At this point I have gone as far as I am going to with this version of the kit. There are a couple of issues that need sorting out but I am sure it's the final furlong now for development.
I am expecting delivery of the chimney, dome and steam pipes soon so will be able to test them. The original steam pipes (shown below) don't pass muster. I have added one of the 3D printed parts but not located it fully in the cylinders, but it gives an idea of how it will look.
Now I need to get on with some kit packing for Kettering, and then it will either be back to the Armstrong or on with the Mk3 Caprotti (didn't Ford make these............?)
Dave
I am expecting delivery of the chimney, dome and steam pipes soon so will be able to test them. The original steam pipes (shown below) don't pass muster. I have added one of the 3D printed parts but not located it fully in the cylinders, but it gives an idea of how it will look.
Now I need to get on with some kit packing for Kettering, and then it will either be back to the Armstrong or on with the Mk3 Caprotti (didn't Ford make these............?)
Dave
Peter Cross
Western Thunderer
Coming on nicely, the 3D printing looks great
Just emerged from Paul Moore's painting emporium is the B1:
On its way to the coal stage!
I've been busy packing kits to get stock back up for Kettering. Still waiting on a shed load if etches though. Also waiting for what I hope will be the final revision etches for the Caprotti.
On its way to the coal stage!
I've been busy packing kits to get stock back up for Kettering. Still waiting on a shed load if etches though. Also waiting for what I hope will be the final revision etches for the Caprotti.
John Duffy
Western Thunderer
That's a local one, with its rounded footplate curve. Very nice.
The B1 has had its DCC gubbins fitted and now chuffs and hoots as it should.
I am waiting on what I hope will be the final iteration of the Caprotti etches I have returned to the Armstrong. I had used all of the mentioned parts on the etches but still had one part (number 24) still on the fret. Never a good sign but a trawl through the instructions gave no clue. Anyway, today it was time to try the body and frames together again. At which point it becomes clear that part 24 is the forward location assembly for the body-bogie connection. It really should be fitted before the smokebox but it wasn't too late. So this is where the loco is just now.
I hope to get it ready for the paintshop this weekend.
I am waiting on what I hope will be the final iteration of the Caprotti etches I have returned to the Armstrong. I had used all of the mentioned parts on the etches but still had one part (number 24) still on the fret. Never a good sign but a trawl through the instructions gave no clue. Anyway, today it was time to try the body and frames together again. At which point it becomes clear that part 24 is the forward location assembly for the body-bogie connection. It really should be fitted before the smokebox but it wasn't too late. So this is where the loco is just now.
I hope to get it ready for the paintshop this weekend.
The Armstrong is a case of one step forward, three back as it developed a previously unidentified tight spot in the motion. That required a full strip down. I will also take the opportunity to move the front brake blocks away from the wheel as they are too close.
These jobs will take second place as PPD delivered another set of etches for the Caprotti this morning. I quickly cut out, riveted and rolled the boiler and added the front ring. Trying on the previously assembled parts showed a good fit, so I will now build up again using all of the new parts and this time take to completion.
These jobs will take second place as PPD delivered another set of etches for the Caprotti this morning. I quickly cut out, riveted and rolled the boiler and added the front ring. Trying on the previously assembled parts showed a good fit, so I will now build up again using all of the new parts and this time take to completion.
Another slight change of plan saw a bit more work on the Armstrong. I realised that having dozens of small pieces in various trays on the bench was likely to result in heartache so I stuck some of them back on the model.
Then on with chassis construction. I seem to be getting the hang of this kit now..........
One gremlin seems to have made an appearance: one of the recesses for the brake hangar brackets has lost the hole in the middle and developed a dimple instead. No idea how that can have happened. I think that it will be something that the builder will have to live with.
Then on with chassis construction. I seem to be getting the hang of this kit now..........
One gremlin seems to have made an appearance: one of the recesses for the brake hangar brackets has lost the hole in the middle and developed a dimple instead. No idea how that can have happened. I think that it will be something that the builder will have to live with.
I'm going to add this advice to the instructions!The red dot took the blue pill
Simple solution, clamp and lay the frames back to back with the dimple downward and drill through from the good side using the correct hole as a guide.
The rest of the frame assembly has been easy. The spacers have tabs that fit the slots exactly and you end up with a square free rolling chassis first time. Have to like that in a kit.
Good progress and the undergubbins are now boxed off.
So on with the upperworks tomorrow. If the etches are fine - and now I expect them to be so - I'll get the order in for production etches. Still waiting on some castings but may well have the kits available end April.
So on with the upperworks tomorrow. If the etches are fine - and now I expect them to be so - I'll get the order in for production etches. Still waiting on some castings but may well have the kits available end April.
Dave Holt
Western Thunderer
Looking very good, indeed. I like the large cut-outs in the sides of the saddle to accommodate the cam-box drive shafts. Very characteristic.
Looking forward to seeing the loco progress to completion.
I had a soft spot for these Caprottis, despite their rather ungainly appearance. (Hence my 4 mm scale version.)
Dave.
Looking forward to seeing the loco progress to completion.
I had a soft spot for these Caprottis, despite their rather ungainly appearance. (Hence my 4 mm scale version.)
Dave.
Dave, Thank you. If I were @mickoo I would have already drawn up and printed the internal gearboxes, but I don't have that skill! Your comment does remind me to remember the cambox drive shafts.
Dave
Sorry for a slight distraction from an excellent thread, but for those with an interest in Caprotti valve gear per se (as distinct from locos so equipped), here is a youtube vid of the gear in a marine context. I found the Concordia very interesting when I came across it quite by accident the summer before last. Note that the manoevering is done entirely using the reverser - the throttle is fully open except when moored alongside.
Caprotti Valve gear in a marine context.
Hope that is of interest to some.
Caprotti Valve gear in a marine context.
Hope that is of interest to some.
Good news and bad. The good news is that the nickel silver etches are fine. Unfortunately a small drop off with part quantity on the brass etch means that modifications are essential. The upside to that is that some final tweaks are possible, so I am now confident that we will have an easy to build kit. Meanwhile I have been able to get on with the build.
Bit of a hybrid this one! Steampipes are not secured yet. So not too much left to do. Today's build was interrupted by having to get the gas fitter in to remove the gas fire in the lounge to release a pair of jackdaws that had investigated the chimney, proving that the cowl has failed. Tomorrow I'll be enjoying a trip on the S&C to deliver the B1. Thursday family duty so it looks like it will be the weekend before this is finished.
I need to add the remaining Caprotti castings and rods, ejector, injectors and associated plumbing, top feed, lubricators, hooter and then the backhead. Not too much really.
Now looking at the photos I wonder of the dome is central........... no it's not............
Bit of a hybrid this one! Steampipes are not secured yet. So not too much left to do. Today's build was interrupted by having to get the gas fitter in to remove the gas fire in the lounge to release a pair of jackdaws that had investigated the chimney, proving that the cowl has failed. Tomorrow I'll be enjoying a trip on the S&C to deliver the B1. Thursday family duty so it looks like it will be the weekend before this is finished.
I need to add the remaining Caprotti castings and rods, ejector, injectors and associated plumbing, top feed, lubricators, hooter and then the backhead. Not too much really.
Now looking at the photos I wonder of the dome is central........... no it's not............
Duncan Chandler
Active Member
That's amazing , any plans to do one of the high footplated ones?
Would like to, but we have spent so much money on kit development over the last couple of years that It's probably time to get paid for the efforts so far. Having said that, there is obviously interest in a kit for the last two so we will see what we can do. I suspect that the new kit would provide 90% of the parts for the last two.
David
More progress.
The shaft from the cross link to the rhs cambox is too weedy but all that can be supported in the 3D printed cranks that are too weak for this application. I’ve got an order in for list wax brass replacements that will go into the production batch.
Beginning to look the part though.
David
The shaft from the cross link to the rhs cambox is too weedy but all that can be supported in the 3D printed cranks that are too weak for this application. I’ve got an order in for list wax brass replacements that will go into the production batch.
Beginning to look the part though.
David
BillyRuffian
Active Member
David,
I was thinking along the same lines as @Duncan Chandler as above, but was mainly wondering if all or any of the cylinder assembly, smokebox saddle, and firebox casting/3D print can be made available separately? I have a Javelin long-wheelbase 5MT kit for a possible high-footplate build, and I think I read that the firebox may be slightly wrong? However, a one-piece casting would save quite a bit of time even if not so.
Your comments about 90% of the job being done in this kit do lead me to think that is a further option to consider, but would welcome your thoughts.
Paul