GCR conversions

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earlswood nob
LNER A4 4-6-2 'Streak'
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GCR conversions

Post by earlswood nob »

G'day all
Bachmann’s O4 chassis already is being used for a base of other GCR/LNER locos.
I produced this chart to aid my own thoughts on producing models which are not currently available.

B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 B8 B9 O4/3
Boiler Diam 5'6 5'6 5'0 4'9 5'6 5'6 5'6 5'0 5'0
Boiler Length 17'3 17'3 15'0 15'0 15'0 17'3 17'3 15'0 15'0
Firebox length 8'6 8'6 8'6 7'9 8'6 8'6 8'6 7'9 8'6
Total length 25'9 25'9 23'6 22'9 23'6 25'9 25'9 22'9 23'6
Boiler pitch 8'11 8'11 8'6 8'3 8'11 8'11 8'8 8'3 8'6
Footplate length 39'2 39'2 37'11 36'10 37'4 39'2 39'2 36'10 37'10
Footplate height 1'1 1'9 1'0 0'9 0'10 1'10 0 0'9 0
Cab length 4'9 4'9 5'2 5'2 4'6 4'2 4'8 5'2 4'7
Over buffers 63'0 63'0 61'11 60'9 61'2 63'0 63'0 60'9 61'8

The row entitled footplate height is the maximum difference between footplate sections.
The thing which stands out is that an O4 with a large boiler tube and slightly longer footplate with modified splashers will produce a B8. There are other possible conversions, but they all require new footplates.
Earlswood Nob
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Atlantic 3279
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Re: GCR conversions

Post by Atlantic 3279 »

I've just been checking on the full range of GC locos covered by my latest resin chimneys, along with appraising the range of spare bits that I now have left over from other projects. Lots of GC options present themselves. I couldn't possibly comment on which one(s) I'm considering at this stage.......

Does anybody else now feel that the Bachmann D11/1 chimney is far too much in the "true Robinson GCR" style to be a proper representation of the 1930's Gorton "mock Robinson" chimney fitted to Prince albert and (I believe) the "restored" Butler-Henderson?
Last edited by Atlantic 3279 on Mon Feb 25, 2013 9:17 am, edited 1 time in total.
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earlswood nob
LNER A4 4-6-2 'Streak'
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Re: GCR conversions

Post by earlswood nob »

G'day all
Well that was a flop, the nice table I produced looked good on the submits page, but has reformatted on posting.
Regarding GCR/LNER chimneys:
Dave Slater of Dean Siding is looking into selling individual parts from his kits after many requests.
He supplied three 1'3" chimneys with his L1/L3 kit. I think the D11/1 had a 1'3 chimney. I'll have to look at my old BEC D11.
I made the 1'3" by slicing the Craftsman A5 chimney (1'5") in two and soldering the bits together.
A supply of GCR chimneys would help a lot of modellers.
Earlswood Nob
Horsetan
LNER P2 2-8-2
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Re: GCR conversions

Post by Horsetan »

Butler Henderson carries the "near-reproduction" chimney, not the original style it was outshopped with. Even that is much better than the flower pot it had in early LNE days.
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Atlantic 3279
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Re: GCR conversions

Post by Atlantic 3279 »

Thought so, in which case the Bachmann version has far too conical a base to represent such a chimney.
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45609
GCR D11 4-4-0 'Improved Director'
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Re: GCR conversions

Post by 45609 »

Atlantic 3279 wrote:Does anybody else now feel that the Bachmann D11/1 chimney is far too much in the "true Robinson GCR" style to be a proper representation of the 1930's Gorton "mock Robinson" chimney fitted to Prince albert and (I believe) the "restored" Butler-Henderson?
Yes. Mentioned here along with the other things that I thought weren't right with the Bachmann model.

You might also recall (if not here is a link) I went to some effort to determine the difference in shape of the A5 chimney some time ago. Perhaps a little rework of this could yield a drawing of the D11 chimney shapes. Would this be of use?
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Atlantic 3279
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Re: GCR conversions

Post by Atlantic 3279 »

I've not been paying sufficient attention to the material you've already posted, have I? If you feel inclined to repeat the drawing exercise, it will be interesting to see the result and copare it with views of my new "ambiguous" 5mm high resin Gorton chimney.
Could you re-work the A5 chimney shape to D11 pattern using simple top pressure from one of those P4 brownshirt size 11 boots?
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jwealleans
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Re: GCR conversions

Post by jwealleans »

size 11 boots?
10.83, surely?
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Saint Johnstoun
LNER A3 4-6-2
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Re: GCR conversions

Post by Saint Johnstoun »

I'm working on a more comprehensive table of GCR locos to enable an accurate comparison to be made. Will post as an attachment when ready so it stays in format.

Perhaps a solution which would benefit all would be the creation of a selection of resin components that when put together could create most types.

1. Smokeboxes

2. Boilers

3. Fireboxes

4. Cabs.

You could I suppose add chimneys and domes to this.

Then all the modeller would have to do was deal with the chassis, running plate etc.
jwealleans
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Re: GCR conversions

Post by jwealleans »

I thought Rob Bergin had posted a link to a company producing backheads, some of which might be of use, but I can't locate it now. Anyone else remember?
Manxman1831
NER C7 4-4-2
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Re: GCR conversions

Post by Manxman1831 »

Wasn't Butler-Henderson scanned using the same gear that was used to scan Deltic when that was done as an NRM special? In which case, possibly it may be the fault of the software that the model doesn't look right in some quarters?
Brian

Anything weird or unusual will catch my interest, be it an express or locomotive

I'm also drawn to the commemorative, let's hope Bachmann will produce 6165 Valour.
Woodcock29
LNER Thompson B1 4-6-0 'Antelope'
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Re: GCR conversions

Post by Woodcock29 »

Hello Atlantic 3279 and others

I'm just in the process of finishing off my BR D11/1 as Marne - had to wait a very long time for the plates! I have paired it with a Bachmann O4 tender with Atlantic's water pick up covers, suitably modified to reduce the width on the front section. I have fitted the O4 tender body onto the D11/1 tender chassis to keep the nice Bachmann pickups and connection - just needed to narrow down the top of the chassis to fit the narrower body. I have cut away the centre bogie mount to fit the frame extensions correctly and modified the guard irons. The awful chimney came off without much persuasion - I am considering the options at the moment. I have a couple of brass chimneys that are suitable to replace the poor Bachmann version. One I got from PDK from their D11/1 kit and the other I can't remember where it came from. They were both set aside for other kits - one to go on the Little Engines D10 which I have still to build and the other on my B8 being made from an old Ks B2 I picked up for a song - badly built which came apart easily and a chassis which I had etched locally here in South Australia by Steam n Things (also got a footplate, valances, splashers, front frame extensions and cab etched as well - a bit expensive but a one off project!).

Back to the chimney - I also considered using the chimney off a Bachmann WR ROD after removal of the capuchon but I think the rim is a trifle too narrow maybe ? ( I got the ROD to provide the basis for my Bill Bedford O4/5 but with the correct shaped footplate and so I could use the cab - with correct roof on my O4/3 which is now completed).

The idea of a various boilers, fireboxes, cabs etc being made to suit the various GC locos is certainly appealing.

Woodcock29
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Atlantic 3279
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Re: GCR conversions

Post by Atlantic 3279 »

jwealleans wrote:
size 11 boots?
10.83, surely?
Presumably they'll only ever buy their chidren's shoes from Clarks in order to get the correct width fitting as well as the overall size.
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jwealleans
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Re: GCR conversions

Post by jwealleans »

only ever buy their children's shoes from Clarks
I'm not sure I'd buy shoes from Mike Clark - can you imagine what the laces might be like?
earlswood nob
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Re: GCR conversions

Post by earlswood nob »

Bonjour (recognising Chapelon’s influence on the Great Gresley)
Studying the GCR details that I tried to publish, but was reformatted to be almost indecipherable, and the exchange of ideas on Manna’s O1 build.
I wonder about building a new front end for a Kay’s B2 and producing a B3. One could always fix the new front end to the chassis.
Comet GWR cylinders look suitable, with a custom motion bracket/steps structure which would be fitted to the chassis. The B2 cab would suit half the class, but the rest would need a side-window cab.
Nameplates would be a problem as Lord Farringdon is available, but like a lot of people, I’d like it to be “Valour”, and I don’t think anyone produces these.
Such are dreams, but I’ll look at fashioning the step structure from brass sheet.
Earlswood Nob
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