Scanlon
Western Thunderer
A number of contributors have suggested I should tell you about some of my 7mm loco builds. Let's get the boring bit out of the way first. I'm not a builder to museum standards so look away now if you were expecting that. Prior to building any loco my soldering prowess was limited to putting wires onto rails and none too neatly I assure you.
I started building in 2008 and became hooked, my first loco being a Roxey E4 0-6-2t. I wanted this kit for two reasons, first I love the prototype with fond memories of them from my spotting days, second it incorporated whitemetal, brass, nickel-silver plus a few lost wax fittings. This mix of metals would stretch my building skills which is exactly what was needed. The build was a success but I disliked the thickness of the whitemetal. So I purchased the E4 kit from the former MSC range but found the boiler was inappropriate for the variant I wanted. I therefore took the boiler out of the Roxey and put it in the MSC frames; sorted.
My next loco was an original Bulleid light pacific, nothing like jumping in at the deep end. Built for a friend, the tender had already been finished but everything else had to be built. This was followed by a Sans Pareil Lord Nelson, oh to build another!
Since then I've built 0-4-2's to 2-8-0's from all companies other than the constituents of the LNER, about 45 steam locomotives to date (not all mine). I know which suppliers I like and which to avoid but that's my secret. Currently I'm working on a West Country from the David Andrew stable and just finishing an MOK Q1. The latter is about 95% complete with mainly cab detail to finish off.
I am fortunate to be mentored and encouraged to do better by a number of very fine loco builders. If I have a problem they can always solve it by suggesting I do this or that but leave me to resolve the issue and learn. How refreshing compared with some modellers who know how to solve the problem but won't tell you because.....! Consequently my building has steadily improved. I'm able to try my locos and other rolling stock on Heyside and having access to a continuous run and pointwork is invaluable.
Shortly progressing through the works will be a Seven Models Crosti 9F which will be for one of my friends and a Chowbent Stanier 2-6-2t for my own LMR stable used on Heyside. Me idle? No.
I started building in 2008 and became hooked, my first loco being a Roxey E4 0-6-2t. I wanted this kit for two reasons, first I love the prototype with fond memories of them from my spotting days, second it incorporated whitemetal, brass, nickel-silver plus a few lost wax fittings. This mix of metals would stretch my building skills which is exactly what was needed. The build was a success but I disliked the thickness of the whitemetal. So I purchased the E4 kit from the former MSC range but found the boiler was inappropriate for the variant I wanted. I therefore took the boiler out of the Roxey and put it in the MSC frames; sorted.
My next loco was an original Bulleid light pacific, nothing like jumping in at the deep end. Built for a friend, the tender had already been finished but everything else had to be built. This was followed by a Sans Pareil Lord Nelson, oh to build another!
Since then I've built 0-4-2's to 2-8-0's from all companies other than the constituents of the LNER, about 45 steam locomotives to date (not all mine). I know which suppliers I like and which to avoid but that's my secret. Currently I'm working on a West Country from the David Andrew stable and just finishing an MOK Q1. The latter is about 95% complete with mainly cab detail to finish off.
I am fortunate to be mentored and encouraged to do better by a number of very fine loco builders. If I have a problem they can always solve it by suggesting I do this or that but leave me to resolve the issue and learn. How refreshing compared with some modellers who know how to solve the problem but won't tell you because.....! Consequently my building has steadily improved. I'm able to try my locos and other rolling stock on Heyside and having access to a continuous run and pointwork is invaluable.
Shortly progressing through the works will be a Seven Models Crosti 9F which will be for one of my friends and a Chowbent Stanier 2-6-2t for my own LMR stable used on Heyside. Me idle? No.