My latest work in progress

Atso · Post by **Atso** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 9:00 pm

Hi all,

I thought I'd share my work in progress pictures of my latest project. I have long wanted a B17 to go with my B12s on my (yet to be built) layout. Until now I have not had the motivation to build a body until I saw some pictures of a B17/5 in one of this month's magazines. I notice just how similar to the A4's the two streamlined B17's are and set about hacking a spare A4 body I have to hand to produce a body.

The tender is an old Union Mills drive until of which the body has been filed flat and 5 thou brass overlays added. The, yet to be added, front chassis will come from a shortened A3 chassis block I have spare. While not perfect, I feel that the model gives the impression of the B17/5.

x568wcn · Post by **x568wcn** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 9:16 pm

That is very nice.
My Wish is the W1 Sssh Sssh, but that would require a larger cab, and a - -4 bit of chassis!

I don't have patience, or time. This is my effort in 5 minutes!

will need a bit of paint on the fresh bits, the flash shows them up more!

Atso · Post by **Atso** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 9:41 pm

x568wcn,

Looking good!

I believe you can get the smokebox until as a spare directly from Farish, might save you a bit more time and work with filing down those smoke deflector mounts.

I've been having a go at my Farish A3's too.

The closest one is going to be one of the late 1930's A3s (I haven't decided which yet), the middle one is set to become Great Northern and the furthest away is Humourist. I've recently been given another A3 body which is set to become 4472 herself in late 1930's condition with a streamlined non corridor tender.

x568wcn · Post by **x568wcn** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 10:53 pm

I have one of those aswell, but I hacked at mine again! Tried to make the tender in to non coridor, but it just left a gaping hole!

Yes, I have 3 scotsmans! although this one ain't to good a runner.

Although I don't like the coal in the Farish tenders, the Tomis * Tomix * coal is much more realistic!

Post by **richard** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 10:59 pm

BR Lines would be the place to try for spares.
I find them very responsive to queries and requests.

Are those post-Bachmann A3s, Mark?
I'm trying to place those bogie wheels. They don't look quite right, but they're definitely superior to the pre-Bachmann "pizza cutters" (I replaced my "pizza cutters" with the ones the NGS used to sell)

Richard

x568wcn · Post by **x568wcn** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 11:20 pm

I tried BR lines for a spare Green tender, but he hasn't any

Yes, current NRM spec Bachmann Scotsman A3

Atso · Post by **Atso** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 12:00 am

Mark,

Try Bachmann directly (01455 841756) and ask for the Farish spares department. I have ordered quite a few bits through them recently, including tender tops. However, allow at least 10 working days for them to deliver.

How are things going with your 'Green Arrow' conversion?

Interesting comment earlier about the rebuilt W1, I'll look into that one as a possibility and let you know. My initial thought is that the boiler is longer as well as the cab. Have a look where the first wheel of the rear bogie (or is that the first of the rear ponies?) lines up compared to the A4's.

Tony · Post by **Tony** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 3:19 am

It's very handy to have the skill (and the patience) to make one thing out of something else. But for myself I would still rather have a fine scale basic B17 (with proper scale wheels - a lot of excellent models are spoilt for want of scale wheels in my view).
Just my opinion of course.

x568wcn · Post by **x568wcn** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 6:39 am

Yes, you're right, although the cab is larger the front pony wheels are more under the boiler.

I have yeadons A4/W1 on my desk here and the caption with the good picture says; 'this view of 60700 is included to show the arangment of the rear carrying axles, and in particular the considerable extra lenght of the cab. The fireman must have had a sabbath day's journey trying to keep the 50sq ft of grate covered with coal!

and Tony as for the scale wheels, Farish have started on this with the new V2, but they don't seem to run as well (in my opinion) for it.

And as for Green Arrow...nothing, I still need the Numbers from Fox, and they haven't helped in my request, and I don't know the different sizes!

Atso · Post by **Atso** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 8:28 am

Mark,

I thought that there maybe more differences between the A4's and W1 other than a larger cab. Either way this might make an interesting project for the future... I believe that the cab side numbers for Green Arrow should be 12 inches high, which I think, was the largest size of number used on any of the LNER’s locomotive.

Tony,

I agree that the lack of scale driving wheels in N gauge is a pain. However, N gauge is the only way I can create a layout which can run realistic length trains (just!). With this in mind, I've taken the attitude 'if it looks ok then it is ok'. I find that when viewing the locos at my regular viewing height, i.e. looking down on them, the small wheels are that noticeable. I supposed I could to 2mm fine scale, but the thought of making all that track is somewhat off putting!

I WILL get around to building one of the regular B17's but there is the J50 (with a scratch built chassis being planned!), C1 (tender already built) and my J69's new chassis to do first not to mention that line of A1/3s needing to be lined, named and numbered!

x568wcn · Post by **x568wcn** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 1:00 pm

Yes, the W1 must have a slightly larger boiler, but with the 4-6-4 config, the middle of the front wheels on the real pony, hit the join between the boiler and cab.

I'll look in to fox, I want 2 V2 sets of numbering (4771 & 4818) and an A3 with name, although I can't find anywhere, and I looked in a box of plates at the York show, 4818's name plates, but then I spent it's entire life in York, so not a popular one really!

Atso · Post by **Atso** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 3:10 pm

Mark,

Fox transfers tend to come on a sheet which you select the numbers you need and place them individually onto the cab side. For A1, A2, A3, A4, B1, B2, B17, V2 name plates try B H Enterprises (http://www.bhenterprises.freeserve.co.uk/). I've bought name plates for Flying Scotsman, Great Northern and Spearmint from them and the quality is excellent.

I've decided that my B17/5 will be City of London, I need the nameplates though and I think this might be a good time to try etching them (and some new coupling rods for my J69 project at the same time!).

x568wcn · Post by **x568wcn** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 3:17 pm

Only have 3 V2's, including Green Arrow which is available anyway, but I've contacted them to see if they will do it or know anyone who does!

Further to that, I've been through Yeadons Vol4 in the NRM today, and tapped in to my phone the following list which were all based in York, from new till at least 43, some 56 and a couple never left York!
And I noticed at least one was cut up at Swindon works....!!

York V2s
4772, 4773, 4776, 4777, 4780, 4782, 4799, 4804, 4806, 4808, 4814, 4818, 4827, 4835, 4839, 4872, 4875, 4878, 4881, 4889, 4896, 3660, 3661, 3643, 3648, 3666, 3672, 3673, 3674, 3680, 3686, 3687, 3688, 3689, 3690, 3691, 3693 & 3694

So I could do any of those...oh...except for 4818 of course!!

Atso · Post by **Atso** » Sun Jun 17, 2007 3:35 pm

Mark,

Having been on holiday in Summerset, I have had some time to look at a possible rebuilt W1 conversion of the Farish A4. By the looks of things it should be possible by lengthening the cab and scratching a new rear bogie using V2 front pony wheels (the trailing wheels of the W1 are 3ft 2 just like the front bogie the A3/4 rear pony is 3ft 8 ). The rest of the conversion would consist of removing the name plate, filling the resulting hole and fitting driving wheel valances if so desired.

I'm having problems with getting the B17 chassis to run sweetly as the valances are fouling on the valve gear. I'm using a modified A3 cylinder set at the moment as I don't have a spare A4 cylinder casting handy to use.