A Gaggle of J15s

[Tullygrainey]

6 hours ago, Mayner said:

I have began to prefer the tapered hornblock alignment jigs as the original stepped alignment jigs were less accurate, sometimes leading to binding coupling rods. The step diameter was inconsistent between different sides of the jig. With the tapered version the rod can be pressed home until it stops.

 

This resonated with me John, having come up against the same issue only a day or two ago. I think I might follow your lead and start using my London Road Models tapered jig axles again.

[jhb171achill]

Outstanding stuff, excellent!

[Mayner]

Read through the thread and in some cases seemed like groundhog day or re-discovering things/problems I wrote about nine or so years ago, each day is a brand new adventure.

Anyway this mornings 'lightbulb' moment was my planning to number the supeheated J15 191, I built a model of 191 a saturated J15 based on a colour photo in Irish Railways in Colour a second glance" over 30 years ago. Looked up the 'bible" Locomotiver of the GSR and sure enough she is listed as a saturated loco. Turned out I was using a photo of 181 a superheated engine from Irish Railways "Transports of Delight" website.

Anyway almost finished soldering the main components and some detail work on 181 & 229 (apart from brake gear) before cleaning up the models for final detailing and painting stage.

Almost but not quite there todays progress with 181 & 229

Mainframe assembly complete 191, lamp irons fitted front end both locos.

Classical TMD J15 front end, shallow mainframes, guardirons/cosmetic front frames intergral with loco body (mainframes end more or less flush with smokebox front hiden behind cosmetic frames/guardirons.

3/4 front view saturated J15, open area between bufferbeam and cylinder block/smokebox front!

J15 as rebuilt with new heavier frames and superheated boiler 1930s, some superheated J15 notabably 101 retained their original frames!. Frames & guardirons on this model are based on photos I took of 186 during a short visit to Ireland from Scotland in 1994.

Not the most noticeable feature, I have infilled the area between the bufferbeam and smokebox and modeled the franes projecting above the running board in this area.

Buffers (Markits?)  just temporarily fitted after opening out holes in buffer beams with needle files/broach, but foul on tender brake hangers so possibly substitute with Alan Gibson

Thankfully I located enough crankpin bushes to complete 181 and have sufficient detail parts in stock to complete both locos.

 

Edited May 2 by Mayner

[Patrick Davey]

Fabulous stuff John!

[Mayner]

Progress continues on 181 & 229, most tedious job was opening up the holes in the brake gear frets with an 0.55 drill held in a mini-pin chuck. It was necessary to shim the collet with paper and constantly re-tighten to stop the drill slipping!

 

All holes bored out to size one set loco/tender brake gear 50% second loco.

Anyway 36 holes opened out in the loco brake hangers alone, helped keep the mind diverted. The hangers are basically a beefed up version of the hangers used in the origonal TMD J15 kit over 40 years ago.

Brake gear as fitted to 124 6-7 years ago

I am one of those people who enjoy assembling chassis & brake gear

Some cosmetic stuff.

Plumbed up the leading splashers "Coey 15" 229 which were not quite plumb, got to sort out the RH buffer shank while I am at it, also re-set the chimney and fitted the lamp irons. one of those niggling details.

 

A bit more work on 229s tender, fitted the coal plate/tank top and added tool boxes I had in stock from the origonal loco kits, replaced axleboxes from my own #D prints I'll probabably add a 3D printed tank filler.

Some more work on 181s tender added sandboxes I had cast in brass from 3D master for use with the 52 Class kit and added whitemetal toolboxes. I'll probabably replace the toolboxes with 3D printed or brass toolboxes used with the 52 Class. I have to add axleboxes and spring castings supplied with the origonal kits.