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.

 

New Kit to build a Jones Open Wagon in 7mm scale

Pete can now offer a complete multi-media kit, or a fairly complete kit, to build a Highland Railway Jones open wagon. You still need to source your own choice of buffers, wheels, couplings and make a floor. Apart from these bits it's all there. 

This is what you get... 

1.Resin cast sides and ends with crisp interior as well as exterior detail. 

2.Etched brass sheet with w-irons and brake gear. 

3.Cast white metal springs and axle boxes. 

4.Cast brass horse hooks and brake lever pin-rack. 

Highland Railway sprung buffers, Ref. FO28 are now available from the Gauge O Guild shop.

Price of Jones Open Wagon, post free is …£35.00 or buy two for only £60.00

Tel. 07342 637 813

Email. armstrongps1@gmx.com    

 

Castings for axle boxes and springs are supplied with the kit. The brake gear shown here is supplied on the etched sheet.

Completed Jones open wagon displays the interior detail, the floor is from Slater’s 7mm planking.

The multi-media construction of the kit is evident here, the safety chains on the buffer beam are optional/ not included.

Etched w-irons and brake gear, cast axle box and springs add to the realism of the model, these items are available separately.
Axle boxes and springs for wagon £5.50 
Etch for w-irons and brake gear £10.50
Postage £1.55 2nd class or £2.60 first class

Also available are the wagons pictured below, these are not a complete kit. The sets comprise resin sides and ends, axle boxes and springs and an etched w-iron sheet. Price £35.00 or two for £60.00

Double-deck sheep wagon built from Pete’s “sides and ends” with added detail from his castings and etched sheet. 

16T Loco Coal Wagon, built from Pete’s “sides and ends” and etched w-iron sheet.

20Ton 6-wheel Goods Brake Van built from an etched sheet and completed with castings and other items from the trade. One etch remaining and it’s the last.

Drummond Fish Wagon. This wagon is more of a challenge to modellers, here seen complete though unpainted.

The underside showing a challenging aspect of this model, brake gear similar to a coach. More scratch building skills on display here.

Fish wagon complete, an indispensable addition to any Highland Railway train and a great model, well worth the effort it took to build.

NER Goods Brake Van

 I recently constructed this NER V4 brake van from a Connoisseur kit that’s a pleasure to build, it will be finished in NER livery using Ian Sadler’s book for reference. I made a few improvements, like thickening the end upright posts and filling in the rear of the veranda with planking, otherwise only minor tweaks. The NER lamp on the rear of the van is from one of my own masters and castings are now available from 1039 Models. The van runs beautifully without any compensation and weighs in at a satisfying 250g. The roof is removable so I can glaze the van later and is held fast by a long screw through the floor. Though the verandas are detailed and a guard will be included in the model from my new range of figures, there is no interior to the house, that task proved to be a bridge too far in this case.

V4 brake van completed recently in NER livery, using Ian Sadler’s book on these vehicles. The van is complemented and enlivened by one of my own 1:43 scale hand sculpted cast white metal figures.

Indispensable "Aid to Wagon Building" now available.

W-iron etch with brake gear

Pete's newly designed W-Iron etch is specifically designed for Highland Railway rolling stock and is suitable for all 7mm scale stock with both 3' 1" and the larger 3' 7" wheels.  It is etched in 0.4 brass and provides compensated w-irons for one vehicle. 
 

The "rocking-axle" and compensation unit.

The fold-over axle box keeper plate should first be bent back on itself dry, without solder. The etched dimples are not intended for rivets to be pressed out, they are designed to be drilled 0.5mm when the plate is in position and a brass 0.8mm head rivet inserted and soldered in place. You can see how neat these look in the picture above. When using the larger 3' 7" wheels some material needs to be removed from the rocking-axle tray to allow the wheels clearance. You need to enlarge the slot in the tray behind the wheels to 8 x 16 mm with a piercing saw.

The rocking-axle tray in place with 3' 1" wheels

W-iron in place with 3' 1" wheels, brake shoe and lever from the etch, note the use of brass rivets on both keeper plate and brake shoe. Springs and axle boxes are castings available form myself.

The W-iron etch completes a recently constructed 8 ton double-deck sheep wagon, built from my own resin cast "aid to wagon building". 

The W-Iron etch is available price £10.50 + postage at cost £1.70 1st class or 0.87 2nd class.

Order 3 and it's post free.

To order e-mail Pete on armstrongps1@gmx.com