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The Brassgoggles Model Making Club (the second non-SP model making thread).

Started by James Harrison, April 28, 2019, 05:13:51 PM

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James Harrison

#1050
December 05, 2025, 06:52:27 PM
My turn to show off what I've been up to...

I finished the Barnum - I bought some Hornby buffers and had to build complete new buffer mounts for them...
I've got two more to build but since I bought them three years ago I've backdated a little further.  They'll get built, but they're now more of a 'nice to have' than strictly needed for RLS.

And then I started on something new. 

I've got lots (and lots) of Triang / Hornby clerestory carriages.  And I've got 9 Great Central clerestories on order, which will render them... obsolete.


https://gcr-rollingstocktrust.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/History-of-GCR-Suburban-No.799-Rev8-Apr2020.pdf

These are what the GCR built after about 1905, and the discovery that somebody is marketing 3D printed interiors and flat roofs for the Hornby carriages got me thinking.  I'm having a go at turning some of my Hornby carriages into these. 



First I painted the interior print. 



Then I set to work on the bogies.  New metal wheels and axles and magnetic couplings, and I cut off the springs for more of an Edwardian look.



After cleaning the body, an all-over coat of chocolate brown paint was applied.



This was followed by a flooding the panelling with cream paint wet down to about the consistency of milk. 
Persons intending to travel by open carriage should select a seat with their backs to the engine, by which means they will avoid the ashes emitted therefrom, that in travelling generally, but particularly through the tunnels, prove a great annoyance; the carriage farthest from the engine will in consequence be found the most desirable.

The Bullet

#1051
December 08, 2025, 10:45:07 AM
Got a parcel today:





Bing gauge 1, spirit-fired.
75 cm long.
This is a scale model of the S2/6, record holder before the class 05 took the record.
If brute force does not work....you´re not using enough of it.

James Harrison

#1052
December 08, 2025, 06:07:45 PM
Quote from: The Bullet on December 08, 2025, 10:45:07 AMGot a parcel today:





Bing gauge 1, spirit-fired.
75 cm long.
This is a scale model of the S2/6, record holder before the class 05 took the record.

Colour me envious.
Persons intending to travel by open carriage should select a seat with their backs to the engine, by which means they will avoid the ashes emitted therefrom, that in travelling generally, but particularly through the tunnels, prove a great annoyance; the carriage farthest from the engine will in consequence be found the most desirable.

The Bullet

#1053
December 09, 2025, 08:22:15 AM
Overall condition is excellent for a model made between 1911 and 1921.
Test on compressed air showed her running well in both directions.
Burner needed some attention but is working fine now.
Next test will be running under her own steam.
If brute force does not work....you´re not using enough of it.

Sorontar

#1054
December 09, 2025, 12:34:32 PM
Certainly looks very solid. Is it very heavy compared to what you might expect?
Sorontar, Captain of 'The Aethereal Dancer'
Advisor to HM Engineers on matters aethereal, aeronautic and cosmographic
http://eyrie.sorontar.com

James Harrison

#1055
December 09, 2025, 07:10:52 PM
Nearly there with my carriage.  The first of four planned...







Just a few final licks of paint and then some transfers needed, really.
Persons intending to travel by open carriage should select a seat with their backs to the engine, by which means they will avoid the ashes emitted therefrom, that in travelling generally, but particularly through the tunnels, prove a great annoyance; the carriage farthest from the engine will in consequence be found the most desirable.

The Bullet

#1056
December 10, 2025, 07:52:11 AM
First signs of life.
I ran her on the blocks yesterday.
After some time the orange rubber-like stuff the water gauge was sealed with gave way (as expected).
I have to remove and clean that anyway.

I love the sound of steam and the smell of hot oil.
If brute force does not work....you´re not using enough of it.

von Corax

#1057
December 10, 2025, 01:32:52 PM
Quote from: The Bullet on December 10, 2025, 07:52:11 AMI love the sound of steam and the smell of hot oil.

Does it smell like... Victory?
By the power of caffeine do I set my mind in motion
By the Beans of Life do my thoughts acquire speed
My hands acquire a shaking
The shaking becomes a warning
By the power of caffeine do I set my mind in motion
The Leverkusen Institute of Paleocybernetics is 5842 km from Reading

The Bullet

#1058
December 10, 2025, 02:47:45 PM
Oh yes.

I love the moment when the loco first moves.
Yesterday evening I fired her up for the first time.
Put the regulator to full forward, opened the throttle and waited.
The loco was sitting on blocks with the driving wheels just above the rails.
Took a while to get pressure.
Then the rods started moving slowly.
She shot a few drops of hot oil from the chimney.
Then she gained speed.
...until the seal from the water sight glass gave way.
I replaced that today.
If brute force does not work....you´re not using enough of it.

James Harrison

#1059
December 23, 2025, 01:51:51 PM
And then there were two. 





That's the workbench cleared for Christmas.  I might make a start on a third carriage for the rake in the gap between Boxing Day and New Years Eve, but I'm also trying to tie up a loose end or two with the house.
Persons intending to travel by open carriage should select a seat with their backs to the engine, by which means they will avoid the ashes emitted therefrom, that in travelling generally, but particularly through the tunnels, prove a great annoyance; the carriage farthest from the engine will in consequence be found the most desirable.

Madasasteamfish

#1060
December 31, 2025, 12:08:26 PM
I think I've mentioned that things have been quiet for me, mostly because Dukeswood has reached the point where I need some concrete plans and designs, or at least some more space to store bits. However, things are developing on that front, and I received this from the Jolly Fat Man....


It proved an interesting Twixmas diversion, although something of a pain thanks to the shortcomings of the design (such as having to make sure things are loose enough to move, but secure enough to ensure they stay attached) and the instructions leaving much to be desired. As things stand, I'm tempted to leave it as is, but another part of me wants to lacquer/paint it.
I made a note in my diary on the way over here. Simply says; "Bugger!"

"DON'T THINK OF IT AS DYING, JUST THINK OF IT AS LEAVING EARLY TO AVOID THE RUSH."

James Harrison

#1061
December 31, 2025, 12:42:21 PM
Very nice.
Persons intending to travel by open carriage should select a seat with their backs to the engine, by which means they will avoid the ashes emitted therefrom, that in travelling generally, but particularly through the tunnels, prove a great annoyance; the carriage farthest from the engine will in consequence be found the most desirable.

The Bullet

#1062
January 06, 2026, 11:49:52 AM
Trip into the past.

I am just working on a Cracker locomotive (beginner steam project) I started in 1999.
Had been pushing it from one corner of the workshop to the other.
Yesterday I thought: why not? and opened the box.
Boiler is there. Chassis needed wome work as the axles were binding.
Two new buffer beams made on the mill solved that problem.
I also made the cylinder yesterday.
Maybe I´ll finish it before my retirement......
If brute force does not work....you´re not using enough of it.

The Bullet

#1063
January 08, 2026, 10:34:30 AM
While waiting for more brass stock for the cracker to arrive I did something different.
As I was not sure I could build the cylinder precise enough to actually work I took the dimensions from the cracker drawings, a flywheel from the box-o-bits and went to work.

Cylinder parts:


Beginning to look like a steam engine:


I only used stock parts from the bin.
This pillar has onve been grabbed by the mill and launched to the far corner of the workshop.
Some other parts also show their origin clearly.
As it was just a test engine, I did not clean up those marks.


Finished:




Of course, she did not run on the first try.
I had made a jig for drilling the ports as it is shown in the cracker drawings.
One hole in the jig was slightly off-centre but a jig is a jig and if this deviation is transferred to all parts, it will work, I thought.
Murphy paid a visit, I put the jig on upside down and of course the hole was in the wrong place.
I plugged the hole with 1mm brass rod soldered into the cylinder base, drilled again (right place this time) and....she runs.

I guess that is good enough to try the cracker cylinder now.
If brute force does not work....you´re not using enough of it.

Madasasteamfish

#1064
January 14, 2026, 06:06:36 PM
Well, I made the mistake of opening my emails and having a look through Hornby's announcements for this year, and I may need to put my credit card under lock and key for the time being....

Whilst I'm still awaiting several hundred quids worth of other pre-orded items, the bright sparks at Margate decide they're going to release a version of the LNER's West Riding Limited articulated coaches, and another Bullied Tavern car pairing...

Now, as I believe I've mention I intend to include a Tavern car on Dukeswood as part of my own version of the Master Cutler, but the West Riding Limited feels like a possible alternative, that said, I found a source of kits for them which would be cheaper, and allow me to play around a lot more....
I made a note in my diary on the way over here. Simply says; "Bugger!"

"DON'T THINK OF IT AS DYING, JUST THINK OF IT AS LEAVING EARLY TO AVOID THE RUSH."

The Bullet

#1065
January 14, 2026, 09:02:19 PM
I just "finished" another project: my Cracker locomotive.

Does not run too well but an expert in the field will have a look at it and (hopefully) show me which (supid) mistake I may have made.

Now it is time to get the 3.5" Teutonic class loco back into the workshop.
Without cab, running boards and all the other stuff she runs. But as soon as these things are in place, problems arise.
So back to square one.
If brute force does not work....you´re not using enough of it.

Madasasteamfish

#1066
Yesterday at 05:11:15 PM
This is more as an aide memoir to myself, but after torturing Mr Harrison with Rapdio's latest announcement of GCR rolling stock, I've been able to come up with an idea for another cameo (feel free to borrow for inspiration).

Basically, it's an advertisement/establishment name for a garage, listing the name and their services on a pair of gates/large swing doors with some unfortunate placement:

Lady[ward & Son]
[Spare] Parts [dealers]
[Coach]work [a speciality]

Immature, I know, but as they say, if you can't laugh, what can you do?
I made a note in my diary on the way over here. Simply says; "Bugger!"

"DON'T THINK OF IT AS DYING, JUST THINK OF IT AS LEAVING EARLY TO AVOID THE RUSH."

James Harrison

#1067
Yesterday at 05:55:07 PM
Quote from: Madasasteamfish on Yesterday at 05:11:15 PMThis is more as an aide memoir to myself, but after torturing Mr Harrison with Rapdio's latest announcement of GCR rolling stock, I've been able to come up with an idea for another cameo (feel free to borrow for inspiration).


As you alluded, let's see what the damage might be...

https://rapidotrains.co.uk/gcr-dia-17b-covered-van/

So we're getting a covered van of a design dating from 1910... 

https://rapidotrains.co.uk/gcr-dia-9a-9b-6-plank-opens/

... a 6-plank open wagon of 1911...

https://rapidotrains.co.uk/gcr-dia-6c-3-plank-open/

... and a 3-plank open wagon from 1919. 

Happily my chosen period taps out around 1912, so that reduces the items of interest from 3 to 2. 
Unhappily for the GCR livery there are two different running numbers for each. 
Going to my box-shifter of choice will get me a couple of pounds off, but that's still going to be another £120 or so to Rapido.

Hey, I'm not complaining.  Money would be equally available to other manufacturers if they bothered to cater for my taste. 

Persons intending to travel by open carriage should select a seat with their backs to the engine, by which means they will avoid the ashes emitted therefrom, that in travelling generally, but particularly through the tunnels, prove a great annoyance; the carriage farthest from the engine will in consequence be found the most desirable.
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