ian@stenochs

On 06/04/2024 at 16:05, Caley Jim said:

After building a set of 65ft non-corridor coaches for the Glasgow and Edinburgh Direct service I had to build a suitable loco for them.  This is a CR 900class (Dunalastair III) 4-4-0 No.902.

 

 

Full build details at https://www.rmweb.co.uk/forums/topic/182910-cr-900-class-4-4-0-dunalastair-iii/?do=getNewComment

 

 

Jim

 

 

 

I’ve just noticed your post Jim. Not my favourite Caley engine, I much prefer the Dunalistair 1, but a superb model nonetheless. Hard to believe it’s only     2 mm scale!  
 

Ian.

Massive  locomotives compared to what went before on the Sou’West. Unfortunately the ‘Pumpers’, 279 class, were not very successful in their original condition. Once the pumps were removed and replaced with injectors they were a bit better.  This is my effort to reproduce one in the condition it was in just before the grouping. Still waiting the works plate to be delivered and given a bit of weathering.

There is progress on the Austrian Goods kit and there should be an announcement soon.  Unfortunately a we bit late for my scratch built job which is currently going through the paint shop!

Ian.

It's only paint!  Doesn't improve, or reduce, eficiency or make locomotives faster or more powerful. Unfortunately it is what we see and it diverts us from the the real engineering beauty underneath.

15 hours ago, richard i said:

A big step. Major components fitted together.

Now whispering it quietly I think it has all been designed for p4. It has needed fettling to get this far and it looks like it needs some space made around the bogie wheels on the frame. 
decision time, cylinders or the small items on the body next?

 

it certainly now feels like this loco will get finished. Something I have not always thought.

richard 

no need to discuss the light reading behind. An occupational hazard/ necessity.

Better to scale down from full size and then make compromises for the model gauge rather than the other way round!   
 

Ian,

17 hours ago, Steamport Southport said:

 

They should put a stop to that nonsense. Moved in last week and I haven't had a minutes sleep since!

 

Anyone know who I can complain to?

 

 

🔕

Really bugs me the number of folk who move into a community and then complain about what was there before them. 

If you don't like train noises, church bells or anything else that makes a noise then move somewhere else!

On 20/03/2024 at 15:45, Caley Jim said:

I do almost all my paInting with brushes, after an initial spray with a rattle can. I always use several well thinned coats, usually of enamel. 

 

Jim 

Is that a 2" or 3" brush you use Jim 😀

Ian.

2 hours ago, billbedford said:

That is inordinately precise for a model railway bodge.

 

How about - The swing link has to be long enough to clear the bogie's leading axle or headstock and the fix pin should not foul the loco's buffer beam. 

Just remember that a short swing link will pull the bogie further forward than a long one. 

18 hours ago, jwealleans said:

 

Here you go, Mick.   The arm pivots on the bolt you can see at the front of the cylinder and then attaches to the bogie centre where you see the nut.   This is how you work out the pivot position:

 

 

 

I used a similar set up on a Duchess I built in S7. The beam pulled the rear bogie wheel forward away from the brake hanger on curves. As it was 7mm scale, with a bit more mass, I added a light tension spring which pulled the bar straight and gave a self centering effect which helped steer the engine into curves.  

Sorry I don't have a photo.

Ian.

Lauries funeral will be held this Thursday, 7th March at 1.15 in Masonhill Crematorium  Ayr and afterwards at Western House hotel.

21 minutes ago, iL Dottore said:

You only had to go and open your mouth, didn't you?

Very unusual to see 3 one legged girls in the same picture!

Viakal cleaner, from almost any supermarket, works for me and it is quite cheap.  I use it for cleaning up after soldering too,

God Save the King is the United Kingdom’s national anthem.  Does England not have its own like all the other nations in the Union?

13 hours ago, pH said:

And it wasn’t unknown for engines having to be recoaled èn route in the UK. Just for example, David L. Smith tells of G&SWR ‘279’ class 0-6-0s in original condition (“Pumpers”) working Glasgow to Carlisle having to take a couple of tubs of coal at Dumfries shed. And a Corkerhill crew working through to Leeds with a compound in 1930 had a difficult trip and needed to take coal at Hellifield. 

The Pumpers as built with only a ‘steam drier’ in the smokebox, feed water pumps and big end bearings which wouldn’t run cold the pumpers were pretty poor. They could however haul, 50 wagons College to Carlisle with no assistance, but slow. After the Great War they were improved, feed water heating removed and injectors replaced the pumps. A few got painted in an economy black livery as depicted in my almost completed example in 7mm scale.  Needs coal and the shine taken off.

2 hours ago, Tony_S said:

I think all the Guinness sold in pubs and shops in the UK comes from Ireland now. So if it tastes different it is due to travelling over the Irish Sea. It hasn’t been brewed in London for quite some time now. I have noticed bigger differences in Guinness from different pubs than between Britain and Ireland. Irish friends will not drink the Nitrosurge Guinness available in some establishments! The Nigerian brewed and bottled Guinness is widely available here in supermarkets. 

Guiness made now is mass produced from the cheapest ingrediants in the shortest possible time then given 'life' by injecting gasses which are not part of the brewing process. If it wasn't for the millions they spend on slick advertising sales would be a fraction of what they are.

On 18/01/2024 at 18:34, charlielynch said:

I'd assumed David Smith's oral material was recorded and then assembled into a narrative, but if as is suggested, it was from memory, that is quite a feat.

 

 

David L Smith recorded his findings in a series of notebooks and record cards. He wrote in pencil in a very fine hand. His hand written cards on every locomotive the G&SWR had record minute details including known workings, incidents and crew and are now preserved in the Scottish Records Office along with his other papers.  
 

David father was a school teacher but his mother was a Larmer who were heavily involved in Iron and coal and railways in the Dalmellington area.  His book, ‘ the Dalmellington Iron Co, it’s engines and men’ is a classic and gives a lot of detail of his early influences.  He was a sickly child, pernicious anemia, and not expected to live long but survived into his 80’s

2 hours ago, CKPR said:

Juat arrived in the post, an un-used M&CR luggage label for Annan. These seem to be relatively common and I wonder if this is because of the dwindling traffic over the Solway Junction line back in the day.

Is that. Annan G&SWR or Annan (Shawhill) CR?

22 minutes ago, Flying Fox 34F said:

I don’t know where the base image was lifted from, but it looks like Belton House, just north of my old home town.

 

Paul

Those house building companies use the same generic plans just tweaked for the particular development so could be anywhere.

Ian.

Very nice model but just how long would the cab roof stay white on the real thing?

Ian.

On 04/01/2024 at 18:33, Ruston said:

I visited Dunaskin a few years ago. The fireless had been advertised as running on that day, so when I got onto the platform and saw it parked up on a siding I felt quite disappointed. Then a member of staff walked across the track, got in the cab, rang the bell and the loco moved off to collect some wagons! I had never seen a fireless in working order before and never expected that it would be completely silent when parked up. Unlike a normal steam engine there wasn't a constant hiss or any little leaks of steam to show that it was ready to work, hence me thinking it was out of use.

 

The Barclay 0-4-0ST that was running the passenger service failed and although the fireless couldn't pull the train, due to having no train brakes, we passengers all took turns in cramming into the cab for rides, which was a bonus. Another odd thing about it was that it didn't have the usual screw-operated brake but some sort of over-centre weighted lever in the cab to operate the brakes. I presume this is common to all fireless Barclays.

Fireless engines were very quiet in operation too. Hence most had bells fitted to warn of their approach, and save steam by not wasting it on a whistle!

The exhaust also was just a whisper as the used steam, or water vapour by then,  just excited to the atmosphere at very low pressure.  The absence of back pressure on the cylinders makes them very free running so care is needed less they run away especially if running light.

Ian.

1 hour ago, Happy Hippo said:

It may have lavatorial overtones.

 

A fruity little mixture of Stroudley's LBSC  Improved Engine Green, and the North British Burnt Umber

Many years ago I was in the company of legendary authors David L Smith and John Thomas along with others.  John was giving a talk on the the NB Atlantics, his book on them had just been published.
 

Someone in the audience asked what colour would they have been painted when new?  With a straight face John explained that to get the exact shade of NB green one needed to wait until June then go to a field where cows had been grazing.  Search the field for a cowpat about two days old with a nice hard crust on it.  Scrape the crust off and what is revealed is North British green!

Ian.

4 hours ago, Halvarras said:

 

That is incredibly neat work - although the areas requiring attention are 'contained', I can fully understand your reluctance to correct them!

Thanks for the complement, I try my best.

I am almost finished building an Austrian Goods which will be the same colours so I might just make the effort to correct 735 when I have the paint brushes out.

Yes I did build a model of the Ayr harbour pug using the Agenoria kit as a basis.  Since finishing the model I have learned that the footplate edge and step backplate should be in crimson lake.  I have not yet built up the enthusiasm to change the model!

I have researched and modelled the G&SWR for 50+ years and in all that time I have NEVER come across an official company document which omits the ampersand in the shortened version of the company title.  Why do enthusiasts think it’s ok to do so?  Please guys give the Sou West a bit of respect and use the ampersand.

Ian.

1 hour ago, Happy Hippo said:

I am about to start the long and traditional tradition of preparing the bottle of Penderyn for its opening when my brother arrives.

This is a ritual guaranteed to heighten the delight of its consumption.

 

How much will remain in the bottle after its opening is anyone's guess... 

 

My late friend Jim always brought a decent bottle of malt when we took the layout to shows. He opened it on the Saturday night on our return to the digs after eating out.  The cork was discarded with the words ' We won't need that again' and we never did!

Ian.