Geoff's G3 Workbench

geoff_nicholls

Western Thunderer
A parcel has just arrived from Shapeways
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I asked David Viewing to blow up his 3D printed Bury locos from G1 to G3. These are the results. The material is that rather grainy, but quite resilant plastic. Function connecting rods and valve gear are included. I'll be bringing them to Shepshed (but still unassembled) along with Rundle, in April.20190306_183221.jpg
 

Spitfire2865

Western Thunderer
I fear what those cost. But they look VERY nice.
Ive never considered printing an entire locomotive like that. Will make finishing and painting difficult but assembly should be easy.
 

Spitfire2865

Western Thunderer
The nylon material from Shapeways is VERY resilient, but smoothing it requires quite a bit of work.
I wonder if the rim could be chucked in a lathe and the surface skimmed smooth.
 

geoff_nicholls

Western Thunderer
I've not posted much recently, as I've been fully occupied building four Sentinels, to be sold by the G3 Soc as RTR starter locos, complete with Micron RC. It's a projected Williams Models kit

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I've started spraying the sub-assemblies, and included the 3D printed Bury loco (which David Viewing blew up from G1 for me).
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They were printed by Shapeways in sintered nylon, David's preferred material. Very resilient, but the finish is 'grainy', as you can see from the cruel enlargement. I think with the combination of several coats of paint and careful sanding, I should achieve an acceptable finish. I'm a bit concerned about if the paint on the wheel treads wears off leaving the bare white nylon. I would never have been able to scratch build those wheels myself, though, and with my micro layout you are close enough to see that sort of detail.
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Mike W

Western Thunderer
Could you send one wheel away for investment casting just in case one gets damaged in the future?

Mike
 

geoff_nicholls

Western Thunderer
Working on the Sentinels hasn't stopped me thinking about the new 1840s/50s layout, and I'm pretty sure this is how it will look. 3.4 metres long, three tracks off a two track fiddle yard. I'm going a bit Gordon Gravett this time though, and putting the wharf at the back. There's room for a swim headed sailing barge. A bit punt shaped, this is what they looked like until someone invented the new hull with a vertical stem. It does mean the platform is at the front so a parked passenger train would obscure the rest of the action, but makes the lighting much neater. Everything that could be, has been saved from Lea Siding and Aldeburgh Harbour and will be re-used.
Chief difficulty will be obtaining suitable figures, it would be really helpful if some Charles Dickens Re-enactment Society decided to get themselves printed by Modelu.

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Mike W

Western Thunderer
Well, I take my hat off to you Geoff. You take an expensive kit made in a material which is said to be difficult to repair ... and cut it in half!

Mike
 

geoff_nicholls

Western Thunderer
and cut it in half
this actually makes fitting moving valve gear a lot easier. The boiler will be clad with brass sheet, and the bar frames strengthened with brass and 14BA screws. I spent several weeks circling round this task, then it was done in about ten minutes. The extra is only 18mm, but I think it makes the proportions of the loco much more attractive.
Where to get the figures from?
Brunel is from Hardys Hobbies, the GWR policemen are from Modelu. I believe they are of Richard Phipp, who displayed a nice little broad gauge diorama (Alma Street Quay) at Swindon a while back. The uniform appears similar to the early LNWR equivalent, so I may end up painting one of him in their colours. I bought three of him, I hope he gets an appearance fee.
 

BG Rich

Member
Geoff,
Lovely exciting modelling of the Bury, and using the latest technology too!

I notice that Hardys Hobbies are about half the price of Modelu. At least they are for Gauge 3.

Mike
I am not sure about the relative prices of Hardy's Hobbies compared to Modelu as I model in 7mm scale. However, in response to AJC's comment "a GWR policeman rather than a member of a constabulary" it is worth mentioning that the GWR uniform for Policemen was intentionally based on the uniform of the Metropolitan Police. E T Macdermot in his 'History of the GWR' (Volume 1 chapter XIV pages 355 and following) details the many functions of the constables ( 'sworn in by two or more Justices of the Peace acting within their jurisdiction' - as were the regular police) in addition to the 'regular' duties of apprehending ne'er-do-wells about the railway property eg "give and receive signals, issue tickets, direct passengers, operate crossings and switches, give notice of train arrivals and departures, watch movements of embankments and cuttings, inspect the rails and solidity of the timber, guard the company's premises etc etc." In short they were men of all work until it was realized that there was a need for many different grades to ensure the safe operating of the railways. Signalmen are still informally called 'bobbies' after their early namesakes.

Looking at books on police history it is apparent that many provincial forces also followed the Met in uniform styling, although some chose rather lighter (French navy) colours for the uniform coat than the (almost black) Navy blue of the Met. Railways likewise had their chosen colours as a search online for painted images of railway policemen will show. The early photos were all in black and white or sepia of course.

The Modelu figure that Geoff has had copied is based on me wearing the uniform that I made after two year's research into the original uniforms of the GWR. I was not 'on duty' at the time I was scanned hence I was not wearing the blue and white striped wristlet that was required when on duty. (on left wrist with stripes going round the sleeve as in picture on page 313 in Macdermot) and No, Geoff - I do not get an appearance fee as the Company did not officially allow its staff to receive gratuities as far as I know! (The drivers of Royal Trains did accept gratuities via equerries as I seem to remember reading somewhere).

While in conversation with Alan Buttler of Modelu - as he has had a number of enquiries he told me of plans to bring out some Victorian figures in due course. No doubt before long his web site will show the results of his labours. If one is modelling mid Victorian railways a web site that is useful to see how the ordinary people looked, rather than the toffs of the 'upper ten thousand,' is the Ragged Victorians re-enactment group. I have even been to the broad gauge section at Didcot with them wearing my uniform.

Hoping the above may be of some use.
Best wishes
Rich
 
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