Mamod/Mss Tender locos

laurence703 · Post by **laurence703** » Wed Jan 25, 2012 12:47 pm

Having made my Mss a permanent tender loco, its got me thinking... The Mss tender is big, empty and not very tender like... has anyone got any ideas on how to make it more tender like and less toyish?

Catweasel · Post by **Catweasel** » Wed Jan 25, 2012 1:17 pm

My first thought would be to make it a lot shorter. Ideally, due to the small size of the loco,a small open wagon with the front left off would look great. I did that on mine. Find some photo's of the Manchester Chat Moss system and you'll see what I mean.

dougrail · Post by **dougrail** » Wed Jan 25, 2012 1:39 pm

This is why I never went in for the MSS tenders as they simply do not look the part, and the wheels are too big. if you design your own, you can make one suitable for -your- engine. Dan The Man (DLRDan) has done at least two Mamod tenders - one open, for his red 'Robin' and then he also built the kit for the Blanche-style tendercab that my own 'Swordbreaker' now possesses. I will happily post photos tonight.

My suggestion would be to scour narrow gauge prototypes - afterall, what would you like?

DolwyddelanLightRail · Post by **DolwyddelanLightRail** » Wed Jan 25, 2012 1:52 pm

dougrail:65454 wrote: one open, for his red 'Robin'

Which originally was a similar appearance to your one Doug if I remember correctly....

Catweasel · Post by **Catweasel** » Wed Jan 25, 2012 3:05 pm

Click to enlarge.

This is from the book of Manchester's Narrow Gauge Railways published by the N.G.R.S. Look good behind a Mamod?

Sir Clothem Cap · Post by **Sir Clothem Cap** » Wed Jan 25, 2012 7:13 pm

The tender is huge compared to the loco but can be improved with a false flat part with a tank top covering the rear quater and then a layer of coal for most of the remaining 3/4s. that should make it more realistic.

laurence703 · Post by **laurence703** » Wed Jan 25, 2012 10:54 pm

I like the tender as its only about 3/4 the length of the loco... its the height that makes it look huge... I think a "water tank" and coal is the best idea so far... I'm guessing it won't look too bad after some foot steps and lamp brackets are put on it.. along with a centre buffer and narrow gauge style bufferbeam... Might look a tad standard gauge though...

I did have a ponder about the half cab idea so yes please Doug would love to see the pics of your one!

dougrail · Post by **dougrail** » Wed Jan 25, 2012 11:38 pm

In my humble opinion, the tender is simply too big. It's based on a standard Mamod wagon chassis for starters - and is too tall. You can add the coal and water tank, a major improvement aye, but the general shape will still be affected.

DolLR - Yes, Nova's tender no.1 [as bought] :

was also based on a Mamod chassis - but the ends had been shorn off and the frames modified in order to accomodate coupling. However, the manufacturer is unknown - likely Nova's old master. Dan The Man's was made by himself and used BB wheelsets as well as solid-wall frames, on Robin.

Right Laurence, of course y'can see the tender cab [tender no.3!] on Swordbreaker - right here

http://gardenrails.myfreeforum.org/ftop ... asc-30.php

laurence703 · Post by **laurence703** » Thu Jan 26, 2012 10:07 am

Very nice! I do like the short tender on it, but I defiantly want it to be open cabbed so I can watch the water... I'm thinking something along the lines of FfR Prince's tender... but I'll stick with the Mss tender for the time being... Lack of funds

dougrail · Post by **dougrail** » Thu Jan 26, 2012 10:50 am

Laurence - the black engine as per my photo was open cabbed and open tender - the 'wall' was a standard Mamod cabback resting on the dragbeam

As for an FfR tender, sounds a plan. You could use the MSS one either as financial weight (sell it, get £ to pay for better tender) or use the MSS and butcher it if you can do metalwork?

laurence703 · Post by **laurence703** » Thu Jan 26, 2012 2:10 pm

Or... I could butcher the tender into a wagon... I can do metalwork I have a few qualifications in it but I have no access to any lathes or machines... I have access to a vice, hacksaws and a good amount of files and a pillar drill...

Any one know of a FfR prince style tender kit? or if worst comes to worst I'll put it back to tank loco mode and make up a bunker

Sir haydn · Post by **Sir haydn** » Thu Jan 26, 2012 3:18 pm

You could try asking Slaters. They do a Prince kit and may offer to do a tender only kit if you ask nice

dougrail · Post by **dougrail** » Thu Jan 26, 2012 5:16 pm

you could also design your tender to your exact desire, supply the wheels and axleboxes (Brandbright?) and send the plans off to a forumite like I did.

Superbiker_uk · Post by **Superbiker_uk** » Thu Jan 26, 2012 5:58 pm

You can make a MSS tender look like this with a bit of effort:

Narrow Minded · Post by **Narrow Minded** » Thu Jan 26, 2012 6:02 pm

Very nice work!

laurence703 · Post by **laurence703** » Thu Jan 26, 2012 9:13 pm

Superbiker_uk:65511 wrote:You can make a MSS tender look like this with a bit of effort:

I Like... I like a lot! Any chance of a side on shot to see how it looks behind the loco proportions wise?

Superbiker_uk · Post by **Superbiker_uk** » Fri Jan 27, 2012 6:50 am

I Like... I like a lot! Any chance of a side on shot to see how it looks behind the loco proportions wise?

Here you go!

dougrail · Post by **dougrail** » Fri Jan 27, 2012 7:43 am

Lovely photos. Still working towards this standard of loco.

laurence703 · Post by **laurence703** » Fri Jan 27, 2012 10:14 am

Very nice! Thanks for putting them up... I've now made up my mind on what to do with it and it'll probably look something a bit like what you've done there!

Narrow Minded · Post by **Narrow Minded** » Fri Jan 27, 2012 10:34 am

Excellent!

I'm currently considering all the options for fitting a dome on the replacement boiler, just wondering how you've gone about it?

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