AJC
Western Thunderer
I've taken a few minutes in my lunch break to put the wheels in (the joys of the GW Models press making this simple). Hopefully, I'll be able to check the quartering tonight and get a rolling chassis before testing the pony truck and then worrying about the brakegear.
Adam
Adam
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AJC
Western Thunderer
Yes, only in black. Ironically, so far as I know, the L&Y type the Revd later claimed as part of the origin story for the thing seem only ever to have had iron brake shoes. Like a lot of Awdry's takes on pre-War railway history, I really wonder how much he actually knew (but to be fair, he was making things up on the hoof, so why not?). I may have to concoct an interview with one of the railway magazines from the '70s to clear this up...
Adam
AJC
Western Thunderer
It's what you might call 'lore', I think. So possibly, but I have better things to do with my time than check. What does seem to be the case - among people who actually care about this stuff - is that James is problematic...
Adam
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AJC
Western Thunderer
An order of bushes and suitable nuts turned up today, so I’ve just adjusted the rods and tweaked the quartering on the front pair of wheels ever so slightly: it rolls!
A fair bit of work to make a running chassis yet, but the fundamentals work which is always heartening.
Adam
A fair bit of work to make a running chassis yet, but the fundamentals work which is always heartening.
Adam
AJC
Western Thunderer
Little to add, but after a touch of reaming to one of the rods which was perhaps a touch tight for whatever reason, James rolls along nicely.
So I’ve started marking out for handrails and washout plugs. The splashers will be cut down from the Bachmann 3F that’s becoming a M&GNJR/LNER J41…
Adam
So I’ve started marking out for handrails and washout plugs. The splashers will be cut down from the Bachmann 3F that’s becoming a M&GNJR/LNER J41…
Adam
AJC
Western Thunderer
The earlier wooden ones or later metal ones?!
The ones I had in the scrap box! I think they were meant for an LNER tender...
Adam
AJC
Western Thunderer
Steam heat pipe runs - a nice detail that’s obviously not shown in Awdry’s books, but quite easy to add to a brass footplate, even with little clips from shim.
I did one for my J41 while I was at it: it’s a bit more difficult in mazak! The clips here (hidden down the middle by lagging in the real thing), act as pins through holes through the valance. Yes, a drill was broken in the process.
Adam
I did one for my J41 while I was at it: it’s a bit more difficult in mazak! The clips here (hidden down the middle by lagging in the real thing), act as pins through holes through the valance. Yes, a drill was broken in the process.
Adam
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AJC
Western Thunderer
I should probably confess that the chassis has also seen a bit of work. This comes in three forms, a result of trial and errors.
1. The pony frame has been lengthened to ensure that it swings properly. That was fine until I realised that I’d put too much lead in the smokebox. Hence:
2. I have added a spring bearing on the top of the pony. That kept it on the rails, but didn’t do enough to stop the rear (driven, rigid) axle lifting on curves. So…
3. The tender was modified to bear on the back of the engine by removing the compensation beam and lightly springing the front two axles. This seems to work. The ghosts of messers Sharman and Rice might have smiled.
Adam
1. The pony frame has been lengthened to ensure that it swings properly. That was fine until I realised that I’d put too much lead in the smokebox. Hence:
2. I have added a spring bearing on the top of the pony. That kept it on the rails, but didn’t do enough to stop the rear (driven, rigid) axle lifting on curves. So…
3. The tender was modified to bear on the back of the engine by removing the compensation beam and lightly springing the front two axles. This seems to work. The ghosts of messers Sharman and Rice might have smiled.
Adam