No more help with a loco kit choice thankyou ........ Lemon LMS

John TAYLOR

Western Thunderer
Thanks to successes on ebay I have enough filthy lucre for one of the following kits.

I`v never experienced either manufacturer................................ so quality of build etc.

Gladiator LMS/Stanier 0-4-4tank................ Vs ..................... JLTRT 57XX................

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Ian@StEnochs

Western Thunderer
I would choose the prototype first, then look for a kit. You could even scratchbuild it! The wheels and motor cost the same whatever option you go for.

I have built a couple of the JLTRT panniers and they went together quite easily and with an awful lot of detail, mostly cast brass but the boiler and tanks comes as a resin casting so there is no difficult bending there. The bunker on the other hand is a bit tricky with etchings for the main platework and brass castings for the compound curved corners. If you choose the 8750 option the cab and bunker comes as a resin moulding too so a lot easier.

So far I have not built any Gladiator kits but my first ever soldered kit was a Stanier 0-4-4t from a Jamieson kit in 4mm. I still have it despite being built when I was in my teens and it was quite a straightforward prototype with no complicated curves, I would expect the Gladiator kit to be similar but more detailed.

Sorry to have rambled on and not really answered your question!

Ian.
 

rusty

Active Member
If you go for the Stanier kit then also have a look at the castings for this prototype available from Laurie Griffin Miniatures.
Julian
 

BrianG

Member
LMS of course! The 0-4-4 is an interesting and relatively unusual model to make (designed by CME Lemon, just prior to Stanier's arrival). It seems every man and his dog goes for GWR tank engines and a branch line by default.
 

John TAYLOR

Western Thunderer
well on the positive side, I exchanged emails with Dave and Trisha( Gladiator) and the Stanier tank is an ex Dave Alexander kit.

It requires 5` 7" Stanier drivers though and I`m not really satisfied with the compromises available at Slaters or Walsall Models.

Another modeller suggests that the kits boiler diameter is not quite right...............

The kitOmeter is therefore swinging towards the JLTRT 57XX at this moment in time......

john
 
The Gladiator Models LMS Lemon tank loco

John TAYLOR

Western Thunderer
Well it`s built and in the process of being painted.

The chassis is virtually completed and has been finally re`assembled after painting.

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No kit is absolutely perfect and this one has it`s problems.
The smokebox, boiler and firebox is a tad too undersized as is the chimney casting which left the smokebox door to be over sized.
The front end cylinder cover is missing in the kit`s design.

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Fortunately, Laurie Griffin produces detailing parts for this kit and these have been used extensively throughout construction


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John TAYLOR

Western Thunderer
Ernest Lemon 0-4-4 pull-push tank loco now complete.

Pity about the undersized boiler etc but having studied photos from the internet I`m happy with the compromise.

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Unexpectedly, the Canon 1833 motor is intolerant to any level of controller feedback.

I have track tested with my Helmsman pure DC controller which does`nt have quite the level of `fine` control I prefer.

I`m sure, however, that once fitted with the trusty Zimo MX645 decoder control should be perfect.







 
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