A slow way into a Castle...........

John TAYLOR · 25 February 2015

A Dave Andrews Castle class with Collett tender came my way via ebay, and is going to seriously slow down my plans to build my 7mm layout........

Despite the instructions suggesting smaller diameter wheels, others have said that scale wheels will fit and avoid further problems with using the smaller throw of incorrect wheels......

these are my preferred bearings and require some thought and marking out to keep the axles at the same height as the designer intended

Beautifull etched springs, but will get in the way of cutting out .....so will be replaced with those from the Reynauld range......

Couplings done and frames cut.......

Dog Star · 25 February 2015

I suspect that "Castle" wheels from the standard Slater's range are going to have flanges which are too deep for the space between first and second coupled axles. On the other hand, the S7 Group has had some GWR 6'8" wheels made with tyres to the correct profile for 7mm scale - choice of three styles - and those wheels ought to work for FS models when mounted on the 32mm axles.

Compton castle · 25 February 2015

In both my castles I opted for king Wheels. Which have caused no problems with running.
I'm sure Paul OzzyO can tell you what mod's he had to do as he built them both

Steph Dale · 26 February 2015

He he, John it would appear you're about to undertake some myth-busting on this forum as well!

Just wondering how you've worked out the compressed/weighted centre height of the bearing? Are you going for traditional springing in that the loco will ride on hard stops, or is the loco to ride on the springs?

Steph

John TAYLOR · 26 February 2015

Ah! Myth Busting my favourite teacher at thkool.......
I'm not clever enough to work out how to ride on springs Steph, I ve always got on well with hard stops.
I'm convinced that springing or compensating locos improves electrical pickup and the ride through FS point work even in O guage.
It may be more of a challenge on this project due to the position of the brake blocks......but she's got to have it to match my other locos........

But this pic shows why I like to compensate. My first sprung chassis on a Large Prairy visiting an exhibition layout with rough track laying....... all wheels on the rail.....

And here she is again pulling 21 Lima coaches..........

and all with a fold up 40:1 gearbox and 1833 Mashima motor..............................

John

OzzyO · 27 February 2015

Hello John, you may like to think about the S.D.K. from J.L.T.R.T. for the Castle it includes things like slide-bars, cross-heads, brakes and hangers, springs, bogie and some other parts all cast in brass or Nickel Silver. I've used them on just about all of the Castles that I've built.

OzzyO.

PS. you may find that you have to remove about 0.25mm (0.5mm off the Dia.) off the flanges on the front two sets of driving wheels. I also use the Slater's 3'0" wheels on the bogie.

Dog Star · 27 February 2015

OzzyO said:
... you may find that you have to remove about 0.25mm (0.5mm off the Dia.) off the flanges on the front two sets of driving wheels.

I think that Paul is probably referring to Slater's wheels for FS track... the Castle wheels by Slaters for the S7 Group has a true to scale flange profile and hence the wheel has a smaller diameter over flange than the equivalent FS wheel.

John TAYLOR · 28 February 2015

Thanks Ozzy and Graham.
I`ll look at JTLRT website. Your the second to advise on reducing the flanges...I should be able to do that.
I also understand that there is a problem with the bogie pin location not lining up with the etch????????

John

OzzyO · 1 March 2015

Hello John, some photos of some parts from the SDK, cast brass bogie,

Some more parts in use around the cylinders including a bogie pivot pin, slide-bars, cross heads, valve and cylinder covers Etc.

JLTRT also do a pack for a Castle backhead as seen below, the cast resin boiler is also worth thinking about.

If this works it should show you most of the parts in the SDK, this is bit out of date but shows most of the parts.

SDK IV Castle.pdf

OzzyO.

mickoo · 1 March 2015

John TAYLOR said:
A Dave Andrews Castle class with Collett tender came my way via ebay.....

I'm pleased to see it went to someone who's making a good job of it :thumbs:

I did have a bit of a flutter but winning a DJH Deltic a few days before kinda took the wind out of my sails LOL, plus it had the wrong tender for my preferences.

I've only a passing interest in WR, but rule 1 will see a Castle and Hall in my collection in the future, so I'm interested to see how you get on with the DA one, the A3 is a bit of a mare to be honest.

Nice to see that the Reynauld springs are the right size for the Castle, they most certainly are not for the A3 :oops:

mickoo · 1 March 2015

OzzyO said:
Hello John, some photos of some parts from the SDK, cast brass bogie,
View attachment 41459
View attachment 41460
View attachment 41461
Some more parts in use around the cylinders including a bogie pivot pin, slide-bars, cross heads, valve and cylinder covers Etc.
View attachment 41462
JLTRT also do a pack for a Castle backhead as seen below, the cast resin boiler is also worth thinking about.
View attachment 41463

If this works it should show you most of the parts in the SDK, this is bit out of date but shows most of the parts.

SDK IV Castle.pdf

OzzyO.

Very nice castings and workmanship

John TAYLOR · 4 March 2015

Bit of a slow period due to a few domestic issues this past week.......

I like to work on good old graph paper to remind me what a right angle looks like and to re check those pesky datum lines so that I don`t stray
off the mark. I dont get too excited about what will never be seen between the frames, particularly as I will be motorising the centre axle.

The instructions could do with a few smaller explanatory diagrams to clarify whats suppose to happen with the rear frame spacer and the front bogie wheel arches. Other than those issues its an enjoyable process so far........

The front spacer is a little narrower so was able to tweek the frames to help with bogie swing....I hope. Strange there was no mention of this inthe instructions. I`m pretty sure she will negotiate a B6 and B7 point which will mean she will negotiate the test circuit at Telford....

Tomorrow we fit the hornblocks etc.......

OzzyO · 4 March 2015

So your building a straight framed Castle then with the large dishes in the front frames, this also affects how the above frames can look, see below,

All of the above are copyright and only use to show a point.
Some of the narrow framed Castles also ended up with the square box type of inside valve chest cover.

OzzyO.

John TAYLOR · 5 March 2015

Thanks Ozzy...much appreciated......
Mine will be No 5034 Corfe Castle built 1934 in 1930`s livery

Made a right hash of the horizontal motion plate so had to botch up a Reynalds replacement to fit

Then it was plain sailing getting the axle boxes squared up and fitted........

SUCCESS !!!!! .............

Locomodels · 5 March 2015

That casting looks so good that I don't think that I would have bothered with the bit of bent brass anyway.

JohnFla · 6 March 2015

Hello John, am enjoying following you as I am about to step into the 'Big' league, but I am relatively new to building so I'm always asking questions. What are the two 'they look a bit like set square's ' soldered either side of the motion plate for?
I assume its an alignment jig for something, but I have been known to be wrong

Regards
John.

Steph Dale · 6 March 2015

Mountings for the slide bar brackets I suspect, the outside cylinders are quite a way back on a Castle.

Steph

John TAYLOR · 6 March 2015

High John
I'm not new to building and I still ask questions....nothing wrong with that.
Steph is right....the 'squares' are folded down and support the motion brackets as well as supporting the front sand box castings on the underside. They also support the footplate.

John

JohnFla · 6 March 2015

Thanks John, Steph, 7mm is soooo much different to 4mm

can,t wait to dip my toe in.

John.

Steph Dale · 6 March 2015

Come on in John, the water's lovely. I moved up from modelling in H0 and 00 about ten years ago.
As you get going let me know if I can be of any assistance, I'm the current Chair of the Guild's Technical Committee, so I'm always happy to help if I can.
Cheers,
Steph

A slow way into a Castle...........

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