Dornoch HR56 more progress.

HR56 superstructure nearing completion, the smokebox dart arrived from LGM this morning.

I chose to build a second model of one of Stroudley's Lochgorm Tanks simply because they make a very attractive and jolly little model. It would not be exactly the same by any means as all these little engines differed in detail. I had quite a few parts in hand, including an ABC motor-gearbox as well as a set of etches for the wheel overlays, which gave the project a flying start. The first HR Stroudley Tank that I built was a model of HR57, this was in 2013. This particular engine is comparatively well documented as there are far more photos extant of Lochgorm than of her other two sisters in the class. My choice of a second engine fell on no.56 rather than no.16 mainly because there exists a very detailed photo of the former in HR days as the Dornoch Tank and in addition I have the transfer lettering for the name Dornoch to hand. In all I unearthed five pictures of Dornoch in HR days and six of her in LMS livery, not all of which were uniformly helpful; perhaps this dearth of pictorial evidence is the reason why so few models of either 56 or 16 are built in gauge 0. Nevertheless, these few pictures provide enough information to build an authentic and well detailed model. My primary reference was the Laurie Ward drawing of Lochgorm in original condition, to which I added the differences, culled from the written record as well as from photographs, which characterised Dornoch. There are a surprising number of differences between the three engines of the class, particularly in the braking arrangements, which I'll deal with in my next posting when the chassis is complete.

HR56 was built in 1869 and originally carried the name Balnain, the others of the class, HR 57 and HR16 were built in 1872 and 1874 respectively. My model takes up the story of HR56 in about 1910 when, now named Dornoch (1902), a rear bunker was fitted in place of the tool box. In 1917 the tank which arched over the boiler was extended back to the cab which did little to improve the appearance of the engine which was compromised further in 1920 when the HR modified her elegant Jones chimney by adding a clumsy flared top.

Most of the brass and nickle silver castings used in the model are from Laurie Griffin (LGM) who, I believe, intended to introduce a kit of this engine into his range and though this never materialised, the castings for the kit did, which is a great help. Agenoria Models produced a rather dubious kit for a Lochgorm Tank, though it is no longer available. My own model of HR56 is built without the aid of a kit which not only lessens expense but also cuts out the aggravation of wrestling with a bottom end of the market kit.

In the Blog Archive in the right hand column you'll find postings from July 2013 which cover the building of my earlier model of HR57 Lochgorm in some detail.

A rear bunker was fitted to HR56 in 1910 and the previous coal space in front of the cab was faired over and given a hand rail. The rear lamp irons were removed at this time and the rear cab windows modified becoming square rather than rectangular. The removable roof is a modified white metal casting from Laurie Griffin Miniatures.



The coal hole has a vertically sliding door. In the cab corners are what I think are sand boxes though by 1910 braking arrangements left no room for a rear sanding mechanism.

There is an inner skin to the front cab plate to which the boiler back-head attaches. The whole assembly can then be removed for painting. Wooden flooring is made from model ship planking.

Awaiting the smokebox dart which arrived today from LGM. Note the triangular bracket right of the coupling hook which accommodates the vacuum pipe, though the route that this takes out of sight remains uncertain, I think it probably runs behind the footplate valance. The coupling hook is made from 1.2mm sheet n/s, the single link comes from my spares box.

Not a great many models in gauge 0 have been made of HR56. Note the 2" gap between the water tank and the cab forward extension. A fairing, oversailing the boiler, provides seating for the dome and safety valves.

HR56 Dornoch, progress

A coal bunker was added in 1910 with a coal-hole in the cab.  

The original bunker of HR56, which was in front of the cab spectacle plate, was sheeted over and a hand rail added to match that on the other side when a rear bunker was added in 1910. The new coal bunker replaced the tool box behind the cab and photographs suggest that at this time the rectangular rear cab windows were remodelled rather smaller and square, similar to those at the front and a mesh screen was added to protect the glazing. In addition a coal-hole was added which I've given an elegant vertical sliding door similar to that seen in Stroudley's later Terriers, which he designed for the LB&SCR

There is a 2" gap between the front saddle tank and the original bunker which is not evident on the other two HR Stroudley tanks, only Dornoch displays this. A fairing, on which the dome is mounted, covers the boiler in front of the cab and partly covers the gap. There is an outer and an inner cab front between which the glazing will be sandwiched. The boiler backhead, which for want of information, takes as its model that of the related Stroudley Terriers, is mounted on the inner sheet and this assembly will be removable.

HR56 showing progress to date, chimney and dome from LGM.

My intention is to complete the sheet metal work first and then add the castings and fine detail. The cab is still joined to the bunker assembly by a structural device which ensures accuracy of construction, this will be removed when the structure is complete, before the cab stanchions are put in place. The buffer beam on these engines was a sandwich of metal plates with a wood filling which I hope to replicate. I intend to experiment with Milliput coloured with weathering pigment, to simulate the wooden part as I find real wood, box in this case, hard to work and rather toy-like in appearance.

The frames of the engine are 27mm wide and are cut short just beyond the front driving wheels. The frames are visible in the gap in the footplate between the smokebox and the buffer beam, so they are modelled full scale (actually 29.5mm) and attached to the footplate behind the buffer beam so they fit over the working frames. The join between the dummy front frames and the working frames will not be visible as the front brakes cover it. The smokebox front plate extends below the buffer beam to the cylinder covers so there's a lot of detail in this area and I intend to maximise its potential...