The Fatadder

Blank cheques on the door payable to T Fatadder will see you in... More seriously, you just need to turn up. But a name sticker is always handy so that people can put screen names to faces

10 years..... Cannot believe it's been that long! Here's to the next ten....

Thanks, will take you up on that!

Phill, A couple of questions if you don't mind, what did you use for the roof and dos the sides have the tumblehome pre formed? Very tempted by a some of the woosley kids as for the time being 3 of the Dave geen ones would strech the budget a bit much

Looking forward to it, Even better to see wheel Elizabeth again, been far too long since I last saw it!

I had been debating trying to get to Showcase this year, and the chance to see TWY one last time makes it even more tempting. The finished layout room looks great as well!

I remember thinking exactly the same thing at that point re the instructions, though it seems a common fault as the Finney 2251 instructions pretty much said the same thing on forming the firebox... Looking good so far!

The work on the roof looks great, I have a pair of ex 1951 (rebuilt with oval toilet windows) to model for my vsoe set. Thinking of bringing it up the queue now...

Not a lot of progress over the past few days. First up I double checked the instructions and the cab front was assembled correctly. I still agree it was a bit of a strange way of doing it though… Unfortunately as I want to fix the boiler to the firebox before attaching to the loco (as per the instructions), I'm very limited as to what I can do now until I get the rolling bars. (I think I am right in saying the next show with GW Models in attendance is not until Expo EM in May.) So I have now got on with a few more of the small details, first up the Firebox. One job I was not looking forward to was the fitting of the wash out plugs. As Nick suggested this was quite tricky, though made a lot easier than it could have been by Finney etching the whole row on a single bit of brass (I think the Mitchell Manor has a separate etch for each plug, which will be fun!) Each time I pinned in place with a modified hair pin and then tacked one end before checking alignment, and then flooding with solder. It looks rather messy inside, but did the job (and should still have plenty of motor clearance!) The next job should have been the firebox band clamps, these should go up from the underside of the firebox, however as I had fitted my spacer across the top there was no room. I need to look again, but they are going to need modifying to remove the tab and then fitting from the top. As I think this is more or less the last job I can do, I guess I will be tonight’s project… The final job completed was the sandbox linkages and footplate handrails, nice and easy to add with a bit of .45 wire to hold it together. Wish a few more detail bits like this were available from the trade, a nice set of etched sandbox linkages would be very welcome to detail the Bachmann model… So I think that will more or less be it for now, other than possible a bit of prep work on some of the castings (particularly the assembly of the boiler back head.) Need to decide now if I feel brave enough to tackle the Manor without instructions…..

Like the foil cover of the top feed pipe. Will be coping that I think!

Will definitely bare that in mind re the Mitchell ones,

Thanks for the points Nick, i see what you mean with the washout plugs. Going to be interesting. I had thought the same re the cab, but the final paragraph of the firebox section mentions attaching the cab end. The Manor has a sub frame for the cab, so will definitely build that apart from fhe firebox. I will see what I can find in terms of rod and give it a go. I have a non taper boiler etch from a scrap kit that can be used for practice. Certainly learned a lot so far...

A little more work this morning while waiting for the inlaws to drop Evie home. After rereading the instructions with a clear head, I now have a better idea of the firebox construction (picking up on a paragraph I missed last night in my sleep deprived state. So first up was the profiling of the corners of the firebox, using detail photos of the preserved loco as a guide. I think it needs a bit more material removed, but want the boiler before I file any more. Once I had finished with the file, I soldered the firebox to the cab front (followed by more fettling to clear the splashes. Now I am getting very close to the limit of construction without any rolling bars...) There are still some small details awaiting soldering, but most I would rather wait until it's further progressed. I also did a little more to 3215, adding a Gibson brass chimney to replace the thin Bachmann one. It's missing the deflector lip around the top front that's present on the Finney casting. Now needs a touch of paint. It will get the spare cab sides and roof from the kit

A while back I started a detailing project on an old mainline 2251 with the intention of adding new buffer beams and a new cab amounts other detailing. Recently I found a Finney 2251 kit on eBay for a good price with no chassis with a motor and high level gear box. Given the need for the moror and gearbox (along with the castings for the chimney etc), it was too good to miss. The plan is that building this loco will be good practice before I build my Finney Dean Goods and Mitchell Manor, particularly for the firebox and boiler. I started with the footplate assembly, following the instructions with one exception, I couldn't get the tabs holding the steam pipe through the slots so just soldered them over the top of the pipe. The smokebox saddle was an interesting fit, resulting in a lot of burned fingers. I was a little disappointed to find errors in the etchings which needed modifications to fit (described in the institutions). I kind of expected everything to be the right shape from Finney... The splashes went a lot better than expected, I was pleased with my first bit of forming metal. Next up was the firebox, this was probably the bit I was most dreading. I didn't get on with the instructions here. Instead I found my own method that worked a lot for me. First I used some spare OO spacers to solder a bar across at the top of the firebox, fixing the spacing to the correct width. A bolt was fitted in the lower hole to finish the alignment. I then tack soldered the top on each side, before using the former to roll the corners. These were then tacked in place, before using an old file to hold the final curve in place. Once it was all checked out I added a ton of extra solder to reenforce the front corners. I'm guessing a later stage involves filing the curve here. This is where there may be a slight issue as it was difficult to get extra solder behind the spacer at the top. It now needs a little fettling to tidy it up and match up to the chassis. I'm a little torn now as the next step calls for the rolling of the boiler, and I have yet to buy a set of rolling bars. I'm trying to decide if I can now build the cab out of sequence, or if I'm going to have to wait until im ready with the boiler. I have test fitted it to a high level chassis, which will require a fair bit of material removing from under the cab to fit. I have a built inside motion axle, and the seller mentioned the possibility of finding the built Finney chassis for it, so until I know for sure I won't touch the chassis. Want to see how similar the parts are to those on the dean goods as if possible id rather reuse the assembled cranked axle on that.... If it's a case of waiting, then it might be on with the Manor. Although I have no instructions, other than an exploded diagram, which could make it tricky...

Interesting way of doing it, will be good to see how it works in practice before I fet going on mine.

Will see what I can do,

So with the D95 coaches rather stuck awaiting an order of some new 0.5mm drill bits, it was time to get started on the next project. Detailing an Airfix autocoach as a diagram A30, with the Dart Castings detailing kit. The first step was to completely dismantle the donor coach, followed by preparation of the shell and chassis removing moulded detail This consisted of the removal of hand rails, door handles, lamp irons, end steps, underframe trusses and battery boxes. Unfortunately I was a little hasty in my reading of the instructions, and completely missed that it included new side steps…. The first job was the replacement of the underframe truss. As I was unaware of the replacement steps, I kept the truss that goes through them, fabricating a replacement truss for the remainder (missing 12mm or so from one end.) This was soldered up from square section brass to match the plastic remains. This was followed by the battery boxes (for which I did away with the etched handles replacing with brass wire.) These didn’t go together quite so easily as the Frogmore ones used on the D95s. Next up the auto working equipment, this was formed slowly working step by step adding more and more material. Before adding the final rods I replaced the bogies (now fitted with P4 wheels) and drilled the holes for screw couplings. Moving to the body, it was a simple case of adding the replacement details (thankfully a few spares are also included). Managed to get through 4 of my 0,4mm drills in the process….. With the outside finished, all that remained was to paint the interior and then glue the cab interior fittings into position, and the model is now ready for painting (once it warms up!) along with the E116 B Set, D95s and H33. Hopefully will get a couple more coaches finished in the near future as well…. I think a couple of sunshine stock conversions would be good, then there is the thoughts about modelling a Weston-Super-Mare set after the Centenaries were transferred post war……… But first I want to get on with some kit building, Manor or 2251 body or maybe a chassis for my County……

May we'll take you up on that at some point. Will you be selling your small components?

Very very nice, a standard to aim for! I like the idea of using tape to line up the number, (and looking at some of those small details produced I'm wishing I had a 3d printer!)

I may be able to sort you out there, mine are unlikely ever to be finished. Drop me a pm tomorrow when I get back to the uk and will see what I can do

Fantastic job, like you I always regretted not getting the Lima model when it was out (and wouldn't pay the silly money a coach they subsequently went for.) Are you going to be using the mk2 transfers to model some 8 window TSO for either the day stock or sleeper? Is it just for loftus road or is a gwml layout coming soon

I keep thinking of adding the 3 or 4 coaches missing from a second full rake in merlin / ic hybrid, also need to sort out a new underframe and drive for the Lima model in power cars to bring up to standard. Thankfully I saved lots of get photos from fotopic (including the gwt liveried mk3 sleepers) just wish they had done the mk2s to go with it..... How about a virgin Xc branded host to go with it..