P A D
Western Thunderer
This is a prototype I've wanted for some time but have put off buying in favour of other kits over the years. However, after viewing the sample build on the Scorpio stand at Guildex, I decided I could make something of it and bought the kit. It come in flat pack form with the etchings taped to an A3 sheet of card inside a large ziplock poly bag along with the instructions. A smaller bag containing brass and white metal castings is included. On checking the parts against the list I found that all the miscellaneous items, bearings, handrail knobs and screws etc are missing, along with several white metal castings. I'll be listing them and getting in touch with Scorpio to send them on. Here are the brass etchings.
The taper part of the boiler and the parallel part/smoke box come ready rolled, although misshapen and will require correcting. The smokebox part requires the rivets to be punched and needed to be almost flattened again to do that. Also the seam on the coned section is at the top so will require neat work to hide it.
And the NS etchings. The chassis is designed for rigid axles or side beam compensation on the middle and rear. As is my preference, I'll be building it rigid front and rear with the centre bearings "floating" in elongated holes.
And brass castings.
I laid out the WM castings to photograph but could not find the smokebox door which set me off checking the parts against the list. By the time I'd done that I forgot to take and image. Suffice to say, the castings are of mixed quality but mostly useable. As is the case these days, lack of discipline got the better of me and instead of concentrating on the Stanier Mogul, I made a start on the chassis after scrounging some axle bearings from my brother.
Not a lot of bracing there! Once I've sussed out where the motor will go I'll make and add extra spacers to beef it up.
This is my third Jim Harris kit having previously built his Brittania and rebuilt Merchant Navy and despite the faults and dated design, the chassis do build up easily and squarely.
As was Jim's want, the coupling rods are designed to pivot on the centre crank pin, but I've already modified them and made them up to pivot at the knuckle joint. When I modify the crank pins to accept 10ba bolts we'll see if true to form the chassis rolls first time without binding as I found with the Pacifics.
Cheers,
Peter
The taper part of the boiler and the parallel part/smoke box come ready rolled, although misshapen and will require correcting. The smokebox part requires the rivets to be punched and needed to be almost flattened again to do that. Also the seam on the coned section is at the top so will require neat work to hide it.
And the NS etchings. The chassis is designed for rigid axles or side beam compensation on the middle and rear. As is my preference, I'll be building it rigid front and rear with the centre bearings "floating" in elongated holes.
And brass castings.
I laid out the WM castings to photograph but could not find the smokebox door which set me off checking the parts against the list. By the time I'd done that I forgot to take and image. Suffice to say, the castings are of mixed quality but mostly useable. As is the case these days, lack of discipline got the better of me and instead of concentrating on the Stanier Mogul, I made a start on the chassis after scrounging some axle bearings from my brother.
Not a lot of bracing there! Once I've sussed out where the motor will go I'll make and add extra spacers to beef it up.
This is my third Jim Harris kit having previously built his Brittania and rebuilt Merchant Navy and despite the faults and dated design, the chassis do build up easily and squarely.
As was Jim's want, the coupling rods are designed to pivot on the centre crank pin, but I've already modified them and made them up to pivot at the knuckle joint. When I modify the crank pins to accept 10ba bolts we'll see if true to form the chassis rolls first time without binding as I found with the Pacifics.
Cheers,
Peter