murrayec

A dab of T-Cut on a cotton bud, allow the T-cut some time while gently rubbing at the edges of the transfer, it will eventually start to fall apart, remove the loose stuff don't swirl it around and then continue with more T-Cut. Look out as you go to make sure you don't remove the green- if that's paint! The T-Cut will leave a nice shiny finish for the new decals and then spray with a satin lacquer to seal. Eau-De-Nill for the snail and possibly the same for the number- or it could have been yellow or white. JHB will know. Snail Decals are available from Railteck or Studio Scale Models. The locos were black or green- JHB should know the loco numbers and a green reference Eoin

@David Holman and you thought you were done buying the lathe! lathes cant work without the tooling- lots of tooling! more money that one spends on the lathe! I can recommend a few books;- The Amateur's Workshop by Ian Bradley ISBN 085242 4825. It's an old book but still available, it covers all tools in the workshop and how to use them, sharpen them and more, it has a small section on running a lathe, but is a great reference bible for the workshop covering things like 'blank end arbor, with morse taper' Metal Turning Lathes by ET Westbury ISBN 0852427840 Again an old one but a great introduction to lathes and using them- not sure if still available. The Amateur's Lathe by LH Sparey ISBN 085242 2881 Another old one but like Bradley's is a workshop lathe bible, again this one is still available. Eoin

You've built an excellent looking model, you cant quit now- do build the laminates, it will be a superb train and a first in Lego. I look forward to seeing more.... Eoin

@Hod Carrier The turf burner only lasted for it's trials, so any of the coaching used in the trials is applicable. The sides were handed so it looks like only one side was photographed but both were! More Info here;- Eoin

Yes, it's looking good, the photos are showing it up as more red than brown- it's the lighting in the workshop and the camera! I must play with the settings on the camera..... but I only remember after I post up photos!! Eoin

After my second attempt to create the lining myself, which again ended up a mess, I gave up time wasting- drew up the lining artwork and got SSM to print out a sheet of decals in black & gold. So over Christmas the lining was done..... Decal sheets just after receiving a coat of lacquer. The buffer beam getting a coat of gloss red. The boiler bands and loco number on the smoke box door were done first. Loco body on the way. And completed. A few small gloss black touch ups are required on the cab edges and on the gold lining to trim the corners, then a final coat of lacquer and we're sticking it together.... The final job is the boiler handrails, I have to turn a handrail knob but unfortunately my lathe is still not operational, though the new replacement motor arrived from China into the UK last week so I expect it by courier very soon! Eoin.

I found this link on RMW after a search in Google, this guy gives a discussion on that controller, the workings of a motor related to controllers and other controllers he's played with;- http://www.scottpages.net/ReviewOfControllers.html There are others if you do a search 'Duette-style AC transformers and modern motors' on Google Eoin

Ready for soldering the brakes on the loco chassis. Soldered with 145 deg solder hoping not to de-solder the tubes on the hangers- worked well! Brakes removed. Installing the motor and gearbox- a flat was milled on the axle for the gearwheel grub screw. A brass tube spacer was made to space the gear wheel on centre of the motor, a .45mm brass washers installed between the gearbox frame and axle bearings both sides to hold the whole assembly on centre of the chassis. Test fitting of the front guard irons to see if they need any mods, they fit fine, just need a few bends to line up with the wheels. These will be soldered on later. The electrical pickup plate was fitted to the chassis frame spacers with M2 screws. With the brakes back on, .4mm NS wire pickups were bent up and soldered onto the plate. After soldering, the wires were adjusted, a little bend was formed on the ends to rub the back of the wheel threads. Wired up and coupled up- some adjustments were done to the brake hangers and 12BA washers installed behind the crankpin bearings to make clearance so the coupling rods don't foul the brakes when running. The front and back axles have about 3mm side play. And up n running. A few wobbly wheels will have to be looked at! Checking the chassis fits the loco body- one wheel flange slightly rubs a splasher! a bit of packing between the chassis and body should sort that out. Thats the two chassis complete, they will be stripped down for a spot of painting. The new backhead will be next...... Eoin

Nicely done - it's looking great. I'm tempted to go at one of these myself- but a few other things to finish first! Eoin

There are drawings in the new book 'Locomotives of the Great Southern & Western Railway', a dimensioned drawing with plan, front and rear- even a longitudinal cross section and a lovely pen rendering of Class 45 Eoin

That sounds like the motor is free running as in the gears or drive shafts are slipping! I agree with PJR, return to sender! Eoin

As thumper says it might be mechanical- it's hard to tell from short file you uploaded! maybe trying a small dab of oil on the axles or if your up to it have a look inside the bogie under plate to see if its oiled inside or notice anything else? Eoin

Tender brakes were next, 40mm long x .8mm brass wires with a 6mm .8mm id tubes where soldered into the chassis frames to make the brake hanger spigots. The dinky clips are there to hold the assembly in place while soldering. Soldered on the inside with the iron held there until the solder wicks through and forms a silver seam around the tube- one then knows the tube is soldered on. Brake assembly fitted to spigots, rods fitted and again dinky clips to hold in place while rods are soldered. Done. The hangers are not soldered to the spigots so the brakes can be removed. Next was the riveting to the loco brake hangers and guard irons. Here is a tip for this riveting press- a piece of 12/16'' fish tank tube pushed over the handle which makes the riveting process a bit more comfortable. With the rivets done its time to solder 2.5mm long x .8mm id brass tubes to the top n bottom of the hangers, jigged up with .8mm aluminium wires drilled into the hardwood base. Done, requiring a bit of clean-up and adjustment of the Tufnol brake blocks to fit. Wheel weights epoxied, brake blocks epoxied. Time to fix that loose wheel bearing, the chassis was jigged up with the coupling rods just in case it may go off-line when being soldered. Soldered on the inside and again the iron held there until the solder wicks through to the outside. M2 nuts were also soldered to the frame spacers to take the fixings for the electrical pick-up plate underneath. Next is the mounting of the motor- as originally built the motor was laid flat and stuck into the cab, with our new backhead the motor will now be mounted up at and angle to clear the backhead space. Once the angle was determined the gears were fouling the boiler so some cutting was required here- hatched in pen on the boiler. A motor cover plate was originally installed in the cab- so this was cut out at the same time. Done. A motor support plate was made up with .5mm brass sheet to hold the motor up at the angle, two holes were drilled in it to tie the motor in place with wire strap and then scored to fold the plate. Plate folded and soldered in position between the frames. Test fitting the brake parts, again 40mm long x .8mm brass wire and 4mm long x .8mm id brass tube was used for the support spigots. Done for now..... Eoin.

@David Holman Loco is looking great, as you mentioned about the chuck key- the best habit to adopt on this is- always remove the key as you remove your hand from it, never leave it in the chuck. Also just a mention on using files in a lathe (you probably know this)- ensure the file has a handle installed, most lathe users frown on the use of files, last thing one wants to do is stab themselves in the hand if the file should shoot backwards. Eoin

@Michael Nolan The DCC chip is pre-set for prototype running so slow startup speed and stopping. Have you left the loco run for a while to see if it speeds up? Gaugemaster DC controllers have a low setting on full throttle, so the top speed is slower than other DC controllers! You may need to program the speed settings on the DCC chip if you still experience the problem..... Eoin

Here is another project on the workbench at the moment, a Gauge O J15 0-6-0 model by John Hamill & Brendan Kelly. It's in the shop for upgrades- wheel weights, brake gear, new electrical pick-up system, a new backhead, a bit of paint, and some small fixes. The model stripped down, parts being cleaned up and the plan of action being worked out. The new Slaters backhead kit being assessed. After a bit of research of photos a cad drawing was prepared of the loco & tender chassis to set up the brakes, wheel weights, pcb pickup plate and loco guard irons. When the drawing was complete the parts were cnc'd out in .5mm brass sheet for most bits except for the brake shoes which were cut from Tufnol, and pick-up plate from .5mm pcb copper clad sheet. Tender brake shoes n hangers going together, brake rods all cleaned up and holes sized for fitting- the J15 had pull rods on inside and the outside of the wheels which is an interesting challenge to get this to work! The chassis have been drilled .8mm holes to take brass rods to support the brake hangers, the hangers will fit to the wire with .8mm ID brass tubes which will be removable so that the wheels can be accessed. The loco chassis made a ringing sound as I was working on it and I eventually tracked it down to one of the wheel bearings not fully soldered in- that's the one with the paint removed ready for re-soldering. And all the other bits have been cleaned up ready for assembly- hangers, rods, wheel weights, loco brake blocks, and guard irons. I have somehow misplaced two of the loco brake block which will have to be re-made!! Eoin

A recent project on the bench was this 0-4-0 LMS Bowman #300 live steam tank loco of circa 1930-50s? For more info on the Bowman range of models and a bit of history see here;- http://www.tcawestern.org/bowman.htm Anyway this loco had thrown it's steam pipe and needs a bit of attention. After a bit of research I found that the pipe supplied with the model was for another type, also at first we believed the boiler was silver soldered! Again after research and inspection it was found to be soft/lead soldered which made the job a bit easier. The boiler was removed and cleaned up around the broken pipe connection and a plan of action was drawn up- to shorten the steam pipe and house it into the brass ferrule on the boiler to give the new solder join a bit of structural support- as looking on youtube this join seems to be problem with the model. Also the olive on the steam pipe needed to be re-soldered as it was not pushed home on the pipe- I think with someone's attempt to solder at the other end of the pipe they overheated the whole thing and the olive slipped! With the olive soldered on and the pipe shortened it's now ready to solder into the boiler, to save the paint and to ensure the boiler end doesn't de-solder the whole thing is wrapped in cold wet cloths. The pipe is recessed into the fitting by 2mm. And done, the cloths did their job. Then bolted the boiler back on and gave it a test run on air at 20psi. A bit more motion in this photo. Ready to go back to its crew for the smokebox saddle to be installed and a bit of paint. Eoin

https://railsofsheffield.com/products/28011/gaugemaster-dcc29-oo-gauge-omni-direct-plug-decoder-8-pin-

@popeye I agree, everything has fitted together ( I chose to remake the gas tanks where the instructions suggest removing the brake shoes, and I have since heard that most prototype coaches had no shoes on the centre axles ), there are aid holes for lining up the parts, even jigs on the frets for bending the handrails, plus easy well laid out instructions with diagrams...... Eoin

All sides and ends of the 4 kits are now set-up ready for the roofing stage! Showing the brake third- all components removed from frets and cleaned up. These are the roof clamping down parts and the luggage compartment rooflight, the birdcage rooflight to the brake conpartment is not being used. Roof sheet being drilled for ventilators and gas lamps. After de-burring the roof sheet was rolled to curve. Curved, needing a bit of flatting out! Test fitting the roof lower bracket to prepare for tack soldering sides and ends, this was done while the sides and ends are still bolted to the chassis. Tacks done, and then the sides n ends are removed from the chassis and fully soldered up. Setting up the captive screws and the upper roof bracket with captive 10 BA nuts. Done Lower bracket soldered in with the upper bracket screwed on with paper between ready for soldering the roof sheet on. Roof sheet tack soldered from the underside and.... .....then the roof is unscrewed and the soldering of the upper bracket was completed. Roof on! 3 more to go.... Eoin

Excellent David, Great expansion to the workshop tools, a lathe is a must have item in model building in my view. ArcEuroTrade do a small set of tools- 4mm, which could be suitable for your machine;- https://www.arceurotrade.co.uk/Catalogue/Cutting-Tools/Lathe-Turning-Tools/8pc-High-Speed-Steel-Turning-Tool-Sets Banggood used to sell a lot of stuff for this lathe also! Eoin

@skinner75 Thanks, I love restoration work of old machines, motorbikes and cars. I know 'My Mechanics' on youtube, I watch a lot of this stuff and generally stuff like timber frame house building, log cabins, alternative energy...... the list is endless come to think! Thanks for the other links, I was offered an old Harrison lathe of comparable size, I would love to have something of that scale but alas my place doesn't have the space, and my days of working on big stuff are done so the Myford hit all the bells when it was offered. Eoin

'Rusty Old Oilers' These are the spindle wick oilers, their not that expensive to replace but with the rust removed they are still usable- so this is how I remove rust when sand-blasting cannot be used, I'd like to preserve whatever is left of the chrome finish! Washed in de-greaser. Popped into a strong bath of hot water & citric acid and given a good brush over and occasional wire brushing to help loosen the rust. One should not use a brass brush as it will give the metal a brass tint! steel brush only. Then popped into the ultrasonic cleaner with de-greaser solution for 200sec, that solution was clear when the oiler went in. So repeated this process 3 times- nearly there! If one leaves the parts in the citric bath for to long (like hours) a dark coating forms on the metal surface and the parts will rapidly rust up again! So short periods are best, the parts still come out with the coating which can be removed with the steel wire brush immediately. This coating can be used to protect the metal surface in some situations but does not look very nice! Parts complete and wire brushed, they still look a bit rusty but this is because the acid is still in the pits and still working away- a good wash in the ultrasonic cleaner with clean water does the trick. Cleaned up and wire brushed on the bench grinder, then mounted on a stick for a coating of lacquer to stop them rusting again. Lacquer being applied and while doing this the badge print was give its first coats to the rear of the paper sheet, one can see how the lacquer has gone into the paper and revealed the print on the other side. When the other side is done the badge will be plastic! I'll leave these for 24 hours and apply the finish coats...... Eoin

According to Mr Shepherd's book on its trial runs to Cork;- October 4 1957 - 5 Bogie Carriages & 1 Heating Van = 165 Tons October 5 1957 - 5 Bogie Carriages & 1 Heating Van = 165 Tons Test runs to Sallins;- September 4 1957 - 5 bogies & 1 van 160 tons September 5 1957 - 7 bogies & 1 van 225 tons September 6 1957 - 8 bogies & 1 van 255 tons September 27 1957 - Five Bulleid design carriages As far as I can remember in reading the book it never went into service, testing never finished, Bulleid left Inchicore with it going into storage?? Eoin

Painting started over the weekend. I'm using Johnston's MDS metal paints on this project, it's a one coat system that can be applied to bare n rusty metal applied by brush or roller, I used a roller but the paint didn't flatten out, I reckon it needs a second coat with a bit of rubbing down first! Black bits were sprayed jet black. Setting up a badge for the pulley casing. Printed off 3 copies of the badge on photo quality paper, just in case of cutting errors! This print will now be laced with varnish back n front which turns the paper into plastic- almost! Eoin