Andy Siddall

Popped out for a quick walk on Friday afternoon, the time of which just happened to coincide with the empty tanks.... Had a spot of deja vu, although this time without the HST getting in the way. Yesterday was better as we got a visit from 60056. Cheers Andy

Just one from today. 60096 leaves West Drayton with the Colnbrook empties.

Thanks Rivercider! They say you learn something new everyday! Cheers Andy

Taken today at Shottesbrook Farm, I believe this was the 12:40 Acton to Merehead working (according to Real Time Trains). Not sure of the loco but does any one in the know on here have an idea? Cheers Andy

60092 with the Colnbrook tanks passes under the GWML at West Drayton with the return empties to Lindsay refinery, taken today at 14:19. Cheers Andy

Thanks Jo, This is the first time I had used RTT to get train info although I did think that the headcode was a little strange. Is there a better way of finding out this info other than being on the inside! Cheers Andy

59203 passes through Hayes and Harlington with 702M the 0712 Merehead Quarry to Acton on Friday 21/02/14. Cheers Andy

Excellent thread with some great photography! I have always had a bit of a soft spot for the 59s, more so now as the baby brother to the always seen 66s. These shots have been posted before about 3 years ago but are warranted as a contribution to this thread (I think), I was lucky enough to be at Derby on the 25th of October 1990 when 47033 dragged 59101, 102 and 103 (in that order) to the Railway Technical Centre for acceptance tests. 59103 59102 59101 Cheers Andy

Excellent thread with some great photography! I have always had a bit of a soft spot for the 59s, more so now as the baby brother to the always seen 66s. These shots have been posted before about 3 years ago but are warranted as a contribution to this thread (I think), I was lucky enough to be at Derby on the 25th of October 1990 when 47033 dragged 59101, 102 and 103 (in that order) to the Railway Technical Centre for acceptance tests. 59103 59102 59101 Cheers Andy

Hi Ken, Excellent work on the tenders, especially the conversion. Makes my slow build of the DJH version seem like it's taking an eternity. Just one thought but I believed that the coal rail was not present on the loco tender during this period. Keep up the good speedy work. Cheers Andy

Hi N15, The coupling hook used was from CPL, part of their LNER Screw link coupling. I used these as I had them to hand and also I can still make the shackles and bar into a coupling which can be used if the head is dropped. Any hook could be used as long as you have a hole for the pivot behind the hook (which could always be drilled). The CPL ones just happen to have a slot cut for the short shackle to go through which was the right size for a 14Ba bolt! The Kadee was an 804, used because I though that plastic would be an easier medium to experiment on, I am now looking at milling a slot in a metal 805 as this may be sturdier in the long run. Hope this helps. Andy

Evening all! While little work appears to have actually been done to the locomotive other than to fit the springs and brake gear to the chassis, I have been looking into various detail parts that will be required. Firstly I was not happy with the massive cast whitemetal gangways on the tenders. After auditioning a few designs I have settled on those by Slaters as they match the profile best. In order to fit, the originals will need to be cut back to remove the rubber effect part and buffing plate, the Slaters type can then be epoxied into place after painting. I started to remove metal using a piercing saw, but after a few whitemetal induced blockages to the teeth, I may wait until I get into the workshop again and give them a try on the mill. Other thoughts have also turned to couplings, as I am building the Scotsman, an A1 and 2 A4's I had decided that I need to devise a better if not working drop buckeye than the whitemetal effort provided in the kit, nice as it is. My coaches are kadee fitted at the moment and some may well get this treatment too. I have got a pair of the Slaters and the Just Like the Real Thing Buckeyes and whilst very nice efforts, particularly the JLTRT ones, I like Kadees as they can also be used automatically if the tail is left on. Well they say that a picture speaks a thousand words and so here's 4000! Fitted to a MMP catfish, (as that was to hand) also a Parkside Grampus minus buffers which helps photography. I think that this will suffice although it would be difficult to actually raise and lower the head on a layout, though not impossible.... The hook used is from a CPL LNER screw coupling, I will also make up the coupling and keep this with the loco or coach so that it could be used with ordinary stock. Any thoughts comments or questions would be appreciated whilst this is still a working(ish) prototype. i will try and convert a second one before next tuesday and fit them to some wagon to test them on layout in the middle of a rake. Cheers Andy

Thanks for that Gents, I hadn't thought about the cut down tender back! It's a pity really as the advantage of the B/G water Tender is that the loco had 4472 on the cabside and LNER on the Loco tender making it much easier to run it as a single tender option too.. Seeing as the loco tender is built, Green it is then. Little work has taken place this afternoon as given the nice weather I have been doing a bit of plumbing on the 5" B1. Cheers Andy

Thanks Scots Region, you are of course correct, very well known yet seldom seen. Although it did only run like this for a very short period of its life. This also bring another question to mind and maybe one that RMweb can help me answer. Shall I paint the water carrying tender in the obvious LNER green or shall I go with the alternative BR Blue Grey that was carried in order to match the then BR coaching stock? The latest work has been to get the hornblocks in the frames and construct the Bogie and trailing axles. Cheers Andy

Work has slowed during the last few days as my free time has become more scarce. Work has started on the frames which are now ready to have the hornblocks soldered in place, to this end I have also built the Coupling Rods in order to get the correct centres. Complete Water Carrying Tender Loco Tender Finally the frames ready for soldering along with the Slaters Hornblocks. Looking at the above pictures it seems as though I have a lot of cleaning up to do before priming. Hopefully this will be the last time as I have now taken delivery of a Resistance Soldering Kit. Cheers Andy

Hi all, After a 3 month work induced abstinence from modelling, I have finally managed to get a few hours at the workbench. Looking at the pile of things to build I noticed that following a delivery of 2 Finney A4 kits, I had a quite a few large locos to build. Deciding to remedy this I looked at the options available. About a year ago a friend was kind enough to tell me of a kit that he thought I may be interested in that was for sale. A quick negotiation later and I was the happy owner of a DJH 4472 Fling Scotsman with twin tenders kit, one of a limited edition of 50 kits. Not only was the price very agreeable but upon receipt of the kit I found that a full set of Slaters wheels was included! Thoughts turned to the build and I decided that the best plan of attack was from the back forwards, and so with this in mind I found all of the parts for the water carrying tender and photographed them for this thread..... I then committed a crime against RMweb threads. This all took place last wednesday and by Thursday I had a complete water tender. By Saturday I had a complete Loco Tender but........NO PICTURES!!!!!! All i can say in my defence is that as they went together so well I just got carried away! I shall all being well post the pics of the completed tenders as time permits, as I have managed to find more work for few weeks! Cheers Andy

Thanks Rob, After having a good look, I shall have to try a subscription to Freightmaster. I did see a train of tankers in there at about midday Wednesday but I could not stop as I was going to see Duke of Gloucester at Windsor. Cheers Andy

Hi all, At around 14:30 last Sunday afternoon, I was driving along the A4 near Heathrow when I saw a60 in battered EWS livery at the oil terminal. Does anyone know if the workings on the branch run to any times or as and when as I have seen 60s down there twice now and may be able to find time to pop out with the camera if I have a rough idea when to go. Thanks Andy

Hi All, HarryM, yes you are correct this is on Holiday Haunts now owned by Sir William McAlpine. A very nice simple layout with lots of very nice scenery. Paul and tony, thanks for your kind words. I have now built most of jims catalogue and must admit that they do go together beautifully. Yes it does need weathering a little but I am going to have to wait until I can build up the experience, and courage to do so. The tender is an interesting one, I always wanted to do a large tendered version but after seeing this I think that you are right, a smaller one does look better. As to the number, I chose it as there is a good pic of it in the Yeadons Register that I just liked the look of..... Cheers Andy

Thanks Peter and Rob. The inside motion is only what is included in the kit. I did consider adding working motion from another source but decided that If I added it to this loco then I would ideally need to add it to my other inside valve geared locos too. A cop out, but one that worked in my head I am afraid. Cheers Andy

Hi all, As promised yesterday, here are a couple of pics of the painted J39 hauling a little train of vans on the test track. Next on the workbench, i think that it is about time that I finish the Hachette A1... Cheers Any

Hello All, Due to circumstances beyond my control, I found myself with a free week as I job that I had was cancelled at the last minute. This meant that I found myself wondering what I could possibly do with a paid week off, realising that we had a club running session on Sunday I decided that if I got a wriggle on I could probably have the loco finished for a test run. I actually managed more than that and not only is the loco built and test run but thanks to the nice warm(ish) weather at the back end of last week I managed to get paint and transfers on too. Pictures of the complete loco will appear in due course when I get time to download them from the camera, however here are a few pics from Thursday before painting commenced... All I can really say is that as with all of Jim's kits the build was a very easy process with no obvious pitfalls, all that was needed were a few good pics of my chosen loco. Cheers Andy