The LNER Encyclopedia

Doing the beading next, fine brass wire and low melt everything else has been done with hard solder.

Interestingly I used very fine wire for the beading on my first C12 built about 1980. When I visited Shipley Model Railway Society last year I saw the London Road Models J3 built by Frank Davies. He told me he filed 0.7mm wire flat on one side (he made a simple jig for doing this) and used that for the beading. When comparing it to photos I realised that the beading is actually quite chunky and that he had got it right. So I'll probably follow his lead with the two C12s I have to finish.

One comment on the Craftsman C12s I've got - I always thought the smokebox door wasn't quite right - the actual door's diameter is too big. When in UK last year I managed to get some replacement smokebox fronts from London Road Models which I intend to use.

Andrew

As I found by experience on one occasion, brass wire can be very much work-hardened by the time you've filed it flat on one side. It may have to be annealed again before it will bend without breaking.

Will see how I like it using o.33mm wire then make a decision.

fingers crossed.

Put some beading on and i don't think it looks too bad still some cleaning up to do:

More work on the C12 done, I've added more beading fitted the boiler bands and the Ross Pops as well as the buffer bodies:



and another angle:

Wow, that's looking fantastic! I'm going to have to revisit my N gauge version having seen this!

Bit more work on the C12, most of the handrails now on together with the dome and the leading and trailing wheels have been trial fitted:



And from the other side:



might have to stop for a few days as I have a 7mm D34 to paint in BR lined Black.

Frame pieces now added:

Chimney now added together with the whistle, more handrail knobs and brake stands, although you cannot see them I have now put brass bushes in the leading bogie and trailing truck:

]

steam heat pipes and Smoke box lubricators now fitted together with a chimney and dome from LRM:

Looking good. When I was in the UK last year I picked up several LRM C12 smokebox doors - these look much better than the Craftsman version which appears too big in diameter and lacks the seating ring. I particularly like the LRM dome - I'll have to get some of those!

Keep up the good work.

Andrew Emmett

I have mixed feelings about some of the LRM cast brass fittings. If the shape appears spot-on and the finish almost perfect, the news is good. If the shape isn't quite right and needs alteration, or there are casting defects or feeds to clean off before use, then the hard brass makes the job hard work.

Basically just removed the casting sprue and gave the castings a gentle sand and that was it, to be honest they are much better quality than the castings that were in the box with the loco.

Paul

You have a point about the hardness of brass castings Graeme. However, I will still be looking to get a couple of domes. I was intending to get a couple of the tall C12 chimneys but I'm not convinced at all about the shape of those they lack the demarcation of the classic 3 sections of the GN chimneys in my view.

Andrew