Elmham Market in EM
- Thread starter James Spooner
- Start date
James Spooner
Western Thunderer
A bit more done to the restaurant car today. On the body, I have soldered the two thicknesses for each end together and have been cleaning up my efforts. I’m now locating all the detailing parts and they will be my next task.
On the underpinnings, I have given the bogies and underframe a coat of dirty black paint, which has now dried. I have managed to fit the sprung buffer heads so, apart from some tidying up, that part is now complete.
Whilst using the airbrush I used up some of the surplus black to start painting the pigeon van.
Photos attached.
Nigel
On the underpinnings, I have given the bogies and underframe a coat of dirty black paint, which has now dried. I have managed to fit the sprung buffer heads so, apart from some tidying up, that part is now complete.
Whilst using the airbrush I used up some of the surplus black to start painting the pigeon van.
Photos attached.
Nigel
James Spooner
Western Thunderer
Back from my most recent sojourn in Wales and back to a bit of modelling.
Whilst I was away, postie kindly delivered a package containing a couple of the delightful Accurascale Buckjumpers. I need to convert them to EM and so put an order in to Alan Gibson for suitable wheels. Colin caught me out when he asked how many spokes so I went to the boxes to check. We were both impressed when I counted ten spokes on one loco and fifteen on the other; there’s attention to detail! The wheels have arrived in the post today so I need to work out how to effect the conversion; watch this space! I lined up the Accurascale Liverpool St pilot with a Riceworks J69 I made a number of years ago.
I have also been progressing the ex GER restaurant car. Whilst trying to figure out how the corridor connections go together I turned my attention to the sides. They are very finely etched and consequently quite fragile. I have folded over the top flanges (helpful as it gives the etches an extra degree of rigidity) and formed the tumblehomes with an old piece of wood with a curved edge and some towelling.
Last night I added the sliding window frames and door frames/top sets of hinges on one side. I hunted around for the bottom hinges but seem to have mislaid the etch with them on so ended up forming them from bits of scrap etch brass. I also added the door handles from a pair of dressmaker’s pins filed to shape. Tonight I aim to finish the soldering on that side (two grab rails) and either finish the second end or the other side.
Nigel
Whilst I was away, postie kindly delivered a package containing a couple of the delightful Accurascale Buckjumpers. I need to convert them to EM and so put an order in to Alan Gibson for suitable wheels. Colin caught me out when he asked how many spokes so I went to the boxes to check. We were both impressed when I counted ten spokes on one loco and fifteen on the other; there’s attention to detail! The wheels have arrived in the post today so I need to work out how to effect the conversion; watch this space! I lined up the Accurascale Liverpool St pilot with a Riceworks J69 I made a number of years ago.
I have also been progressing the ex GER restaurant car. Whilst trying to figure out how the corridor connections go together I turned my attention to the sides. They are very finely etched and consequently quite fragile. I have folded over the top flanges (helpful as it gives the etches an extra degree of rigidity) and formed the tumblehomes with an old piece of wood with a curved edge and some towelling.
Last night I added the sliding window frames and door frames/top sets of hinges on one side. I hunted around for the bottom hinges but seem to have mislaid the etch with them on so ended up forming them from bits of scrap etch brass. I also added the door handles from a pair of dressmaker’s pins filed to shape. Tonight I aim to finish the soldering on that side (two grab rails) and either finish the second end or the other side.
Nigel
I shall follow this with considerable interest, as will I believe a number of others also contemplating conversion to either EM or P4. I had thought about re-machining the wheels as is my normal course with RTR conversions of late, but being able to fit Gibson wheels would be an easy solution. Does it use standard size 1/8" axles or something a bit smaller?
Bob
James Spooner
Western Thunderer
Hi Bob
I have had a look at the underside and the keeper plate comes off quite easily. The brake hangars and blocks are one moulding and also in lip quite easily. The wheels are sitting on 2mm axles so I have bought 2mm to 1/8” brass sleeves from Alan Gibson. They are good and tight on the axles but I am exercising my grey matter a bit on the fitting of the axles but I assemblies to the wheels. It is definitely a case of get it right first time or suffer considerable grief ensuring the wheels are running true (and guess how I know!). I eventually got them running true (I hope!) and superglued the wheels to the axles, so am currently imbibing some relaxing wine whilst I wait for the superglue to set properly. Tomorrow is another day and I’ll let you know how it all went…
cheers
Nigel
James Spooner
Western Thunderer
It has been incredibly hot and sweaty in the modelling room over the last couple of evenings but I have now managed to complete the conversion of the first of my J69s. I attach a video link of it running on a short piece of test track:
Accurascale have obviously made significant attempts to ease the process of conversion to the wider gauges (and the fact that the coupling rod holes seem perfectly designed to fit Alan Gibson crankpins is testimony to that). The two tricky elements (for me at any rate) were adding the 1/8” to 2mm reducing sleeves to get the Gibson wheels to fit 2mm axles and refitting the keeper plate (because the brass wipers kept trying to slide in between wheel spokes). I am yet to refit the brake gear and am currently pondering how to cut them in half then add sleeves over the rods between the brakes to allow them to be refitted about 1.5mm further apart.
A photo of the J69 on Elmham Market is attached.
Nigel
A photo of the J69 on Elmham Market is attached.
Nigel
James Spooner
Western Thunderer
I have now figured out how to reattach the brake assembly. It comes as one very finely moulded moulding but the tie bars between the two sides are designed for 00 gauge so are too close together for EM. I found that by adopting the simple expedient of snipping the tie bars in half, the moulded pins at the end of the brake blocks are sufficiently long to allow the blocks to be fitted but placed a distance away from the Gibson EM wheels. I guess, ideally, I should find some black insulating sheath for small diameter copper wire to join the two halves of each tie bars together but, to be honest, I can’t see the gap from normal viewing points so it will go on to the ‘to do’ list but not close to the top…. A photo attached.
Nigel
Nigel
James Spooner
Western Thunderer
Hi Martin and thank you. Yes, I will paint the wheels, add in three link couplings and then try to work out a new identity for it. It will also need to be coaled up and weathered.
The real 68535 spent its nationalised years in Scotland so I’m on the hunt for a low cabbed, stovepipe chimneyed, non Westo, 15 spoke wheeled, wide tank, non condenser fitted loco…. If I can’t do that I think I’ll have to roll out good old rule #1…
Nigel
James Spooner
Western Thunderer
In other news I have been cracking on with the ex GER restaurant car this evening. The first side has been finished as far as soldering is concerned and now been soldered to the finished end. The second end is also now detailed and I have started on the second side. I have added the ventilators, droplights (with the top hinges) and am about to hit the bottom hinges and door knobs/handrails…
Nigel
Nigel
James Spooner
Western Thunderer
Some indifferent weather this afternoon drove me back to the modelling workbench. I have now finished the the soldering work on the second side and have managed to solder both sides and ends together, so I now have a carriage body…. Photos attached.
Nigel
Nigel
James Spooner
Western Thunderer
This evening on the restaurant car I have added the finishing touches to the body. Essentially these are the end brackets for holding the corridor connection and the cast ventilators. I have then sprayed primer over the whole assembly and attach some photos of the primed bodyshell.
In other news I have figured out how to attach the brake gear on the J69 by the simple expedient of snipping the cross members in half and reinserting the brake block lugs into the chassis sockets but not by as much as before. A dob of superglue on each one and it works. I guess I should try to create a couple of sheaths from thin electrical wire covering to hold them together. That might be more trouble than it’s worth so I’ll ponder that for a while. I still haven’t painted the wheels yet but a photo of the current state of play is attached.
Nigel
In other news I have figured out how to attach the brake gear on the J69 by the simple expedient of snipping the cross members in half and reinserting the brake block lugs into the chassis sockets but not by as much as before. A dob of superglue on each one and it works. I guess I should try to create a couple of sheaths from thin electrical wire covering to hold them together. That might be more trouble than it’s worth so I’ll ponder that for a while. I still haven’t painted the wheels yet but a photo of the current state of play is attached.
Nigel
James Spooner
Western Thunderer
Not much progress this evening although I have managed to get a coat of cream on the upper sides…
Nigel
Nigel
James Spooner
Western Thunderer
Now that you mention it I don’t think I have. I’ll try to draw one up. The plan was originally drawn up on Templot but seventeen years ago and I don’t have access to those computer files any more. I’ll try to draw one up by hand and post it…
Nigel
James Spooner
Western Thunderer
Mainly for Paul’s benefit I popped up into the railway attic this morning and took a photo of the Elmham Market control panel (as that has the track plan on it) and then took a few photos of the overall area, which hopefully will serve as well as a detailed track plan. I also took photos of the other side of the attic (and apologies to all for demonstrating the awful messy state of my man cave!)…
Nigel
Nigel
Dave Holt
Western Thunderer
Nigel,
Your layout certainly looks very impressive when seen as a whole. I'm especially drawn to the goods yard arrangement, which looks most intriguing (and makes me think a bit of Minffordd yard).
Looking in the background, I'm pleased and relieved to see the "lived in" appearance of the railway room.
Dave.
Your layout certainly looks very impressive when seen as a whole. I'm especially drawn to the goods yard arrangement, which looks most intriguing (and makes me think a bit of Minffordd yard).
Looking in the background, I'm pleased and relieved to see the "lived in" appearance of the railway room.
Dave.
James Spooner
Western Thunderer
Dave,
Many thanks. The track plan is pretty much the same as Lavenham (although with the diamond crossing I can see the resemblance to Minffordd!), with headshunts extended. The “lived in” appearance is partly due to laziness on my part, aided by the fact the boss has no desire to explore up there…
Nigel
James Spooner
Western Thunderer
This evening I masked off the cream painted areas and sprayed the crimson. Most of it was fine but on one side the Iwata sneezed a couple of times and I will need to work out my plan of attack when it has all thoroughly dried. A photo of the ‘good’ side attached. It will need some cleaning up before lining… Progress for the next few weeks is likely to be glacial because of a family wedding and another trip to Wales .
Nigel
Nigel
simond
Western Thunderer
Nigel
I think airbrush “sneezes“ are condensation in the compressor or more likely the hose. and damn frustrating…
I bought a Sparmax compressor a few years back off another Thunderer - it’s got a tank, regulator, and a pressure switch, and it transformed my airbrush experience, I wish I’d thrown my old one out years ago.
atb
Simon
I think airbrush “sneezes“ are condensation in the compressor or more likely the hose. and damn frustrating…
I bought a Sparmax compressor a few years back off another Thunderer - it’s got a tank, regulator, and a pressure switch, and it transformed my airbrush experience, I wish I’d thrown my old one out years ago.
atb
Simon