Nu-Cast P2 - Rebuild using RTR Components

[Saint Johnstoun]

Thanks Graeme, you've confirmed what I always thought. Indeed many years ago I started to build a neverwas version of the A4 Cock O the North style and simply was going to build up the top half of the boiler with filler as I had sussed this out even then. That particular project never got off the ground and the body, along with some other bits, got lost in the move back to Scotland.

I suppose to do the job properly it needs a good master creating from which bodies can be cast. I wonder if it would be possible to produce both versions by making the body in two parts - the extra deflectors on 2002 could be etched add ons.

There is a catch - the boiler cladding on the original pair is straight along the top, on the later four and the two rebuilt it is curved along the top akin to but not the same as the A4s.

A

[S.A.C. Martin]

Can of worms! Study of suitable photos and drawings shows that: Lower half was semi circular, upper half semi elliptical to cover the dome. Top line was dead straight for the full length (edit: on the first two locos anyway, the Bugatti-noses having a sloping section in front of the dome position as St J. points out in his next post), yet the sides followed the underlying part-tapered contours of the Pacific-derived boiler and the reverse taper of the firebox. Working out the shapes to which the plates needed to be cut, forming them up correctly, and producing decent joints must have been an interesting job for the sheet-metal men.
It was certainly NOT just the parallel sided tube that seems to feature in many models.

Looking at my Isinglass P2/3 drawing (for 2006) against the Isinglass A4 drawings I have, there's little if any correlation in the actual curve of the nose except in the basic wedge shape. The A4 nose is much more inclined (slanted?) than the P2 nose which is also longer. I had always thought the A4 front end was the most complex job but the P2s are arguably more complex.

I'd always wondered if 2001's casing was elliptical, but could never work out why. Thanks for that Graeme, food for thought. Possibly the best way if anyone did want to cast resin copies at this stage is to design a mould in CAD which can be 3D printed and cleaned up to make the complex shape.

But then arguably, a decent 3D render of the basic shape could lead to a direct print which would be easier to modify as a one off for a model.

[Wolf of Badenoch]

I was just about to buy one of the Nu Cast P2's when I noticed that PDK models were listing one of the Bugatti nosed versions for future release on page 5 of their price list. I contacted them and was informed that this should be available by the end of the year. Knowing these things tend to slip it will probably be 2013, but I would prefer to wait for what will probably be a predominently etched brass loco?

Here's hoping they get the interest they need to bring this one through to production.

[S.A.C. Martin]

Just been informed that my spare parts arrived today for the cut'n'shut P2 improvement project. The P2 itself will follow this week, so I am looking forward to this (along with two other projects which will be in the same package) to work on over the next few months. Now I've got 62822 finished to an acceptable stage (and will be finished this weekend), the P2 is next in the queue.

The one thing I have realized I need to address are the buffers. Where can I find suitable (sprung or unsprung) replacements - or will nicking the set off the front of a spare Hornby A4 bodyshell be suitable?

Particularly given I notice the Nu-cast P2 has buffers with a wide round base - definitely not prototypical.

[Horsetan]

.....The one thing I have realized I need to address are the buffers. Where can I find suitable (sprung or unsprung) replacements - or will nicking the set off the front of a spare Hornby A4 bodyshell be suitable?.....

If they are the Spencer's "double-sprung" type, might be worth contacting Branchlines for the Kean-Maygib set. I can't remember if KM make A4-specific ones.

[Atlantic 3279]

Nearly what I was about to say......

The Kean-Maygib range, when you can actually get any, includes working Spencer double case buffers in the streamlined pattern. They are a bit fiddly to assemble the first time around, unless you are thoroughly accustomed to that kind of thing. Branchlines or Blacksmith models may for instance have stock, if available at present. Others may have them too.

[S.A.C. Martin]

Thanks chaps, I will investigate. Definitely worth getting to improve the look of that front end further.

[Horsetan]

The reason why I mentioned Branchlines is because they, above all other retailers, seem to have no trouble getting hold of stocks of KM sprung buffers.

[mick b]

Got some Spencers from Branchlines a couple of months ago, good service too.

[S.A.C. Martin]

I'll give them a ring on Tuesday then.

One of the things which has surprised me is a photograph on page 172 of my copy of RCTS 6B. I'm waiting on the Yeadon's Register I ordered recently before I make a final decision on livery and form, but it does look unlikely that the combination of NE and 2006 is correct.

The photograph on page 172 of RCTS shows 2006 with LNER on the tender, but in plain black livery, with white warning panels, one behind each buffer, which has white surrounds to its buffer heads. According to the caption, it was to "improve visibility during blackout conditions". It's a fascinating variation which I'm actively considering modelling. It looks so strange, and must have been short lived (less than a year?) by my reckoning, as the photograph is August 1943 and 2006 was rebuilt early in 1944.

I'm also not convinced, as I am yet to find a photograph of it (Yeadon's may offer up new evidence unless someone can tell me otherwise?) that the streamlined casing ahead of the cylinders was removed.

One piece of luck has occurred - I have a suitable whistle for the P2 as I needed a wartime LNER one, which Hornby have modeled on their Sir Charles Newton model, of which I have a damaged body spare to cut up for the cab anyway.

Planning out this build is proving fruitful, at least I'll know what needs to be done where! (For a change...!)

[Saint Johnstoun]

Be warned - an A4 kylchap outer casing is NOT the same as a P2 one. The P2 casing is much longer as the P2 smokebox is longer than the A4!

[S.A.C. Martin]

Be warned - an A4 kylchap outer casing is NOT the same as a P2 one. The P2 casing is much longer as the P2 smokebox is longer than the A4!

I meant to write "whistle" - whoops!

I knew about the chimney, but thanks for the reminder. I'm going to adapt a resin chimney I got from Graeme as per the P2 drawings I have.

[Saint Johnstoun]

You can get a feel of the differences from my graphic below.

There's a catch though - can anybody spot the accidental mistake in selecting the correct drawing?

[Pebbles]

Thane of Fife had a single chimney.

[Saint Johnstoun]

Yes - I copied and cropped the wrong file first time round - here is the corrected version