James' workbench- ex-GC locos and stock in OO

[kimballthurlow]

Very nice machinery wagon and load, James.

Kimball

[James Harrison]

Thank you!

The machinery wagon was one of those 'I wonder if it could be done' sort of projects that generally start with a kit of 'x' and drawings of 'x' and 'y'. In this case, yes it can be done but if I were to set out to build another Mac B I'm not sure I'd start out with a Lowmac. I don't think there's a single part of the Dapol kit that can be used as it is. However; it is rather close to another GCR type (that came via the LDECR), so I could quite leigitimately have built it straight out the box.

The traction engine, well I had one of those small, far away, moments (I expected something a little larger I think. I don't know why- if it were much bigger it wouldn't fit on the wagon!) I've got a little list of improvements I want to make to it (it desperately needs steering chains and a repaint), and then of course I need to alter the wagon a little to actually chain it down!- split pins, jewellery wire and some pliers I think.

[jwealleans]

I suspect you will need to fold the chimney down on that engine to make it authentic, even if it is within the loading gauge. Most of them were hinged or could separate at the bottom for just this purpose.

[James Harrison]

Someone on the other side mentioned that too, I must admit my understanding (and I may well be wrong on this) is that the chimneys on traction engines and steam rollers don't fold down or detach, whereas on agricultural portable steam engines they do. It may well be a case of modeller's licence in keeping the chimney up if that isn't the case- being diecast I can't move the chimney, and it would be a shame (in my opinion) to go hacking it off.

A neat alternative of course would be to put the traction engine alongside a loading bay in the goods yard, to suggest it's either just been unloaded or is awaiting onward travel.

[drmditch]

I did a little research on the transport of steam ploughing engines and road rollers by rail.

See here ... Ploughing Engines...
and
....here....

To meet the loading gauge, the chimney and flywheel might need removing, and for the larger engines the cylinder block as well.

I'm sure I made a list of NRM photographs available, but I'll have to look it up.

[James Harrison]

Thanks for those links; even though they do throw a bit of a spanner in the works.

Hmmm. Looks like this traction engine won't be going home on the wagon then!

[nzpaul]

Don't forget rule 1 James, you can still run it if you want to. Maybe take the chimney off only, it might still make it under the loading gauge.

Cheers
Paul

[kimballthurlow]

.....

A neat alternative of course would be to put the traction engine alongside a loading bay in the goods yard, to suggest it's either just been unloaded or is awaiting onward travel.

Hi James,
It could be used as a tractor for a large machinery load on a trailer, which can be ready for loading on to the GC low wagon.
The load could be a pressure vessel (Bachmann do them), a fuel or ag tank, a stationery engine or large motor, or even a lorry.
You do need a gantry or crane for loading anyway, I guess.

regards
Kimball

[James Harrison]

.....

A neat alternative of course would be to put the traction engine alongside a loading bay in the goods yard, to suggest it's either just been unloaded or is awaiting onward travel.

Hi James,
It could be used as a tractor for a large machinery load on a trailer, which can be ready for loading on to the GC low wagon.
The load could be a pressure vessel (Bachmann do them), a fuel or ag tank, a stationery engine or large motor, or even a lorry.
You do need a gantry or crane for loading anyway, I guess.

regards
Kimball

That's rather a good idea I think.

[James Harrison]

Work on my DJH Pollitt 4-4-0 has reached the stage where I'm lining out.







It's quite a nice little kit and I'm sorry it's not available any more. This is also the first time I've got (almost) a finished kit and one of my own hackbashes, so it provided an opportunity for a sort of compare and contrast. Obviously my hackbash represents one of the saturated examples immediately pre-grouping (complete with longer frames and smokebox), whilst the kit is of the class slightly earlier (I'm modelling from a photo of one circa 1912/13), but it's still rather an interesting exercise.

[kimballthurlow]

The tenders on the Pollitt's are rather large for such a small loco.
Very interesting thanks.

Kimball

[James Harrison]

Never noticed that personally but funnily enough a friend of mine had the same reaction when he saw them!

Although, it is odd how much larger the DJH tender looks for having had plated coal rails fitted- it makes quite a large visual impact for such a small change.

[James Harrison]

Hmmm, the splashers (and especially the beading on the splashers) on my homebrew D6 really get shown up by the DJH kit. Let's do something about that.



Some 0.3mm plastic sheet and some 0.5mm plastic strip later... much better. I've also used up some scrap 0.3mm sheet to remove the daylight above the leading bogie. Next up: I'm sure I can do better with the smokebox saddle, and I'm considering rebuilding the tender.

[James Harrison]

So I had a look at the smokebox saddle and frames. The rear was easy enough- it just needed a radius filing into it- the front end though was at lot more involved and ultimately ended up being a matter of cutting it away entirely and replacing with a shaped block of balsa wood. It's not come out very clearly in the photograph so I'm afraid you'll have to take my word for it that it looks much better!- I'll have it cleaned up and painted by next time.

Meanwhile the kit version has been finished.

[James Harrison]

Both of the 4-4-0's are finished, so all that's left to do are show some nice photographs. First up, #871, which is a DJH kit.