Scattergun EM Whimsy, a coach you may call Annie (or Clarabelle, if you really want).
AJC
Western Thunderer
AJC
Western Thunderer
I'll spare you the spotting notes of Richard Starkey, aged 12... Here's Thomas, almost complete - I have some lamps to put on yet. Quite a satisfying project, and a useful opportunity to clear out some of the spares that have loitering around the bench for far too long. If I get to Expo EM on Sunday, I'll take it for a spin on the test track. The three-year old is very impressed.
Adam
Adam
AJC
Western Thunderer
It’s a curious design, surprisingly long wheelbase and there doesn’t seem enough room ahead of the leading axles to get the cylinders in.
I don’t suppose the three-year-old is worried by such trivial concerns…
And a useful engine, undoubtedly
Not remotely. That said, all those are features of real E2s (ok, this one has a ‘Derby’ wheelbase (16' 6"), but it’s not so very far from the Brighton original (16'), and the front axle position is fairly close). All that and he runs really very nicely indeed; good slow speed control, reasonable top speed, and a bit of overrun from the flywheel. It moved 15 bogie coaches round that test track as well, slipping a bit, but it did get them underway. Proper load trials will have to wait until I'm next down in Somerset, but he's probably good for 40-50 wagons, or more than will fit in the loops.
Adam
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Yorkshire Dave
Western Thunderer
Yes, a Stroudley design, and a Billington design for their 6 wheel coaches. The LBSC brake ends are the giveaway.
If you squared off the windows of the Hattons 6 wheel coaches they would pass for ex LCDR coaches. Especially if you moved the ducket to the correct position on the end on their brake coach with a touch of 'cutting and shutting'.
p.s. Nice cast iron fireplace in the background - original Victorian or Edwardian?
simond
Western Thunderer
We still have Mavis and Toby, commercial chassis (Atlas and Lima) tamed by cheapo decoders with a reasonable top speed imposed. Mavis was built for young sir when he was 3, he’ll be 26 in January, Toby for little Miss, about two years later.
Many happy hours were spent banging troublesome trucks (big big or lima minerals with 3-links) about.
Many happy hours were spent banging troublesome trucks (big big or lima minerals with 3-links) about.
AJC
Western Thunderer
Ah, I hadn't looked too closely at the six-wheelers, but that makes sense. As you say, the brake ends - and interior arrangement (per 949 on the Bluebell) is distinctive. There will be a second carriage at some point, just not sure what. I'd like it not to be a Ratio four-wheeler, but ubiquity and cheapness are factors... Still 'Sodor' seems like the kind of railway that would have played the second hand vehicle market extensively and I do have a NLR third class vehicle that could be pressed into use, if not much use to potential first class passengers on the Ffarqhar branch...
What this exercise has demonstrated, however, is that some sort of carriage truck is called for (for sir's cars - Sodor Motor Rail?) and probably a second loco' so the five-week old doesn't feel left out. We already have a brake, and loads of wagons which are pretty durable. Excuses, eh?
Yes, the fireplace is probably original so 1880s, we think. The OS revision is 1886? when the house is not present, but it is there in the 1891 census, anyway.
Adam
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AJC
Western Thunderer
James Spooner
Western Thunderer
And Rapido have emailed me to say Henrietta and her sister are coming to stay tomorrow…
Nigel
Nigel
AJC
Western Thunderer
And very handsome models they are. I do have a self-imposed rule of cheapness for this exercise! There must be a failed/abandoned pannier out there… Quack. And there’s always the Airfix Drewry (I think I have suitable wheels, or almost enough, anyway, for either).
Adam
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AJC
Western Thunderer
A little light whimsy. A carriage for the Ffarquar branch, from Hornby. Since Sodor’s railways seem all to have been vacuum braked, and - being a model of a Brighton coach this had air brakes - a retro fit was in order. Nothing very complicated about this: vees on the centre line, brake pipes and not much else. I should probably add alarm gear and a set of steam heat pipes before a repaint into weathered teak is in order.
Adam
Adam
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Lyndhurstman
Western Thunderer
AJC
Western Thunderer
Nice. It looks the part. The colour scheme makes me think of Werther's Originals!
Cheers
Jan
Better toffees are available - or, given the compromise, butterscotch fudge.
Adam
AJC
Western Thunderer
This last week or so of evenings work shows that 'Annie' is not alone. 'Clarabelle' is up on its wheels to test ride height. A six wheel LSWR composite from the Southwark Bridge Models range (via Roxey Mouldings).
No alarms in that sense, but I can see that I’ll need to put some slots in the lower footboards to clear the axleboxes and to ensure that the Cleminson mechanism still works with these details fitted. The four-year-old still thinks it’s got one too many pairs of wheels…
Adam
PS - I'm not sure what Ivan Smith (who designed the kit) would say about the proposed use, but sold and built was always a good thing in his book.
No alarms in that sense, but I can see that I’ll need to put some slots in the lower footboards to clear the axleboxes and to ensure that the Cleminson mechanism still works with these details fitted. The four-year-old still thinks it’s got one too many pairs of wheels…
Adam
PS - I'm not sure what Ivan Smith (who designed the kit) would say about the proposed use, but sold and built was always a good thing in his book.
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