Ok, so there's good news and bad news !! Bad news is that I've managed to shaft my back whilst doing house renovation. The good news is that today, after four laid on my back on the lounge floor, my back is good enough to be up and about. And when I say up and about I mean to get me to the bench......
So I thought I would do something that was different and that would see relatively quick results, as that way it may cheer me up a little.
I have been after a George Norton J25 for some time, for several reasons really but mainly because about twenty years ago this was first attempt at an etched brass kit in 4mm. Last Christmas I managed to pick up off eBay the aforementioned kit and at Telford I grabbed some Alan Harris wheels for a bargain. So now it's about time I made a start. The kit is a good basis, but dated. I have upgraded with LG castings and as he markets the Shedmaster J24, just about everything is available from the one source.
So before we start I promise I won't finish it anytime soon and I'll most probably drop back onto other locos when time permits, but a start I have made non the less. My chosen loco, picture copyright is my good mate Mick Nicholson;
An early fifties shot of 65693 on Shed, this is how I intend her to be finished. Things to note immediately, she is fitted with a Group Standard draw hook and screw coupling ( probably due to working the Fish Vans from the Docks to Outward Yards ) There are timer packers behind the buffers to account for this. The whistle gear is the later BR type, the tender is braked and has had plating fitted due to tank corrosion. Oh and the double 'XX' chalked on the buffer denotes the fire has been cleaned or she is ready for lighting or something like that? Mick can you clarify?
The build...
I made a start on the cab and built the detail up in the flat. All is soldered up with 188 solder as I don't want the bits dropping off when I fix the cab together. The spectacle plate has some big slots fitted, which seem oversize, probably due to the upscale from 4mm. I filled these with 0.7mm brass wire as they're not needed. There's also a slot for the early Ramsbottom safety valves-all filled.
I then cut out for the later whistle gear, there is a valve assembly which was a later BR fit to all these NER types, the red pen helps me mark out. Here's what I'm talking about below, you can also see the box on 65693 above;
I'used some 1mm angle for the window runners as the front window is permanently glazed and then there is a slider to allow the crew to look out the rear window. For this I chemically blackened the etched window frame, which is a nice detail on the etch. The left hand side has the frame in the forward position and you can see where I have cut out and filled the spectacle plate.
This is the LG Boiler Face plate, the fire hole door will be an opener....