ullypug

28 minutes ago, Jub45565 said:

Looks just the part Andrew! One thing I've been doing, alongside seeing what Comet and Branchlines have to offer and assessing prototype photos, is seeing what is available in other scales. Not all of it will be easy, or possibly necessary, to scale down but it shows how the fittings can be tackled.

 

http://www.lgminiatures.co.uk/?s=ivatt

 

Have you left the bunker ladder as it was? I think this is my next challenge, as the Bachmann one is a bit chunky and doesnt have the same extension and fixing bracket at the bottom as the prototype.  I think the old Crownline detailing kit may have included this, but I don't think these are currently available (and would be about the only thing I'd use from it) I may well end up drawing one up.

Hi (I presume it’s Pete?!). If it is your 2MT on th S4Soc forum is very impressive.

I left the rear steps as they were as I didn’t feel I’d be able to replace with anything finer. Did you see Dave’s reference to MRJ92? 

13 minutes ago, Portchullin Tatty said:

Looking at the chassis, am I correct in you have encountered the same problem with the Bill Bedford NPCS W-irons that I have?

 

This is that with the larger wheel and the slightly reduced depth from the underside of the solebars to the axle centre point, the wheel rim ends up rubbing on the side of the base plate?  You seem to have soldered the unit in place and then ground out the baseplate where the wheel rims are?  Is this correct?

 

The NPCS w-irons need a redesign in my view!!

 

 

Mark

Yes that’s correct Mark. In EM the reduced  back to backs also don’t correlate to the holes in the W iron base. Having used them before I was aware of the problem hence my soldering to copper clad then cutting an enlarged hole with the mini drill.

Welcome back Dave. Glad to hear the arm is improving.

31 minutes ago, Mikkel said:

Blog looks great with all the header pics. Bit of a task though!

You're telling me!!! I'm envious that you saved all the links etc in HTML. No such luxury for me I'm afraid.

Your blog looks good too by the way!

I'd also replace the dome whilst you're at it. Comet do something appropriate. No doubt others,too. There was quite a good article on upgrading the Bachmann loco in MRJ 92, from 1997.

Dave.

The chimney situation is quite complex (and the same applies to the moguls, too). I can't recall which is which offhand but there were 3 different types:

 

short fat - https://mikemorant.smugmug.com/Trains-Railways-British-Isles/LMSR-and-BRM/LMSR-tank-locomotives/i-GHLGXZt/A

 

tall fat - https://mikemorant.smugmug.com/Trains-Railways-British-Isles/LMSR-and-BRM/LMSR-tank-locomotives/i-3wtHTLd/A

 

tall thin - https://mikemorant.smugmug.com/Trains-Railways-British-Isles/SR-and-BRS/SR-Visitors-and/i-5CV2td8

 

As ever, check your prototype!

 

Adam

Thanks guys

Nice work Andrew. One thing that might be worth doing is changing the chimney for a 247 Developments version like I did for a good friend. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/531/entry-18574-ivatt-interlude-detailing-the-revised-Bachmann-ivatt-2-6-2/ Alternatively if you can source a Comet one another option. In my eyes it captures the look of the prototype better. Looking forwards to seeing this finished. Cheers, Mark

Branchlines also do a suitable replacement chimney (actually like the real thing, as you'll know, more than one different type!), but theirs is in brass rather than whitemetal. Definitely worth the effort though, especially given the work you've put in thus far.

 

Adam

Thanks for the heads up chaps. I'll admit I don't know the prototype particularly well so I'll bow to your greater knowledge and seek out a chimney!

Very nice, Andrew.

It's coming along well isn't it? I look forward to seeing the finished article. All best for 2019!

Adam

Happy new year to you also Andrew. Always a pleasure to follow developments on your layouts and projects.

 

I like the look of the station master's house so far. Typical of that kind of building, rising solitarily above the landscape and overlooking the lines.

Thanks Gents

Impressive as always Andrew. At this rate, Cheddar will be finished by Easter, and then you'll be able to start Wells - all three of them ...

Thanks Tim. Err, no. I'll leave that to you! I do have other layout plans include a PDSWJR cameo, WCPR Clevedon gas works in 7mm, maybe even Portishead in EM, oh and another china clay north Cornwall layout. If I can ever find any information on the potteries narrow gauge system in Weston-super-Mare I might even consider that!

Great stuff Andrew, looks brilliant track senics everything TBH. Looking forward to more updates all the best for 2019. Cheers Ade.

Thanks Ade. I appreciate your comments, especially as you know the area.

Yes indeed. Your rate of progress is excellent compared with my glacial efforts and the results are looking very convincing. I'm finding it all most inspiring.

Looking forward, very much, to further installments.

Best wishes for 2019.

Dave.

Thanks Dave

and to you too

Looking really good, I cant wait to see this finished.  

Thanks Rich

Happy New Year to you

Yes, congratulations on what looks like a very satisfactory set of valve gear. I'm glad to hear that it really did prove easier than you anticipated and that you are now raring to go at another example. It may be the angle of the photo, but it looks like a tweak of the return crank might be necessary to get it to tighten up at the correct angle. I find this to be one of the trickier aspects that I still don't get right every time [i over-did things on my BR Std 2 tank and so one of the cranks relies on cured Loctite to hold it just so].

 

I'm particularly looking forward to seeing further progress to complete the chassis and to see what improvements you make to the body, so I can steal your ideas! Haven't got on to that with mine, yet.

 

I agree that the Kemilway Walschaert's valve gear was extremely realistic and way ahead of other makes, at the time, although I suspect some of the more recent, top end, kits [brassmasters, Finney and, especially, Dave Bradwell - although none of them do prototypes that suit Cheddar!] are even better. It used multi layers to provide proper forked joints and I've seen a couple of built up examples of the 3MT 2-6-2 tank, in P4, which look excellent [most recently on "Sidmouth"]. However, if it is similar to their Standard Class 4, 2-6-0 and Bulleid light pacific chassis, it incorporated a very odd arrangement for the compensation by mounting the non-driven axles on a separate sort of bogie rather than using conventional axle boxes and horn guides. I found that, despite keeping running clearance to a minimum, it still allowed the leading axles to waggle back and forth, effectively altering the coupled wheel base. I attempted to eliminate this unwanted play by tying it all together with springy phosphor bronze strips, but it would be better to replace the whole arrangement with a conventional set up.

Best wishes for the layout and future loco projects,

Dave.

Thanks Dave. Your tip about the brass pins worked a treat. Yes, I think the return crank could do with a slight realignment. I set it up thinking it was right but further photographic evidence would suggest not. It's fixed with nut retainer so I'll weight up how bothered I am about it if it's going to cause potential damage realigning it.

I've been sold on CSB's for a long time now, so when I do the Kemilway 3MT (see above) I'll no doubt use this method too.

I do have a class 4 tank 2-6-4 in the cupboard. This was originally intended for Wheal Elizabeth which is now sold but it's one of my favourite classes of loco so I will have a play with it at some point. Maybe the next layout (after the next one, ahem...!)

That's extremely well done, Andrew. It's very satisfying when it all comes together like that, isn't it?

 

If you can get one, I'd recommend a Kemilway chassis kit, should you plan to build a BR Standard Class 3 2-6-2T. The Walschaerts valve gear provided in that kit is still the best I've ever seen in 4mm scale.

Thanks. Yes I have a Kemilway 3MT to do. It might make it further up the queue based on the 2MT!

That's very clever!

Looking good. Even a bit of christmas spirit with those red rod holders :-) Good luck with the valve gear.

Thanks! I'm going to need it. I've managed to avoid building outside gear for 50 years and I'm not planning on building many more!

Nice to see someone else having a go at one of these [in P4]. I'm sure you will be able to sort out the ride height by judicious filing/cutting. It's so long ago that I started mine, I can't remember what the issues were, I just know it sits right now [bottom of the tanks level and correct height above rail].

It looks like you have a different rear body mounting arrangement to me. On mine, there were two mounting pillars inside the bunker moulding, so I fixed two pieces of brass angle on the outside of the frames, set at the correct height, to pick up these original Bachmann mountings.

To suit my own preferences, I purchased a second valve gear etch, which allowed me to double up on some of the valve gear items. For most valve gear pivots [except forked joints], I tend to use brass lace makers pins with their heads reduced in both diameter and thickness [twirl against a file whilst held in a pin chuck]. Make the pin a tighter fit in the rear layer and use a layer of [possibly oiled] cigarette paper between the rod to prevent soldering the whole thing solid.

Good luck with it and keep us updated with progress.

Dave.

Ride height now sorted and brass pins ordered! Thanks for the tip. The rear mount is as you describe so I may copy your solution.

Ouch! Hope you're on the mend soon.

I'd put both crew members in the engine and one in the push/pull coach. I did that with my auto tank and 14xx.

Just pretend you can't see both ends of the train simultaneously and that way it'll be correct as it heads towards the viewer!

Hi Dave

It's certainly coming along well. Perhaps you could break up the large strawberry patch by having a few workers weeding or such?

 

I must say, the track divergence and board width at the near end of the last photo do look rather wide. Will you have access to both sides when operating, in case of derailments (which, of course, never actually happen on our P4 layouts) or the need for a gentle prod of a recalcitrant loco?

Dave.

Yes, something along the lines of weeds was my thinking.

The boards are 1m wide so access front and rear was always going to be required. Either that or all the operators will have stilts like they use on construction sites to reach ceilings!

Didn't know Tri-ang and P4 were generally allowed in the same sentence! Top job.

I like you idea of constructing the under-frame bits and bats away from the model. Excellent result.

Thanks guys

Nice flowing trackwork there.

An interesting read. Thank you!

I'm a big fan of re-working old models that have sentimental attachments, hence my Airfix 14xx and Lima 55xx.

I'll tell you a story about a young boy (who will remain nameless)...

 

So the story goes, in the late 1930s a Portishead-bound train was diverted into the Gasworks unexpectedly. The train came to a halt rather quickly (line speed not being particularly high), reversed out and was soon on its way, but a railway employee called around the local businesses demanding to speak to the owners and find out who had changed the points.

The little boy was accused of this misdeed, his father asked him to demonstrate to the railway employee if he could indeed pull the lever. He was clearly not strong enough to do so.

The railway employee left to continue his questioning elsewhere.

 

As it turns out, the little boy could not pull the lever on his own, but 3 boys all pulling together on a rope wrapped around the lever could!

Ha ha! Not heard that one. I wonder who they could have been?!

Was there a siding for the Saw Mill? I can't seem to find anything about it on the web, and don't have  any WCPR books (just looking for inspiration, in case you're wondering).

There was a trailing siding up towards Clevedon East in the north bound direction for a joinery works but this was further up than the saw mills. When operating we sometimes run a waggon load of timber and a van from the station as a trip working.

There was a goods yard of sorts comprising 3 grounded van bodies between there and the station too.

The WCPR website has detail maps here:

https://www.wcpr.org.uk/Clevedon_1932_OS_map.html

https://www.wcpr.org.uk/Clevedon_East_Detail_Map.html

https://www.wcpr.org.uk/Clevedon_area_map.html

On another matter, I was amazed to find 15 previous unseen photos of the WCPR on Roger Carpenter's stand at Scaleforum yesterday. I've never seen any photos of the joinery siding though. I do have a couple of the gas works sidings and the Peter Strange book has a shot showing the siding and the shed where the Argentine bogie coaches were assembled.

edited for accuracy!

Good stuff. A definite house style developing between Cheddar and Clevedon - although they are very different layouts and railways of course.

 

I see that Clevedon Saw Mills still exist, that's impressive. 

Thanks Mikkel

That's really interesting thanks!

It's run by a friend of mine. They still own the WW2-era AEC Matador Timber Tractor they bought after the war! His dad remembers the WC&PR being open when he was a lad.

The sawmills did own a traction engine, a Burrell called 'Gladstone', which was later sold and is now preserved.
https://www.farmcollector.com/steam-traction/history-of-a-burrell-gladstone

There was also a stationary steam engine in the sawmill which met a sorry end when the piston hydro-locked and burst!

 

OK, thanks, I think I get it now, but what happens if some of the strands under tension in the dip become unglued?

It'll just find its own level between the two nearest posts which are glued. A drop of glue and re-setting with tweezers would be required. I've used this method on Wheal Elizabeth and Clevedon and never needed to re-fix anything.