N Gauge Atlantic

[TonyM]

When is somebody/anybody going to produce an N Atlantic. I keep nagging away to Colin Heard at Union Mills but so far no joy. I would have thought that it would be well worth it for Bachman to produce one, they were the mainstay of the ECML for years. I would have at least 3 if they did one Hacked off LNER fan Come on NGaugers start nagging it works with the wife
Tony

[richard]

A C1 or C7 might be grand to have, but the manufacturers have to balance relative demand. Union Mills can handle small batches better than any of the other RTR manufacturers, but he's limited to simple designs with simple liveries and with inside cylinders and valve gear.

The ones I hinted at were re-releasing the Q2 and B12, and for a new release the ROD. The ROD should be a good seller - it was used by all of the Big Four and had a good long life.

Richard

[Atso]

I agree that a C1 would be a great model to have in n gauge. However I think that there are many other locos that would take priority over the C1. I've been looking at the B12 and i think using a shortened body, outside cylinders (old Farish 2P spares?) and with a new cab a reasonable c1 could be produced. I've already built a GNR tender using a cut down A3 tender on a Union Mills tender drive in preparation for this conversion. I've asked Colin at Union Mills for a couple of B12 bodies to experiment on but I'm going to have to wait for his next production run.

[SteveSykes]

Wouldn't a C1 be rather difficult to do in N - the coupled wheelbase is such that there is very little space between the driving wheels. Either you would need to extend the wheelbase to cater for the N gauge flanges or use undersized drivers to compensate.

Regards,

Steve

[richard]

I've just been speaking with Colin Heard on the phone - he currently has B12s in stock - LNER Green and BR Black. Order now, before he sells out

The D20 will be re-released at the end of the year with body improvements.

He also has an SR 700 on the way in a few months time.

Richard

[smudger]

Have a look at the Pro-models site. They do a RTR ex-GCR Atlantic (C4 I think).

http://www.pro-models.co.uk/rail/products/products.htm

Expensive and not quite what you want. You could try nagging them to produce a C1

Alan

[TonyM]

Thanks smudger I have been to the site and yes they do have an Atlantic but what an ugly looking loco or at least what an ugly kit they have made. The `Jersey Lilies` were a really good looking loco thats why they were called `Jersey Lilies` after all, and the price is awful that is over $600.00 New Zealand dollars, that is outrageous. But thanks for the advice anyway
TonyM

[Atso]

Hi guys,

I've just had a response from Dave at Dapol regarding the possibility of the Teak Gresleys and producing an Atlantic in N gauge. The response I got was:

'Hi Steve,

Thanks for the mail.

We have no plans at present to produce the Gresley coaches in Teak livery,
and only then when we feel that sales levels of the Maroon ones have finally
justified a second production run of them. Sorry

Nice idea about the loco though, however what I would need to look at is the
viability versus, costs, versus potential sales ratios, before we even
seriously consider a loco such as this.

But I can guarantee that it is one I shall have a look at for you.

Kindest regards
Dave

Dapol Ltd'

While there is nothing definite here at least the suggestion has been put forward now. The Atlantic was a well travelled locomotive which must be a selling point, the only problem is (as far as I am aware) the last one was withdrawn in 1949 which restricts the periods it can be produced for - unless you want to model one as a stationary boiler!.

[Atso]

Came back home on Sunday to discover that Colin at Union Mills had sent me my two B12 bodies. Well the temptation was to great and the were quickly cut up. Here are a couple of pics of the progress to date.

[TonyM]

Hi Steve

Looking good so far
are you going to produce a `blow by blow` account? I would be very interested in that.
Takes a lot of nerve to cut up brand new locos.
Keep up the good work
TonyM

[Atso]

Tony, thanks for your kind words.

In a nut shell, the C1 has been produced by taking two B12 bodies (spare castings from Colin) and cutting them both behind the front splasher. Following this I filled the two ends square and stuck them together back to back. Then I removed one of the smoke boxes and shortened the boiler by around 6mm at the (newly created) front end. Cut the rear footplate to length and added the firebox sides using some plastic card. The cab was made out of 20 and 40 thou plastic card and will be filed to shape in time. The pony truck is a spare V2 truck from Graham Farish's spares department.

The tender uses a union mills tender drive and the body is made up using a V2 tender frame unit and a cut down non-corridor A3 body (shortened by around 5mm and lowered by around 1.5mm).

This is still a long way from being complete - I'm still waiting for Colin to send me some B12 wheels and a keeper plate. I've got some spare 2P cylinders from BR lines which will be added once I know how the loco will run.

Ok so that wasn't quite a nutshell. This is not quite a scale model but is no more than a mm or two out in any of the key dimensions.

[smudger]

Which chassis did you use, Steve? I'm presuming 2P/4P (not sure if these are the same).

Also, when you add the cylinders will you set them protruding above the foot-plate? Just wondering as I'd like a C1 too and your solution is pretty impressive.

I'd love to see more photos as you progress.

Alan

[Atso]

Alan,

Due to the way Union Mills locos are built (the body and top of the chassis are cast as a single unit), I've got no way of putting a GF chassis under the body. The wheels are UM B12 wheels and will be held in place by a modified UM keeper plate (once it arrives). I've made some cutouts to the footplate using a Dremel for the cylinders and I'll post some new pictures once I've got the whole contraption running!

The most difficult part of the project to date has been the removal of the cast handrails and reversing lever - this requires care.

Just to make everyone aware, this is not completley my idea - The original inspiration for this was seeing a C1 in an old copy of RM which was built in OO out of a Tri-ang B12. The article was about Louth and the information on the C1 was limited to a single caption below the photo.

[Atso]

Well I've managed to find some time to work on the C1. The main work has been painting the body green and working out how to sort out the cylinders and coupling rods. At present the loco's wheels are still not held in place by anything but I hope to be knocking up a keeper plate for it before I move house.

Some new pictures are below.