G-Train Locomotive Works / Graeme King Joint Venture - GCR/LNER 4-6-0s - B3/1 & B7 available; B3/2 in progress

[Woodcock29]

Morgan thanks for that comment. I agree with you. I've never lined the edge of a driving wheel but might have a go at some stage with a bowpen in a compass as I have one. Firstly though I need to hone my skills with a bowpen.

Andrew

[jwealleans]

When I did all my locos for Grantham, I cut a slot in the edge of a piece of board and lined the wheels by sliding the axle into the slot and rotating the wheel as I held the pen/brush in place.

[Woodcock29]

I hadn't thought of that Jonathan, so thanks for that.
Andrew

[LNER4479]

Well, I don't want to cause too much excitement in the midst of the festive season but looked what just arrived in the post?

Looks like I'm gonna be busy test etch building in the new year

[Woodcock29]

Terrific news Graham and Happy New Year

Many thanks

Andrew

[Horsetan]

Well, I don't want to cause too much excitement .....

Too late

[LNER4479]

Well, I don't want to cause too much excitement .....

Too late

Nurse! Towels required over here, quickly please...

[Horsetan]

Well, I don't want to cause too much excitement .....

Too late

Nurse! Towels required over here, quickly please...

Isinglass drawings on order

[Horsetan]

Horsetan
Although I'm not sure what make of wheels you're talking about above in reference to LNER 6'8" and Midland 6'6" you might note that Markits LNER 6'8" wheels are in fact only 26mm ie 6'6"(actually 25.9mm over rim measured with my digital callipers). Presumably this is because of the closeness on LNER pacifics and the overscale flanges.

For what it's worth, the Markits wheels Andrew refers to are what I have used on the prototype build. I appreciate however that building in P4 brings with it different considerations. It will certainly be interesting to see an example built up for operation on P4.

Midland wheelsets have arrived from AGW. For comparison, I unearthed a set of Ultrascale Gresleys. Both types are 20-spoke. The differences are noticeable, with the Midland wheel having flared spokes into the hub much like the Great Central, but a quite short crank throw, whereas the Gresleys have a flat wheel face and a crankpin between the spokes. Unfortunately the Forum doesn't seem to accept photo uploads from i-Pads, so I'll have to find another method.

Elsewhere in the nit-picking stakes, one difficulty I've had is trying to find a clear face-on photo of the GC driving wheel. Almost all of the available 9P/B3 views are three-quarter ones which makes them near useless for identifying whether the crankpin is on or between spokes. Isinglass and the Sharman specs book say it's "on spoke". I came across a very aged shot of the wheelsets in works; the one clear view of the back of the leading driver suggested that the crank was between the spokes. It doesn't get any better.

[Horsetan]

[Seagull]

Elsewhere in the nit-picking stakes, one difficulty I've had is trying to find a clear face-on photo of the GC driving wheel. Almost all of the available 9P/B3 views are three-quarter ones which makes them near useless for identifying whether the crankpin is on or between spokes. Isinglass and the Sharman specs book say it's "on spoke". I came across a very aged shot of the wheelsets in works; the one clear view of the back of the leading driver suggested that the crank was between the spokes. It doesn't get any better.

I share your frustration about correct crankpin locations. I too have found several times that Sharman does not always match what I can see in photographs, though to be fair the latest issue seems to be much better.

If it's any help I have looked at many, many pictures of GCR Atlantics which I belive share the same wheels and I have no doubt that they are 6' 9" 20 spoke 26” throw and the crankpin is between spokes.

Alan

[Atlantic 3279]

Ivan- Evidence of B3 Valour's pins between spokes on its way to you by PM.

[Horsetan]

....I share your frustration about correct crankpin locations. I too have found several times that Sharman does not always match what I can see in photographs, though to be fair the latest issue seems to be much better....

The Isinglass drawings also have the odd error when it comes to wheels, although I don't know if that originates from referring to Sharman - John Edgson is no longer on this earth to say what source he used. I know the D49 wheel he depicted was incorrectly drawn and described as crank on spoke, when it was a Gresley wheel which was "between spokes".

If it's any help I have looked at many, many pictures of GCR Atlantics which I believe share the same wheels and I have no doubt that they are 6' 9" 20 spoke 26” and the crankpin is between spokes.

....which means a Gresley wheel would need modification to build up the face of the hub to suggest flared spokes.

Ivan- Evidence of B3 Valour's pins between spokes on its way to you by PM.

Many thanks - I'll have a look at that

EDIT: seen 'em now. So that means my Midland wheels are wrong. Looking at the wheels I used for a D11, AGW's 4880B (6'8" 20-spk, cbs) look near enough.

[Pebbles]

On the question of D49 wheels I suggest Yeadon's Vol 10 page 69 engine No 246.

[Horsetan]

On the question of D49 wheels I suggest Yeadon's Vol 10 page 69 engine No 246.

...or this?