Where are you all (and what are you up to) ?

[Ian_T]

I've been looking every morning for the latest installment of this (or that) G3 delicacy - only to find nothing ...

Unfortunately, I've little G3 news to offer myself as I've been busy doing 'Workshoppy' things (in the Workshoppy) that don't really have a place here - like my new milling machine ( ) and the several tons of new tooling it required... ( )

So come on Jon (et al) - let's see your latest endeavour please!

Regards,


IanT

 

[Mikemill]

Hello Ian

I am working on a G6 and a O2.

Can you post images of your new mill, I am sure members would like to see your new toy.

Mike

 

[Mike W]

Ian,

Not much to report I'm afraid. Domestic duties, a new puppy and work for our Civic Society get in the way. But I'm building an LNWR 50ft brake van from John Candy solid printed parts. Also waiting impatiently for Steve Weston's contract to end so he gets back home and lets me try out his stencil for P.O. wagon lettering. And off the Stafford SME on Saturday to look at what they are doing with their Gauge 3 track.

Apparently there are a couple of chaps in G1MRA in the East Midlands with experience of building garden railways and I'm hoping one will pop down and give some advice/help with mine, which has stalled!

That's an alluminium floor furned up at 90 degrees along both sides and fixed with one of these new fangled industrial superglues. I didn't like the idea of a 100% printed plastic coach, so it adds some confidence and maybe some actual regidity too.

Mike

 

[Ian_T]

Can you post images of your new mill, I am sure members would like to see your new toy.

Of course Mike, I thought you'd never ask...



A very large/heavy crate arrived a few weeks ago & the driver very kindly nicely dropped it right in the workshop. I then remembered that I meant to place some timbers underneath, so I could get the engine hoist under the pallet. . It took me quite a while to jack it up (about an 1" each end at a time) sufficiently to get the crane in place (it needed about 8-9" clearance)



Some time later.....I finally got it up on the cabinet that I'd re-purposed for it. It's not in it's final resting place yet but I wanted to play...

It needs a lot of new tooling (having an R8 spindle) and can handle modern (insert) cutting tools much better than my slower/older mills (it can spin up to 5,000 rpm) . It is also just about to get a new "precision" 5" machine vice too. If I can sell some of my unused workshop "I'll build/use that one day" items, it will also get a 2-axis DRO fitted. I'd like to be able to do accurate co-ordinate drilling etc..

Regards,


IanT

 

[Mikemill]

Ian

Good to see you bought a Sieg mill, The best range of small mills on the market because of there box form colum making it very rigged, and extra height. I have a Sieg X3 with CNC
Are you planning on building a loco?

Mike

 

[Sleeper Agent]

Let's see your latest endeavour please!

Umm beside buying some Stroudley coach prints from 55A Models can't say I've done anything standard gauge modelling related this year, but have finally finished touching up a freelance drawing from the February 1899 issue of 'The Locomotive Magazine' if anyone fancies making what I trust would be the first Gauge 3 Columbia a reality, livery optional!

 

[Ian_T]

Well I am already Mike (I couldn't find an 'embarrassed' smilely)

It's just that I find it very hard (impossible?) to stick to just one project (I call it Butterfly Syndrome). I also suffer from a curious malaise where I will make something and then decide I just don't like it (or it simply doesn't work as intended). I then have to start over. I'm on about the third/fourth iteration of my Atlantic's new regulator and the second version of it's superheater connection. The A3 (Hyperion) is now going to have three cylinders (instead of the originally intended two) and the Deeley Compound's valve gear is being mulled over in CAD (which needed a transition from a 2D to a 3D CAD system & involved a very steep learning curve)

The little (3D printed) L&Y BEL was finished. This is a version of Peter Jones G1 model that he up-scaled to G3. I had to modify the wheel STLs to meet G3S wheel standards (new flange & tread) but I wasn't happy with the way my handrails looked, so I've taken them off and will re-do them. I'm not sure the two tiny N20 geared motors are really sufficient for G3 either, so I may have to re-reprint a new loco and the infra-red controller really needs upgrading to Bluetooth.....

There are several (4?) other loco projects awaiting some love and time (and I will not even start listing the rolling stock...)

I also have a reasonable collection of vintage metal & woodworking machines that I spend time repairing and/or working with...

I do get annoyed with myself sometimes but I like making things - it's what I enjoy doing. I'm just a dreadful 'Finisher'.
So although I may be one of the least 'productive' members in the Society, my G3 modelling does keep me happy and I'm very rarely bored!

Regards,


IanT

 

[Mikemill]

Ian

We all work in our own ways to enjoy our hobby, and if you derive pleasure from it all the better.

Given the problems we hear that some people have these days I think having some form of interest that stimulates the brain and is challenging is worth more than medical Intervention.

Keep up the good work

Mike

 

[Mike W]

That looks like a serious machine Ian. You tured out some pretty impressive bits and bobs wih the old one, so I look forward to seeing what you can do with this. Don't be embarrassed by the pile of unfinished jobs. Most if us have them and those who don't are probably not being honest.

Mike

 

[WM183]

Oh a new mill! Do let us know what you think of it after you've had some time with it. I am thinking about getting a Sieg, but have yet to pull the trigger. Will you use it to make wheels?

Amanda

 

[Ian_T]

I'll probably continue to use the lathe for my wheels Amanda but a vertical mill is a very useful tool for other work.

IanT

 

[Jon Nazareth]

I've been looking every morning for the latest installment of this (or that) G3 delicacy - only to find nothing ...

Unfortunately, I've little G3 news to offer myself as I've been busy doing 'Workshoppy' things (in the Workshoppy) that don't really have a place here - like my new milling machine ( ) and the several tons of new tooling it required... ( )

So come on Jon (et al) - let's see your latest endeavour please!

Regards,


IanT

Ian
I do have the engine that goes with the recently completed tender but, for some unknown reason, I can’t find the enthusiasm to go back to it. Maybe when the cold weather gets here and the garden is put to bed for the winter, ill be found skuttling off to the shed.

If anyone has details of a fairly early ‘interestingly different’ wagon, that may fire my enthusiasm though. Not worried which company it belongs to.

Jon

 

[Bigjohn]

Ian
Have been following the saga in “another house” waiting to see the swarf (backache permitting ?)

 

[lankytank]

Well, I've not been around for a couple of years (or so it seems - no doubt someone will check on me & tell me when I backed away...?) but out of curiosity wandered back in this afternoon & suddenly I'm disappearing down rabbit holes..... and work's gone out of the window....!!

Recently acquired a very tired ex-GRS 4F & looking to breath new life into it - possibly a complete knock down & rebuild - it's resin so it's not too onerous a task - will see how the mood takes me.

So, that's where I am & what I'm up to - rather mundane really.

 

[Mike W]

This was a good thread, so thought I'd revive it with a new post.
Work in progress, my latest kit, 1907 12-ton 8-plank private owner wagon.
Lettered by Steve Weston using his own stencil made specially, I'm now assembling the kit without damaging the paintwork, which is not the way I usually do it! I've already built one identical wagon which is awaiting paint, so will experiment with that one using the same stencil. Afterall, you can never have too many private owner coal wagons and this will only take me up to 18.
Mike

 

[NickB]

Oh alright then. In between 7mm jobs and editing the G3S Newsletter, working on the LNWR 8 wheel carriage, and when it is too cold for the workshop, sitting at the computer planning the next loco project (no big reveal - yet).

Nick

 

[Mike W]

I'm a little surprised that nobody has questioned the livery. Most sources show Sheepbridge to be red oxide with shaded lettering. However, Jim Richards recorded this one from life and his sketch is published in the recent L&YRS book. I have Jim's original drawing produced from that sketch and that also shows white on black. No idea why this one would be different to most others.

 

[AndyB]

I'm doing a bit of wagonry too. One of Mike's D9 kits - added lashing loops on the buffer beams, new brake V hangers cut out on the pantograph, reprofiled brake levers (heat and a small hammer), replacement door springs (the kit ones looked very undernourished) and a matching 'bash' plate on the door.
Very hard to letter by hand as the pattern looks to have been made from ply with no grain filler, so paint from the lettering runs into the grain. Still work in progress....