Make do and Mend - Keeping going

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Dave
LNER A4 4-6-2 'Streak'
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Re: Make do and Mend - A Q7/Sentinels/NER Coaches

Post by Dave »

The bending jig is very good, got mine some time ago for making grab handles on tanks.
WOOTANG
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Re: Make do and Mend - A Q7/Sentinels/NER Coaches

Post by WOOTANG »

drmditch

can i ask how you edited your pictures to allow them to be posted on the forum
JRS - Jordans Railway Simulator
drmditch

Re: Make do and Mend - A Q7/Sentinels/NER Coaches

Post by drmditch »

can i ask how you edited your pictures to allow them to be posted on the forum
All I did was select the best (from a bad bunch) from the camera, and reduce them in size to under 100kb.
I just used MS Office picture manager to trim and crop, and then compressed.

Sorry the pictures are not better.
drmditch

Re: Make do and Mend - A Q7/Sentinels/NER Coaches/A8

Post by drmditch »

Post_02.JPG
Many years ago I bought a DJH Kit for an LNER H1 (ex NER 4-4-4) tank engine. I have many times tried to get it assembled in such a way that it could go round my layout curves. The problem with the NER 3 cylinder locomotives is that the cylinders are quite low between the bogie wheels.
After several false starts, it has now been rebuilt as an A8 4-6-0, with a scratchbuilt cylinder and bogie assembly that lets it go round 24” radius curves.
Post_01.JPG
The bogie has a curved bearing slot, working with a pivot and spring on the locomotive frames. This pushes the bogie nearly 2mm forward as it goes round curves. The bogie wheelbase is 1mm too long, and the slide bars have been set outboard 1mm from the centre line of the cylinders. The cylinders themselves are made up of a brass frame, to which the slide bars are soldered, and then plastic built around this.
The cylinders fit flush with the valance on the footplate, as they should, and are the correct length and shape

It is coming on quite well now. Having come so far I want to get it finished, but there are still a couple of problems to solve. (Apologies for the quality of the photographs, and for the one green bogie wheel !)
Post_03.JPG
Last edited by drmditch on Wed Jul 18, 2012 10:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.
earlswood nob
LNER A4 4-6-2 'Streak'
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Re: Make do and Mend - A Q7/Sentinels/NER Coaches/A8

Post by earlswood nob »

Good morning all
I like the method of dealing with bogie wheels touching the cylinders. I have an A8 kit waiting to be built. I will keep your treatment in mind when I get around to building it.
Earlswood nob
drmditch

Re: Make do and Mend - A Q7/Sentinels/NER Coaches/A8

Post by drmditch »

Good. I'm glad my experience is useful. I should also point out that since the outside structure of the cylinders is plastic, it doesn't matter if the bogie wheels do touch briefly, although judging from the running so far they don't appear to rub at all.
Coboman
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Re: Make do and Mend - A Q7/Sentinels/NER Coaches/A8

Post by Coboman »

Wern't the cylinders and front bogie the same on the A8s and the H1s?
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Atlantic 3279
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Re: Make do and Mend - A Q7/Sentinels/NER Coaches/A8

Post by Atlantic 3279 »

These 'ere curved slots are catching on! Same principle works a treat on an A2/3 and for that matter on a B4 with full scale-size bogie wheels to clash with low-slung cylinders.
Most subjects, models and techniques covered in this thread are now listed in various categories on page1

Dec. 2018: Almost all images that disappeared from my own thread following loss of free remote hosting are now restored.
drmditch

Re: Make do and Mend - A Q7/Sentinels/NER Coaches/A8

Post by drmditch »

Coboman wrote:Wern't the cylinders and front bogie the same on the A8s and the H1s?
Yes they were. The DJH kit as supplied doesn't allow adequate clearance for 24" radius curves, and also doesn't make the outside of the cylinders flush with the footplate, hence my re-engineering. There were were circular housings on the rear of the cylinders when first built and rebuilt, (see my post on A8s under 'Locomotives and Rolling Stock and the very useful reply from Saint Johnstoun) but these were apparently discarded by 1947.
drmditch

Re: Make do and Mend - A Q7/Sentinels/NER Coaches/A8

Post by drmditch »

After a long period with no progress, I’ve finally managed to get back to this engine.
Post_04.JPG
Adding the detail has taken a long time. (Especially the tank filler caps, which I haven’t managed to take a good picture of yet.) The oil boxes also took some care and attention, and even then I’ve missed out a lot of the pipework. I have also added the angle-irons along the bottom of the tanks and bunker, and the pipe (balance pipe ?) along the bottom of both bunkers below the footplate.
Post_05.JPG
I’ve been worried about how to make and fit the rear sandboxes, because there isn’t a lot of room, but I think I see how to do it now. It is going to be finished as No 9870, which was a West Auckland engine in 1947.

Sorry again for the poor photographs. At least they do show up more imperfections than my naked eye does!
Post_06.JPG
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Atlantic 3279
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Re: Make do and Mend - A Q7/Sentinels/NER Coaches/A8

Post by Atlantic 3279 »

Looks nicely built and a thoroughly convincing A8.
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Blink Bonny
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Re: Make do and Mend - A Q7/Sentinels/NER Coaches

Post by Blink Bonny »

WOOTANG wrote:drmditch

can i ask how you edited your pictures to allow them to be posted on the forum
Ay up, WOOTANG!

Try using GIMP. It's my favourite price (free) and, if you size the piccies to 650 pixels max width and Bob's your Uncle.
If I ain't here, I'm in Bilston, scoffing decent chips at last!!!!
drmditch

Re: Make do and Mend - A Q7/Sentinels/NER Coaches/A8

Post by drmditch »

Finally, having purchased the DJH kit for an H1 in 1982, the A8 9870 is complete! Well, except for the vacuum standpipes which I only remembered after I'd taken the pictures, , and a couple of lubricator handwheels for the RH side which I need to get from Mr Alexander.
Post_07.JPG

There are a number of things wrong and/or missing, but there comes a time when I have to declare that more handling may just damage what is there already.
There are no brakes. I did have a plan for fitting them, but it is a very tightly spaced wheelbase and there is not much room. Also missing are the oil boxes on the cpoupling rod boxes. I only realised this after the rods were fitted and working. The bogie and trailing wheels have the wrong number of spokes. I was planning to replace them with the correct 12 spoke ones, but since the ones used are live to one side and the locomotive runs well, then I think they will just have to do.
Post_08.JPG
Even after my complete re-design and re-build, the cylinders are about 1mm too deep, but at least they are flush with the footplate valancing, unlike the DJH originals.
I had a problem with the bogie while running in. Everything was fine until I ran it on the Up line on the bottom level of the layout, where it derailed sometimes on a particular curved point. However, once the panic was over, a lead ballast weight under the bogie wheels solved the problem.

It now seems to be settling down to be a really useful engine!
Post_09b.JPG
The last picture shows more of my 'make do and mend' practice. The LMS van is re-worked Dapol (why are there no RTR LMS vans?) and the 52ft Brake Third is a recycling of the old Hornby 'short' gresley mouldings.
drmditch

Re: Make do and Mend - A Q7/Sentinels/NER Coaches/A8

Post by drmditch »

Fitted the vacuum standpipes. I don't know why the front one does not look vertical in the photographs. It does in reality.
Post_11a - Small.JPG
My little camera only seems to take good pictures in strong daylight. The flash makes the matt smokebox look very funny, and the relection fom odd surfaces gives a distorted impression. (This is just my way of saying that my engine looks better then the photographs - to me anyway!)
Post_10a - Small.JPG
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manna
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Re: Make do and Mend - A Q7/Sentinels/NER Coaches/A8

Post by manna »

G'Day Gents

Nice looking engine, looks good, I've seen a few vac standpipes bent to some odd angles, over the years. :P

manna
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