EHertsGER

So by way of a brief update I have attached some images of the ‘whole’ to confirm I am doing things, illustrate that those things might be called progress and a little bit of showing off. More constructively, almost the sum of the parts now resembles a Class V ‘Schools’ and is a solid superstructure on which to begin actually building a locomotive. So far, no great revelations, then. However, I did ‘grow’ this blog out of a bit of chatter about PDK Kits, so how does this shape up as a kit in general? Very well, I feel. This is my first PDK effort (Gibson, Finecasts, Riceworks, and even K’s have gone among prior efforts) and so far I am impressed. The etches are clean and fit well, often with tabs and slots that do just that: tab and slot rather than twist and miss. Joints are clean and fit well, while the etches in the flat fold and bend along marked lines with little effort: the multilevel footplate and inwardly angled valences took little special skill nor tools. So, as a kit I would say that it would warrant a place as one’s first venture into 4-4-0s, outside valve gear or tender locomotives. I have complicated things a bit by using the Finecast chassis, but if you don’t mind the PDK one and are not building it as a P4 engine, the contents of the box would be a good starting point with little beyond the usual wheels, motor, gears etc to add. Heres progress so far: In the above you will have noticed that I finally decided that the earlier bogie sideframes will be my choice and filed the profiles to suit. In addition, you will note that the Finecast chassis has lost its forward frame extensions. More surgery will follow, but for now that’s where we are. It all needs a good clean, especially the joints, as well as some tweaking and aligning, but as a ‘straight off the bench’ condition I am pleased. Best, Marcus

Oh, don’t think I haven’t had those thoughts... This is what the publishing world might call a ‘vanity’ kit/project - I am doing it because I want one and am happy to make the effort for a modest set of parts. However I have this sneaking suspicion that if and when we get into it, the ‘whole thing’ may be the ‘best’ approach. IF we have to replicate features that differentiate the skirted Drewrys from the Airfix/Dapol or Bachmann (ignoring the Vulcan as a rare bird nowadays) a body whole would seem worthwhile. Commercially, it could be a reskin of the Bachman and be usable with the 00 chassis, while others may choose to put it over a High Level chassis. When I get this far into things I wonder if I should just turn it over to High Level Chris....he’s done the chassis and footplate skins already...

All of which is a sound summary of why it will take a while to sort out an approach; certainly the Bachmann would be the popular ‘yardstick’ around which to build a set of ‘solutions’, if you like. Skirts can be of variable length; etched marks inside to denote where to trim if needed. Hopefully all the wheelbases will be the same! Cabs; well, two options to be included. Bonnet sides; perhaps etched overlays for the ‘choices’ too. Stuff I can’t do anything about: footplates, but then the High Level overlays are beautiful and can hide all kinds of glitches. Buffer beams; more choices. The bonnet/ radiator: keep the radiator, overlay door detail? It’s got me thinking but right now I’m focused elsewhere (business, Christmas (who are these ‘Hippy Halliday’ people? Never met them and not sure I wish to), other projects (‘Schools’ class, an F4 and finishing the ‘31). A reliable set of references would be good - all I have is Monty Wells’ article from decades ago in MRJ and my memory of a long dead Impetus conversion that died at the hands of a misplaced soldering iron. Sold the bits for pennies; idiot.

That’s exactly what I had in mind, though how and who will do so is still an open question. Justin Newitt and I have collaborated on a couple of projects successfully (LNER F4/5/6 chassis and BR Class 31 sprung bogies) so we may do this one too (he is a busy chap and has my LNER J15 chassis on his ‘list’ already). As he has done the chassis already, perhaps Chris Gibbon would be free to do it. Right now I am working on ‘how to do it’ based on what I recall of the Impetus kit. Suffice to say it will be completely redrawn and so ‘all (our) own work’. What I see is a new cab (cabs?), skirts and so on only, relying on the Airfix (preferring to use the original kit as the plasic is harder and as an original moulding, less worn), Dapol or Vulcan (cast metal) kits for the body. Whether the same can work for the Bachmann body remains to be seen as all that would be left would be the footplate and bonnet. Coupled with the High Level chassis and footplate overlays, you can see how I would like Chris to do this, but who knows. Justin/Chris, if you are reading this, please do not look too surprised! As just a body kit, it would be up to builder to decide on 00, EM or P4 - for a decent chassis use the High Level one.

On a (slightly) serious note: how long will it be before these self-driving cars we are all supposed to have soon are fitted with a ‘get out of my way you plebs’ circuit that is activated by the likes of the BMWs of this world. I can see it coming...for your security/safety, of course... I’ll stick to my ageing motorbikes... Best, Marcus

I do recall making a wild promise to reintroduce a kit to convert the Airfix/Dapol (+ Vulcan/Gibson) 04 Drewry but rather got lost in other plans. I’d still like to do it if there would be any takers... It would probably take me about a year... Brst, Marcus

Ok, so here we have some kind of progress... First up, the boiler, rolled using one of George Watts contraptions. This is only my opinion, but for forming boilers, even those that profess to be pre-rolled (no doubt by the same senorita for whose thighs Bizet was obsessed), stop mucking about and buy one. Even I can make them round, so you have no excuses... Note the ring of unpressed rivets inside the smokebox. These appeared on rebuilds some time after the period in which I am presenting the model, so have not been addressed. Once in BR times, these should be pressed out, but check your individual locomotive for the dates. I will go into more detail as the boiler evolves in a separate chapter. Now we have the chassis (plural) in comparison. The assembled one is the Finecast effort, that ‘in the flat’ is the PDK one. I know which I prefer. The PDK does come with a handy selection of valve gear bits that count as spares, so may come in handy later if you go to the Finecast one and get into trouble, though I would be wary of combining two different sets of geometry. I am sure one can make a sound chassis with the PDK effort - it just looked a bit dull to me. The basic premise is that the driven wheel is the rear driver, while the front driver is balanced against the bogie by an internal beam - so it's really an equalized 0-6-0 chassis, making the 'difficult' 4-4-0 rumours go away... Sharp-eyed readers will have noticed that the bogie frames are parallel and not angled, as originally built. I will admit to being rather fuzzy about this, but my chosen period for 'Rugby' is the 'early 1930s' (which means I prefer the earlier serif script livery with the number on the tender). 'Sometime' (considered to be 'early 1930s') these bogies had new frames with the parallel lower edge fitted, along with coil springs (which Finecast supplies in the kit). I could still opt to file them to shape and fit leaf springs, making sure of a late '20s/very early '30s condition... I will go into more detail as the chassis/brakes/motor evolve in a separate chapter. And finally, the footplate, not altogether clear, but the front frame extensions (no rivets marked in the PDK kit) are held in by a makeshift clamp. It is the frame extensions of the Finecast chassis that have to go. If you are building a later batch that featured snap-head rivets at the front, you will need to transfer the marks and either press (buy George’s tool while you are ordering his roller) these out or drill and fit wire dummies. Up to you. Rugby was flush riveted here, so no work to be done. My next post will go into how I made the Finecast chassis actually fit the PDK superstructure... That’s it for now. Another Martini (from the ‘Lord Charles school of kitbuilding’, I suspect) beckons...

Well, here we are with the kit out of the box and a few steps taken to familiarise ourselves with the contents. So far, lots of brass bits and so on, plus the Ultrascale wheels (after months of waiting, of course). The plan is to build the body onto the Finecast chassis which, of course, is designed to fit an entirely different kit. Why not build the Finecast kit, then? I just like building in brass as it gives me those nice fine edges to cabs and tenders and so on. So, initial observations? I built up the chassis to a framework to get the hornblocks and so on in the right place, then a rudimentary assembly of the footplate to check it fits. It doesn’t, so that will be my next post; modifications needed to make it fit and so on with some pictures to show what’s needed. Right now it’s late and I am on my second Martini, so please be patient... During the second Martini phase of the build is an ideal time to peer at photographs and check out the details in the Swift book (you need books if you are going to do this by Martini stages). Rugby was one of the second batches built, with the angled bogie frames and flush headed rivets to the front of the frames. Dammit! I’d poked out all of the rivets in the chassis kit! Salvation is at hand when we discover that the frame extensions in the kit clash with the frame extensions of the chassis. Simple - remove the chassis frame extensions. The ‘join’ sits neatly behind the cylinder blocks so, as Eric would say ‘you can’t see the join’. Good so far. But wait! The footplate supports are different. Another Martini methinks. Back soon...

Somewhere back in the mists of time and in the course of discussing PDK kits I alluded to my being in the process of building a SR Class V ‘Schools’ class locomotive, specifically 920 ‘Rugby’ (as it is where a number of rather optimistic individuals felt I might learn a thing or two - which I did, but not necessarily from school books...). Anyway, for the curious I felt I might document my observations in my own ‘blog’ part of this site rather than obfuscate the content Tony so graciously sponsors here. In summary, it is to be a P4 model combining the PDK kit with the Finecast chassis on Ultrascale wheels and presented in early 1930s condition. Anybody with any guidance is welcome to add to my experience...

No, no, it’s the Popular Peoples Front for Kit Built Carriage Liberation, and we say “just build them” We, the Peoples Front for the Popular Liberation of Carriages, Kit Built say “put them on your layout” Wait a minute, we the Popular People for the Kitting Out of Carriages say “buy Hornby or Bachmann and detail them” And we, the People Popular for saying profound things say “go to the pub...”

PDK? I have a ‘Schools’ (Class ‘V’) on the go...but I have already junked the chassis in favour of the Finecast one, so I will ‘comment’ on it as I go. So far it looks nice, though the pre-rolled boiler was a bit of an odd shape (and was one of the reasons I flew across to Scaleforum to buy GW’s lovely rollers). Why not the Finecast kit as a whole? I just prefer working in brass with all those fine edges it brings to cabs, tender sides and footplates. Just a personal thing. Talking of personal things, why, of all the ‘Schools’ out there, is ‘Rugby’ (my old school) so seldom represented?

Indeed; there is a school of thought - and I say this as I am unable to cite an actual academic discipline or source, so rumor it must remain until someone here puts me right one way or the other - that the utterances of my fellow countrymen (can I still say that without being pilloried for something or other?) here in the USA are a more authentic version of the English language than that of the 'home country'. The argument proffered runs something akin to that of the Quebequois (as, it seems, they are always arguing about something): the 'genuine' language was brought across the Atlantic and preserved (as in the 'rhotic R' of the USA version; I cannot offer any comparison to the French, but then who can?) in everyday speech as the peoples separated by the Atlantic Ocean began to evolve along separate arcs. In the UK 'received pronunciation/BBC English/posh' (or however one wishes to describe it) emerged as a means by which the nouveaux riches (my grandmother always maintained they made their money after the Civil War - the English one) could distinguish themselves in their upward mobility from the rest of us and be accepted at Court. Another view is that is all came about with 'talkies' insofar as the BBC needed to be understood and so an exaggerated speech pattern was necessary to defeat dodgy microphones. The absence of recordings prior to...well, recording equipment...leaves all that to be rather convenient. Me? Well, I'm rather stuck with they way wot I talks ('gee I lurve your wunnerful acceynt' 'Thank you madam, but its been following me around for years. There is nothing I can do.') but I agree that provided the sense is understood then the objective of communication is achieved. Now all we have to do is stop daft writing a lot of nonsense in response to a post...oh, I see. Better stop then. best, Marcus

I read today that Viagra is to become a non-prescription drug. I asked my pharmacist if I could get it over the counter. He said if I could get it over the counter then I didn't need Viagra.

‘Eagle-eyed readers’ will have spotted the lack of internal handrails to the engine compartment. Well I have fabricated them, but have no idea what colour they should be: silver, grey seem to be possibilities. Taking into account wear and tear, a silver colour worn from orignal grey? The reward is pictures of the finished locomotive, as that is all that is left to do... Well, apart from headcode discs, but that can wait. Thank you in advance! Best, Marcus

Well it was a well intentioned ‘aside’ to the thread of kits vs RTR etc, but now I am focusing my thoughts more acutely. I think the challenge of getting someone to the ‘starting gate’ of kit building is the principal issue; as with many activities, I feel, once one has started out things just get easier as one tries and builds confidence (cast your minds back to your swimming lessons, for example). So, to get them through the ‘starting gate’. ‘Try it and see’ packs (bits plus solder etc)? Not sure as the end result is just a mess. Hand holding on a specific course? The ‘fear factor’ let alone cost counts this one out for many - though the Missenden workshops are a boon for this sort of thing. A ‘bodgit’ stand at exhibitions - ‘brand agnostic’ - drop a fiver and have a go (duff and half abandoned kits by donation...?) so you get the feel of the real thing under tuition? Oh, the liability issues that arise there! No, the only way to get there is to WANT to do so, so those who are contemplating may not be the best potential customers. Somehow we have to change contemplation to want. For me that happened the minute I started reading Guy Williams’ articles. Good grief, the abominations I conjured up amid toxic fumes and language in equal measure! But I wanted more than Hornby could produce (in those days this would be a model of a locomotive, not a locomotive model, if you get my distinction). So, to engender the want to have something that RTR cannot provide. Sadly, I cannot get inside the head of every modeller or hobbyist out there to change their minds. Or can I. I think we, as a body of modellers, can create what we do and that may inspire that want, but thats about it. Coupled with the ‘now’ ethos of the modern world that may be a challenge. Don’t forget that the names we venerate built out of necessity, deprived of the brilliance with which we have to compete now as RTR products. Pendon with 1970s Hornby? I think not. Start off on the Pendon journey now and would we have needed Guy Williams? All of the above is just me pondering, I suppose, but the crux of the issue that relates more broadly to our existence as a whole is getting ‘newbies’ to just try - and that raises the role of clubs, insofar as that would be the ideal ground on which to base the ‘c’mere, I’ll show you, now you have a go’ that builds that confidence to do more. Me? The “bashing and swearing, singed fingers, try again, struggle to find the right bits, endless fabrication, problem solving and - well, yes, mess, then the stand back and feel smug at my efforts” experience is why I do this. And I get to ‘play trains’. All I have to do now is explain to my beloved why those ‘beautiful’ creations have to be painted (the finished bare metal seems to appeal...)

A brief thought in the subject of soldering; those who profess reluctance often have not been given the chance to prove themselves. Perhaps a stand like LRM where such comments have been heard might keep a couple of kits (older test runs, perhaps) handy. Anyone saying they can’t do it should be offered (as in c’mere, I’ll show you, then you do it.) the opportunity there and then. No thinking, just have a go. Proper cleaning, fluxing and heat and ‘bingo,’. Now buy the damn kit!

It does - look at post #27 showing the etches. One is seen clearly at the bottom left of the rearmost sheet. Others are at the top of the upper sheet. They fit rather neatly!

“Proof of life, if you like. At least I can be certain things went according to plan... Best, Marcus

Harry was facing the ultimate challenge. John Mckenroe, the tyrannical Wimbledon king was clearly a man possessed. Harry had exhausted all the spells that Hermione had prepared, but nothing was working against the speed and agility of McKenroe. Harry’s quidditch expertise was useless at Wimbledon. If only he had bothered to attend Snape’s after potions tennis classes. Snape had been five times Hogwarts Tennis Champion. “That’s it !” Thought Harry. I have the polyjuice potion, and the Tennis balls from Hogwarts are bound to have some traces of Snape on them ( although Harry recoiled at this thought) . Harry took his chance at the break, while the Wimbledon crowd were distracted, Harry slipped some polyjuice potion into his Robinson’s Barley Water and gripped his tennis ball. He could feel the familiar sickness coming over him. The strange sensation as his hair grew long and dank. His body grew tight into his tennis kit and his face elongated. Now he was Snape, and he walked back to the baseline. McEnroe had not noticed as he returned to his side of the court. McKenroe bounced the ball twice, preparing to launch his thunderous serve, he looked up at his opponent after the second bounce in that oh so familiar manner, but them something snapped, his face reddened and angered as his serve routine was halted. He let out a piercing scream for all the world to hear hear.. “ You cannot be Sirius!...

Well, I flew from New York for the event - and spent money on ‘new toys’ (GW Models tools I cannot buy online) AND had a really good day out. OK, so it was part of a longer vacation, but the vacation timing was based around Scaleforum. I don’t ‘get out much’ (well, NYC can be sooo dull...) so this was a big day for me. I had a lovely time chatting to all and sundry and just basking in like minded souls’ atmosphere as well as admiring the superb layouts, products and all-round camaraderie. All-in several thousand dollars well-spent!

a herd of Datsuns...?

Schoolchum, forty five years ago...any advance....?

It lives! My apologies for taking so long to get this thing going, but it has now slinked quietly down my test track and shown every sign of weighing the hundred or so tons of the prototype, so I am jolly pleased (not chuffed, that would be for a steam locomotive, surely?). Just for those who might be looking askance at the chassis, it has been modified from the original LIMA chassis, rather than being a Hornby one. Anyway, we have now proven this sprung arrangement works and moves! Now for the cosmetic bogie sides etc and replacing it under the body... More soon, I promise! Best, Marcus

I understand there is a small modification to be done to the bolster based on the experience of another test builder. In addition I have asked for etched EE exhaust vents to be included so those converting LIMA bodies can make sure the roof looks right - and the Hornby vents looked a bit off too when I looked over the same example you saw. On top of that Justin is just jolly busy. Having said that you know they are out there... My project is moving on slowly too as I have been distracted by work etc too. Suffice to say that I have it all assembled on my chassis - which is a much modified LIMA chassis, having started this before I read about Jim S-W's quick approach - and moving under its own power. All that is left is to mount the bogie side frames and end spacers, then fit to the body, stand back, look smug and pour an 'adult beverage'. But when, I have no clue... Best, Marcus

Well I had to wait another two years and never did get that birthday present BUT I simply seized the bull by the horns, so to speak and flew from New York to London and onwards to Scaleforum and bought the lot: both sets of rolling bars and the rivet tool. All I can say is that some things are worth the effort... Well, it was supposed to be a vacation, but there are priorities...