Finescale - of a sort?!

[Peter Insole]

Many thanks Brian and Mike, you have both made me chuckle!

I think I am way beyond salvation now Brian! It is funny you should mention the dolls house: My wife and I were recently informed that a granddaughter is on the way, so I am under instructions to get my skates on and finish the engine before the next big project!

Terence Cuneo used a mouse, but Mike, I imagine you were thinking of the famous "Mouseman"? Funnily enough, I have already decided that this particular engine will carry the "Mouse" nameplates, representing one of the pair of 1899 Horwich built loco's.

Entomology is yet another subject very close to my heart, and I have been known to use Lepidoptera as a trademark from time to time! The Lancashire & Yorkshire livery that is intended for this model suggests that a "Red Admiral" might be appropriate, but would be an absolute devil to carve out?!

Pete.

 

[Ressaldar]

Yes Peter, I was thinking of the 'Mouseman' from North Yorkshire.

On our first stay in Easingwold in the late 80's there was a large display of his handywork in a shop window - oh that we had bought some and gone without for the rest of the stay - on the prices that his pieces fetch now, we could go back and buy the shop!

regards

Mike

 

[Peter Insole]

Well, what a difference a few days can make? On Monday it felt like winter would never end, but over here in Suffolk today we were able to open the front door - and leave it open! Perfect weather to pop out and waft a first coat of paint on the completed cylinders.

I had a job to do in the afternoon, so there was just enough time to finish off the prep, spray in the sunshine and then hang the bits up to dry!

Here is the last handful of catch-up pics from yesterday...



After rough cutting to approximate shape, the gland covers were clamped together using the pre drilled stud holes for final fettling.



It will be an interesting exercise to paint these with a convincing tarnished brass effect. Several years ago a customer asked me to make a brand new plastic clock look "old"! We were both quite pleased with the result, and I do recall being surprised at the Humbrol colour shades that were added to the mix, but for the life of me I cannot remember which ones now!

Anyway, luckily the test fitting only required the slightest tweaking



...before finally setting up with the M5 studs and nuts:



Despite jiggling the piston rod centres outboard as much as I dared, I had expected to have to remove a slice off these for sufficient clearance with the over scale thickness tyres.

It came as a huge relief that with the wheels at maximum side-play there was still enough room for a fag paper!

Both surfaces are fairly "soft", so any contact will not do much damage anyway, although it goes without saying that I would rather it didn't happen at all!

Now I shall have to start thinking seriously about the slidebars and crossheads!

Pete.

 

[Mike W]

Peter, this is a wonderful build and beautifully carried out - I come back every day to see your latest news. Searching back through the thread, whilst I can see that it is big - I can't see quite how big. What gauge is it?

Mike

 

[Steve Cook]

I believe its 5" -ish gauge Mike, the track is 5 3/4" I think (chaps at work have multiple versions for their kids, none of them are doing anything as interesting as Peter) but I'd be interested to know the length over buffer beams too
Theres talk at work of building replacement track panels for long runs up the garden and maybe a 'group get together' so they can have one massive circuit. All for the kids benefit apparently...

 

[Peter Insole]

Hi Mike and Steve. It is indeed 5''- ish! When I blew up the plans I had to do a bit of a "Dublo" job on it (sorry for swearing) to make allowance for potential conversion to true 5'' later. The peculiar 5 3/4'' gauge required a few compromises here and there.

Mainly, the frames have been slightly narrowed from the original, and the connecting rods and crossheads will have to be be modified to allow for the existing, rather coarse scale wheels! The hope is that at some time in the future a set of decently proportioned steel wheels could be fitted that would enable it to run on "proper" track!

I have also "done a big naughty" with the overall length of the loco! The plastic track curves are mighty sharp, and the rear well tank/footplate overhang presented a balance problem on the model. I was concerned about possible derailments when my grandson finally gets to drive it in the manner planned, so I have reduced the footplate by 1/3rd from the backhead!

Therefore, the engine should be 25 1/4'' long (over buffer beams), but on the model, it comes out at 23 1/4''. Removing that mere couple of inches at the drawbar has made all the difference during motored test runs to date!

The overall width is 10 1/8'' and it will stand 24 3/4'' from rail to it's chimney top.

It will hopefully be a lovely big blousy and fun model of a what was a charming and delightful, but tiny wee prototype!

Pete.

 

[Peter Insole]

I have been doing some painting today, but while that is drying, here are a couple of loaded and resized pics:



I shall apply a few more of the wilfully "lumpy" coats for maximum protection and good effect in due course.

Getting some colour on now makes me feel as if some real progress is being made, though I am probably jumping the gun a bit?!

Pete.

 

[Steve Cook]

Thank you for the sizes Peter
Overall the engine is a nice size - easy enough to get in the boot of a car to get to a 'proper' track but big enough to have real presence. Your grandson is going to love it!
Steve

 

[Peter Insole]

I have been quite busy over the last couple of weeks, dashing about here and there as it is my usual "day job" silly season! I had a nice little breather yesterday over at the Sudbury S7 Group. It was nice to catch up with friends, and I'm very grateful for some really good advice and much encouragement!

So here is a very brief update:

Firstly, a couple of shots from earlier that had been resized, but missed the posts!



And now for the main paint job:



After completely dismantling the frames and components, everything was primed and then given a good, thick coat of matt black enamel. I was keen to ensure that even the inside of joint faces were well covered with paint in the hope that it will protect the wood and MDF from any possible damp ingress.

When it was dry, the loco was reassembled, and a start made on applying several coats of gloss black.

Exposed faces, like the well tank sides and cylinder cladding will undoubtedly take a bit of a bashing over time, so will benefit from a sound layer of the more durable gloss paint. They would have had the occasional wipe down with an oily rag on the original anyway?

When I'm satisfied with the number of base coats, I intend to finish with varnish over all, using satin and gloss where appropriate. That should not only make the model as weatherproof as possible, but will steadily dull down and give it a natural, prototypical patina?



I know I said I wanted the chassis paint to be lumpy, but suspect that I got a little too carried away with the tar brush on the well tank?! A jolly good rub down before the next couple of coats should do the trick though!

Incidentally, I had hoped to take this opportunity to right the NRM lash-up job!

Wren was "restored" for display at Clapham, and retains the full 1883 Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway passenger livery, perfectly applied but completely erroneous! There is sufficient evidence to prove that it should have the "Goods engine" plain red lining on the saddle tank. Even the crest might be the wrong one, though I haven't confirmed that yet!

Careful study of the few surviving photo's revealed that the buffer beams were almost certainly painted with BLACK edging and fine white dividing lines, whereas the present all over red (including the front coupler casting) appears to be a legacy of the BR Horwich apprentice painters enthusiasm.

So by blindly following without checking I've fluffed it too!

There are so many coats of red on the beams now that if I retrospectively add the black and white where it should be, a single knock or chip on the edges will scream out! That is a great shame, as I think that it would have made a rather handsome embellishment.

I know the lad won't be the least bit bothered, but...!

Pete.

 

[Simon]

That really is stupendously lovely

Notwithstanding prototypical accuracy etc I really like the overall red of the buffer beams, it all looks so splendidly solid and satisfyingly "Tonka Toy"-ish.

Apologies if you didn't want to hear that

Simon

 

[oldravendale]

Couldn't agree more, Simon. In fact I want one, and I have a very small bum so might even fit.

B

 

[Tom Insole]

Sounds like you're going to have a line of "enthusiastic fans" fighting Ethen to have a go when it's done... let's hope he is willing to share!

Nice looking bit of progress

 

[Peter Insole]

Whew! The "day job" silly season is at last over, and all my art students are off on their Easter holidays. They will be doing projects next term, so I'm free to get on with other stuff - until the Autumn!

I've also been kept rather busy building some first production samples, then writing and illustrating the instructions for the latest 16mm scale kit for the new proprietors of Brandbright. I only just made the Peterborough AGM deadline, but that is entirely thanks to JB, who generously salvaged my fumbled and bungled attempt to master "Wordpad"!

Anyway, without even bothering to clear the wreckage, and with more work piling up, I still feel the need to have a little blast, and get the motion on the engine progressed a bit!



Con-rod laminating late at night, although admittedly not exactly the witching hours!

And yes, the two hopper wagons partly obscuring the clock on top of the mantelpiece are from that aforementioned job.



I am taking a bit of a risk bolting the slidebars to the packing gland castings with unsupported ends, but I want to make sure that the crosshead travel limits are sorted before finally marking up and fitting the brackets!



Having to work with the existing crankpin, which is not quite long enough, I drilled out the large diameter bearing holes before adding the last lamination.

Isn't it uncanny how, when you have several boxes full of drill bits, the one you need is the only one missing?

Thankfully, one of my sons just happened to have his own toolbox handy yesterday. I must take care to ensure that his bit doesn't get lost as well!



There is sill some shaping and tidying to do, let alone actually making the crossheads! A temporary lash up for testing free movement will have to do for the time being!



The bearing surfaces are given a generous rubbing with an old 3B pencil. I usually use an "artist's graphite stick" for this, but guess what?

My specially soft one is lost somewhere!



Just to make the proper engineers amongst you cry a bit more; the 'ole in the washer is just a smidge too big, so it is rattles rather "orf" centre.

It is all rather sloppy and not very pretty I know, but it does run sumfin' lovely, an' as smoove as silk.

Be assured though, I won't be able to live with that 'orrible looking setup, so I will have think of something with a more prototypical appearance before long?!

Pete.

 

[oldravendale]

Pleased - nay delighted - to hear from you again Peter. And as inventive and original as ever!

Brian

 

[Peter Insole]

Thanks Brian, and all, it's good to be back!

Tim (the Mudhen) has asked me to bring the engine along to the East Anglian S7 show at Albury on the 22nd of this month, so I am giving it a bit of a push. Hoping to get the motion all working nicely at least by then!

A piece of that slightly untrustworthy Oak was selected for the awkward little crossheads...



Roughed into some sort of shape, and then the old (but now fearsomely sharp) chisel was put to work:



The picture above will probably make any professional woodworkers cry this time?

I know I was running a bit of a risk with the blade on the edge of the vice jaws, but I got away with it. The cut was nice and flat in the end too!



I had to take great care when cutting and drilling this part, not just because the model dictated a much thinner section than on the prototype, but that dreaded wobbly and rather open grain was a bit worrying.

All the while, I was expecting the sound of a horrible "Snap!"

It always happens right at the last stroke doesn't it?

I got away with it - AGAIN!



Although they are still a bit rough round the edges, they seem to be robust enough (so far anyway)?

Later, I made up the slides and set the assemblies aside to set!

Much, much later; too much as it turned out, set them up for a test, and...

Oh bother!

Too much sideplay on the leading axle, and no clearance at all on top or bottom dead centre.



Trouble is, I will still need enough meat on each side of the guides to drill and install four studs.

I know I'm hopeless with numbers, but surely not after consulting all my diligently prepared working drawings...?

Nope; loads of room on the other side.

Bleary eyed old fool: The wretched wheel has only gone and shifted on the axle! I suppose it really was too much to expect from a "plastic toy"

Fixable? Oh yes, it will have to be - just not quite sure of the best method right now!

Pete.

 

[Peter Insole]

Notwithstanding the slipped axle issue, I am determined to finish the crossheads and at least get the motion working!

After marking out the stud positions and choosing to fit slightly undersized bolts, I found it was possible to reduce the overall width of the guides. When the errant wheel is reset there should be bags of clearance to play with?!



Resizing this first one by whizzing on the linisher worked fine, although it produced a curious humbug effect on the grain of the wood strip!

Yesterday evening, as I was driving home along a single track road, right out in the middle of nowhere, there was a very loud report and my clutch pedal dropped limp to the floor. After successfully coasting into the nearest passing point, I hopped out and checked the cable at the gearbox end. I was mildly relieved to find that the brand new cable, only fitted at the beginning of last January, was still intact!

Now, the fun part of replacing a clutch cable on a Fiat Seicento is that the conversion from left to right hand drive involved a complicated set of brackets, levers, cranks and pushrods running across the bulkhead behind the one piece, moulded facia panel. Of coarse, as you can probably guess, it is quite impossible to get at any of the wretched little circlips and spring cotters at the pivot points without first having to disable the airbag, remove the steering wheel, column coaming, heater box and levers, electrics etc., etc. "Blow that for a game of soldiers" I thought when replacing that cable. So I had set to with a saw, cut away the bottom of the panel and hoiked out the complete glovebox! Even with all the daylight available, it still proved almost impossible! After the job was eventually done, I lashed up a repair to the facia with self tappers!

All that was needed last night was to unscrew it again?

Oh yeah?

Almost two hours later, after crawling around on hands and knees in the gathering gloom and a shower of rain, with half the front interior of the car on the back seat and slightly less blood in my veins than when I had started, I had managed to get a handy bit of wire bent round for a temporary fix!

This evening, down in the workshop, as I was trimming the crosshead stud-bolt heads off in the big vice;

Pingggg!

The whole flippin' crosshead vanished into the ether!

There's an awful lot of junk in our cellar.

After spending half an hour shifting quite a lot of it, the errant object was located under the furthest and darkest corner of the workbench. I was back on my hands and knees again!

En route, it had lost a small chunk and a splinter or two. Fortunately, the damage was on the back, so will not be visible in normal service!



Here is the first one, installed in daylight!

And finally...



They still need a pair of oil pots, and piston rod - COTTERS!

I've had enough for tonight though!

Pete.

 

[Scale7JB]

Fantastic!

JB.

 

[Heather Kay]

Ah, the Fiat Seicento. I had a little red Sporting model for a few years. It was a hoot to thrash about the place, but then it began to suffer from overheating issues and became horribly unreliable. Now I have a stolid and sensible Skoda. I still miss my little l'Atomo di Forza though.

 

[Peter Insole]

For me, any car is nothing more than four useful wheels with a motor!

Having said that, I had a passionate love/hate relationship with my old Bedford Rascal. It was a tin of rusty bolts that was a perpetual headache, but I was almost left bereft when it got squished on my driveway by a runaway truck!

Pete.

 

[Tom Insole]

For me, any car is nothing more than four useful wheels with a motor!

Having said that, I had a passionate love/hate relationship with my old Bedford Rascal. It was a tin of rusty bolts that was a perpetual headache, but I was almost left bereft when it got squished on my driveway by a runaway truck!

Pete.

I've got to say it was a lot of fun when the old caravan cushion bench seats were fitted, and a trip down to the far right corner of the Island became ever more entertaining every little pit stop and the doors flew open and half the British army clambered out... well so it seemed, and all out the side door (as we was towing the trailer).

Best not mention that funny ol' hooter on it too!