will5210

L1 wheels are 5'2" unfortunately.

The problem with that will be the Gem body is designed around the Triang chassis which is a few mil too long in the coupled wheelbase for a scale Glen. Neat looking bit of kit though. I intend to copy the brake arrangement (where I can) on the chassis I'm using. I also have a new style Hornby D49 chassis which I intended to rewheel & use originally for this Glen, but I may use for the next one.

More tender work Cast Tender rails replaced with 0.7mm wire for the rails & 5 thou for the vertical bits. A lot of solder still to clean up! Cheers

Hi Kingfisher, your Glen looks great & I couldn't tell your driving wheels are slightly oversize. Since my last post I did in fact decide to fit brass tender rails and have ordered the bits from Mainly trains which should be here today when I get home - Your pictures have re-enforced my opinon that I've made the correct decision! Only time will tell if there is enough clearance at the front end. I plan to have reasonable generous curves on my layout so it's fingers crossed for now. That's also interesting to hear about the Gem chassis being a dud as I planned on trying one for my next D34. I'm in two minds to try a PDK version next, or fit the motor from the latest Hornby B12 to another Triang 4-4-0 chassis which might give me a clearer cab space. Can you tell me how you fitted the loco brakes? (Another job on the to-do list!) They make a difference to the overall look I think. Cheers Will

Hi all. It was tender time today & I got most of it done today with just a few details remaining. Firstly though I scratchbuilt a basic chassis last night from 12 thou brass with homemade L shaped spacers (forgot to take a picture of this though). It runs ok but I think it'll benefit from having bearings fitted so I'll order some next week. Then this afternoon it was on with the body, and as with the rest of the kit quite a bit of fettling was needed to get a decent fit of the parts. I'm quite happy with the outcome, though I may live to regret not replacing the coal rails as the cast ones are minging. Please note it's sat a little low, as its on the old bogie wheels at the moment to save the new Gibsons from nasty flux. Handrails, Buffers, coupling & pick ups still to do. Cheers

Are you selecting the 'pin' option next to my cursor in the pic below?

Hi, yes it sucks doesn't it? The only way I seem to be able to post pics is with the 'pin' button. It also won't remember your preferred size of photo to share like old flickr would, and the possible sizes available aren't in order for some reason. Cheers

Gibson bogie & tender wheels arrived & make quite a difference I think. I'll make a start on the tender tomorrow & this weekend. Cheers

More detailing. Scratchbuilt Lamp irons & fuse wire bits from the smokebox (not sure what they're for!) Argh!!!-Cruel close-ups!!! Will PS (Thanks to Yahoo for ruining Flickr)

New frames cut from 5 thou brass & soldered on. Rivet heads were formed by lightly tapping with a screw from the back. Modded bogie (see above) is sat underneath to see the effect & I think it's much better. (Often a weak area in RTR models in my opinion) The clearances are all a bit tight even after I shaved a little from the Hornby bogie wheel rims, so I'll take a little more off the brass & order Gibson bogie wheels tomorrow when I order tender wheels. DSC02042 by will5210, on Flickr DSC02041 by will5210, on Flickr Cheers

Further detailing progress. New bufferbeam & cylinder cover from brass. Pipework from 1mm brass rod. Cab handrails bent up from .45 brass. DSC02033 by will5210, on Flickr DSC02036 by will5210, on Flickr I've decided to adapt the Hornby T9 bogie as it's a lot nicer than the Triang one, but this does mean shortening it. NEM pocket will be removed when I find a decent prototype picture. DSC02038 by will5210, on Flickr Cheers

Hi all. I've indulged myself with a little cheque book modelling this week in the form of a Nucast K2 'Loch Rannoch'. It wasn't dirt cheap, but considering the price unbuilt kits have been going for recently it was decent value. It's been put together pretty nicely, though I will need to change the cab to a side window version for my 1939 based layout ('Loch Rannoch' went north in 1924 but only received its side window cab in 1934). Its arrival has, however, allowed me a first glimpse at the classic West Highland combination of K2 leading D34. DSC02032 by will5210, on Flickr Cheers

A few more details added. Hand rails always seem to be a big step forward. I decided to replace to moulded smokebox door handle with a bit of wire & long handrail knobs. DSC02028 by will5210, on Flickr DSC02029 by will5210, on Flickr cheers

Grabbed some time tonight & fitted splashers (soldered) & Chimney, Dome & safety valves (glued with epoxy). Almost every casting I've used so far has needed quite a bit of 'adjustment' to get it anything like correct & I regret not replacing the cab roof with a brass one, as I think the over high roof affects the visual balance of the thing. I think I'll be trying the PDK D34 next time. DSC02025 by will5210, on Flickr DSC02024 by will5210, on Flickr Cheers

Cheers Gus. I can't wait so see how the K2 turns out as I been watching your build with interest. Will

Hi all, Saturday afternoon was spent having a bash at a kit I've had in stock for a while - the Gem D34. I've decided to fit it to an old but sweet running Triang L1 chassis I purchased from the RMWEB classifieds which I've rewheeled with Romford's driving wheels, Hornby bogie wheels & also fitted Hornby T9 coupling rods. I decided to use this chassis as I believe 4-4-0 chassis are difficult to set up so not really suitable for my level of expertise (novice!) I'm happy with progress so far, but the kit needs a lot of fettling to get thing as I want them. In fact, some of the castings are quite bad - in hindsight I probably should have exchanged the kit. Footplate on chassis (tension lock will be coming off!) DSC02014 by will5210, on Flickr Boiler offered up to cab/footplate DSC02018 by will5210, on Flickr & now on chassis (boiler still not soldered to footplate) DSC02019 by will5210, on Flickr (look at that casting on the frames!) DSC02021 by will5210, on Flickr Hoping to get more done this week. The boilers seems to need shortening at the firebox end to make the smokebox sit in the correct position (it's currently too far forward) Will

Another vote for Philip D Hawkins here. I got his book for a tenner in The Works. This is one of my faves of his: http://www.philipdhawkins.co.uk/railway-paintings/night-wolf.html

I'm looking forward to following this project. Curved corners look a good idea too!

A couple of mine (in various states of completion) for my forthcoming Ardlui layout. K4 Lord of the Isles DSC02012 by will5210, on Flickr K4 Loch Long DSC01975 by will5210, on Flickr Eastfield J39 2788 DSC01985 by will5210, on Flickr Cheers

'Lord of the Isles' is now more or less ready to go. Just needs crew, coal & safety valves refitting. DSC02013 by will5210, on Flickr DSC02011 by will5210, on Flickr Cheers

FWIW I stuck my last pressfix transfers on to matt, though they definitely prefer going on gloss, as Colin has said. You'll want to seal them just to stop any little numbers moving if you pick up the truck. Your weathering looks great!

That's the plan! I've another J39 to do next. I bought some weathering powders in different shades today so it'll be subtly different to this one. I've got a few photos saved on flickr that are the kind of thing i'm looking for.

The sun almost tried to think about coming out today, so I attempted a few daylight shots to see what needs changing. I think I'll leave it for now, might fiddle with it in the future. DSC01993 by will5210, on Flickr DSC01997 by will5210, on Flickr cheers