Atlantic's works: Portable layout - Scenic details next

[mick b]

Top work .
It will be interseting to see how you mate this with the original footplate which I presume is the usual Bachmann metal?
What is the thinking of this build instead of using one of the available kits? Spare loco or just the challenge perhaps ?

[Atlantic 3279]

My "top work" unfortunately didn't include adding the steps that go in the upcurve of the running plate, alongside the position that will be occupied by the lowest section of the smoke deflectors. Realising that I had omitted them, and deciding that these ought to be soldered on for strength, I spent ages last night trying to shape and tidily attach something to suit my final purpose - which I will reveal at a later date.

[Atlantic 3279]

Step omission now rectified, and a suitable new smokebox saddle and valve cover(???, or is it a steam duct?) added ahead of the saddle. Lifting hole positions marked in on the top-fronts of the frames, lamp iron fitting positions marked too, and square bases for buffers added to the bufferbeam. Some further work also done to the underside of the new running plate, to fit in with some simplified ideas that I've had regarding the necessary changes / extension to the front of the chassis. I've also discovered, rather conveniently, that when I hang the cylinders on a new stretcher, higher up and further back, they need to be further apart compared to the current moulded Bachmann configuration. That will win me valuable clearance between the leading crankpins and the backs of the slidebars which will lie over those crankpins on the modified loco. Observations and measurements of the Bachmann chassis standing on Toytown second radius even suggest to me that the chassis may still cope with these curves when the bogie is moved 10mm forwards and the cylinders placed behind it - although it may not be possible to fit front steps if this extreme of performance is wanted. Still, this is quite a surprise, with possible implications for B16 models as recently discussed in the "RTR Poll" thread.

[S.A.C. Martin]

It really looks the part chap. I'm particularly impressed with how convincing the overall shape is - there's a particular kit of said Pacific type that doesn't quite get the curve right in my opinion, this looks much more realistic.

[Atlantic 3279]

I had an interesting and frustrating experience in connection with that curve last night. I was trying to plot and cut the shape for a couple of front frame extension overlays to fit directly under this piece of running plate, working directly from the Isinglass drawing. Since that shows a right side and a left side of a loco, and I wanted two frame pieces with detailed face-sides and plain backs, it seemed expedient to plot one shape from each drawn side elevation of the loco. When I compared to two results, each of which matched the source drawing, I was forced to conclude that both the curve, and the relative heights / frame depths at the front of the loco had been drawn marginally differently for the two sides .

I suppose this proves, as if proof were needed, that the two elevations were drawn up by hand, using traditional methods, with no short cuts in those days such as scanning a skeleton drawing for one side then printing it mirror-imaged for completion to suit the other side.

Further evidence that the late great Mr Edgson was human, like the rest of us, perhaps stems from his depiction of rivets/bolt-heads/cover plates on the frames. The cover plates that he depicts show up barely, if at all, in the photos I've seen, whereas at least two rows of rivets/bolt heads that he omitted are fairly prominently visible.

The horizontal steam ducts ahead of the cylinders also seem to be drawn to different lengths on the two elevations of the loco. Does anybody know if this is merely a drawing discrepancy, or a faithful depiction of what was the truth?

[davidwest]

Excellent piece of scratch building Graeme!

[Atlantic 3279]

I threw away my first tatty attemps at front frame overlays, unfinished. Not only had the problem with the drawing upset things, but I'd gone too far in trying to make them very thin (for reasons which may become apparent later) and had paid the price for using too much solvent on thin plastic . I then had a good look at the Isinglass drawing, comparing dimensions on the right and left elevations, and concluding that on my print of it at least, the second bogie wheel on the left side was about 1mm too far forward, amongst other things....
I also had some very useful input in the way of an image from one of our members who resides, I believe, in Portugal (?) - lucky chap.
Having corrected and added to the drawing, to my satisfaction at least, I then set about another careful attempt at making some frame pieces. The plain backings of these are still only 20 thou plastikard (a slight improvement on the 15 thou that I first tried to get away with) and the bolt-head-embossed overlays are 5 thou. I was much more careful with the solvent this time. I won't be adding the mini-splashers for the bogie wheels until I've tried the frames out for real and checked that there is enough clearance for those wheels.

Here they are Blu-Tacked in place under the front running plate to give a preview of the likely finished appearance.

Perhaps the next item to make is a smokebox extension ring, followed by some alterations to details of that cab, now that I know it will fit.

[Atlantic 3279]

No sooner said than done, or started at least...

I'm bringing the cab into the 21st century's modelling standards. I've begun by removing the moulded handrails and drilling for new pillars, also removing the broad band of moulded "beading" that existed around the upper cut-out and applying a strip of 10 thou plastic down the full rear edge to represent the narrow beading more effectively. I'll also need to modify the roof ventilator, enlarge the spectacles, add a lower cabside access point to a firebox mudhole door, and possibly do something about the arrangement of levels of the cab floor. The attached piece of firebox will then need some new washout plugs and an extension to the reversing rod cover. A mere five minutes work then......???

[Atlantic 3279]

The smokebox extension is, I'm glad to say, quite simple. The Bachmann smokebox front is detachable, and three "telescoped" rings of 20 thou plastikard, 5.5mm wide, to give a 24mm external diameter, plug in niceley to the smokebox and allow the front in turn to plug back in in the new position. Some blending of the visble parts of the joint and substitution of a double chimney will of course be required.

[S.A.C. Martin]

Really impressed chap, it is coming together beautifully. The smokebox arrangement surprises me - perhaps I never looked closely enough, but I simply did not realize how much longer the Thompson smokebox was than the Peppercorn A2 which followed it!

[Saint Johnstoun]

I'd always reckoned that once the Peppercorn A2 had landed from Bachmann the possibilities of the Thomsons came along as conversions - I'll be interested to see the final result.

I fancy a go at the rebuilt Great Northern myself!

[manna]

G'Day Gents

The smokebox ring, totally changes the look of the A2.

I always fancied ' Watling Street' but I doubt I ever saw her ! Did she ever get to KX ?

manna

[rob237]

...I always fancied ' Watling Street' but I doubt I ever saw her ! Did she ever get to KX ?

Quite often, I'd suggest. Although regularly subject to Grantham engine change.
Long time Gateshead loco...
Cheers
Robt P.

[Atlantic 3279]

If all goes to plan, or at least something like it, completion of this conversion should put me in a position to greatly simplify the job for anybody else who happens to fancy a similar loco. It is of course still early days.....

[Saint Johnstoun]

Pity the Bachmann V2 has those niggling wrong details or that would be an easy conversion to an A2/1 using the body with an extended front end. I even did a drawing layover to see what would be required ages ago but the lack of a suitable RTR chassis put me off.