7mm Connoisseur Models LNER N10 Tank Engine

[Rob Pulham]

This posting is a little bit of a surprise because I wasn't expecting to do much with it.

I have been using this kit when I demo loco building at shows, I would rather take one of my kits along than one that I am building for someone else just in case anything happens to it.

Up to Saturday I had only managed to cut out the frames, remove the cusps and bend up the frame spacers (at Newton Aycliffe Show in March) due to being far too busy talking to people.

Although I did have lots of interest I seemed to really crack on with it after showing one gent how to solder up the boiler.

This build will get updated intermittently because I will be only working on it at shows until it's well on its way.

I think that this amount of progress in between talking to people really is a testament to Jim McGeown and the quality of the kit/fit of the parts.

I didn't take my rolling bars along nor did I have anything thicker than a scriber. So to roll the smokebox wrapper I had to sit and bend the etch between fingers and thumbs. Working steadily away until it reached the right shape.

 

[Focalplane]

I have built the Connoisseur Jinty and 4F and there is nothing left in Jim’s range that interests me, sad to say. They were a great introduction to 7mm kits and fed, quite naturally, onto David Andrews’ range. His wagons are a great range too.

 

[Rob Pulham]

I have built the Connoisseur Jinty and 4F and there is nothing left in Jim’s range that interests me, sad to say. They were a great introduction to 7mm kits and fed, quite naturally, onto David Andrews’ range. His wagons are a great range too.

I am lucky in that respect, Jim has quite a number of LNER or constituents examples in his range. I have most of the wagons but there are a few of the locos on the wanted at some point list.

 

[Rob Pulham]

My N10 has been out to numerous shows since 2019, the last one being the recent Wensleydale Model Railway show at Leeming Bar.

The loco build has moved on quite a way since then.

First as often happens when talking to people at shows - a step in the wrong direction. In my last post I had fitted the smokebox wrapper and I had done a lovely job of it even if I say so myself. However do pop back and have a look you will notice a half etched recess low down on the side. This is meant to be on the inside... Sadly I made a bit of a mess taking it off so had to make a new one from nickel sheet.



The body work has progressed a bit too.

 

[Rob Pulham]

I have also got a number of other bits near to being finally assembled.



Frame spacers, I found another two or three in the box afterwards but you get the drift.




Inner cab rear with locker and coal chute door.



Inner tanks



Rear cab lockers and horn guides





Inner cab roof. I didn't attempt to roll the outer roof without rolling bars I managed to do the inner with just manipulation between my fingers and the edge of the cutting mat.



Cab floor and front lockers/rear splashers



Frames. I had marked and cut out roughly for the horn guides and was painstakingly filing them when I thought it would be much easier to mill them slightly but accurately over size so that I can use my chassis jig to fit them. I also invested in a set of Premier joined rods.

 

[Gadgie]

Hopefully here is some N10 inspiration — 69109 is a regular performer on South Pelaw, and is built from the shot-down 4mm version of the Connoisseur kit that used to be available. It was a lovely kit to build, and runs very sweetly despite a rigid chassis.



It is sometimes seen along with 69101, built by Joe Warr from an Arthur Kimber kit.



Richard
—

 

[Rob Pulham]

Thanks Richard,

Inspiration indeed, mine will be finished in LNER livery but no doubt equally gubby by the time I have finished it.

 

[Rob Pulham]

It seems that I hadn't taken any photos when I assembled the chassis for the N10 which I did some time ago.

A couple of days ago I managed to get around to fitting the hornguides and the last (front) frame spacer. The latter needed to be modified to fit around the front horn guide.