A Christmas Loco

[Peter Butler]

This thread should show progress made, and hopefully at the end, the result of my labours in restoring/rebuilding a locomotive I managed to buy from another Forum member.
I should say at the start that the condition it was in when I bought it was not due to the member, rather the person he bought it from. To say it was in poor condition would be a definite understatement.
I believe it was originally built from a kit and the main body is plastic. Whitemetal details are also included and seem to be well cast. Brass fittings are on the model but whether they are original I have no idea.
This is the body after stripping off all of the attachments.

Metal parts were dipped in Nitromors..

Even the nameplates/numbers and door handles were stripped.
The nameplates, like the bodywork, had been overpainted without removal of existing paint causing loss of definition of the letters etc.
The body itself has had at least three coats of different colours put on top without preparation.

[Peter Butler]

Next job was to start improvements to the prepared body.
After deciding how to attach the chassis (which was included) I started to make supports underneath the body. Also some lead weights put inside to give better adhesion. A backhead (?) has been made (more detailing will follow) to conceal the RC gear and batteries which will be fitted eventually. New steps added to the cab and a floor fitted....always useful!

[DolwyddelanLightRail]

Looks an interesting little project!

[Peter Butler]

Looks an interesting little project!

How bad would it need to be to qualify for a 'big' project.

[Big Jim]

Looks good Peter, I look forwards to seeing another spectacular Butler creation!

[Lner fan Sam]

Looks an interesting little project!

How bad would it need to be to qualify for a 'big' project.

I think it already does peter!

Should look marvellous by the time you're finished with it.

[bazzer42]

I do like the shape of that and there is something rewarding in turning a sow's ear into a silk purse (or a centre cab diesel). Christmas livery? Green with a red and white candy striped buffer beam.

[laalratty]

Hmmmmm, if this is the loco I think it is then I know the original owner and the quality of the construction doesn't surprise me, he took 4 or 5 attempts to get his railway right! Anyway, what results should be much better. Incidentally, the nameplates used to live on the locobox Darj garratt now known as Konigs Tun

[Peter Butler]

Thanks for the replies, it is interesting to have info about the loco.
Today I have fitted the side frames which had previously not been used.  Oddly, one has been replaced with a thin plywood replica of the original plastic, but it works.



The chassis has been put into position, although not yet fixed.  There were no supporting brackets under the body for this to be attached, so new ones fabricated from more plasticard.  I will finish the body restoration and painting first before finally attaching the two parts.   I want to find a way of bonding the batteries, receiver and speed controller to the chassis if possible, then the body can simply lift off without wires being connected.




I have stripped the nameplates and painted the background colour ready for surface polishing to reveal the brass letters.
Looking good so far!
Colour?     ......    Is there a prototype for this loco and if so, where and what colour is it?

[TommyDodd]

The body style and proportions shout "Fowler" to me. I suspect it's a GRS kit so probably doesn't have an exact prototype, but I'm very strongly reminded of the two 2-4-0DMs that went to the APCM cement works at Harbury, and later Kilvington. I believe the correct livery would be faded matt yellow, with the company trademark Blue Circle logo on the cab side. I believe it's now at Butterley so peraps MDLR can help.

[Peter Butler]

Thanks Tommy but I think yellow is just too much of a statement to make with this loco. It is large enough without making it visible from space!
When it came to me it was black. I'm not sure about that either, perhaps something like deep red?
If there is no prototype I shouldn't offend anyone by painting it in a colour of my choice.

[LnBmad]

Great work as alway peter.

I think in order to class as a big project your going to have to scratch build something with mega amounts of detail

[GTB]

The body style and proportions shout "Fowler" to me.

The bodywork is similar to the ex LMS Fowler diesels that the BR Engineering Dept. used, although they were sg and had jackshaft drive.

There's a photo of one of them, or a close relative, here on the Flickr site

http://www.flickr.com/photos/60790501@N04/8367539936/

Strange little beasts, the bodywork is ng size, perched on an sg chassis.....

Graeme

[Peter Butler]

Wow, thanks GTB..... and all the way from Australia too! When you think I used to live within a few miles of the SVR and you are telling me what is there!
This is probably a very close match and I will certainly use it for inspiration.

[Peter Butler]

Great work as alway peter.

I think in order to class as a big project your going to have to scratch build something with mega amounts of detail

Just in case you missed them,   do you mean something like this?



or this?

[Big Al]

Are these any good to you Peter.

[Big Al]

I nearly forgot Peter there is this type as well.

[MDLR]

I will make enquiries - I'm not sure whether or not it's still on site...........

[Peter Butler]

Thanks Al.... so many varieties, just like Heinz!
You must have an extensive library to select from, perhaps you used them for your own build?
It shows that whatever I do, somewhere there is an example I could have copied from.
More work on mine today. I have been trapped in my engine shed due to the horrible weather we are experiencing so some progress to report. I will try to post a picture later.

[Peter Butler]

Pictures of the progress to date...