Passenger Tank HR45 in 7mm scale, Making a Start.

The loco frames and rear bogie are a good starting point for a “scratch built” loco, or as I prefer, a “built without the aid of a kit” engine in 7mm scale. There is no kit available for a HR Passenger Tank and though Lochgorm Kits produced one for gauge O some time ago, which might have made a starting point, I’ve never come across one, so I’m on my own again with this one. I intend an all metal construction, though I may have to resort to some 3D printed parts as brass castings are in short supply with the closure of my preferred source, Laurie Griffin. The structural nickel silver bogie frames, pictured above, have a cosmetic white metal overlay, supplied by LGM ; tiny guard irons sneak in behind the rear wheels, needing only a trio of Railtec’s transfer rivets to complete the bogie. 

I originally wanted to model no. 25, “Strathpeffer”, however the lack of a transfer for the name on the side tanks led me to change to no.45, one of the two Passenger Tanks which ran nameless. The restricted choice of name transfers available in 7mm scale is a limiting factor in choosing a prototype, with only those made by Fox Transfers to chose from. The underside of the bogie, above, displays the support for the insulation board on which the bogie wiper pick-ups will be mounted. The 2’ 6” wheels are carried on 1/8” axles running in solid brass axle bushes, not in sliding bearings like the driving wheels, the flexible bogie pivot should ensure a sort of compensation.

The side frames are cut from 0.7mm nickel silver sheet and are slotted for Slater’s axle bearings, below which the springs, both lamellar and helical, retain the bearings. A Mini Gooch gearbox, fitted with an M1824 motor, is expected daily from ABCGears, it will drive the rear driving axle and be fitted with a flywheel which will protrude slightly into the cab and be enclosed by the backhead. The round frame spacers on view are temporary and will be replaced with ones cut from sheet as construction progresses.

 To enable removal of the superstructure from the chassis, the cab steps are mounted on a cross-member attached to the frames, which enables me to model the step bracing bar and the overflow pipe which attaches below the bottom step. The cross member is drilled centrally to take the bogie pivot pin which will be sprung to ensure that the bogie supports some of the weight at the back of the locomotive.

I’m working mostly “in the flat” at the moment, cutting out all the parts while I await the long anticipated motor arriving. When it does I can get the engine up and running and progress will be fairly rapid, so watch this space!

No.14 6-wheel 20Ton goods brake van.

20Ton 6-wheel goods brake van complete 

William Grant was the guard allocated to this brake van and his name appears on the board low on the right hand side of the vehicle. There’s a cast number plate on the sole bar for which there is evidence on the two surviving photos of this van in HR livery. The model is constructed entirely from metal, using the etched sheet I commissioned, scratch built parts and my own castings for springs, axle boxes and roof fittings. The guard figure is my own sculpture, hand crafted and cast in white metal in my workshop, owing nothing to computer technology. The superstructure and underframe are separate units and are screwed together, the interior isn’t highly detailed in this case though there is enough to satisfy  anyone who gets near enough to peek through the windows. I’ve built three of these vans now, two in HR livery and one in LMS colours, this is the last of them as there are no more etched sheets left.

 

20Ton 6-wheel Goods Brake Van

I decided to stop work on the brake van featured in my previous post as it was proving too time consuming to correct all the mistakes, so at the moment it’s consigned to the sidings of shame. A better use of my time I decided was to build a 20 ton brake van from one of the etched sheets I had made some time ago, it was the last of these etches and there will be no more. The etched sheet is a basic “aid to wagon building” and though the parts provided are accurate it is not an easy project, there is much work before a recognisable van emerges. Construction of the model took me four weeks, working 2 or 3 hours a day and I thought the result pictured above worthwhile. Note the new improved HR pattern buffers which are now available from the GOG. I await some warmer weather in the north and the departure of the family of robins nesting in my workshop to glaze and  paint the van, number 14 is favourite.

Building a Jones d.25 goods brake van, a new project for ‘26

Jones d.25 goods brake van, Type B in original condition. 

The model started life as a series of etched sheets which I undertook to assess to see whether they would build into a respectable model and be suitable for issue as a kit or at least as a modelling aid . I soon realised that there were far too many mistakes and omissions to expect a modeller to rectify or make good, it would never do. However as I’d made some progress by the time this dawned on me I thought I’d continue and try and complete the model and here you can see progress to date.

Below the sole bar all is my own design. 

The superstructure and underframe are built as separate units which screw together. This facilitates construction and allows access to the interior for painting and glazing. The w-iron trays were raised slightly with Plastikard sheet to give clearance for the springs and axle boxes. I used my own etched w-irons without compensation of any sort and found that the chassis runs surprisingly smoothly.

Internal walls and cross-braces have been added to strengthen the structure and support the roof which is half etched and rather flimsy. Window openings have been thickened too to give a more robust appearance and add strength to the structure.