Westcorkrailway's workbench

[Westcorkrailway]

Have found a solution to the chassis though it will need little cutting…

however it will still be a very tall 90!

 

the first 2 decals on….8 to go

[Galteemore]

Looks very well 

[the Bandon tank]

Great stuff. 

[Westcorkrailway]

I’ll bring it in person to the Swap meet on December 3rd, along with the rest of my conversions made in this thread if any of ye rivet counters want something to gawk at 

[Westcorkrailway]

Finished up number 90 now, and while she may be tall. The old lady is looking pretty alright (these photos make her look monstrously high but she’s about the same height as an Adams radial and smaller then an A class) 

 

this photo shows how nice it ended up looking 

The back (still need to shorten the chassis)

With a prototypical beet rake

 

with a post 55 green coach 

[Georgeconna]

Better printing there from what I seen Before and its turned out nice.

[Westcorkrailway]

17 minutes ago, Georgeconna said:

Better printing there from what I seen Before and its turned out nice.

The print quality is somewhere in between JM designs quality  and a sanded down normal print. You can see how smooth some features like the water tanks turned out 

 

Considering there is no brass option currently for number 90. This is probobly the definitive way to go about making one at the moment. The same guy is making a Bandon tank model with hopes of using a similar chassis with B12 bogeys. It will be interesting to compare this bandon tank shell with my brass shell that I made last year 

[Georgeconna]

 I passed on details to Mark about a lad I met in Dublin last month, He makes Museum Quality 3D prints sand would take commissions, None of this sanding down nonsense.

He had a 3D print of a Gemini Space Capsule which was amazing. Top quality gear of the shelf.

The Model Bunker™

You can see the Gemini space capsule on a Facebook vid on the link below. It's going to a Museum in the USA.

 

3D Models Kits (facebook.com)

the bomb and troller below I seen in the flesh and were amazing finish.

 

Edited October 21, 2022 by Georgeconna

[Westcorkrailway]

Some small updates over Christmas. My Christmas coffers were well and truly spent on railway books and railway items 

first order of buisness was the Fertiliser wagons which have now been converted like so to white. Thanks to DJD for the white ones….and the chocolate! And I hope he has gotten the surplus green ones ….unfortunatly while I was doing this I held them by the upper portion, didn’t realise that the bottom half was a 42 flat for a chassis….which detached while I was moving it, it completely ruined one of the couplings beyond repair, so it had to be remember…..at least it looks realistic! 

Other then that I received some very generous donations from a fellow West Cork Modeller, Really great stuff. My first CIE van aside from the cattle ones 

[Westcorkrailway]

Today I got half a Tyroconnel models (TMD) MGWR J26 (E-Class) or rather the remains of an attempt to do it. Half the kit is missing and the chassis is complete. I think this is a good opertunity to re-use some of the parts….any suggestions?

[Galteemore]

What’s missing from the rest of the kit ? Makes sense to build it as a J26 and scratch up the missing bits ? The chassis is the most difficult part of any build. If that’s sound (and it looks it), may as well just finish it as the designer intended! 

[Westcorkrailway]

1 hour ago, Galteemore said:

What’s missing from the rest of the kit ? Makes sense to build it as a J26 and scratch up the missing bits ? The chassis is the most difficult part of any build. If that’s sound (and it looks it), may as well just finish it as the designer intended! 

Looking at the kit it looks as though half of it is missing unfortunately. no side tanks, none of the bits and pieces like the funnel ect…. 

Basically not nearly enough to finish a locomotive I would think. 

 

[Galteemore]

Seems a shame when the foundations are there.,Is the footplate etch present? The tanks are square rather than rounded so easy enough to scratch. Chimney and domes are straightforward enough to source in the 4mm market - I think some GW tyoes might be close. 

[Westcorkrailway]

52 minutes ago, Galteemore said:

Seems a shame when the foundations are there.,Is the footplate etch present? The tanks are square rather than rounded so easy enough to scratch. Chimney and domes are straightforward enough to source in the 4mm market - I think some GW tyoes might be close. 

No footplate either….all I seem to have is enough to make a cab! 

[Galteemore]

Ok. Have you any J26 drawings to hand? Sounds like an ideal chance to try your hand at plasticard scratch building. 

[Mayner]

8 hours ago, Westcorkrailway said:

Today I got half a Tyroconnel models (TMD) MGWR J26 (E-Class) or rather the remains of an attempt to do it. Half the kit is missing and the chassis is complete. I think this is a good opertunity to re-use some of the parts….any suggestions?

The Midland Tank was originally manufactured by TMD (Terry Mc Dermott) in the early 80s before the business passed to SSM (Paul Greene & eventually Des Sullivan) Tyrconnell (Alphagraphix) produced 7mm etched kits including the Midland Tank in GSR/CIE condition.

The kit included parts to assemble to loco in original MGWR as introduced condition and optional parts to build the locos as running on the Waterford & Tramore with modified cab/bunker and valences, but not CIE condition with riveted smokebox, Inchacore chimney and ross pop safety valves.

I built two TMD Midland Tanks and I am not sure whether the chassis in the photo is the original kit chassis or a replacement. 

The holes in the side frames close to driving wheels were intended for 'plunger-pick-ups' which were fashionable in the 80s but largely in-effective as a power pick up!

The original kits were supplied with a brass chassis from the same material as the loco body, later kits were supplied with a stronger nickel silver chassis.

The original chassis included rectangular cut-outs for axlebearings-hornblocks as opposed to the usual circular cut outs, the nickel silver chassis was designed with integral beam compensation that provided a measure of suspension to the leading and center driving axles an unusual feature in a chassis kit.

TMD Midland Tank Chassis. Original (1983) foreground, revised Nickel Silver (1990s) background

Original chassis with 80s era motor and gearbox

Underside of original chassis showing bearing cut outs.

Regardless of the origin of the chassis it would be worth while replacing the existing gear with a modern 2-3 stage gearbox such as a Branchlines Multibox fitted to the chassis in the background and a modern can or coreless motor available from Branchlines (advertise in the Modeller and other magazines) or High level kits. Such a gear box with 53:1-60:1 gear ratio will provide reliable slow speed running for a good and shunting loco like a Midland Tank.

A Midland Tank with its relatively simple outline would be a good starting point for scratchbuilding a loco in plasticard or metal, alternatively a second hand Palitoy/Mainline/Bachmann J72 would be a good starting point for kitbashing a plastic injection molded model. Eoin Murray ECM models ran a thread on this news group on converting a J72 into a Midland Tank and "back in the day" a number of modellers "gave up" on the TMD kit and successfully converted Mainline J72s to Midland Tanks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Galteemore]

It is rather puzzling to see that the chassis in the OP seems to have no spacers. Is there anything holding the frames apart, @Westcorkrailway? Looks almost as if the whole thing is being held together by the axles. 

[Westcorkrailway]

4 hours ago, Galteemore said:

It is rather puzzling to see that the chassis in the OP seems to have no spacers. Is there anything holding the frames apart, @Westcorkrailway? Looks almost as if the whole thing is being held together by the axles. 

Yes there isint actually anything between the chassis spacing it apart. 
 

one side has the pickups that mayner was referring too. I must look at what peices I do have and see what I can come up with to complete the chassis 

 

the motor it came with is well knackered, beyond repair. Again a static display would be a good outcome for this chassis in particular 

[David Holman]

If it is a rolling chassis without that motor gearbox, then I'd say it is worth saving because the hard work has been done. A new motor gearbox is not hard to fit. Would then be tempted to do something with the body, even if it is mainly freelance because there is a lot to learn that will then benefit any future projects, even if the model only ends up being used to practice painting and lining or lettering.

[Westcorkrailway]

 

something more familiar on the workbench.

 

this coach was free! But it has no bogeys (those ones are from an identical model and I removed the under coach bit). The green is much more accurate but the lining is a bit worse! To thick altogether but hey, it was free and experimentation is good 

[Westcorkrailway]

Not the first time or the last time but there is a bandon tank on the workbench. 1/2 mark dunleas bandon complimentary of mark for helping with development, 1/4 1970s TMD MGWR J26 and 1/4 B12 from Hornby 

 

the only question is will this one be black or will it be CIE lined green …

[Westcorkrailway]

Any chance anyone have an accurate enough ral no. For dark CIE green (which meabh still wears today). Closest I have found in cork this morning is 6002 and it looks to light

Edited May 30, 2023 by Westcorkrailway

[Flying Snail]

1 hour ago, Westcorkrailway said:

Any chance anyone have an accurate enough ral no. For dark CIE green (which meabh still wears today). Closest I have found in cork this morning is 6002 and it looks to light

JHB mentioned RAL 6037 here (great resource, have it bookmarked):

 

[jhb171achill]

On 17/2/2023 at 9:27 PM, Westcorkrailway said:

 

something more familiar on the workbench.

 

this coach was free! But it has no bogeys (those ones are from an identical model and I removed the under coach bit). The green is much more accurate but the lining is a bit worse! To thick altogether but hey, it was free and experimentation is good 

Couldn’t agree more. I’ve three of those, one an ancient thing with coarse type 1970s bogies which won’t run on code 70 track. It cost me €3.

Like you say, it’s for experiments. It will eventually end up as a locomen’s dorm, a grounded body beside Castletown West loco shed.

And by the way, your two shades of green are fine for the 1955-63 period.

[Westcorkrailway]

19 minutes ago, jhb171achill said:

Couldn’t agree more. I’ve three of those, one an ancient thing with coarse type 1970s bogies which won’t run on code 70 track. It cost me €3.

Like you say, it’s for experiments. It will eventually end up as a locomen’s dorm, a grounded body beside Castletown West loco shed.

And by the way, your two shades of green are fine for the 1955-63 period.

I’m aiming for the 45-55 green IE the colour of green the bandon tanks wore on the Dublin suburban services

 

micheal lenton is sorting out the transfers. But he can’t do the lining. I’ve seen the fox transfers white on black lining looks good. Where would one get that lining?

39 minutes ago, Flying Snail said:

JHB mentioned RAL 6037 here (great resource, have it bookmarked):

 

That’s the thread I was looking for!!!

I was using this as a reference for the green I was looking for 

[jhb171achill]

1 hour ago, Westcorkrailway said:

I’m aiming for the 45-55 green IE the colour of green the bandon tanks wore on the Dublin suburban services

Could be the lighting / image, but your coach looks to be the (accurate) post-1955 colour. which of course was to be seen in West Cork after that year. So, for a green steam loco, it's always going to be the darker colour - steam locos (and buses and lorries) retained the darker green until 1963. If it's a coach, prior to 1955 you've the darker colour but with broad lining above and below windows. If it's after 1955, in West Cork you've two options. One is the new standard of the lighter green with a single thin line at waist level. Some carriages in this livery had snails, some didn't. Darker always did. But in West Cork there was another local variable in that Albert Quay painted a small number of ex-Bandon stock, and a handful of ex-GSWR stock in plain, unlined DARK green.

I know that personally you're not keen on the standard grey livery, but if youre running green and black locos, and perhaps a "C" class thrown in, you might consider basing your layout on 1955-60 rather than 1945-55, as nothing was black before that in West Cork (in other words, when the dark green carriages were prevalent) - all grey or (one or two Bandon tanks green.

Edited May 30, 2023 by jhb171achill

[DoctorPan]

1 hour ago, Westcorkrailway said:

But he can’t do the lining. I’ve seen the fox transfers white on black lining looks good. Where would one get that lining?

 

 

Order from Fox direct. Them and Steve from Railtec are extremely helpful, quick and never seem to get the notice of Customs!

[Westcorkrailway]

57 minutes ago, jhb171achill said:

Could be the lighting / image, but your coach looks to be the (accurate) post-1955 colour. which of course was to be seen in West Cork after that year. So, for a green steam loco, it's always going to be the darker colour - steam locos (and buses and lorries) retained the darker green until 1963. If it's a coach, prior to 1955 you've the darker colour but with broad lining above and below windows. If it's after 1955, in West Cork you've two options. One is the new standard of the lighter green with a single thin line at waist level. Some carriages in this livery had snails, some didn't. Darker always did. But in West Cork there was another local variable in that Albert Quay painted a small number of ex-Bandon stock, and a handful of ex-GSWR stock in plain, unlined DARK green.

I know that personally you're not keen on the standard grey livery, but if youre running green and black locos, and perhaps a "C" class thrown in, you might consider basing your layout on 1955-60 rather than 1945-55, as nothing was black before that in West Cork (in other words, when the dark green carriages were prevalent) - all grey or (one or two Bandon tanks green.

I do have one GSR grey loco…MGWR J26 would be the next one to go into GSR grey if I got my hands on one 

 

that green I used for the chelestpry…I wish I had more of it but….I don’t. It was painted using a tin of Rocksavage green paint they had laying around in the 1960s. The paint was then coppied exactly and applied to that coach and then I inherited it….love to have more of it but I can’t get it!!!

 

but I’m painting my bandon tank green (now by the time “green” 467 returned from the D&SE you could hardly see the green under the grime….but I’m going to do it anyway!!!!) just for fun. Hoping to have it done by Upton steam rally….unlined but at least in the right colour with some transfers.

 

 

36 minutes ago, DoctorPan said:

 

Order from Fox direct. Them and Steve from Railtec are extremely helpful, quick and never seem to get the notice of Customs!

Can you give me a link for ones that would work well with the bandon tank (the lining I’ll be able to do is around the water tanks and boiler banding I think the coal bunker and running board are beyond me to line!)

hand painting is a go and the first coat is on! (It’s so dark I have to use the flash to show the colour is the undercoat is black at the moment )

 

 

 

 

[jhb171achill]

Looking good!

[Westcorkrailway]

Progress as it concludes tonight 

 

 

The green is not 100 percent correct, though these pictures make it look worse then it is!

 

 

the question is do these colour snails and numerals look correct? As that’s what’s going on tommorow all things go well

[Westcorkrailway]

She is christened 467! 

467 is the only bandon tank to have worn green while in west cork (although it was hard to see under the grime) 466 also is said to have worn green but once it was sent to diblin it never came back

463 ~ grey only. 

464 ~ grey and black livery

465 ~ Grey

466 ~ Grey and CIE lined green 

467 ~ Grey and CIE lined green

468 ~ Grey 

469 ~ grey

470 ~ Grey  

Worth pointing out though some locos like 470 would be unsuitable for marks bandon as it has a very different apperently unrebuilt. Think of the difference between 184 and 186

[Niles]

lovely stuff... rather smart livery.

[Westcorkrailway]

The biggest issue with any of these bandon tank projects is height. Anyone who has tried 3d printing for themselves will note how usually, when using a RTR chassis the loco ends up 1.5 times higher then it needs to be. And while this model is for static use only. It at least beats the BR mark 1 test of coaching. 

 

 

[DoctorPan]

On 30/5/2023 at 3:13 PM, Westcorkrailway said:

Can you give me a link for ones that would work well with the bandon tank (the lining I’ll be able to do is around the water tanks and boiler banding I think the coal bunker and running board are beyond me to line!)

 

You've two options, go for the LNER white/black/white lining - something I used myself on my 801 model: https://www.fox-transfers.co.uk/general-white-black-white-lining-58401

Or order white lining and black lining seperately and do them seperately. If you look at the Fox's website and filter down to 00 gauge lining colour of choice, you'll get packs of straights and curves. Pick the ones you need.

 

[jhb171achill]

On 30/5/2023 at 11:38 AM, Westcorkrailway said:

Any chance anyone have an accurate enough ral no. For dark CIE green (which meabh still wears today). Closest I have found in cork this morning is 6002 and it looks to light

Yes, that’s closer to the post-1955 green than the older green. Only ever used on coaches and railcars.

On 30/5/2023 at 9:49 PM, Westcorkrailway said:

Progress as it concludes tonight 

 

 

The green is not 100 percent correct, though these pictures make it look worse then it is!

 

 

the question is do these colour snails and numerals look correct? As that’s what’s going on tommorow all things go well

For West Cork the snails won’t matter, as all locos were tank engines. CIE never put logos on any actual steam locomotives at all - only on tenders, and for that matter, not even ALL tenders.