Cladding Lines.

Prairie Tank

Western Thunderer
I have noticed that some loco models have the lines in the boiler cladding while others do not. I am sure it is just a personal choice and I prefer to see them.

I have a few loco's that do not have these join lines although their real life counter part did so I decided to take a huge risk and add them. I am not a very good modeler and have just about zero experience working with brass so I decided a grove in the paint work would look about right.
I used a square edge and first marked the line, in pencil, onto each panel. I slipped on a couple of panels but just erased the line and did it again. The pencil line allowed me to place the straight edge against it and then just scribe over it using one swift action.
I also had to have a Valium sandwich and a lay down after every line, especially on my Masterpiece Models Castle!

Considering my total lack of ability I think the lines turned out OK.

20190808_161728.jpg

John :)
 

P A D

Western Thunderer
Hi John,
Strange that Masterpiece don't have a representation of the cladding joint, considering the general excellence of the models and that they are at the top end of the RTR market cost wise. That is not what I would have expected from reading the hype in their advertising and on their website. The joint looks nice but I wonder if there should be some screws as well???

On my kit builds, I scribe the line and add small rivets to represent the screws. I've not done it on the T3 as I have no information to suggest they had the joint at the top.
Cheers,
Peter
 

Prairie Tank

Western Thunderer
Hi John,
Strange that Masterpiece don't have a representation of the cladding joint, considering the general excellence of the models and that they are at the top end of the RTR market cost wise. That is not what I would have expected from reading the hype in their advertising and on their website. The joint looks nice but I wonder if there should be some screws as well???

On my kit builds, I scribe the line and add small rivets to represent the screws. I've not done it on the T3 as I have no information to suggest they had the joint at the top.
Cheers,
Peter

Yes it is very strange. The line is present on the Masterpiece Small Prairies. I have a Lee Marsh 61xx and that does not have the lines so I will be getting them added.

From what I can see (looking at the tops of the real thing) there are no screws or bolts on the types of Western loco's I have. 4566 is in Highly Engine House on the SVR and before she was moved to another part of the house her top was clearly visible from the viewing balcony outside the upstairs restaurant. I could see no sign of any fixing apart from the boiler bands.

John :)
 

Osgood

Western Thunderer
I don't know why, but I was beginning to really worry for John - had he done the right thing? Smileysweat.gif

Guessing that most preserved locos will have had the cladding replaced, I pondered that original cladding may have been produced from extra long sheet, and replacement made up from shorter standard stock sheet with a joint at the top.

And experience of smaller industrial boilers suggested a joint at the bottom only - no top joint to allow water ingress.

One good high b/w shot of a Castle - type loco showed jointed sheets at dome and top feed but no obvious joint along the other sheets (can't find this pic now).

I knew I'd seen several shots of locos at Barry with 'blown' cladding, the bands having corroded.
I've had a brief look and found a few GWR examples - though not specifically of a Castle class these images show it appeared to be normal practice to have a joint along the top of all sheets.

Barry scrapyard

Barry scrapyard

30-05-76 Barry Scrapyard 2873

28-08-75 Barry Scrapyard 7821+7802

Tony
 
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mickoo

Western Thunderer
To be honest, I've not seen an engine without cladding joints at the top.

It'll be in two sections for a couple of reasons, handling and being pre rolled if it were one piece it'd be very difficult to spring it over a boiler and not damage it; but I suspect the main reason is simply for handling and ease of fitting.

The B1 has it.

Img_0227.jpg

Img_0263.jpg

I'd also agree, it's rarely modelled, difficult to replicate a lapped joint on etched boiler sheets, any kind of witness line or marking will generate a crease when rolled. It would have to be added later as per the OP.

Sometimes the cladding joints are not in a perfect alignment, one boiler section might slip during fitting so it's not unusual to see one a few inches offset occasional.
 

P A D

Western Thunderer
Hi Mick,
Interesting to see the close up of the cleat spot welded to the band. What puzzles me is that there seems to be no gap in the band between the cleats, so what function does the bolt have and how could the band be applied and removed? Or am I just misinterpreting the image.

I usually scribe a line after rolling the boiler to avoid a crease as you mention.

Cheers,
Peter
 

Prairie Tank

Western Thunderer
Hi Mick.

I agree about the cladding lines being off set, I have seen several cases of this in the photo's I have found.

John :)
 

Ian@StEnochs

Western Thunderer
Hi Mick,
Interesting to see the close up of the cleat spot welded to the band. What puzzles me is that there seems to be no gap in the band between the cleats, so what function does the bolt have and how could the band be applied and removed? Or am I just misinterpreting the image.

I usually scribe a line after rolling the boiler to avoid a crease as you mention.

Cheers,
Peter

The band is split just under the left hand clip. One clip is welded onto the end of the band and the other a way back to leave a tongue. It is done that way so that, as the bolt is tightened, the clips do not snag on the cladding and everything is kept in alignment.

Ian.
 
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