The LNER Encyclopedia

Hi guys

just started a return to modelling following my house move and decided to have a go at something new rather than spend a couple of hours trying to dig out an existing project!

I chose to model an early version of the Ivatt/Gresley J6, this is based on some pictures I have and as a result is not the best 'scale' model ever- for example I think now that the boiler may be too big. however I am pleased with the results and look forward to making a dome over the next couple of days. The loco's body is scratch built in brass with the safety valve being a spare from an N2 kit and the smoke box door coming from a static 160 scale Flying Scotsman.

looking really nice? what mechanism is under it? Are those finescale wheels?

I think it certainly looks a lot like a J6, and the overscale boiler isnt really noticeable, even less so when painted I imagine. The real locos always look a bit 'overscale' in that proportion to me anyhow!

I dare you to try lining it out in full GNR livery....

Will

Hi Will,

Thanks for the comments, I have to say that the loco actually looks slightly better in the photo than in reality!

The loco is going to be a free running chassis with a Union Mills tender drive powering the loco. The wheels have been borrowed from my Union Mills J39 as the wheel base matches the photo I based the loco on perfectly (even though they're not the same in reality!).

The tender body is going to be made up in my usual way for an GNR pattern tender. This is by using a shortened and lowered tender body from an A3 (non-corridor type) and matching it to an appropriate tender chassis, weighted with lead and mounted on the tender drive unit. I toyed with the idea of making this from brass as well but bottled out (maybe next time).

I'm not taking you up on the GNR green though! This one will be in LNER black for my (to be built) 1930's layout based on Hitchen and Hornsey.

Anyway a couple more photos

do union mills sell their tender-drive mechanisms separate? I am working on a Farish Castle 4-6-0 mechanism into a Robinson 8F class (LNER B4), and tender drive would make things much easier.

Will

Yes they do. I bought one a few years back - it was 20-something pounds iirc.

Richard

Colin does sell the tender drives separately depending on stock levels. The last time I purchased a unit it was £25 for the drive and £30 for a complete unit including body. Colin sells a tender for his J11 which i think is suitable for most Robinson types