Great British Locomotives Magazine

[Saint Johnstoun]

I've studied the detail on my drawings, which were taken up and redrawn from those in the RCTS Bible, and it would not be too difficult to create these beasts - basically a bit of adjustment at the firebox end to lengthen things by a foot and things like boiler bands would have to be repositioned. If one used a Bachmann A1 chassis then the wheelbase etc. would be right. Once I have finished the four I have in progress I may well have a go myself! The one with the exposed smokebox - I have the remains of an A3 somewhere which would oblige!

[S.A.C. Martin]

Bit rough and ready, not finished yet but I've started cutting and shaping the valances on my Hornby chassis GBL A4. Lots to do, as I say on the blog, but thoroughly enjoying the project nonetheless.

Click here: Valances and Bath Tubs

Also, City of Lancaster on finished chassis, with tender body fitted to Hornby tender frames.

[2002EarlMarischal]

Coming on well Simon!

Good luck with fixing the A4 buffers!

[Pebbles]

With reference to any proposed streamlined Pacifics of the post Gresley era. Arthur Peppercorn included in his Christmas card of December 1947 a sketch of a proposed streamlined Pacific (most likely his A1). This is illustrated on page 98 of "British Steam Horses". it can be seen that some issues of accessibility had been addressed. Like anyone else, I have no idea how LNER express locomotives would have evolved but, December 1947 does seem most likely to be the LNER's final thoughts before nationalisation.

[Saint Johnstoun]

There is no official outline diagram of the version shown on Arthur Peppercorn's Christmas Card and I have always considered it to be something with artistic licence rather than what was actually proposed. All the proposed designs I have emulated have come from official outlines, usually as shown in the RCTS green bibles!

I thought this until photos of a model were located in several places.

Also I'm struggling for a source of chime whistles and buffers for my GBLC A4 etc. upgrades - any suggestions?

[Kestrel]

Has anyone seen these? The poor chap gets tongue tied.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwS_IQo0858

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyVlOwTU1vk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4k3wApTMIYw

[Saint Johnstoun]

Definitely an 'Amateur' production.

[S.A.C. Martin]

Maygib buffers if you can get hold of them - I have six sets and that's nowhere near enough. Going to try and source some more if possible.

Chime whistles - no idea, also stuck for a source of chime whistles. Perhaps as a group we could persuade someone to invest in an after market product?

[Saint Johnstoun]

I wonder if one of my Model Engineering pals could be persuaded to turn some whistles up from brass bar? leave it with me!

[Pebbles]

Just a thought, it looks to me that the buffer housing is of a similar size to the Hornby. I wonder whether Alan Gibson could provide a suitable sized buffer head and spring, it only needs a groove behind the buffer head as per Hornby (rotate in a mini drill and use a piecing saw), and the housing appropriately drilled.

[Manxman1831]

Chime whistles were available through 247 - think they were the Markits/Romford range, so expect appropriate pricing for each one.

[mick b]

Chime whistles were available through 247 - think they were the Markits/Romford range, so expect appropriate pricing for each one.

Wouldnt recomend them I bought one from 247 weirdest shape ever let alone the OTT price.

[Atlantic 3279]

With meticulous care and use of suitable, supported tools it isn't impossible to turn up a 4mm scale whistle, especially something fairly stout like the chime whistle, from brass rod in the chuck of an electric drill.

[Pebbles]

For the whistle use hard brass; soft brass will cause all sorts of problems. If possible hold the drill in a vice, my weapon of choice is a fine triangular needle file. Only have enough brass to protrude from the chuck at any one time and file the thinnest parts first. So for example the sprig is formed then the brass is moved further out of the chuck and filed/formed to the diameter of the thickest part of the whistle. The whistle can then be grooved and finally parted-off using the file giving an approximate shape to the whistle. You can of course do all this by eye but I generally use one of the cheap electronic gauges; mine came from Lidl.

[earlswood nob]

Good morning all
Thanks for the tips, Pebbles, I shall try your method out.

Earlswood nob