers Tom

Dear All I've just opened a Shapeways shop with two items (and more under development). Here it is: https://www.shapeways.com/shops/toys-or-models The two models are freelance tank engines that fit directly onto the Hornby 0-4-0 (Holden or Caledonian Pug) chassis. This is the fulfilment of my childhood daydreams: I had plenty of ideas for things like this, but I did not have the skills, resources, or attention span. I can see from threads like this: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/120431-show-us-your-pugbashes-nellieboshes-desmondifications-jintysteins/ that I'm not the only person who likes this sort of thing. I'm only offering these prints in White Strong and Flexible (Polished) because I want to keep the prices down. I originally planned to use Frosted Ultra Detail (and I was worried about the cost). But when I ordered a test print in the cheaper plastic I was delighted with the outcome, and I changed my plans accordingly. If there is a demand for it, I may re-work these models with finer details for higher-quality prints. I have just ordered a test print of a Tender Engine for the same chassis, and I hope that I will be able to make this available soon. I have a couple of other models in a more experimental state, and plenty of other ideas. I am, of course, open to suggestions. Thank you for your attention Tom