Peter's Workbench a Urie S15

[Peter Cross]

I keep thinking I have finished the frames but I always seem to find more to do.



This time it was to fit the ash pan that was made at the same time as the steps. This was a straight forward bit of fabrication, I have not detailed the front but it will be hidden behind a wheel.









I then added some beading to the brackets that hold the expansion links. To make it more like a casting.







The rear steps have now been added too.







I think I just need to make and fit the injectors to go behind the steps. These will be on the frames I think. I can then make the fixings stronger.



I then made a start on the tender beading, hopefully tonight I can do the other side. Then once the lamp irons are done I can add the white metal and it will be ready for the paint shop. Still loads to do on the loco.

 

[Peter Cross]

Work progresses with the tender.



I was quite surprised the second side of beading went on as well as the first. Most unusual, normally I make a pigs ear of the second side.









I also fitted the front handrail, I made the capping from spare etch as this was not in the kit. I also need to find a suitable handle to go on the sandbox lids.









Lamp irons on the back. these were from various sources and scratch. I still need to fill the hole in the centre, quite what it was for I do not know.







And a couple of shots of it on the bogies.








Now on with the castings.

 

[Peter Cross]

On to adding the castings. These in general are quite good even if not enough of them.



The axle boxes and springs are separate. I cleaned up and added the boxes.







Unfortunately a lot of the hangers have come away from the springs. I decided that I would use wire to replace them seems to work well apart from me soldering it on in the wrong place.







Did not look to bad when all were done.



I also cleaned up the tool boxes, water fillers and brake standard. these will be fixed in the next day or two.







Then fitted. looking at the photo I need to re do the left hand toolbox.




I also managed to break the hand wheel shaft so that will need drilling and a wire adding.

Dose not look to bad when in one lump.






It needs a jolly good clean. Quite pleased with the result so far. Just need to sort the buffers and vacuum pipes.

 

[Peter Cross]

Well long time no post. But I have been pottering.



It seems slow but I am getting closer to the end. Lots of details need to be made as they are not in the kit. I started with the oil feeds and covers that run from the cab forward. Where they end up I do not know but the runs look about right. The handrail was also fitted. The holes were different heights either side, I do not think it was rolled wrongly. It was in fact I had more trouble getting the handrail on this straight, than any other loco.











Next up are the boiler valve, these are DJB castings, which are 200% better than the white metal blobs supplied.











Now I have a confession to make I cut down the smoke deflectors to much and had to remake them. This all stemmed from the agro with the handrail. Still I think they look the part even if I prefer the loco without them. I decided that it would all be soldered together as there is no lining etc, and I need to get it finished sooner rather than later.











I then made up a backhead. This has been cobbled together from the spares box. As William does not supply anything except from the reverser. Which needed modifying anyway. Not sure if it is 100% correct but it is close enough for me. It was sort of copied from a N15 backhead. I still need to make the regulator arm again it's a round to it job.









Here I have placed the cab roof and boiler fittings in place to see how I was doing. I need to sort out the safety valves as these are wrong I need to make a new base and a couple of valves, once myhead has got around the problem. I see the blue tack holding the smokebox door in place has let go.













Hopefully more soon.

 

[Jon Fitness]

Hi Pete, took some S15 cab pics yesterday while at the Bluebell. I'll post them here when I've reduced the file size a bit.
JF

 

[mickoo]

Certainly looking the part now.

 

[Jon Fitness]

Any use?

JF

 

[Peter Cross]

Thanks for the photos Jon. It looks like I got it mostly right. The fire box hole is wrong but that may be left as is.

 

[Steph Dale]

Just worth taking care, that's deffo a Drummond/Urie firedoor. But that's on a Maunsell loco.
Steph

 

[Peter Cross]

Certainly looking the part now.

Thanks. It has been a bit of a trial. Made me want one of my own. But there are a few in that queue.

 

[Peter Cross]

Just worth taking care, that's deffo a Drummond/Urie firedoor. But that's on a Maunsell loco.
Steph

This is where you get stuck with detail. The loco is modeled with a Maunsell boiler. So what backhead. Urue or Maunsell??

 

[Pencarrow]

Gosh, the fire hole door is very high in that bluebell shot, can't have been good for the fireman.

 

[Yorkshire Dave]

Gosh, the fire hole door is very high in that bluebell shot, can't have been good for the fireman.

It's probably made firing easier as the fireman would have been a bit more upright.

You've only to look at fireboxes in ships to see how high some the firebox doors were [URL=http://www.thamespilot.org.uk/ixbin/hixclient.exe?a=query&p=thames&f=generic_fullsizeprint_fr.htm&_IXFIRST_=1&_IXMAXHITS_=1&t=hs-hs-titanic_3&%3Dcms_con_core_identifier=hs-so-hs8024-i-00-000.jpg&s=UGzMpZpHwAi]here[/URL]. Imagine firing one of these is a rough sea!

 

[Peter Cross]

Gosh, the fire hole door is very high in that bluebell shot, can't have been good for the fireman.

If the tender shoveling plate is the same height there is no lifting..

 

[Pencarrow]

If the tender shoveling plate is the same height there is no lifting..

Can't have been easy chucking coal into the front and back corners at that height...

 

[Steph Dale]

Peter,
I've just checked and Sir Lamiel also has a Drummond/Urie firedoor, so I'm beginning to think that all the Urie/Maunsell 4-6-0s should have.
Do you have a photo showing the Adams style firedoor on an S15?
Steph

 

[Peter Cross]

Steph
I was going by a photo out of one of my books. I added the only firehole I had. Looks like I need to make a representation of another hole.

 

[Peter Cross]

After the posts and information posted on here I decided I really needed to change the fire hole. I was even offered a cast one to be sent, thanks guys. Which I had to refuse as I know how bad the postal system is here. I probably would never of seen it.

Well here is my interpretation of said fire hole. I think it is pretty close, hopefully you'll agree. I still need to do the regulator handle and then I think it is done.




Hopefully more later in the week if I can get to my bench, I am doing a bit of renovation to the walls after a little cracking after removing the walls from underneath the room.

 

[Peter Cross]

Just a quick update Time has again been tight. Only a little more brass work and then the few white metal castings.



First off where the clack valves I used the whitemetal ones in the kit they are not the best I have seen but I had nothing close in stock.









I also made the safety valves and seat. The base was not the easiest thing to make with only hand tools. A mill would of made it a lot easier. The valves are quite straight forward as they are just wire and tube. But all said I am pleased how this turned out. I was dreading having to do this buy hand.







And finally a regulator handle for the backhead.







I am hoping it is now just front lamp irons and injectors all of which need scratch build. Back to trying to find my room.

 

[Peter Cross]

Time to party, I think the S15 is ready for the paint shop apart from fixing the cab roof.



Rather a lot of pictures, but it's my thread and they save me word and a lot typing.



First up were the injectors. These were made from wire, tube and nuts, about 20 pieces in all for each one. You will see the pipe work is short and soldered to the body rather than going on there hidden journeys. I am pleased with these, better than the ones that did not come with the kit.















I then needed to add the lamp irons to the front footplate. I also found I needed to fit two handrails for the front steps. These are just two vertical post one outside each outer lamp iron. I also adapted vacuum and steam heating pipes. For the front and rear buffer planks.









Then I went to the castings. Not many of these chimney, dome, steam pipe covers and reverser. All needed a little fettling but on the whole they were quite good. It has always surprised how good some of his castings are, when some are really bad. Yes smokebox door is only held in place with a blob of bluetac.


















I am pleased with the way this has turned out. even if it entailed a lot of fiddling about and not really being buildable with out making a lot of adjustments. Whether it would build straight footplate loco, straight from the box I do not know. One thing I do know is just having a different roof and cab side etch, and a different footplate valance, are not enough parts to build what is basically a different loco to the later straight footplated locos. I feel I got the character of the Urie loco. I would like to see if the lower boiler etc is noticeable when next to a Maunsell loco.





Now what shall I do while I am waiting for some driving wheels to turn up for a LMS Jubilee. maybe a good time to build a couple of base boards, or some stock for Bodmin.