RedgateModels

looking good there, I always planned to do one of these as a kid when I got my "Deltics - A Symposium" but stopped at my first DP1 attempt

The Class 3 tank engine sitting on my shelf gathering dust has been bugging me for some time. A somewhat impulse buy when I happened across Trains4U whilst around Peterborough with work. I didn't need it to complete the collection, I have my old faithful Triang/Hornby example that was really what got me "into" BR Standards. So, about that gap in my collection - the Class 3 Mogul 77xxx. Recent eBay bargains brought me an Airfix 76xxx kit and a Bachmann BR2 tender for less than 20 quid. So, I took the tank engine apart to see how much work it really would be to marry the bits together ... here's the chassis with the boiler resting on top and a shot of the boiler on it's own Quite a bit of work, hopefully the missing bits of boiler/firebox can be constructed from the Airfix kit, we shall see. There's also a dirty great groove along the boiler where the side tanks fitted in and even little holes to fill where the tank strapping located Nothing is set in stone yet, the 82xxx can be reassembled good as new at this point if I decide it's not a go-er. In that case I guess it's either a DJH kit or wait for Bachmann ......

fences, any fences should never be climbed to gain access, the simple fact that a fence of whatever construction is there should be enough for "a reasonable man" to know that boundary should not be crossed. Gates are provided where access is permitted

The deflectors might be all soldered up, but they have to come apart again! looking at some photos last night mainly of the cylinders and cam boxes I glanced upwards and it struck me like being hit over the head with a slice of lemon wrapped around a gold brick ........ The deflector handrail is a single piece, not the two part affair that you get with the Brits When I can summon up the effort the shorter lower handrails have to be unsoldered and removed, one of the holes filled with solder and then a new single piece handrail fitted with another handrail knob in the lower position. Glad I spotted it now rather than later though ........

So the much hinted at etched valve chest covers from Pete Harvey of PH Designs arrived on Saturday, I've folded one up as a test and rested it on top of the Golden Arrow resin version for comparison. Looks like Pete got them spot on, there's even a half etched lip at the rear of the lower edge to allow the cover to sit on the top of the cylinder body to give a slight overhang as the prototype Big thanks to Pete for offering to do these without me asking, a real credit to Pete and the power of the forum for bringing us modellers together to produce such a collaborative effort yet again I'll get the files out later this week to shape the resin behind to represent the valve chests and re-locate the operating rods etc to more realistic angles. The deflectors are all soldered up and adjusted to fit. I will temporarily glue them in place for a final photo shoot before the paint goes on.

Just a quick update today. The deflectors arrived last week and one is assembled. Mods need to be done as the Duke's footplate is further forward than a Brit. Other issue is that CTMB don't supply the handrail knobs, good job I have some in stock. Better news today was a text from Pete Harvey, etched goodies on the way that will make my Duke unique, well until he does his too. More to follow

awww, can't see that at work ......

Made me smile this morning http://news.uk.msn.com/uk/double-trouble-for-metal-thieves-2

or maybe he's working for a local paper in Mansfield?

pourquoi?