A West Midlands Works

[Scanlon]

A little progress.

The wheels have been worrying me for some time. On closer inspection the original paint was very thick and no amount of cleaning up improved them. I have used the Finney7 overlays to improve the look of the wheels. While doing so I found the pony truck wheels are not Slaters, the entire wheel is cast, Walsall Wheels? Driving wheels, bogie and pony truck prepared for spraying.

A start has been made on detailing the casing. A number of etches from the original loco have been salvaged, cleaned up and installed on the new casing. The front of the casing has been detailed and the front platform added after a little additional detailing. There was no support behind the half moon panels so I’ve strengthened them using some spare half etched boiler band. Cleaning up the old reusable parts is time consuming but essential especially as the previous constructor seemed to have something against cleaning up the etch cusps on almost every small etch.

Detailing around the chimney is work in progress.

The huge holes in the frames for the original plungers have been expertly filled. Dan Haines offered to turn up four brass blanks to fit exactly into the frames and disguise the holes. He then marked out and drilled positions for Slaters plunger pick-ups. Many thanks go to Dan for all his help. As can be seen from this photo only one blank can be seen and this will be 80% obscured by the wheel.

A start has been made on riveting the cab. This is definitely work in progress and so far only about 1/3rd have been pressed out.

 

[dibateg]

Making a good recovery!

 

[Scanlon]

Despite the ongoing renovation of the Finney West Country two other locos have been completed. The first was the MOK Standard 4 which will be 75075. Here it is just prior to going to Paul Moore for painting.

The other build is of a David Andrews West Country which will be 34032 Camelford.

Now it is time to return to the Finney West Country.

 

[Scanlon]

Earlier this year I acquired a Finney7 M7 kit complete with wheels, only requiring a motor and gearbox. With Camelford ready to be despatched for painting I decided to build the little 0-4-4t as a change from Bulleid pacifics. This is my second M7 from this stable albeit the first was built 17 years earlier!

These photos show the frames have been built. Over the weekend I hope to add the brake gear, injectors and complete detailing the frames. This is the bogie:

The basic frames.

And now with driving wheels and bogie fitted.

 

[Scanlon]

Work on the frames did not proceed as quickly as I had hoped. Detailing was straightforward as this photo shows.

Apologies for the slight camera shake.

Issues with the bogie caused the most delay and I consulted fellow builders on the problems which centred around interference of the bogie itself and the weigh shaft. The kit faithfully replicates the real machine in this area but allowances have to be made for the bogie to have just a little more movement to negotiate 6ft curves. Two fellow modellers have suggested exactly the same solutions. The 6BA bolt will have a sleeve fitted, the slot in the bogie etch (shown earlier) for the side to side movement will be widened to take the sleeve plus minor alterations to the bogie frame at the cab end of the assembly.

Meanwhile the running plate has been constructed.

As I have used the intermediate frame spacers the etch in the smokebox area required minor modification to make it slightly narrower by 2.5mm overall.

Work is now centred on building the boiler. My chosen loco will be 30251.

I always refer to prototype photos to get the model as accurate as possible. Fortunately, the front smokebox ring has only minimal visible riveting which has made life just that little bit easier. These two photos show progress.

Here is the boiler plus the smokebox without the rear etch fitted.

Now the boiler and smokebox have been united and test rigged to the front of the cab and into the front of the running plate. Very minor filing of the sandboxes is required to allow the smokebox to fit snugly into place. The etch on the back of the smokebox still requires modification because of the reduction in frame width.

Oops, photos are so cruel. I've just noticed the front bufferbeam is slightly off centre so will be remedied tomorrow.

Slowly the model is taking shape.

 

[Scanlon]

This build is progressing quite well. The boiler and smokebox were fixed in place and a start made on building up the cab as shown in the photo above. The rear wall of the cab is a lamination and on the inside a curve had to be formed. I used an 8mm tube to create the curve.

On the outside the windows are protected by chunky bars which required patience to build but were easier than drilling holes and bending up wires.

With an open cab in place a start was made on building and detailing the tanks, cab sides and bunker. This is a long etch which is designed to build either the longer condensing tank style or the normal length tanks. The latter is achieved by shortening the etch along a clearly identified line. I decided to add the tank filler castings and now wish I’d added more of the remaining detail to make life just a little easier.

The tab and slot method locates the etches and presented absolutely no issues. The rear of the bunker is also a lamination and requires a curved lip at the top. I formed this using a 4.6mm round bar and just eased the curve out very slightly during soldering to achieve the required look.

Handrails on the boiler have been test fitted. Holes have to be drilled for the handrail knobs just after the smokebox.

The only major part to be constructed is the cab roof. Detailing of the model will start in earnest after the Christmas break. I'm not one of the invisible solder merchants so I have a lot of cleaning up to do!

In closing I wish all my fellow modellers and followers of this thread a very Happy Christmas and a safe, healthy and a good modelling New Year.

 

[Stuart Dodd]

This build is progressing quite well. The boiler and smokebox were fixed in place and a start made on building up the cab as shown in the photo above. The rear wall of the cab is a lamination and on the inside a curve had to be formed. I used an 8mm tube to create the curve.
View attachment 253716
On the outside the windows are protected by chunky bars which required patience to build but were easier than drilling holes and bending up wires.
View attachment 253717
With an open cab in place a start was made on building and detailing the tanks, cab sides and bunker. This is a long etch which is designed to build either the longer condensing tank style or the normal length tanks. The latter is achieved by shortening the etch along a clearly identified line. I decided to add the tank filler castings and now wish I’d added more of the remaining detail to make life just a little easier.
View attachment 253718
The tab and slot method locates the etches and presented absolutely no issues. The rear of the bunker is also a lamination and requires a curved lip at the top. I formed this using a 4.6mm round bar and just eased the curve out very slightly during soldering to achieve the required look.
View attachment 253719
Handrails on the boiler have been test fitted. Holes have to be drilled for the handrail knobs just after the smokebox.
View attachment 253720
The only major part to be constructed is the cab roof. Detailing of the model will start in earnest after the Christmas break. I'm not one of the invisible solder merchants so I have a lot of cleaning up to do!

In closing I wish all my fellow modellers and followers of this thread a very Happy Christmas and a safe, healthy and a good modelling New Year.

Happy Christmas Roger!

 

[dibateg]

Happy Xmas Roger!

 

[Rob Pulham]

Happy Christmas Roger

 

[Scanlon]

Happy Christmas everyone and thanks for the "likes".
Roger

 

[Scanlon]

Well work did not restart in earnest after Christmas. A host of issues including the flu completely derailed any progress on the M7. Thankfully a phone call from Paul Moore saying my 75XXX was ready for collection at Kettering spurred me back into action. Here is 75075 for anyone who hasn’t seen it.

When I last wrote about the M7 it was only a basic shell. Since then, all of the body detail has been added and the cab roof constructed. Much to my surprise this proved to be a simple construction. These photos show developments.


The eagle eyed will notice the vast amount of solder still to be cleaned up. Also, the rods from the cab to the injector steam valves and whistle are missing. These will be added after painting. The rear coupling requires minor adjustment to fit in place. The backhead is work in progress.

The major outstanding work is on the frames. I have photos of 30251 with two different types of balance weights. As the model will be in post 1961 condition, I have to change the balance weights to a longer and slimmer version. Thankfully the kit caters for all types. After consultation with members of the “Loco clinic”, the bogie will also receive some attention to give it more side-to-side movement.

If you are interested, my next project is a David Andrews L1 4-4-0.

 

[Stuart Dodd]

Well work did not restart in earnest after Christmas. A host of issues including the flu completely derailed any progress on the M7. Thankfully a phone call from Paul Moore saying my 75XXX was ready for collection at Kettering spurred me back into action. Here is 75075 for anyone who hasn’t seen it.
View attachment 259586
When I last wrote about the M7 it was only a basic shell. Since then, all of the body detail has been added and the cab roof constructed. Much to my surprise this proved to be a simple construction. These photos show developments.
View attachment 259587
View attachment 259588
The eagle eyed will notice the vast amount of solder still to be cleaned up. Also, the rods from the cab to the injector steam valves and whistle are missing. These will be added after painting. The rear coupling requires minor adjustment to fit in place. The backhead is work in progress.

The major outstanding work is on the frames. I have photos of 30251 with two different types of balance weights. As the model will be in post 1961 condition, I have to change the balance weights to a longer and slimmer version. Thankfully the kit caters for all types. After consultation with members of the “Loco clinic”, the bogie will also receive some attention to give it more side-to-side movement.

If you are interested, my next project is a David Andrews L1 4-4-0.

Hi Roger, really nice to see great progress on the M7 and 75xx, interesting images both looking fantastic!
I have David's L1 kit to build one day so, it will be of great interest.
Currently getting close to finishing his Stanier 4mt, a lovely kit to build!

 

[Duncan Chandler]

The M7 is looking good and very handy to see before tackling the 4mm version. The L1 will be interesting as well with a 4mm one that needs serious improvement

 

[Scanlon]

The frames of the M7 will shortly be stripped down and prepared for spraying followed by installation of pickups, motor and gearbox and a DCC chip. I’m now working on my next project, a David Andrews Southern L1 4-4-0.

These engines were a development of the SECR L class 4-4-0’s. I remember having a Tri-ang L1 in my collection and have always admired these locos from afar. Earlier this year the opportunity arose to purchase a kit and I quickly snapped it up. I’ll not burden you with construction of the tender, afterall it is just another Maunsell 3500-gallon specimen which has gone together with very little difficulty. Here are some pictures of its build.

As is my norm, the inside frames were constructed on my chassis jig. This photo shows the brake gear.


The coal space before cleaning up.

The tender almost complete, just vacuum and steam heat pipes to fit plus uprights to stow the firing irons followed by a deep clean..

Work has now started on the engine frames. They are of the usual David Andrews construction, this photo shows them on the chassis jig.

The coupling rods were built up to ensure accuracy of the frames. At present only three frame stretchers have been installed. The kit includes dummy valve gear which will beef-up the large gap shown in the picture. The bogie will be built next and then I’ll make a start on the dummy valve gear.

 

[Scanlon]

More progress on the L1.

A start on the dummy valve gear has been made but I was not entirely satisfied the basic slidebar and valve etches when built up were in the correct alignment. I decided therefore to start building the engine body to make sure everything would be in its correct location. With the running plate built the frames with slidebars etc. were tested as shown.

Satisfied with the general fit I built the cab then the splashers were built up.

Work this week has been entirely on the boiler, firebox and smokebox. The build has now reached this stage although the boiler etc. is just shown in place prior to final fitting.

This coming week should see the smokebox wrapper and smokebox front installed and then a return to the valve gear.