Tullygrainey

Little Things Sent To Try Us Department: Bending handrails. And pipes. Trying to thread handrail knobs, I’m convinced each time that the little brat doesn’t have a hole in it. But they always do. Onwards with eyestrain, Alan

Lovely work

I've ordered up some chimney and dome castings, hoping some will be right for No 29. While waiting, I decided to have a go at making some. For the chimney, some bits of nested brass tube and a suitably sized washer were the raw materials. These were soldered together with 188 degree solder, then the rough shape built up with 145 degree solder and the final profile machined (and I use the term loosely) with files and emery while the thing rotated in the Black and Decker. Using higher temp solder to assemble the bits meant that the thing didn't fall apart while the lower temp stuff was puddled on. I learnt that the hard way - see failed project drawer. The bottom flange, in 10 thou brass, was the most difficult bit to do. The dome used the same process with different materials - wooden dowell, 0.5mm plastic sheet and filler. The dome was fitted tightly into a hole cut in a rectangle of plastic sheet and fixed with superglue. The sheet was taped round a suitable cylinder and the whole lot dunked in hot water, then cold, to induce a bit of a curve for the flange. We'll see how they compare with the commercial bits when they come. They may not get used but the process has been instructional. All those years watching Blue Peter weren't wasted Alan

Tedious work indeed David but worth the effort as you say. It’s going to be good! I’m putting off applying the primer coat as long as possible on my present project and dreading what it’ll show up

Those look wonderful Ken. The detail is exceptional. A great result after all the patience and perseverance needed to get there. Alan

Looking good Patrick. Great back story too. Best wishes for this one.

Little Things Sent To Try Us Department: Running plate steps These little brutes severely strained my patience, my dexterity, my eyesight and my resistance to using unseemly language. But they're done, for better or worse, and now and I'm whistling a happy tune Alan

Lovely job David. It’s come together very nicely. That really is a charming little engine.

Some Alan Gibson boiler bands did service for coal rails. Three were separated from the etch but kept attached to one another so they stayed equidistant while uprights were soldered on. Then the whole caboodle was soldered into the bunker and some tank fillers added (artistic licence in play here) By the time all this was added, my soldering iron was struggling. Still resembles an Airfix kit. Ah, fond memories... Locate and cement cab roof (1) to cab (2) ensuring whistle hole is to the front etc... ...but getting there. Will need to source a suitable chimney and dome soon. Alan

Looking good David. I'm with you on brake gear and the dangers of shorting - not my favourite task either. In fact, whisper it, one or two of my kit builds never got their brakes fitted. On a few others I played it so safe, a 4mm scale fitter could probably get his head between brake pad and wheel tread. In 4mm, Gibsons do a small range of plastic brake shoes, intended to address the shorting issue and I've begun to look at those as an alternative to the supplied etched bits. Despite the difficulties, the brakes on your E Class look like they could actually stop it, rather than wave around in the general vicinity of the wheels so job done. Please keep posting. I've looked with interest at those Alphagraphix kits so it's great to see one going together so nicely.

Thanks David. Please do. If memory serves, I stole the idea from an article in MRJ.

Ah yes, Enniskillen. A lovely model. I think I first saw a picture of her in New Irish Lines last year

Thanks GM. That's a more sensible way to do it. I'll remember that for the next one! I like the look of your tank engine. Is that nickel silver?

The Belpaire firebox came together fairly well, made from a U-shaped bit of 10 thou brass with some bits of 1.5mm square section brass rod soldered in at the front to give me something to work on. This was shaped by alternately filing and puddling solder onto it until something of the right profile started to emerge. It took a while. There may be better ways to do it but I'm fairly happy with the result. It required more bits to be cut out of the boiler We're getting past the broad strokes and into the small details now. More pics soon. Alan

Great to see NPQ again and looking so good too. Everything just fits and there’s real depth in that back scene which grounds the whole thing in a believable context. I’m sure I hear seagulls…

The running quality on Ballyconnell Rd is very evident in that video. The locos are silky smooth and all the rolling stock is rock-steady. No wobbles or lurching. The gold standard.

It does indeed. In fact I think it has enough bits now to build its own locomotive

I enjoyed looking at my pristine new boiler for a while, then gritted my teeth and cut a lump out of it. Scary but necessary to provide clearance for the motor. I half expected it to spring apart but thankfully it didn't. Tanks and bunker were next. The Hold & Fold tool came in handy for some of the bending. Handrails added in 0.33mm brass rod. One of my least favourite tasks - a real fiddle and I never get them entirely straight. The beading on the tank and bunker tops was done with 0.7mm brass rod. A bit of 2mm steel rod helped get the bends smooth. Took ages but really improved the look of the parts. The shell is loosely assembled in this pic. There are 3 sub-assemblies that bolt together: running plate boiler/smokebox cab/tanks/bunker The 14BA captive nuts are all in place. The boiler bands are leftovers from a London Road Models kit. The Belpaire firebox is going to be a challenge Alan

The rolling bars work well and I managed to produce an acceptable tube at the second attempt. Very satisfying. I now have a rectangle, a cube and a cylinder. I think we can do something with this... Rolling along, Alan

The jig is home-made David, from offcuts of good quality MDF (possibly ex-Ikea, can't remember) and threaded inserts. I made it fairly recently but it's already earning its keep.

Thank you GM. Yes, GW rolling bars. I treated myself to these recently but this is the first time I've used them. Can't see how you could produce a reasonable cylinder without them or something similar. Rolling brass using a dowel rod on your thigh never seemed like a viable option to me Thank you John. The organisation grew out of the frustration of never being able to find anything and spending more time looking than making. It still ends up looking like a tip though, even with the simplest job.

The piercing saw has been in play again to produce a flatpack for No. 29's cab... ... then the tricky job of tacking it all together while keeping it square. Clamps, bolts, clothes pegs, engineer's squares, bits of wood and verbal blandishments all play their part in the process. Once the first corner is done, it seems to get easier... ... and eventually we got there. It has 2 captive nuts (14BA) so it can be bolted to the running plate Now for the boiler. A new toy and a new skill to learn... Onward with trepidation Alan

I have to keep reminding myself how small and delicate these things are. Exceptional modelling! Beautiful too.

Thanks Ken. Yes, that’s exactly what happened. I’ve made similar mistakes before too so you’d think I might learn

Have had to make some adjustments to the running plate since the last post. The captive nut at the front was in the wrong place and had to go - it would’ve been visible in front of the smokebox. Furthermore, the whole thing had somehow become 3mm too long. I’ve ordered a new ruler.