Studio Scale Models locomotive

[Gabhal Luimnigh]

2 hours ago, Horsetan said:

The light makes it look nickel-silver, and the instructions look like the later ones. SSM rather than TMD?

It's brass, I can't see any indication of whether it's SSM or not though.

[Mayner]

1 hour ago, Gabhal Luimnigh said:

It's brass, I can't see any indication of whether it's SSM or not though.

Have a look at the instructions. There is a 1993 amendment that refers to ex TMD kits which include a note that the mouldings for the tender axleboxes and springs are included with the J15 kit.

The bag of castings looks similar to the castings supplied with a pair of J15s kits I bought from SSM in 2007-8.

[Gabhal Luimnigh]

14 hours ago, Mayner said:

Have a look at the instructions. There is a 1993 amendment that refers to ex TMD kits which include a note that the mouldings for the tender axleboxes and springs are included with the J15 kit.

The bag of castings looks similar to the castings supplied with a pair of J15s kits I bought from SSM in 2007-8.

This John?

 

[Mayner]

14 hours ago, Gabhal Luimnigh said:

This John?

 

Yep: It looks like its the SSM version of the J15 Kit

SSM continued to used the original 1985 tooling for the etched parts, main difference between TMD & SSM versions seems to be the replacement of the original turned brass chimney and dome supplied with the original TMD version with a comprehensive set of whitemetal castings, the change in the frame spacers from square section brass to turned brass spacers and the etched parts produced in nickel silver at some stage during the past 30 years.

[Gabhal Luimnigh]

6 hours ago, Mayner said:

Yep: It looks like its the SSM version of the J15 Kit

SSM continued to used the original 1985 tooling for the etched parts, main difference between TMD & SSM versions seems to be the replacement of the original turned brass chimney and dome supplied with the original TMD version with a comprehensive set of whitemetal castings, the change in the frame spacers from square section brass to turned brass spacers and the etched parts produced in nickel silver at some stage during the past 30 years.

Thanks John, that's good to know.

[Metrovik]

Wasn't sure where to post this, but i emailed dezsullivan@gmail.com 10 days ago and have received no response, is he still active and have I the right address? looking to pick up a small order from him.

[Sea Breezer]

3 minutes ago, Metrovik said:

Wasn't sure where to post this, but i emailed dezsullivan@gmail.com 10 days ago and have received no response, is he still active and have I the right address? looking to pick up a small order from him.

He will get back to u eventually

[Gabhal Luimnigh]

1 hour ago, Metrovik said:

Wasn't sure where to post this, but i emailed dezsullivan@gmail.com 10 days ago and have received no response, is he still active and have I the right address? looking to pick up a small order from him.

He is still in action but not the quickest to reply so I presume he's busy at other stuff, join the queue lad

[Horsetan]

18 hours ago, Metrovik said:

Wasn't sure where to post this, but i emailed dezsullivan@gmail.com 10 days ago and have received no response, is he still active and have I the right address? looking to pick up a small order from him.

He can take a while to reply, partly because the e-mail software he uses isn't exactly the best. That said, sometimes he happens to be online and replies within minutes.

I've had an e-mail from him in the last couple of weeks as he is ready to send me that J15 kit....which I now have to find "near enough" wheels for....

[Gabhal Luimnigh]

56 minutes ago, Horsetan said:

 

I've had an e-mail from him in the last couple of weeks as he is ready to send me that J15 kit....which I now have to find "near enough" wheels for....

Same here

[Gabhal Luimnigh]

Nice little box of goodies arrived today from Des 

 

[Horsetan]

1 hour ago, Gabhal Luimnigh said:

Nice little box of goodies arrived today from Des 

 

Mine's now in the hands of An Post...

[Tullygrainey]

3 hours ago, Gabhal Luimnigh said:

Nice little box of goodies arrived today from Des 

 

Happy modelling Denis

[Gabhal Luimnigh]

45 minutes ago, Tullygrainey said:

Happy modelling Denis

Cheers Alan, I'm looking forward to retirement already

[Metrovik]

Strange, he still hasn't gotten back to me.....

I told him I would pay him once i received a confirmation email. Perhaps this is why I've received no reply?

Edited June 8 by Metrovik

[Horsetan]

7 hours ago, Metrovik said:

Strange, he still hasn't gotten back to me.....

I told him I would pay him once i received a confirmation email. Perhaps this is why I've received no reply?

Let me have your details if you think it might help. I had e-mails from Des yesterday confirming the J15 was in the post. I'm happy to send him an e-mail on your behalf. It is important not to lose sight of customers.

[Metrovik]

Thanks @Horsetan PM sent

 

[Horsetan]

30 minutes ago, Metrovik said:

Thanks @Horsetan PM sent

 

Have e-mailed Des now. Hopefully he'll pick it up in the next couple of days.

[Horsetan]

 

19 hours ago, Metrovik said:

Thanks @Horsetan PM sent

Update: Des has replied to me, and should have written to you separately by the time you read this.

Edited June 9 by Horsetan

[Metrovik]

6 hours ago, Horsetan said:

 

Update: Des has replied to me, and should have written to you separately by the time you read this.

Thanks very much for all your help. Much appreciated.

[Galteemore]

6 minutes ago, Metrovik said:

Thanks very much for all your help. Much appreciated.

Forum at its best in such matters 

[Horsetan]

11 hours ago, Galteemore said:

Forum at its best in such matters 

I think it's in all our interests to ensure SSM keeps going. Apart from Worsley Works, Des is pretty much the only established Irish etched kit producer/retailer that we have, with a range we can actually see.

If we lose him, that's basically curtains for Irish kitbuilders.

[Galteemore]

5 minutes ago, Horsetan said:

I think it's in all our interests to ensure SSM keeps going. Apart from Worsley Works, Des is pretty much the only established Irish etched kit producer/retailer that we have, with a range we can actually see.

If we lose him, that's basically curtains for Irish kitbuilders.

Agreed - and he’s the only SLNC brass supplier. In 7mm, Roger at Alphagraphix occupies an analogous position. 

Edited June 10 by Galteemore

[Horsetan]

On 7/6/2024 at 7:00 PM, Horsetan said:

Mine's now in the hands of An Post...

J15 kit has arrived. And now for the trivial matter of wheels ....

[Gabhal Luimnigh]

3 hours ago, Horsetan said:

J15 kit has arrived. And now for the trivial matter of wheels ....

Keep me posted lad

[Horsetan]

On 15/6/2024 at 10:58 PM, Gabhal Luimnigh said:

Keep me posted lad

The wheels are a bit of a challenge, as the correct diameter just isn't available - nobody makes a 5'1" wheel, and even when Sharman was still in business he didn't have an appropriate pattern - and the nearest equivalent recommended by Des is a slightly larger diameter.

Most of the time, this isn't a problem unless the wheel centre makes the whole thing look bigger than it actually is. 

EDIT: the instructions mention on page 2 the source of MJT hornblocks as still being in Croydon. This is somewhat out of date, as the MJT range was taken over by Dart Castings years ago. Des knows about this, and is updating the instruction sheets accordingly.

Edited June 18 by Horsetan

[Horsetan]

On 16/6/2024 at 11:18 AM, Horsetan said:

The wheels are a bit of a challenge, as the correct diameter just isn't available - nobody makes a 5'1" wheel, and even when Sharman was still in business he didn't have an appropriate pattern - and the nearest equivalent recommended by Des is a slightly larger diameter.

Most of the time, this isn't a problem unless the wheel centre makes the whole thing look bigger than it actually is....

On the J15 I have now ended up with two types of driving wheels, one being an old set of Sharman 5'2" 16-spoke pin between, and a currently available set of AGW wheels which are marked as 5'0 16spk, but pin inline. The Sharmans are very slightly too big in overall diameter.

The tyre wear allowance that was commonly adopted in steam days was to permit up to 2" in wear before new tyres were needed, so the AGW wheel is suitable. BUT...and there's always a but....the crankpin is inline with the spoke. The available photos of no.186 as she is now clearly show crankpins set between the spokes.

When a model is moving, nobody's going to see that kind of detail, but when at rest it's something you can't unsee once you've noticed it.

[David Holman]

With the rods on and (at rest) one side in the top position, probably very difficult to see where the pins are. I certainly won't tell. Promise!

[Mayner]

Horsetans comment about not being able to unsee something once noticed, I simply had to check the wheels on my J15s assembled using a mixture of Sharman and Gibson wheels with interesting results.

Loco on the left Gibson (EM profile) on right Sharman (B profile) both pin in line 16 spoke.

The brake gear on the loco on the left is from my own etchings, I used the original kit parts on the loco on the right.

I picked up the loco on the left part built at a show in the UK with several parts missing from the fret including brake gear and guard irons/cosmetic front frames.

When checked with a callipers Gibson wheels measured uniformally 19.80mm over tyres Sharman ranged between 19.3-19.8 

Close 'enough" for J15 (5'1¼) driving wheel with worn tyres especially with OO or EM wheel profile with overscale flanges and tyre width and compromise wheel profile.

While there are several photos of J15s with pins between (PB)spokes including a gruesome photo of 242 being cut  https://transportsofdelight.smugmug.com/RAILWAYS/IRISH-RAILWAYS/CORAS-IOMPAIR-EIREANN-STEAM/i-hJTs5JS/A

There are also photos of J15s with what appear to be pins in line including 161 https://transportsofdelight.smugmug.com/RAILWAYS/IRISH-RAILWAYS/CORAS-IOMPAIR-EIREANN-STEAM/i-QZrqpFD/A and 176 (GSR Locos McMahon & Clements) 

I am in a similar dilema the HT whether to use some 5'2"½ (20.8mm) dia PB wheel sets I have in stock (bought from SSM) to motorise a pair of J15s currently in the workshop. I guess the questions is whether the larger wheels raising the locos 0.4mm will be noticeable enough to stand out like a sore thumb alongside another J15, most of my locos either end up in a display cabinet or stored long term in a box so in a way doesn't really matter one I get some enjoyment out of the build.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Horsetan]

Incidentally the old Sharman "B" profile was little different from his original "Mike's Models" wheels, which had a "universal" profile and flange thickness supposedly suitable for use in both EM and P4.

Having samples of the Mike's "universal" wheel and comparing them to a proper P4 profile reveals that the only real difference is the thickness of the flange - it should be possible to skim off just the back of the "universal" flange to end up with a wheel that will work for P4 clearances, being about 2mm wide overall. The tyre tread doesn't need touching at all unless you're really fussy and fancy skimming a bit off the front face.