Atlantic's works: Portable layout - Scenic details next

[60800]

It's a shame I couldn't make it

[Atlantic 3279]

Received from the excellent Mr Gilbert in this morning's post, what we hope will be the final versions of the Thompson A2 valve gear, the A1/1 Great Northern valve gear, the smoke deflectors, and a separate bonus etch of expansion link extras for multilayer-fetishists.

I've yet to inspect them closely although I gather Morgan already has done. Tim Easter tells me he has had a good look at a set too. I'll report and post images when I can, as I'm working feverishly on overdue written instructions at present.

Costs are likely to be approx £15 for either set of valve gear, the same for a complete etch of four kinds of smoke deflector plus grate linkages.

[Atlantic 3279]

With two sets of comprehensive instructions for valve gear drafted today I could stare at the F'computer no more, even If I still needed to write up the whole of the remainder of the A1/1 method.
So........amongst other things I thought I'd better make a start on these. Completion certainly won't occur soon, but I'm working slowly via a reshuffle of Pacific body parts towards what I hope will be some useful masters for a W1 revisit (hence the long V-front Finecast cab roof seen below) and the two Thompson pacific types so far missing from my range of efforts - the A2/1 and A2/2 carved out of a Gresley A1 body.
A casting for the A4 front apron which seems to vanish off nearly all spare bodies before they come onto the market may also be produced.
At last a gentleman with a very big train set will be able to see that I have now actually made a start towards the W1.
Donor A4 bodies:

W1: Unequal cuts (a couple of mm either side of the mid-firebox cladding band) followed by re-joining create an increase in length of a little over 5mm. Making good of gaps, and alterations to the cab follow later.

A large lump of A4 body is now spare. The V cab will be doctored to suit the Thommo pacific, and my previously adapted A1/1 resin smokebox with Morgan's wind-vane etches will find a home too.

[davidwest]

All of a sudden I'm grateful I've got a number of spare A4 bodies!

[Manxman1831]

Any thoughts on revisiting the streamlined Mountain at all?

Would any of Saint Johnstoun's concept drawings take your fancy to try and produce in model form?

[Saint Johnstoun]

There is about enough of one of the A4 bodies left to create a streamlined B17!

[Atlantic 3279]

No more room on the "to do" list at present for further neverwazzers, much as I like the look and the idea of a non-streamlined counterpart to my existing 4-8-2.

I think the truncated A4 body's shape has distinct limitations in respect of an accurate portrayal of a B17/5, but should anybody fancy it, then it wouldn't hurt me too much to let it go.

[S.A.C. Martin]

All looking terrific Graeme. Looking forward to being able to order the etches!

How will you adapt the A1 components for the A2/1?

[2002EarlMarischal]

You're about to have us all on the edge of our seats again Graeme!

Very much looking forward to the production run of resin castings and etches etc.

Respite from Olympic mania!

[Horsetan]

.....a separate bonus etch of expansion link extras for multilayer-fetishists....

*pricks up ears*

[45609]

*pricks up ears*

*dangles etch shaped carrot*

[Horsetan]

*pricks up ears*

*dangles etch shaped carrot*

Extra Expansion links.jpg

*neighs with approval*

[Blink Bonny]

Arf! Arf!

[Atlantic 3279]

As mentioned a couple of days ago:

The "standard" valve gear etches now include extra layers for the expansion links, as you can see, and the A1/1 version includes an optional two-piece radius rod with forked rear end. The idea of the funny square bracket with top and bottom bits of expansion link only attached, in the A2 etch and in the "extras" etch, is that this holds parts in place while you build a two layer link - suiting the A2 application and possibly some other situations. The A1/1 link is designed to be a three layer one if desired.
The smoke deflectors are now etched so that the tabs can be left on the bottom edge and used as mounting pegs.

[2002EarlMarischal]

Just superb - well done both! May the resin and etched parts range grow and grow!