Semi-scale BR: The Modernisation Plan

[FWLR]

Thats coming on nicely.

Like you and Peter, I have very little knowledge on steam locos.or about much on railways come to that. I just love the hobby and you get to met some brilliant people, wether they are knowledgeable or not. We all have some skill that is appreciated by other modellers of our hobby.

[BertieB]

“…’Locomotive Panorama Vol.1' by E. S. Cox…”

Thanks for all the info. Immediately ordered my copy!

[GTB]

Thanks for all the info. Immediately ordered my copy!

I found both volumes of Locomotive Panorama an interesting read, but the only proposed loco drawing in vol. 2 is the BR Class 8F 2-8-2 which eventually morphed into the 9F 2-10-0.

Some of the LMS neverwozzers in Vol.1 may also float your boat.......

Graeme

[BertieB]

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Painting delayed because I keep finding bits I’ve not sorted

It’s taken several evenings to arrive at a more practical alternative to my super sophisticated wiring masterplan where, once the central, boiler / cab section has been fitted on to the drive units, I’ve found that the various battery and motor JST connectors could only be connected if the whole assembly is turned upside down — not ideal if running it outside… And in any case, the pivots would then fall out and the whole thing would disassemble.

I’ve had to perpetrate a not very elegant fix, lengthening the wiring while attempting to keep it always hidden from view. I suppose I ought to cobble together some sort of box / cradle / tray / thing — to get it outside and on the rails in one piece.

[Peter Butler]

Oh, that description sounds so familiar!

[GTB]

I suppose I ought to cobble together some sort of box / cradle / tray / thing — to get it outside and on the rails in one piece.

Garratts are a pain in the what he said, when it comes to moving them around away from the track. The bigger the model the bigger the pain......

For just moving one around the workshop and/or out to the track, the carrier that Roundhouse supply with their Darjeeling Garratt seems to do the job. There should be enough detail in the photos on pp 4 & 5 of the instruction booklet to knock something up from plywood and some strapping.

http://www.roundhouse-eng.com/pdf/locoi ... arratt.pdf

If you transport your models around the landscape as I sometimes do, then I'd think you need a carry case as well. My Brian Wilson built Garratt weighs about 9kg and came with a bespoke transport case, with a cradle that clamps the loco in place and slides out of the case so the loco can be released and rolled off onto the track.

When things dry out around here so I can get outside, I can take a couple of photos if it would help.

Regards,
Graeme

[Andrew]

It's looking good in "works grey"!

Reminds me of when the F&WHR's Garratt No 87 ran in grey for a season or so:

[BertieB]

Thank you Graeme, the Roundhouse cradle seems just the kind of thing I’ll need to knock up.

“… F&WHR's Garratt No 87…”

Looks great. I have been to admire them and do the trip. Wonderful. Just think, I might’ve unknowingly bumped into Andrew taking pictures.

[BertieB]

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‘Light Garratt’ ex-works (or all dolled up at a heritage railway). The ‘burnished’ handrails may be a little OTT, I suppose.

Why’s it blue then? The tortuous logic here is that the Bath to Bournemouth route (formerly the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway) has been allowed to continue painting its locos in its pre-nationalisation dark blue (without their rather twee lining) — the key requirement of this project, of course.

I’ve treated myself to specifically sized, 3D scanned and printed, appropriately dressed figures, to crew this (and other locos) from narrowmindedrailworks.com. And the excellent brake hoses are 3D prints by 3 minutes of fame from this very forum, Thank you.

I’ve not yet had an opportunity to try it outside — nor build the carry / re-railer cradle that will certainly be needed. And I’m still fiddling with the wiring...

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Class named after farmland birds you might hope to spot on your journey. And I’ve just about run out of storage space (again)…

[Phil.P]

That looks rather nice!
Obviously 'modern' as it has a welded tender (no rivets).
I think it would look good pulling the present Caledonian sleeper stock?

So, who is clever enough with PhotoShop, to put it into blue/grey, arrows of indecision livery?

I only ask, as an exercise, you understand..

Anyone else have any daft alternate livery ideas?

Phil.P

[philipy]

Phil's "rather nice" is the understatement of the year! Stunning!

[Peter Butler]

A really cracking job Bertie, and a beautiful finish too.
I know what you mean about the wiring.... good luck with that.

[SimonWood]

Magnificent. Somehow, just absolutely 'right', like that's the only way a 3'6" gauge blue BR Garratt could possibly look.

[Andrew]

Magnificent. Somehow, just absolutely 'right', like that's the only way a 3'6" gauge blue BR Garratt could possibly look.

Exactly! A little less audacious and maybe it wouldn't work, but it does, beautifully! Congratulations!

Any idea what it'll pull yet? Can't wait for film footage...

Andrew

PS Should I admit that I really like the golden yellow lining on S&D locos??!

[dudeface]

Anyone else have any daft alternate livery ideas?

Wisconsin & Southern red and white? Maybe UP yellow?

[dudeface]

Looks great Bertie!

[FWLR]

Now that's a superbly painted loco and it looks stunning. Brilliantly done

[drewzero1]

Wisconsin & Southern red and white? Maybe UP yellow?

I've always been a bit partial to maroon and gold myself

[ge_rik]

Corrrrrr! That's nice!

Rik

[BertieB]

“…that's the only way a 3'6" gauge blue BR Garratt could possibly look”

Ha! Brilliant. I laughed out loud. Thank you — and everyone, for your comments.

It ought to pull a lengthy rake of blood & custard carriages but I’m afraid it’ll have to be a short train of green coaches — or the usual tank wagons and vans. Perhaps double-heading with the Leader?! I probably now have more locos than wagons.

And I ought to own up regarding the finish. I’m pleased with it but it’s certainly not blemish free — there are dodgy bits as usual, which I avoid showing in pictures. It’s brush painted with Humbrol enamel and Citadel acrylic (on Peter’s recommendation) then spray can satin varnished, which this time, fortunately, has given it a gentle sheen (sometimes it’s too glossy).

Without ever rationalising it, I suppose this all came about because cheapo Wilko Satin Black spray cans were no longer available ‘down the shops’ — so BR ‘mixed traffic’ wasn’t an automatic choice. In the past I must have bought dozens of them… It’s galling to remember that there used to be four model shops I could walk to for essential supplies — but now, even here, it involves a lengthy trip on public transport to get anything like that.

I don’t think it was the S&DJR ‘golden yellow’ that the British Transport Commission objected to, it would have been the extraordinarily ornate, Edwardian style lining, where no space, edge or window didn’t get highlighted. Less is more!