Sandy Harper
Western Thunderer
I have been asked to build this for a friend. Hmmm some friend! Well I said yes, but it won't be quick!
Peter Tatlows book on HR locomotives is the main source of information on this loco and he has produced a very nice 4mm line drawing of the engine 'Cluny' which I scanned and blew up to 7mm scale and made a number of prints.
First job was to try and work out what sort of inside framing the engine had. There is no detail in the drawing itself so most of it had to be an educated guess and what I think would work.
I then cut two lengths of frame thickness Nickle Silver and soldered them together around their edges.
The outline of the frame drawing was carefully cut from one of the drawing copies and stuck to the N/S with glue. Then it was out with the piercing saw and, four blades later, I had a pair of frames. My wobbly sawing was tidied up with files, the centre axle hole was drilled along with two other holes to fit the temporary screw-in brass spacers to set the chassis up before soldering in the permanent spacers.
The plan is that the centre driving wheel will be fixed as the motor/gearbox will be attached to it. The rear and front wheels will be fitted to Slaters plastic horn blocks and be split-axle pickup with the rear wheel being able to move downward only and the front wheel both up and down.
Although I have shown the motor facing to the rear in the photo I will probably mount it facing the front so that I can pack the firebox with lead.
Once I had tidied up the frames I separated them and attached the temporary spacers. Next job was to measure, cut, fit and solder the permanent spacers.
I have also cut out templates for some other parts of the engine but the difficult bits I will leave until later in the build.
Regards
Sandy
Peter Tatlows book on HR locomotives is the main source of information on this loco and he has produced a very nice 4mm line drawing of the engine 'Cluny' which I scanned and blew up to 7mm scale and made a number of prints.
First job was to try and work out what sort of inside framing the engine had. There is no detail in the drawing itself so most of it had to be an educated guess and what I think would work.
I then cut two lengths of frame thickness Nickle Silver and soldered them together around their edges.
The outline of the frame drawing was carefully cut from one of the drawing copies and stuck to the N/S with glue. Then it was out with the piercing saw and, four blades later, I had a pair of frames. My wobbly sawing was tidied up with files, the centre axle hole was drilled along with two other holes to fit the temporary screw-in brass spacers to set the chassis up before soldering in the permanent spacers.
The plan is that the centre driving wheel will be fixed as the motor/gearbox will be attached to it. The rear and front wheels will be fitted to Slaters plastic horn blocks and be split-axle pickup with the rear wheel being able to move downward only and the front wheel both up and down.
Although I have shown the motor facing to the rear in the photo I will probably mount it facing the front so that I can pack the firebox with lead.
Once I had tidied up the frames I separated them and attached the temporary spacers. Next job was to measure, cut, fit and solder the permanent spacers.
I have also cut out templates for some other parts of the engine but the difficult bits I will leave until later in the build.
Regards
Sandy