The LNER Encyclopedia

Hi all,

I'm still waiting for some bits to complete my J6 (although the tender body is largely complete) so in the meantime I've been playing with some new projects.

First off, I got a bonus at work so I decided to treat myself to a J52 kit and pannier tank chassis. Loco is almost complete and will be painted in the next few days.

Next, I've been playing with a Langley N2 to get the ride height down and also swapped the chassis, again for a 57xx pannier. Still need to know up a pony truck at the back but progressing nicely.

I found half an N2 kit in my bits box as well as a B12 cab. Armed with these I've decided to attempt to build a V1 tank engine. Chassis is a rewheeled V2 unit - running plate and rear pony still have to be made.

Finally, I've got a Q2 casting and wheels from UM, these are going to be used to create and non-motorised R1 again using an N2 body - if I can find another!

Unfortunately, I've scrapped my Atlantic project - too many problems getting the wheels to run well using the butchered UM set up. I'm planning to start again later this year with a scratch build body and chassis. The good news is my better half got to paint it for her desk at work and as a result I'm in her good books!

Pics below - sorry for the poor quality but were taken on my phone.

I've had an N2 kit that I've been working on over the past 6 months. It does need a lot of work to get it sit at a more reasonable level. It looks like you have more patience than me - I think mine still sits slightly too high.

Richard

bravo there- quite a nice loco stud.

I have a j63 from the same stable as that j52, but cannot find a modern mechanism to fit. after joining the 2mm society I got a horrible feeling someon is going to expect me to scrathcbuild a mechanism. stll- nice body kits

V1 would be a very useful n gauge rtr or kit actually.

keep up the good work. Is that a J11 in your pics by the way. If so, is that the Union Mills model?

Will

Hi guys thanks for the comments

Richard - yes doesn't the Langley kit sit high as built... Mines still a little too high (around 0.5 of a mm), and additional problems are now experienced with wheel/coupling rod clearences - some more work to be done with a file, I think. It has take some time, patience and alot of hitemetal removed to get this far. To be honest though, it didn't help that I'd already built the body and then decide to do something about the wheel spacing and hight!

Will - you can still get hold of the Minitrix dock tank via a certain online auction site. Failing that try N Brass - there is a chassis kit designed for 2mm which looks good for a J69 - not sure what the spacings where on the J63 but might be helpful.

I believe that Worsley Works do an etched kit for the V1/3 tank in 3mm scale - most of their etched kits can be made available in other scales for a price. Never used them so can't comment on the quality though...

Yes that is the UM J11 in the back ground, I am particulary found of the drive system - in fact all of my tender locos will be powered by UM drives in the future - even my V2's of which one was a non-runner won in an auction and the other will be fettled up out of spares I am aquiring.

I kept the 'original' Prairie chassis and didn't adjust the wheel spacing (or wheel flanges for that matter). I made the body first, but I don't think this makes much difference regarding the clearances. I had to file in the top of the firebox area, and inside the running plate. As the body is mainly one big casting, the former is probably just as inaccessible.

The running plate area needs to be done for the coupling rod clearance. In a worst case, you'll get lots of sparks as the rods short against the body. In a minor case and with some internal paint, you get a waddle.


Richard

You are going to have a lovely stud of locos before too long! I'm well impressed by your ingenuity and determination in following what is a fairly lonely road in modelling terms!Look forward to more,
Cheers,
Rob

Hi Rob,

That means a lot to me coming from someone such as yourself - your models are inspiring and push me to try new things to achieve a standard anywhere near close to yours.

You are right that N gauge does not offer the range in RTR or kits that OO and O does but I haven't the space for the layout I want in those scales! still a way to go though, I still want some 2-8-0s for my fleet (O1, O2 & O4s) of which the Foxhunter O4 is the only loco that I know of a kit for in N. Another K3 is also a must as is a J50.

Speaking of J50s I won a Graham Hughs kit on ebay for an arm and a leg. Due to the cost, I almost can't bring myself to build it. As Hughs kits are no longer available, I have though about using it as a master and casting a couple more but copyright reasons and and my own morals have prevented me from doing so. What are others views on doing this for personal use only (not for sale) with out of production kits?

Richard - sounds like I've got alot of 'playing' to do with my N2 yet!

Hi guys, spend an enjoyable few days playing with the J6 again and thought I'd post some pics of the progress so far.

Hi Steve,
Great progress-I love seeing a workbench like that,especially the last photo,really evocative.Sometimes you can let your imagination wander and get a small flavour of 1930's Doncaster works with all sorts of stock in a varying states of construction and overhaul lying around and(fanciful I know) for a few moments you are really transported in time....
Cheers!
Rob