Elmham Market in EM

[James Spooner]

Hi Nigel
I like Your G5 it ran so quiet and smoothly great work,
Do you have a solution to the buffer locking in your mind?
David.

Hi David

Many thanks! I must admit I don’t have a completely worked out solution yet but was thinking along the lines of a relatively slender bar or rod being semi permanently fixed into the carriage, with a small loop at the end to slot into the loco draw hook. This might need some experimentation as I can see the swing on the back of the loco creating problems if there isn’t enough latitude in this arrangement. I am very open to suggestions from wiser souls to overcome this difficulty!

Nigel

 

[john lewsey]

Hi Nigel, lovely layout and it would be nice to see more video
John

 

[James Spooner]

Hi Nigel, lovely layout and it would be nice to see more video
John

Hi John,

Well you did ask… Although a couple of years old (the video was made by my son, Tom, in lockdown in 2021 for the virtual ExpoEM that year) this is a twenty minute video of the model as it stood then. Obviously there has been progress since then and maybe I can persuade him to make a follow up when the model is more complete. A warning for the uninitiated, some friends who have seen it commented it is twenty minutes of their life they will never get back… .

Nigel

 

[David Waite]

Hi Nigel
It was a very enjoyable 20 minutes.
David

 

[James Spooner]

With the G5 operational, even though it still needs coal and weathering, I have turned my attention to the next phase of the Stratford St James push pull set. I have opened up the D&S box with the two carriages in it and started on the driving trailer. The first bogie is under way, photo below.

Nigel

 

[john lewsey]

Hi Nigel, a very nice 20 minutes
John

 

[john lewsey]

Thank you

 

[James Spooner]

After a long time away from the modelling bench (holidays, coping with building work at home and playing with big(ger) real steam locomotives) I finally recovered some of my modelling mojo (after a bit of friendly prodding from Nick Ridgway!). This evening I have progressed the driving trailer of the ex GER push pull set (one of Mr Pinnock’s finest) and added the castings to the first bogie. These bogies are of different construction from the normal 50’ GER coaches so the first bogie caused a bit of muttering and cursing under my breath. Lessons learned, the second bogie was soldered together this evening. I still have the castings to add, then, on both bogies, a few extra details such brake rods and some spring hangar details. Then on to the underframe.

Nigel

 

[James Spooner]

More progress on the bogies this evening. In fact, I only have one footboard to make up and fit on the driving end (the non driving end footboards had been removed by the 1950s). As ever, the detailing seems to take more time than the main structural components but they do make up into quite acceptable and distinctive looking bogies. Photo attached.

Nigel

 

[James Spooner]

A bit more progress today with work starting on the underframe. My instructions don’t seem to include the underframe so I have spent a bit of time figuring out what goes where, which has slowed things down a little but I think I am getting there.

Nigel

 

[James Spooner]

In the last few days since I posted I have added all of the footboards and started on the underframe detailing. I’ve hit a bit of an obstacle as the instructions are silent on underframe construction and photos only show some aspects of the detail required (perhaps that’s why the instructions are silent?!). I need to figure it out somehow but in the meantime will work on the body whilst I research my photos. Photo attached.

Nigel

 

[James Spooner]

I felt I was on a bit of a roll so carried on and have now formed up the sides and ends so they are all snug fits with each other (and the two layers for each end also fit together well). Definitely stopping here for the evening as I don’t want to push my luck!

Nigel

 

[James Spooner]

As ever, the detailing is the bit that takes the time (for me anyway). I have spent this evening detailing the driving end of the driving trailer (probably the hardest bit to get right) and have just got to a point where I think it is done.

Nigel

 

[James Spooner]

More soldering of details on the driving trailer this evening. I have managed to add the window frames (apart from the blanked out former loo, which will need some brass sheet cutting out and soldering in), door hinges, grab rails and the bars across the passenger doors. Just the aforementioned blanking plate and door knobs to go then on to the next side…

Nigel

 

[D6356]

I find it very satisfying soldering bits and then thinking of mutual friends drilling and screwing a zillion holes on the real thing and the common language used!! Looking very good and please add my vote for the overview film up the thread , 20 mins well spent.

 

[James Spooner]

I find it very satisfying soldering bits and then thinking of mutual friends drilling and screwing a zillion holes on the real thing and the common language used!! Looking very good and please add my vote for the overview film up the thread , 20 mins well spent.

Thanks Whizz, much appreciated!

Nigel

 

[James Spooner]

Despite the heat I have been plugging on with soldering details to the driving trailer body over the last few evenings. I have finished soldering one side and end and have soldered them together. The other end has all of the detail soldered on and I’m now working on the second side…

Nigel

 

[Herb Garden]

Lovely stuff Nigel, very shiny, very neat and as always very inspiring. You might be convincing me to have a go at some carriages for a certain locomotive

 

[James Spooner]

Lovely stuff Nigel, very shiny, very neat and as always very inspiring. You might be convincing me to have a go at some carriages for a certain locomotive

Thanks George and you should give it a try!

 

[James Spooner]

A bit more progress this evening with the door handrails and window frames/top two door hinges all made up and soldered in. That’s it for a few days whilst Mrs B and I disappear to the Isle of Wight to celebrate our wedding anniversary, leaving the younger members of the brood at home to look after the hound…

Nigel