BCDR Diesel D1 (No. 2)

[Broithe]

22 minutes ago, Tullygrainey said:

One problem I foresee in building bodywork is louvres, with which D1 is well endowed. Not sure how to approach this. I've searched on-line for suitable etches but haven't found anything. I've got some Archer 3D resin decals but not enough of the right size to do the job. All suggestions gratefully received.

Alan

If things get really desperate, you might try forming "louvre sheets" via a suitable single-cut file used as a former. Either by bashing a malleable metal sheet into the teeth or, possibly, by casting a resin in place, after waxing the file, and hoping to peel it off in sufficiently large pieces to be used when cut down?

[Broithe]

Mmm, thinking a bit more about this, you would/should get a better final shape by using a 'good casting' from the above method as a mould to cast the final products from.

[Tullygrainey]

1 hour ago, Broithe said:

Mmm, thinking a bit more about this, you would/should get a better final shape by using a 'good casting' from the above method as a mould to cast the final products from.

Now that's an ingenious approach which had me examining all my files closely.. and realising what a desperate state they're all in. Shocking! I'll keep this one in mind. Many thanks.

Alan

[Broithe]

1 hour ago, Tullygrainey said:

Now that's an ingenious approach which had me examining all my files closely.. and realising what a desperate state they're all in. Shocking! I'll keep this one in mind. Many thanks.

Alan

Get some new ones - what you actually need* is a 'single cut bastard file', but probably best not to run into B&Q shouting that.

 

* Dependent on the scale of the final product, of course.

[Patrick Davey]

Congrats - a milestone has been achieved!!!  Looks like a smooth runner too!!

Edited October 22, 2022 by Patrick Davey

[David Holman]

Louvres are the spawn of Satan and should be banned from existence.

[Tullygrainey]

Some progress this last week: My original idea was to build the bodywork for No 2 from plastic card. However I decided to make the running plate in brass for the strength that's in it. Having managed that, I intend to carry on using brass where I can manage it though I think it'll be a case of using the best (easiest) material for the job at each stage. I suspect this will be a multi-media production. There might even be sticky-backed plastic in here before we're done.  Anyway, some photos...

Running plate,- 0.015" brass sheet

Buffer beams - double thickness of 0.015" brass sheet

Valances: 1mmx1.5mm brass right angle section

 

Some bits for a framework for the bonnet..

 

Should be a laugh skinning this

Onwards with burnt fingers, Alan

 

[Galteemore]

Excellent work Alan. 

[the Bandon tank]

This is fantastic, really enjoying this. 

[David Holman]

Lovely stuff. Great to see brass work being done - and very neat it looks too. Ultimately, it all disappears once painted, so nothing wrong with mixing materials. Brass is very satisfying though!

[Tullygrainey]

Some more bits of the jigsaw. two layers, tack-soldered and cut together, then separated.

Piercing saw earning its keep. Also that nice Vallorbe file that cost the same as a chicken dinner

Alan

[Patrick Davey]

Simply superb!

[the Bandon tank]

Great idea using the paper template.

[Tullygrainey]

Thanks everyone for all the positive comments and encouragement.

Alan

[connollystn]

Looking forward to seeing the finished article, that is one of a number of very interesting locomotives which operated on the GNR(I).

[Tullygrainey]

Phew! Engine casing done. It wasn't just the brass that got sweated. Used up my remaining stock of expletives on this one. It's got a very slight twist but the designer said it'd do.

0.010" brass sheet for this, annealed in a gas flame before bending.

 

Next up - the Ikea cab flatpack 

Alan

 

Edited October 29, 2022 by Tullygrainey

[Tullygrainey]

The cab parts went together pretty well, with the help of an engineer's square, Blutack, masking tape, clothes pegs and anything else that might help to keep things in place whilst the solder went in 

 

It's beginning to look like something at last

Alan

[Patrick Davey]

It is looking superb Alan and your build speed is most admirable!!!

[Galteemore]

3 hours ago, Tullygrainey said:

The cab parts went together pretty well, with the help of an engineer's square, Blutack, masking tape, clothes pegs and anything else that might help to keep things in place whilst the solder went in 

 

It's beginning to look like something at last

Alan

It doesn’t look like just something Alan- looks like a BCDR D1 ! Super work.

[David Holman]

Neat, clean soldering too.

[Mayner]

I like D1 Steam Outline appearance complete with what appears to be a bunker and side tanks, the other Harlandic diesels had similar design features.

At the time (1933) D1 was ground breaking in terms of a mixed traffic diesel electric loco capable of 60mph  branch line or light main line service.

 

[Tullygrainey]

 

Thanks again everyone. Have to say I'm pleased with how this is going so far.

 

46 minutes ago, Mayner said:

I like D1 Steam Outline appearance complete with what appears to be a bunker and side tanks, the other Harlandic diesels had similar design features.

At the time (1933) D1 was ground breaking in terms of a mixed traffic diesel electric loco capable of 60mph  branch line or light main line service.

 

Yes, there's definitely a house style about the Harlandics. Each one seems to be a slight variation on the same theme. With the possible exception of the other BCDR diesel, the bogie no 28, though even it had side 'tanks'.

 

12 hours ago, Patrick Davey said:

 your build speed is most admirable!!!

I'd be brassed off if I wasn't making progress Patrick.

I'll see myself out 

Alan

[Patrick Davey]

22 hours ago, Tullygrainey said:

I'd be brassed off if I wasn't making progress Patrick.

I'll see myself out 

Alan

I guess you just have to solder on Alan.....

[Galteemore]

Greer to see this progress. So often brass projects remain in flux. 

[Patrick Davey]

35 minutes ago, Galteemore said:

Greer to see this progress. So often brass projects remain in flux. 

Brilliant!!!

[Mike 84C]

You have built a loco while I'm still thinking about it!!!  Brilliant modelling.

[Tullygrainey]

3 hours ago, Mike 84C said:

You have built a loco while I'm still thinking about it!!!  Brilliant modelling.

Thank you Mike. If I'm honest, I spent at least 3 years thinking about this one 

[J-Mo Arts]

Phwoar, only just found this. Incredible stuff!!!

[PJR]

Lovely workmanship well done

[Tullygrainey]

Another little bit of progress - that tricky bit in the middle between the cab and the engine casing. Tricky to guess the shape, because the photos of the prototype don't reveal much, and tricky to make too. There was a fair pile of brass filings by the time it was finished  

 

 

Added some doors and drilled a few holes for handrails too. There's no doubt you can get nice crisp edges using brass. It's been a joy (mostly)

 

Onwards and forwards

Alan

 

 

[Galteemore]

Great work. Almost like a Belpaire boiler in front of the cab ! 

[Patrick Davey]

Again am gobsmacked by your progress Alan, great work altogether!!  Two questions:

1. Have you found a solution to the louvre question, and...

2. Are you planning an appropriate layout to showcase this beauty when finished?  Maybe a finescale recreation of Ballynahinch terminus.......?

https://mikemorant.smugmug.com/Recent-uploads-and-queries/Recent-uploads-other-material/i-2xWNWzr/A

 

[Tullygrainey]

Thanks everyone

17 hours ago, Galteemore said:

Great work. Almost like a Belpaire boiler in front of the cab ! 

Yes! Yet another steam reference alongside the chimney, bunker and tanks.

 

15 hours ago, Patrick Davey said:

Again am gobsmacked by your progress Alan, great work altogether!!  Two questions:

1. Have you found a solution to the louvre question, and...

2. Are you planning an appropriate layout to showcase this beauty when finished?  Maybe a finescale recreation of Ballynahinch terminus.......?

https://mikemorant.smugmug.com/Recent-uploads-and-queries/Recent-uploads-other-material/i-2xWNWzr/A

 

Ah the louvres, the elephant in the room! Still pondering but I'll have to confront it soon 

No plans for a new layout as yet but Ballynahinch terminus would make a good subject wouldn't it. Nice track plan and opportunities for shunting

Alan

[Tullygrainey]

A few small but time-comsuming details added - handles and lamp irons mainly. Also a support for the cab roof. The roof itself, in 0.010" brass, is held down with a 12BA countersunk bolt which screws into a nut soldered underneath the support. It's curved slightly tighter than needed so that when the bolt draws it down, it spreads and seats nicely all round. The bolt will be covered by a ventilation hatch eventually. Don't know if the original had one of these but this one does

Onwards by small increments

Alan

 

[David Holman]

Tasty!