ArthurK

Percy Main did play host to a couple of Q6s just before closure. One is behind 65821. The J27s from Percy Main had turns which took them along the Tyne valley to collieries on the Alston branch. ArthurK

Short bunker J72? Perhaps!!! ArthurK

As I remarked earlier I now form the tender flares in my recent kits. I used to use the method of pressing into hard rubber. But since I now had a lot more of these form rather than those for my own builds I devised a simple tool. This consists of a piece of 1/8th internal diameter tube (with the top half filed away) and a length of 1/8th silver steel bar as shown in the first photo. The flares are removed from the fret and each is placed flat in the tube (photo 2) the bar is then placed on top and the whole squashed in a vice. Result formed flares as in photo 3. I must have formed some forty sets of flares with this and it is now showing signs of wear. I propose to make a new tool with the tube soldered into a heavy gauge angle to provide more rigidity. The alternative is to mill a semi-circular groove into a bar of brass but I don't have a round 1/8th end mill for that. One further point is that the flares in the picture used a pair of pliers to squeeze the bits, starting at one end and working my way along to the other end. Takes longer than a single squeeze in the vice but it works. The J24 is currently out of stock. If I can generate orders for three or more then I can replenish my stocks. ArthurK

The "treasure chest" style of tool box was the standard throughout the early NER period. The flat fronted style was used on the later tenders, especially the 4125 gallon self trimming variety. The early style caused a number of injuries due to the lid closing unexpectedly. Many early tenders received the later style as replacements. It is best to check photographs before deciding which type to use. The J27s that I photographed in the early 60s all had the newer style although having the "D" shaped cut-outs in the frames. ArthurK

Paul Getting the bottom of the boiler to the same radius as the rest of it is not always easy. Engage the edge of the boiler so that it just touches the bottom roller the screw the pressure of the top roller until, hopefully, you get it to deform. You may need a few goes at that. Another method is to use a piece of scrap brassunder the boiler bottom join and roll the two together. That way the boiler edge doesn't drop between the two bottom rollers. If that fails put the nearly rolled boiler into a brass tube with a diameter of little more than the boiler and finish the rolling inside that. Well it usually works for me! Of course annealing the boiler first makes rolling a lot easier but be warned the boiler is then very soft and VERY easily dented. ArthurK

The tender flares in my recent kits are all preformed. ArthurK

Arthur's law states that as the build progresses the space available for working shrinks to the absolute minimum area is which it is still possible to work. ArthurK

I bought the Ks J72 for the princely sum of £5/19/6, quite a sum in those days. It ran well as built but I have to confess that it needed about 3mm sawn off the boiler to make it align with the front sandboxes. After the motor disintegrated (don't all glued Ks motors do that?). I scratch built a new chassis and fitted the DH11 motor driving a Japanese (Tenshedo?) enclosed gearbox. Still runs well today. I also built the Ks outside framed Kirtley 0-6-0.The trouble there was that the frame cut-outs didn't line up with the axles or with each other! ArthurK

Mick As far as I know the Western mill is long gone. I have a riveter of the same vintage by the same maker. The address on that is Bristone Model Products, 12A Farm Road, Hove Sussex. Farm Road is still there, no mention of 12A but 12 is there. No results for search on Bristone Model Products. Hope that helps. ArthurK

Whereas I have to agree with Paul that the GW roller is a serious bit of kit, it does in my opinion have two shortcomings. First it requires a substantial vice to hold it which is not always convenient if working on the kitchen table. Secondly there is no quick way of removing the boiler from the rollers. This is not a difficult job but it does mean removing the roller bearing along with the collar and spring. That can mean a happy (!) time searching the floor for either or both. I did buy one of these and used it very successfully. However I have reverted to using my "Western" rolling mill which I find more convenient. This was acquired some 50 years ago. I doesn't need a vice and having a flat, felt covered, base can be used on any flat table top requiring only the left hand to steady it. It is turned with a wheel rather than a handle. The beauty of the mill in my opinion the ease in which the entire left hand set of roller bearings can be removed. Simply undo the latch, slide off the bearings and remove the boiler. This is somewhat larger than the GW mill being designed for 7mm and 4mm. As a aside the boilers in my later kits have the boilers rolled. My apologies for taking up a bit of your thread Paul. please forgive me. ArthurK

Just checked - the artwork for this kit dates back to July 2008! The tender has been updated since then but not the loco. ArthurK

This was one of my very early kits (2008) and at that time I left the compensation or springing to the builder. I assumed that it would only be the P4 modellers that would be fitting hornblocks. I now know better! On this assumption the instructions suggest that for a rigid chassis the springs be soldered behind the frames. My standard footplate design uses two layers, the upper layer being half etched to add detail around the splashers, lamp irons and elsewhere. For the Masochist there are push up rivets on these areas but these do demand care. I don't have a problem with warping though it does need the two layers to be pressed firmly together whilst being soldered together. In more recent kits I have added holes in the lower layer so that solder can be introduced through these whilst being pressed together. I is always nice to hear of the experience of others building my kits. Constructive criticism is always welcome although I don't recall having a problem with the length of the boiler. It is looking good! ArthurK

I hope so! ArthurK

NORTHEASTERN KITS It was good to be able to chat with customers at SCALEFORUM NORTH. I know most only by their Email addresses! It was successful visit but it does mean that several of my kits are now out of stock. These include the J24, J73, Tennant 2-4-0, Q5, B15 and the W 4-6-0T. These will not be reordered except for firm orders are in the offing. That usually means a batch of about 4-6. If you want any of these please get in touch. It is just possible that there be one more batch of the Tennant 2-4-0 and Q5 0-8-0 as I have sutplus underframes for those.. Stocks of some others in the range are low. A6 (NER W) 4.6.2T Q5/2 0-8-0 N10 (NER U) 0-6-2T J73 (NER L) 0-6-0T (one only) The new release of the J77 with Worsdell cab is available. The Fletcher cab version is scheduled for the end of May but may be delayed due to a redesign of the cab floor to make the cab interior more accessible. The D20 is still scheduled for June. It looks like Mike Meggison's build of the J71 has gone well and it requires only a liitle further development. The C6 (V/09 version) test builds are progressing well but there is some further development necessary. The remaining loco under development is the Q7. The bodywork requires one more test build but there is still work to do on the underframe. With luck the J71 should be available in July/August. The other two should be ready by the year end. Is there a demand for the B13 (NER S class) with Raven frames and splashers? The footplate and underframe are virtually identical with those of the B15. It would require only a redesign of the boiler, cab front and roof. Let me know if you are interested. They disappeared in the 1930s but should be of interest to pre-grouping modellers. ArthurK

Strange, no-one has commented on the bent front left footstep. However if some does say something like that I usually say "yes I saw that first"! ArthurK

NORTHEASTERN KITS New for Scaleforum North 2015 NER CLASS 290 (1921 Darlington Renbuilds with Worsdell cab) Just a few minor additions to the instructions then things are ready to go. Additions to the kit include the tank vents (only the 1921 rebuilds had these on the tank tops) and the injectors on the ashpan sides, new brake standard and brass front springs. Below are a few shots of my test build. These used older etches with the footangle six inches deep whereas it should be 8". Sorry but the sanding rod on the RHS has dropped a little (should be horizontal) and that on the left is a little bent. One thing that I learned from adding these details was to complete them before soldering the boiler in place. In particular adding the spings were a nightmare and led to more that a few swear words. It's a good job that I don't have a swear box - it would be full! This build sports a whitemetal chimney, that in the kit is brass. This one is modelled to P4 standards but in order to save time it currently has a rigid chassis. Some day I will update it to include compensation. The trouble is that I rarely get to fully finish a model. The one lacks the cab detail and I cannot decide wheter on not to add clack valves to the boiler. I probably should as this sports one of the earlier boilers with the dome in the forward position. Now to complete (?) the build of the Fletcher cab version. ArthurK

Steve Things are happening but I am not going to rush the D20 out just to make Scalefour. It is progressing. I have all the brass masters for the lost wax castings but I still need to sprue some together and I haven't got the instructions written yet. I have sufficient etches for eight loco and tender bodies but I am awaiting underframes for both (expected next week). It is looking increasingly unlikely that I will have them for Scalefour North although I may bring the etches along as a tempter! I have the J77 instructions to complete and will have the Worsdell cab version (and hopefully the Fletcher cab version as well) available then. Hopefully I will have the first builds of the C6 (V/09) and the J71 with me. ArthurK

I admit that the D20 is running late but don't worry it will appear. It has been delayed due to the preparation of some of the masters for the lost wax castings. I plan to cast the chimney in brass, also the valve covers between the front frames. Then I need to complete the instructions. I am not sure if I can complete in February but it should be ready to release in March. The Q7 I hope will be ready mid year. The J77s should release in late February. Again I need one new lost wax casting for this but these have a short delivery time. Looks like I am going to have a very busy year. ArthurK

NORTHEASTERN KITS New for 2015 Just to show that I have not been completely idle over the last few monrhs There are two new kits due probably mid year. The first to appear will be the NER Class E. This became LNER J71. There were a few problems with this design not least being the rear splashers protruding into the cab space. The photos below omit these and their design has been simplified. The outer face of the splasher will be a fold-up from the footplate. New on this will be the straps tying the tanks to the boiler. All NER tank locos had these but this is the first time that I have attempted them. On the J71 there were four. The tanks had right-angle brackets tto which a strap from the boiler was bolted. On the photos you will see four slots where these straps passed through the boiler cleading. Somethimes these were quite large holes but not visible from a normal viewpoint. The second new kit will be the the NER Class V/09 which became LNER C6. This is the later batch and followed the splasher design of the later B13s This was carried over to the B15. The V/09 kit relies heavily on the experience gained with the B15 design. I have not progressed very far with this biuild as yet but the photos give an impression of the model. Thts requies a hew tender. This is the none self-trimming version with a capacity of 4125 gallons of water. The tenders behind the C6s had the outerframes the same as those the 3940 gallon tenders with 'D' shaped cut-outs. The same tender was used on the Z Atlantics but on the second batch of these the outer frame cut-ous were oval in shape and lacked the small cut-outs at the frame ends. Both styles will be included in the kit making it suitable for a possible future Z kit. Note that these tenders also ran behind Q6s when their tenders were swapp[ed with those from C7s. ArthurK

A single layer of etch is 0.45mm. That is less than 1.5inches in full scale. Only the smallest locos (E.G. J71) have rods of that thickness. Most of the larger have rods about 3" thick. That is two layers. The bosses are even thicker. ArthurK

I am always pleased to receive photographs of completed kits. These two from Eric Fry and Neville stead depict commission builds of the A6, one in LNER livery and the other in lined BR livery. The LNER variant (689) has the superheated dia. 63C boiler whilst the other (69791) has the dia. 63 B boiler. This latter has the addition of a T-strap connecting the tanks and also the much fatter dome as carried by these later boilers. Both are to OO gauge standards. ArthurK

A NEW KIT FOR CHRISTMAS? The following are currently available. NER Class 1463 Class "Tennant" 2-4-0 (LNER E5). Two only. There may not be any more except by special order. NER Class S2 4-6-0 (LNER B15). NER Class W 4-6-2T (LNER A6). LNER Class Q5/2 0-8-0 (NER T/T1 with boiler designed by Darlington for H&B 0-8-0s which were subsequently withdrawn). NER Class U 0-6-2T (LNER N10) NER Class P 0-6-0 (LNER J24) There will be one more batch of six NER Class L 0-6-0Ts. These will probably arrive this week. These will be the last. NER Class T/T1 0-8-0 These should arrive with the NER L Class. Only two are available. The two attached PDF files list the range and prices. ArthurK NORTHEASTERN KITS Price List.pdf NORTHEASTERN KITS.pdf

NORTHEASTERN KITS DECEMBER UPDATE There has been significant progress over the past few months. J77 (NER290) The Worsdell cab version is complete except for the last four brass castings: Front springs, brake standard, tank vents and injectors. The latter are prominently attached to the ashpan sides. I hope to get these off for casting next week but unfortunately the kit will not be ready before Chistmas. Release will be in January. The Fletcher cab version require a change to the artwork and will be delayed until February. See the Kit-building section for Mike Meggison's build of these two. D20 (NER R) This still needs some castings. This is largely my fault but I aim to complete the masters in December. With luck this should be released in late February. Q7 (NER S3) This was pushed aside in favour of work on the D20 and J77s. However most of the castings necessary are available and the artwork has been proven. It requires the production artwork. I intend to push the work on this forward in the New Year. J71 (NER E) This a new project. The first body etch arrived today. A quick build is required. The underframe needs a substantial rework. But these smaller locos are easier to check than the more complex ones and with luck will appear before Scalefour North next April. C6 (NER V09) This Is one of the more complex kits. The first will be the V09 version with splashers similar to those on the B15 and C7. The tender is also completely new being the 4125 gallon version with none self-trimming coalwell. This tender was also used on the early C7s although some of these had outside frames with oval cut-outs rather than the flat D shape. Both styles are provided. These tenders were passed on to the Q6s. I have no release date as yet but with luck I might have the prototype at Scalefour North. This will be followed be the original 'V' with the wide splashers. FUTURE PROJECTS I have no definite plans for anything beyond the above list. I depends on what takes my fancy. I know that several have suggested projects both large and small (C7 and F8) but we will have to wait and see. Is there a demand for the early J72s? the were nearly identical with the J71 apart from wheel diameter and wheel base. The post above (with C7 photo) suggest that this might share parts with the V09. In many respects this is true. They shared the same boiler (although The superheating vacuum control valves differed. The splashers, if not identical, were very similar. Being brass any kit of mine would not have the same problems as one in white metal but the clearances around the cylinders would be extremely tight. The tender is the passenger version of that behind the Q7. Some day!

My one and only DJH build in 7mm was the Peppercorn A1 which was a bit of a disappointment as it required quite a few changes involving a lot work to correct. The two major errors were the smokebox which was considerably smaller in diameter than the boiler (1mm plus). After a complaint I was sent a second boiler which was the same as the first. The smokebox was corrected by splitting along the bottom then expanding it to fit the boiler. The least said about the valve guides the better. I threw those away and made new ones. There are other problems relating the height of the cab front/boiler. having said all that I was very happy with the end result. This is a showcase model and has never been motorised. ArhurK

All my Ks motors of this style fell apart at the glued joints. That was a long time ago. Now they reside in a box of bits! ArthurK