Roundhouse 'Billy' with Simply 7/8ths 'Henry' Bodykit

robbieg96 · Post by **robbieg96** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 2:05 pm

Hello All,

Been a while since I have posted on here, so Happy New Year to you all!

I am currently building my second live steam loco, which is based on a Roundhouse Billy chassis and boiler. So far so good, the chassis is pretty much finished (just need to adjust the valve timings and run it on air. I have an old air-brush compressor so hopefully this will do the job).

The body is going to be a Simply 7/8ths Henry kit in 16mm, as I think this makes a lovely looking loco!

Has anyone had any experience with this particular kit before? I have an 80W soldering iron for soldering it up, would this do the job or will i need a small blowtorch for this? If so, any recomendations?

Many thanks in advance,

Rob

Keith S · Post by **Keith S** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 6:12 pm

Is the body kit brass? I used a small propane torch on my standard "Billy" body. I tried the soldering iron and liked the torch better. If it's not brass though, I'm not sure what you should use.

THe airbrush compressor should be fine. I can get my "billy" to spin its wheels by blowing into the steam line with my mouth.

robbieg96 · Post by **robbieg96** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 7:06 pm

Thanks Keith!

I think the kit is brass. Unfortunatly I don't have the kit yet, stock is due in February. No rush anyway, still lots to do on the chassis and boiler.

Once its done I will have to run it naked for a while (the loco, not me...)

Narrow Minded · Post by **Narrow Minded** » Tue Jan 08, 2013 12:43 am

I built a "Baldrig" body kit a while ago - the bodywork wasn't brass, but an alloy which soldered far easier. You certainly won't need a blowtorch if it's the same material!

Simply 7/8ths were brilliant at answering Emails and their help and advice was spot-on! I'd contact them direct if you have any queries before or during the build

GW · Post by GW » Wed Jan 09, 2013 4:34 am

Hello Rob,

You might give a shout to the folks at Model Earth (Si and Rob) as they did a Baldrig/Billy conversion a few years ago that was fantastic and I'm sure they would be more than happy to help answer questions you might have.

GW

robbieg96 · Post by **robbieg96** » Thu Jan 10, 2013 7:52 pm

Thanks for the replies!

I just need to find a way of connecting the air compressor to the superheater for running on air.

I have a hose attachment for connecting to the airbrush, so it needs some kind of attachment that will screw into the hose, and then into the loco. Im sure an idea will appear!

I will get some photos up soon, hopefully the info will help others!

Cheers,
Rob

robbieg96 · Post by **robbieg96** » Thu May 16, 2013 2:20 pm

Afternoom all,

Getting there with the bodykit. The main construction is complete, I am currently adding all the little detail parts. Unfortunatly there are not enough hours in the day, so its a slow process!

The kit was very easy to put together. I have done this using an 80W Weller Soldering iron, Multicore Solder and Fluxite. All these available from ebay.

The kit comes with half etch holes on the inside, to allow you to push out the rivet detail if you wish too. I did this using a dulled centre punch, pushing through onto an old mousemat.

I have gone for coal rails on one tank, and a tool box on the other. There is the option to go for two coal rails if you wish. The 'Billy' boiler kit does not come with the boiler mounted sandbox or a dome, so these had to be ordered on the side.

The bufferbeams that come with the bodykit are wider than the Roundhouse ones that come with the Billy chassis kit.
I detailed the original Roundhouse ones with rivets, vac pipes and re-railing bar, only to have to do it all again with the new ones!

Hope these images are of interest. This is a great kit and very interesting to make.

More updates soon!

-Rob

Big Al · Post by **Big Al** » Thu May 16, 2013 2:45 pm

I like the look of your loco, that's a nice looking body kit.

Dannypenguin · Post by **Dannypenguin** » Thu May 16, 2013 5:39 pm

Wow! Thats gorgeous!

And it isn't even painted. I like that a lot...

laalratty · Post by **laalratty** » Thu May 16, 2013 8:38 pm

Very nice, looks much better then the standard billy in my opinion

Lner fan Sam · Post by **Lner fan Sam** » Thu May 16, 2013 8:41 pm

Very chunky, I like it!

Peter L · Post by **Peter L** » Thu May 16, 2013 9:18 pm

She has presence, a engine with personality.

Gremlin · Post by **Gremlin** » Thu May 16, 2013 9:28 pm

liking the look of that, first time I've seen one made up

robbieg96 · Post by **robbieg96** » Fri May 17, 2013 10:17 pm

Finally the weekend! And a quick update for y'all.

Just to give a sense of how big this loco is, here it is up against an Accucraft IOM 4-wheeler we all know and love.

I love detail, and will be adding lots. I have since soldered on a dummy whistle from Talisman, and added some chain for this within the cab.
I have made the bracket for the westinghouse pump myself, using a bit of brass. Its bolted to the front footplate, but not to the smokebox. The pump is a whitemetal casting from the guys in Doncaster, as is the smokebox dart.
I had thought to mount the Westinghouse pump on the front of the tank, as I have done with my Edrig, but it just seemed more interesting on the smokebox!

3/64" rivets have been used on the bufferbeams.
The vac pipes are Brandbright, and i have had to shorted these to fit. These are simply soldered on from behind.
I have decided to use Accucraft couplings, but using the Back2Bay6 inserts. These can easily be swapped out for either chopper or buffer type couplings.

The re-railing bars are made from brass angle and strip and are bolted on behind the bufferbeams using the existing holes in the frames. There is about 5mm clearence from the top of rail. Hopefully this will not cause any problems with running, but if they do then the re-railing bars can be easily removed.

Hopefully these mods will inspire! Most are pretty universal to all locos, and please if you have any questions then don't hesitate to ask!

bye for now,

-Rob

Mattyrallye · Post by **Mattyrallye** » Mon Jun 17, 2013 2:28 pm

Hi there,

As a newbie I just wanted to say I am really keen to see this as I have just managed to pick up a second hand billy with the exact intention to do what you have done. I saw the 7/8ths kit a while back and instantly fell in love. So hopefully I can take some inspiration from you and get mine to a similar standard.

Interestingly enough the loco in the 7/8ths picture has a Katie boiler on the billy chassis with the billy smokebox. Something unfortunately I couldn't afford. Maybe one day I will find a Katie boiler 2nd hand.

Anyway just wanted to say well done on the superb job you have made of the locomotive, the finish looks brilliant. I would be very keen to see what she looks like all painted.

Cheers

Matt

Gremlin · Post by **Gremlin** » Mon Jun 17, 2013 3:10 pm

I noticed the katie boiler but think this option works just as well and more will done this way. As it happens I picked up an unfinished billy kit a couple of weeks ago. Now do I finish it as billy or henry. Ok I know what you guys will say.

Mattyrallye · Post by **Mattyrallye** » Mon Jun 17, 2013 3:27 pm

I would say that's a personal opinion. Billy isn't bad to be fair. However Henry has the ability to look more uk narrow gauge. I am also convinced that you could add some real super detail from locoworks. On the other hand build a billy then our loco's will look more special!!

Gremlin · Post by **Gremlin** » Mon Jun 17, 2013 8:50 pm

That's always the danger of producing something different, as people want something different. Then we all buy that different thing and end up with all the same again.

As I have a full Billy kit, I will probably build it that way but change a few things, I could always get another body kit at a later date.

Mattyrallye · Post by **Mattyrallye** » Mon Jun 17, 2013 10:00 pm

That sounds sensible.

Agreed with the "different" comment it's a bit like fashion in a way. You all end up looking the same eventually!

Keith S · Post by **Keith S** » Tue Jun 18, 2013 1:47 pm

Wish I had known about this kit when ordering my "Billy". I like how the engine looks, but I like the "Henry" body even better. The "re-railing" bars you made give it a workmanlike look too.

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Roundhouse 'Billy' with Simply 7/8ths 'Henry' Bodykit

Roundhouse 'Billy' with Simply 7/8ths 'Henry' Bodykit

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