The LNER Encyclopedia

They need to be in a presentable static condition too though. I know 4771's middle cylinder has most of it's gear missing

Isn't Green Arrow in need of a new casting for that cylinder block? Does anyone know roughly what would need replacing to get the pair of them into steam?

I've read an estimation somewhere of £25,000 for the new cylinder block and it's castings for 4771

Cheaper than a new boiler for FS, or take ten for the price of a new tram at Crich!

When cylinder renewal was required on the V2s a resort was made to separate castings - the locos involved were easily identified by the outside steam pipes. Green Arrow never received separate cylinders and was therefore the ideal candidate for preservation. The snag now is that the loco has been in service on and off for a further forty years past it's sell by date and would in the normal course of things received new cylinders. Withdrawn in 1962 for preservation it didn't get to the cylinder replacement stage whereas some members of the class got new cylinders as late as 1962.

Would it be possible to have three separate castings, but with inside steam pipes?

A fair enough question I suppose, and I imagine three such castings could be made. Would there however be any advantage over a new monobloc in terms either of initial cost or of future maintenance costs within the foreseeable future "in steam" life of the loco, given its inevitably limited use in preservation? Also, would the NRM go for the idea anyway? My impression is that they have taken the position that the original monobloc casting must remain in the loco in order to preserve its value / provenance /authenticity as a technical exhibit.

An update at last!

A Railroad A4 cab has now been grafted onto the 4-8-2 body, further sanding carried out, removal of the RHS steampipe, (which I had retained for alignment purposes), and first coat of grey primer.

The latter has of course revealed where I still have further filling and sanding to do. The running plate requires the most attention, as expected, at the joint with the cab and where the two Doncaster bodies were joined. The boiler joint itself appears seemless.

There is also a residue of the old boiler bands near to the splashers where sanding proves more awkward.
I am pleased with the overall balance of the model which I hope remains unmistakably Gresley.

Cracking model Gromit!

Cor!

G'Day Gents

Except for Adolf poking his nose in, in 1939, we could have had some of them running up and down the ECML, what a *******.

Wonderful looking loco, Ahhhhhhh !

manna

Boy that looks great, and in primer and unfinished, excellent work.

Steve

Very nice. And looking every bit as powerful as it's cousin's on the RHDR.

Suggestion Jim, if you feel brave enough to have a go: A really sharp scraper with a "straight across" end, such as a small wood chisel or even the largest typical size of jeweller's screwdriver (which MUST be freshly stoned to have clean, square, sharp edges) would remove those awkward residual bits of boiler band in no more than a few light, staedy, repeated upward "draw strokes" starting in the angle between boiler and running plate.

Very Gresleyesque, Earl - you've lost nothing of the essence there. It's a wonderful model, strangely cringe-inducing and wonderful at the same time . It looks the business, though. Good work!