andrewnummelin

This drawing in the HMRS collection may be of use. https://hmrs.org.uk/goods-brake-8ft-w-b-14ft-o-b.html

If you intend to use 3D printing then the minimum part thickness will be determined by the characteristics of the printer and the material used in it. If you scale down a metal object, and make it in the same material as the prototype, a scaled down thickness will have more than enough mechanical strength for prototype use. One may have to increase the thickness to allow for the well out of scale forces imposed by squeezing between your fingers to pick it up. Your suggestion of 20mm thick plates for a wagon side sounds excessive to me - I believe GWR steel sided wagons were from 3/16" sheet (~5mm or 0.06mm in 4mm scale). When modelling locos in 4mm scale I'd tend to use 8thou metal (0.2mm so a scale 0.6"), but for a wagon I'd use 5thou.

Having been away for a bit, I've only just seen this topic. The Historical Model Railway Society has 50 M&CR drawings in its on-line catalogue. https://hmrs.org.uk/drawings.html?company=6048&limit=45

After having been in storage, and unused for decades, I got some old models out for maintenance as I have, at last, the beginnings of a layout on which to run them. Some had problems and initial searches on the internet, unsurprisingly, did not show suitable original spares being still available. Any advice on the following would be much appreciated. 1. A replacement motor for an Atlas GP30 bought in 1976. The motor is about 20mm long, 9mm wide and 14mm high secured by a screw from below. 2. Push fit holders with brushes and springs for Roco motors bought in the mid '80s (motors seem fine but the springs and brushes have flown off!). The brush holders are approximately 2.6mm diameter (main part of body) and 5.5 mm long overall. The motors are otherwise in fine condition but unfortunately just too long to replace the Atlas motor!

I’m guessing that you are using 16.5mm gauge. If so, the main problem is that the frames and wheels, are too close together and there will indeed be problems with placing the springs. The rear springs (coil) are behind the firebox, the main problem will probably be with the right hand side one that may foul the reversing lever. Is the front of the firebox too far forward? Perhaps cutting it back should be considered. Is the spring too wide? Whatever you consider for the driving axel springs will be a bit of an unsightly compromise, carving out the boiler, mounting the spring over the splashier leaving the spring off. If you want to check the dimensions you may like to get a copy of the side and elevation drawing that’s in the HMRS collection: https://hmrs.org.uk/0-6-0-saddle-tank-4ft-diameter-wheels-class-850-r2-renewals-side-end-elevation.html

One thing I haven't seen mentioned with the an N gauge point is the danger of unwanted connections. At the points ringed in red there is a risk of the wire being pushed upwards and so making a connection with the rail above. If firmly pressed one would have a permanent fault that might be easy to detect but one may have lots of "fun" fault finding if the contact were intermittent!

Looking at the spacing of the vehicles, I suggest the coaches are close coupled, supporting Chris’s suggestion. Makes me wonder again what were the coaches of the last train I travelled on from Blaenavon. As a young teenager I noted the loco (6656) but not the coach numbers. All three coaches were brake composites (1 first class compartment) - so a close coupled B set plus an extra, or 3 identical with normal buffers both ends? I should have been more observant!

My knowledge of the GER is virtually nothing, but the HMRS drawings collection has several (detailed) drawings of the No 1 class that probably include what you want. https://hmrs.org.uk/drawings.html https://hmrs.org.uk/drawings.html?SID=ore1cm4p3j108id89ov0i3jpk4&company=6059&subject=6030&subject_subdivision=36

Richard, Have you checked the HMRS collection? The catalogue generally does not give class numbers but there are drawings of 4-4-0s of the period with the appropriate driving wheel diameter. My knowledge of the MR is minimal, so apologies if you’ve already checked this source. https://hmrs.org.uk/drawings.html?company=6067&subject_subdivision=36 Regards, Andrew Nummelin HMRS Webmaster

The HMRS has a good number of drawings of LCDR subjects. https://hmrs.org.uk/drawings.html?company=6076 I apologise that there are still bugs with the new web site so the on-line ordering system is not yet functional. If you wish to order any of the drawings please email drawings@hmrs.org.uk with your request. Regards, Andrew Nummelin, HMRS Webmaster

Indeed, a lovely looking loco, but concealing the motor/gearbox and arranging suspension, if needed, will be fun! I know very little about the LC&DR so cannot be sure that this is relevant, but the HMRS has a drawing that might be of this type of loco: https://hmrs.org.uk/drawings/0-4-2-tank.html The drawing has not yet been scanned, but if you complete the form and send it in, the archivisit will look out the drawing and get back to you. Regards, Andrew Nummelin HMRS Webmaster

The HMRS may well have drawings of the sort of thing you are looking for, for example http://www.hmrs.org.uk/drawings/drawinginfo.php?id=22395 There have been some errors in classification of drawings so it might be better to look through all the SER (and possibly SECR) drawings rather than just searching for covered carriage trucks. The search form is currently at http://www.hmrs.org.uk/drawings/british.php The web site is always subject to revision so the links above are not guaranteed to be correct in future, but going from the home page one should always be able to find the various items in our catalogue. Regards, Andrew Nummelin HMRS Webmaster