Atlantic's works: Portable layout - Scenic details next

[S.A.C. Martin]

Graeme, absolutely superb work. I think the way you've tackled the bracket for the eccentric gear is an excellent solution. Do you think you'll be able to mould the cylinders as a single piece specifically for fitting to P2s to convert others to 2002? I have used Bachmann cylinders on mine for the conversion to a P2/3 and whilst they work fine the way mine have been attached is, to say the least, crude in comparison to yours.

[Atlantic 3279]

Thanks Simon and others. I believe it would be possible to mould cylinders and new stretcher in one chunk. I haven't decided whether I'll do that yet, but I'll bear your remarks in mind.

Having obtained satisfactory running with valve gear fitted to both sides last night, the temptation to meddle with the body got the better of me. I haven't forgotten that I have some resin loco parts to cast for a patient man in Canada by the way, nor have I forgotten that I have a restaurant triplet to refurbish before the Hull show, and I won't delay those jobs much further, but......

Some careful work with a razor saw across the top edge of the running plate followed by small cuts elsewhere soon removed the main unwanted sections from the straight running plate, and a bit of scraping, filing and sanding removed unwanted features from the sides of the smokebox wrapper plates.

As a prelude to reconstruction, I temporarily bonded in some backing pieces, extending down about 4mm below the original level of the smokebox sides.

I then used a combination of A3 running plate offcuts from a previous project to create the S-curves (as pioneered by Will, much credit to him for spotting this time-saver) and 40 thou Plastikard topped by a layer of 10 thou to produce the new flat area of running plate. A strip of 40 thou plastic made up the lower edge of each smokebox sidesheet to the same thickness as the main body moulding. Filing these strips to fit snug agains the S-curves took a little time. Their depth throughout the parallel sided portions measured 2.4mm. Once the new running plate pieces and smokebox fill-ins were in place I trimmed the lower edge of the backing piece to profile. I also built up a 3mm deep box to fit between the frames just in front of the smokebox front, and topped this with a wider layer of 10 thou plastic, which I'll probably changed to brass later for better straightness / stiffness. It looks a little too wavy to represent running plate surface convincingly just at present. Original reversing shaft attachments have been scraped off flush, lubricators trimmed off and moulded lubricator drive linkages cut off below the running plate.

Here's the right side of the loco with running plate also rebuilt. Much careful scraping, filing and rubbing down has removed the ACFI duct, the myriad bolt-heads around the access panels atop the boiler cladding, and the pips left behind following removal of the ACFI pump.

This close-up shows that on this side I re-used a piece of the original running plate, suitably modified, before concluding that pieces of plastic sheet were a better option.

[Atlantic 3279]

Whilst at Caistor exhibition today, as well as meeting up with friends, I spotted a relatively inexpensive Bachmann fixed-ends 7 plank mineral wagon - just the thing I was looking for as one possible basis for a quick project. I wanted it for conversion (you'd never guess, would you....) to an approximate model of the 7 plank version of the WW1 Ministry of Munitions Ire Ore hopper design. I've scraped off the representations of the side doors, pulled off the drop-door springs, and made up a totally conjectural (but I believe fairly typical) hopper interior for the wagon using planked Plastikard. My cunning plan is to replicate the modified body in resin and fit Parkside RCH underframe parts to the clones.

Grantham shall not want for plausible 1930s ironstone wagons!

[manna]

G'Day Gents

Some nice work on 2001 to make it in to 2002, but thinking out loud, would the 'spare' AFCI be useful on one (or two) of the A1/3's, that carried these for a couple of years.

manna

[S.A.C. Martin]

Very much admiring the mods on no.2002. Yourself and Will showing the way with the body and valve gear mods. I make no such claims of my Bugatti nosed example.

Last question from me, if I may. I have found it very difficult to remove the ACFI water heater gubbins from the side of the boiler on my example - what did you use to scrape away the plastic on yours, Graeme? I have been using diamond tipped files, sandpaper and wet'n'dry paper but it is still not to my liking.

[LNER4489]

I am very happy to continue to be patient, especially when you have this kind of creation in the works. Your ability to wield a razor saw with such precision makes me wonder if you missed your calling as a surgeon.

[Atlantic 3279]

Most of the ACFI bulge was removed by many short and tightly cotrolled strokes of a half-inch wide flat file (second cut by the look of it, although it might be a b*stard cut file, it's a cheap one and it doesn't say!) alternating from time to time with phases of scraping using a well-sharpened half inch wood chisel. The file alone might work if there were more room to use it, but in such a confined space it's teeth tended to plough the same grooves in the plastic repeatedly and cutting action seemed then to be slowed, hence the scraping to restore a level surface. Finish off was with wet 400 grade grit paper on a flat plastic backing piece.

Regarding use of the saw, one vital point I remember learning by difficult experience was that I should apply a "scaled down" version of my old woodwork teacher's maxim: Let the TOOL do the work, don't use force. Forcing the tool just leads to loss of control, poor results, and risk of injury.

[Saint Johnstoun]

2002 is looking good Graeme - I am tempted to do the same but there are a stack of other locos to go through the finishing shops now the dark nights are here!

[LNER4479]

Whilst at Caistor exhibition today, as well as meeting up with friends, I spotted a relatively inexpensive Bachmann fixed-ends 7 plank mineral wagon - just the thing I was looking for as one possible basis for a quick project. I wanted it for conversion (you'd never guess, would you....) to an approximate model of the 7 plank version of the WW1 Ministry of Munitions Ire Ore hopper design. I've scraped off the representations of the side doors, pulled off the drop-door springs, and made up a totally conjectural (but I believe fairly typical) hopper interior for the wagon using planked Plastikard. My cunning plan is to replicate the modified body in resin and fit Parkside RCH underframe parts to the clones.

Grantham shall not want for plausible 1930s ironstone wagons!

Understandably, most current postings will be directed to your efforts to transmogrify 2001 into 2002 so can I just put in a word for the humble iron ore wagon? More great work to develop vehicles of the correct(-ish) type to represent this traffic in the immediate pre-war era. All power to your limitless and wonderfully idiosyncratic ingenuity sir

[Saint Johnstoun]

Unfortunately the ACFI heater on 2001 was a different type to that fitted to the two Pacifics.

[IAK]

Whilst at Caistor exhibition today, as well as meeting up with friends, I spotted a relatively inexpensive Bachmann fixed-ends 7 plank mineral wagon - just the thing I was looking for as one possible basis for a quick project. I wanted it for conversion (you'd never guess, would you....) to an approximate model of the 7 plank version of the WW1 Ministry of Munitions Ire Ore hopper design. I've scraped off the representations of the side doors, pulled off the drop-door springs, and made up a totally conjectural (but I believe fairly typical) hopper interior for the wagon using planked Plastikard. My cunning plan is to replicate the modified body in resin and fit Parkside RCH underframe parts to the clones.

Grantham shall not want for plausible 1930s ironstone wagons!

Understandably, most current postings will be directed to your efforts to transmogrify 2001 into 2002 so can I just put in a word for the humble iron ore wagon? More great work to develop vehicles of the correct(-ish) type to represent this traffic in the immediate pre-war era. All power to your limitless and wonderfully idiosyncratic ingenuity sir

Agreed - damned clever methinks

[Atlantic 3279]

Not all that clever, surely?

Anyway, this one is now sporting a bit of bling in the form of a nice shiny reversing rod filed up from surplus coupling rods on a partly used etch:

While that one continues to ferment slowly I've started a second brew to keep it company:

That's a chunk of GBL Mallard at the front, cut a little way aft of the first boiler band to give the correct length for the P2. The Upper slope of the smokebox front has been filed back to give a longer rake, so the chimney "which has also been moved forward a touch) will need restyling to include a longer rear fairing in order to fit. The new black sections of boiler are from pre-curved 20 thou plastic, in three layers. While I was cutting away the top section and re-making it, I thought it would be far less work compared to the filing and scraping on Earl Marischal if I simply cut out the ACFI bulge entirely and re-made that area of the boiler too.
For those who like to scrutinise more closely....

Not even a hint of filing of the front of the chassis weight has been needed so far.

[earlswood nob]

Good morning all

You could produce the streamlined P2 as 2005 Thane of Fife with a small chimney.

Earlswood nob

[Atlantic 3279]

One certainly could, although mine is destined to be another Lord President. Having built the A2/2 version it only seems right and proper to show how it should have been.

[will5210]

The speed & efficiency of your work never fails to amaze me!

Great stuff