B1 - 61161
- Thread starter Dave Holt
- Start date
Dave Holt
Western Thunderer
A valid point, Larry. although I'm not sure what the alternatives are in 4 mm scale as I'm not aware of any higher quality body for a B1.
I hope Peter is right about the up-grades and really it will only be the basic structures of the boiler, footplate and cab that remain - and they are pretty accurate for an elderly RTR product.
I used to help Ray Hammond operate Thursford at exhibitions and he had a B1 with the same genisis, built by John Hayes, and it looked superb. Ray had an intrinsic dislike of plastic bodied locos but had to admit that you could only see the paint and couldn't tell what material was underneath. Thick edges would be a give away, but I've tried to thin down those round the cab windows and rear edge to disguise the true thickness, The tender will be a Bradwell etched kit, so won't have that issue.
I feel confident the finished loco will look OK and, of course, it isn't intended to be a showcase model.
Dave.
I hope Peter is right about the up-grades and really it will only be the basic structures of the boiler, footplate and cab that remain - and they are pretty accurate for an elderly RTR product.
I used to help Ray Hammond operate Thursford at exhibitions and he had a B1 with the same genisis, built by John Hayes, and it looked superb. Ray had an intrinsic dislike of plastic bodied locos but had to admit that you could only see the paint and couldn't tell what material was underneath. Thick edges would be a give away, but I've tried to thin down those round the cab windows and rear edge to disguise the true thickness, The tender will be a Bradwell etched kit, so won't have that issue.
I feel confident the finished loco will look OK and, of course, it isn't intended to be a showcase model.
Dave.
Dave Holt
Western Thunderer
Progress continues at a snail's pace as I'm finding it difficult to get motivated with these tiny details.
Anyway, the drain cock actuating linkage on both sides has been fitted.
The linkage involved some very small cranks, which had a tendency to ping off into the ether. Fortunately, Justin had included some duplicate parts on the etched sheet.
Apart from the lubricator drive linkage on the LHS, the cylinder/valvegear unit is now complete. This will be the second attempt at this item having manage to snap the first into two pieces at a right angle fold that I failed to reinforce with solder before further manipulation. Won't make that mistake again so, hopefully, the second attempt will be more successful.
Dave.
Anyway, the drain cock actuating linkage on both sides has been fitted.
The linkage involved some very small cranks, which had a tendency to ping off into the ether. Fortunately, Justin had included some duplicate parts on the etched sheet.
Apart from the lubricator drive linkage on the LHS, the cylinder/valvegear unit is now complete. This will be the second attempt at this item having manage to snap the first into two pieces at a right angle fold that I failed to reinforce with solder before further manipulation. Won't make that mistake again so, hopefully, the second attempt will be more successful.
Dave.
dibateg
Western Thunderer
I always find the small details the most daunting Dave ... often contemplating the job overnight and tackling it first thing in the morning whilst the enthusiasm is still high! I'd put off the relief valve mechanism off on the B16, but in the event I managed to put it together without any dramas...
Regards
Tony
Regards
Tony
Well, have a pint on me if it helps Dave - the combination of an excellent kit and a first-class builder cannot be bettered and the excellence of the result in that picture really proves the point.
Best Wishes,
Howard
Talking of guilding the spoon, are you doing the M-V lighting on your 61159, or would it have lost it by your period?
I've a couple of Gorton locos to do from the same Vulcan batch as 61159. At least one will need the axle-hung generator and full lighting set up (and BTH speedo mount) these started off with.
Simon
I've a couple of Gorton locos to do from the same Vulcan batch as 61159. At least one will need the axle-hung generator and full lighting set up (and BTH speedo mount) these started off with.
Simon
Dave Holt
Western Thunderer
Hi Simon.
No, I'm not fitting the electric lights or generator. I've only got one photo of 61159, at the time modelledwhich shows it at the top of Miles Platting bank out of Manchester Victoria - not very common a sight. It's a front three quarters shot which clearly shows no electric lights but, sadly, I can't make out whether it has the speedometer fitted, so I was intending to leave that off, too.
Best of luck with yours.
Dave.
No, I'm not fitting the electric lights or generator. I've only got one photo of 61159, at the time modelledwhich shows it at the top of Miles Platting bank out of Manchester Victoria - not very common a sight. It's a front three quarters shot which clearly shows no electric lights but, sadly, I can't make out whether it has the speedometer fitted, so I was intending to leave that off, too.
Best of luck with yours.
Dave.
61159 retained the speedo mount at least long enough to gain the later BR emblem (as in this Neil Dimmer collection photo on Smugmug):
railway-photography.smugmug.com
It looks like it was like most of this batch and never had the speedo fitted, just the mount.
Simon
61156-61170 - Railway-Photography
railway photographs from the last 100 years
railway-photography.smugmug.com
It looks like it was like most of this batch and never had the speedo fitted, just the mount.
Simon
oldravendale
Western Thunderer
In case it's of value here another of 61159.
The commentary to accompany the photo is: B1 61159 on a down Cleethorpes train at Harringay West on 22nd July 1961. This was allocated to Immingham in June 1954 and withdrawn from there in September 1963. (SLS). It was scrapped in November the same year at Cashmore's, Great Bridge. (BR Database).
Regrettably and with a certain inevitability the potential location of a speedo bracket is hidden. It doesn't look as though it carries the electrical gear though.
Brian
The commentary to accompany the photo is: B1 61159 on a down Cleethorpes train at Harringay West on 22nd July 1961. This was allocated to Immingham in June 1954 and withdrawn from there in September 1963. (SLS). It was scrapped in November the same year at Cashmore's, Great Bridge. (BR Database).
Regrettably and with a certain inevitability the potential location of a speedo bracket is hidden. It doesn't look as though it carries the electrical gear though.
Brian
Not the clearest drawings, but there are some showing the speedo mount under the cab on this page:
For those who don't know what I'm waffling on about here it is under the cab:
Simon
For those who don't know what I'm waffling on about here it is under the cab:
Simon
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Dave Holt
Western Thunderer
Thanks for that, Simon. I had actually commented on the Scaleforum thread but forgotten all about it.
The speedo mounting does appear on the Pipe & Rod drawings, in outline form, and I took some fairly close up photos of of the bracket on a preseved loco which visited the GWSR. Now it's a case of deciding how best to replicate it and firmly attach it to the model.
Dave.
The speedo mounting does appear on the Pipe & Rod drawings, in outline form, and I took some fairly close up photos of of the bracket on a preseved loco which visited the GWSR. Now it's a case of deciding how best to replicate it and firmly attach it to the model.
Dave.