adrian
Flying Squad
Of course I should have guessed - I realise my question was poorly formed, with the repetition and clean cut I suspected is was more than a manual cut. I guess a pantograph miller is an analogue CNC machine!
Modelling the Midland in S7
- Thread starter Crimson Rambler
- Start date
Crimson Rambler
Western Thunderer
Crimson Rambler
Western Thunderer
Crimson Rambler
Western Thunderer
I have been offline for over a month - but that has not prevented some progress on the engine. In January we initiated the process of changing our broadband provider and set everything in motion. Following several displays of incompetence by both companies and the Post Office which culminated in us having no internet from the middle of July only today has it been completed.
Herewith some views illustrating some of the progress to date:-
Fireman's side tank.
Driver's side tank.
The two compared - the only difference, apart from them being mirror images of one another is that the bracket for supporting the reversing rack on the splasher of the driver's tank.
General view of the tanks sitting on the platform. The outer sides have not been fixed yet and they won't be for a while yet. They are just sitting in position.
Another general view this time looking forwards. Bunker stay still loose in the coal space!
The cab side sheets have now been added to the tank sides via a butt-strap joint as per the prototype. Also the capping and angle iron has been fitted around the tank tops and the cab cut-out, however they need a bit more attention before they can be considered finished.
Another general view this time with the cab sheets.
The frame to support the portion of boilerbetwen the yanks has been made as has the 'clothing plate' albeit I omitted to photograph them. A start has been made on the cab front and the moulding aroubd the boiler front and the remaining portion of the boiler between the tanks and the smokebox.
Crimson Rambler
Herewith some views illustrating some of the progress to date:-
Fireman's side tank.
Driver's side tank.
The two compared - the only difference, apart from them being mirror images of one another is that the bracket for supporting the reversing rack on the splasher of the driver's tank.
General view of the tanks sitting on the platform. The outer sides have not been fixed yet and they won't be for a while yet. They are just sitting in position.
Another general view this time looking forwards. Bunker stay still loose in the coal space!
The cab side sheets have now been added to the tank sides via a butt-strap joint as per the prototype. Also the capping and angle iron has been fitted around the tank tops and the cab cut-out, however they need a bit more attention before they can be considered finished.
Another general view this time with the cab sheets.
The frame to support the portion of boilerbetwen the yanks has been made as has the 'clothing plate' albeit I omitted to photograph them. A start has been made on the cab front and the moulding aroubd the boiler front and the remaining portion of the boiler between the tanks and the smokebox.
Crimson Rambler
spikey faz
Western Thunderer
Nice to see the sidetanks have some hefty looking mounting nuts in place. I'm a great believer in having parts attached with nuts and bolts. 
Mike
Mike
Crimson Rambler
Western Thunderer
The nuts are for 8BA screws @spikey faz - the idea being to have plenty of clamping force so the tank bases and the platform are in continuous contact.
Something similar is proposed for the bunker only the screws will be permanent attached to the platform. Unfortunately the only place where I could locate them is directly above the frame plates.
Crimson Rambler
Something similar is proposed for the bunker only the screws will be permanent attached to the platform. Unfortunately the only place where I could locate them is directly above the frame plates.
Crimson Rambler
Crimson Rambler
Western Thunderer
I was asked if I would help man the S7 stand at Warley Exhibition on the Sunday. This was something I was happy to do, indeed it reminded me very much of the earliest days of the S7 Society.
I took my toy train for a jolly to Birmingham which necessitated it being temporarily assembled in order that it looked something like a locomotive rather than the collection of amorphous lumps that represents its normal condition.
So while in this condition I took a few piccies before it is dismantled again to permit the boiler clothing plates to be fitted and what the Midland called the moulding pieces to be added in the cab around the firebox.
The cab steps are wonky because they are just wedged in.
Since my last post I have removed the ABC Mini Gooch motor/gearbox combination and substituted one of Slater's final drive 'boxes - a solution I much prefer. Unfortunately it has left a huge hole in the back of the firebox/ashpan which would not have been needed if ....
Crimson Rambler
I took my toy train for a jolly to Birmingham which necessitated it being temporarily assembled in order that it looked something like a locomotive rather than the collection of amorphous lumps that represents its normal condition.
So while in this condition I took a few piccies before it is dismantled again to permit the boiler clothing plates to be fitted and what the Midland called the moulding pieces to be added in the cab around the firebox.
The cab steps are wonky because they are just wedged in.
Since my last post I have removed the ABC Mini Gooch motor/gearbox combination and substituted one of Slater's final drive 'boxes - a solution I much prefer. Unfortunately it has left a huge hole in the back of the firebox/ashpan which would not have been needed if ....
Crimson Rambler
Crimson Rambler
Western Thunderer
Due to entertaining friends and family over the festive break I have done nothing to the Class N for over six weeks, however this will change very soon. I have not been completely idle though as I have been producing drawings for Richard Ellis of a pair of overbridges and a small waiting room shelter for the up platform. I was helped in this task as a side effect of an article that appeared in the new modelling magazine produced by the Midland Railway Society - Modelling the Midland:-
I wonder where the title came from(!) - and yes it's not all S7. The scan of the cover lists the content. Hopefully there is something within to temp you. If you would like a copy please pm me or contact the Society direct. It is edited by Stephen Lea - of the D299 Appreciation forum hosted on the other place.
Next month the Society will holding a modelling event in Kettering arranged very kindly by Graham Speechley:-
This will be open to non-members although if you are interested in the Midland I cannot think of a reason why you shouldn't be a member already.
I will be attending Kettering so if you do attend do please introduce yourself.
Crimson Rambler
I wonder where the title came from(!) - and yes it's not all S7. The scan of the cover lists the content. Hopefully there is something within to temp you. If you would like a copy please pm me or contact the Society direct. It is edited by Stephen Lea - of the D299 Appreciation forum hosted on the other place.
Next month the Society will holding a modelling event in Kettering arranged very kindly by Graham Speechley:-
This will be open to non-members although if you are interested in the Midland I cannot think of a reason why you shouldn't be a member already.
I will be attending Kettering so if you do attend do please introduce yourself.
Crimson Rambler
Crimson Rambler
Western Thunderer
I haven't been able to devote as much time as I would like to building the Class N but nevertheless some progress has been made including a replacement smokebox. Unfortunately I forgot to take any pictures as I went but the plus side is that it no longer looks like an old fashioned dust cart!
The boiler mountings are only plonked on temporarily for the photos - they will be replaced by the proper ones in due course
The main parts are now complete so a start must be made on the detailing parts but first I will be replacing the coupling rods followed by the brake gear.
Crimson Rambler
The boiler mountings are only plonked on temporarily for the photos - they will be replaced by the proper ones in due course
The main parts are now complete so a start must be made on the detailing parts but first I will be replacing the coupling rods followed by the brake gear.
Crimson Rambler
john lewsey
Western Thunderer
That looks really good to me
Crimson Rambler
Western Thunderer
At the end of next month the Midland Railway Society will be holding another of its modelling events:-
This one has been kindly organized by Stephen Lea and is open to members and no-members alike.
There will be a couple of talks along with hopefully a good display of models - to which you are invited to contribute something.
Please do come along and enjoy the opportunity of talking things Midland!
Crimson Rambler
This one has been kindly organized by Stephen Lea and is open to members and no-members alike.
There will be a couple of talks along with hopefully a good display of models - to which you are invited to contribute something.
Please do come along and enjoy the opportunity of talking things Midland!
Crimson Rambler
Tricky
Member
Midland in Tewkesbury has interleaved timbering - very tasty…!
Lancastrian
Western Thunderer
It's for sale as well, just not at £495!
Crimson Rambler
Western Thunderer
Progress on the Class N stalled over the summer due to other commitments/priorities. However I could not give up modelling completely so an old PC Models kit of a Midland 25ft parcels van was dug out. The kit is around 40 years old and coincidentally dates from about the last time I built a carriage! The plan is that it will be the first of a projected short run of NPCS kits with this one serving to see what I liked and disliked about Peter Chatham's kits. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I did like.
The plan was that it would be finished in time for the GOG do on Saturdayso it could be handed over for painting. Unfortunately that will not happen as one thing I discovered I didn't like - but not until assembling it, is the roof. This will be replaced by a completely different design.
Herewith are some piccies of the vehicle - since they were taken there has been further progress but it remains hatless!
Crimson Rambler
The plan was that it would be finished in time for the GOG do on Saturdayso it could be handed over for painting. Unfortunately that will not happen as one thing I discovered I didn't like - but not until assembling it, is the roof. This will be replaced by a completely different design.
Herewith are some piccies of the vehicle - since they were taken there has been further progress but it remains hatless!
Crimson Rambler
Crimson Rambler
Western Thunderer
It's been quite a while since I last posted anything. This is partly because I have done very little 'direct' modelling as such although I have nevertheless been very busy indirectly. Thus the shed has now been extended, wired and heating installed also loads of patterns have been made in anticipation of making things restarting in 2026.
For example here is a prototype Midland 25ft NPCS underframe – in completed form it will be used underneath my remaining PC etched kits and all of the equivalent Slaters plastic ones.
The frame, stretchers, cylinder, dragbox, wheels etc etc patterns have been made for a Midland 1698 class 0-6-0 and its tender. The later has necessitated some guesswork as these engines were given second hand tenders which originally didn't have steam brakes. Also these ex-passenger tenders were built with the usual feed water cocks but when they became goods tenders their feedwater arrangement changed.
The metal parts will be cut from these patterns in the next few months and assembled at the same time as the equivalent bits (already cut a while back) for a Stephenson Class H 0-6-0. The idea being that as both of these engines are non-fitted, as also is the Class N which has already featured in these pages, the three engines will then progress together to completion once they have caught up with the tank engine.
I want to see if there is any saving in time with this approach. I know there is when building carriages and wagons so perhaps it's reasonable to assume the same applies to locos.
The major item which has been occupying my time for the last few weeks has been making the baseboards. One – seen on its side – has been temporarily test assembled to prove the design for portability, stiffness etc, while all of the parts for the remaining boards have been made and may be seen stacked. Also present are the I-beams which will span between the trestles while providing continuous support to the boards. The plan is the baseboards will be put together with the whole becoming a fully assembled unit in January.
Happy New Year to you All.
Crimson Rambler.
For example here is a prototype Midland 25ft NPCS underframe – in completed form it will be used underneath my remaining PC etched kits and all of the equivalent Slaters plastic ones.
The frame, stretchers, cylinder, dragbox, wheels etc etc patterns have been made for a Midland 1698 class 0-6-0 and its tender. The later has necessitated some guesswork as these engines were given second hand tenders which originally didn't have steam brakes. Also these ex-passenger tenders were built with the usual feed water cocks but when they became goods tenders their feedwater arrangement changed.
The metal parts will be cut from these patterns in the next few months and assembled at the same time as the equivalent bits (already cut a while back) for a Stephenson Class H 0-6-0. The idea being that as both of these engines are non-fitted, as also is the Class N which has already featured in these pages, the three engines will then progress together to completion once they have caught up with the tank engine.
I want to see if there is any saving in time with this approach. I know there is when building carriages and wagons so perhaps it's reasonable to assume the same applies to locos.
The major item which has been occupying my time for the last few weeks has been making the baseboards. One – seen on its side – has been temporarily test assembled to prove the design for portability, stiffness etc, while all of the parts for the remaining boards have been made and may be seen stacked. Also present are the I-beams which will span between the trestles while providing continuous support to the boards. The plan is the baseboards will be put together with the whole becoming a fully assembled unit in January.
Happy New Year to you All.
Crimson Rambler.
Crimson Rambler
Western Thunderer
Oh dear! I have just realized that it is five months since I last posted anything on this site. This is not to suggest I have been idle but the contrary.
Resuming from my last post all of the baseboards have been completed and are sitting bolted up on their two continuous support timber beams. The 'boards took a bit longer that i anticipated to finish due to other Midland, but non-modelling, commitments. In the end they were finished I think by about the middle of April.
Had a bit of a set back in the little tank engine suffered a bit of damage while being carried in its purpose-made carrying box. The base of the box dropped out leaving me with the upper portion and the handle! It suffered less damage than it could have done but has left me with an awkward upward bend in the platform and a dent in the cab roof.
Not sure for the moment how I can restore the platform truly flat or whether it might be quicker in the long run just to cut out a replacement. While I make up my mind the engine has been put away in disgrace while I concentrate on the train set for a bit.
View looking in the up or south direction and reveals about 2/3 the length of the layout. goods lines on the left with the passenger roads in the middle and three sidings on the right.
In this view we are looking north - sort of as if standing on the overbridge. The separate goods and passenger lines are now clearer as are the sidings. There will be another bridge at the far end but there is too much junk on the baseboards for it to be photographed while in any case none of the 'track bases' have been made for this section.
The final photo is taken roughly from where the station will be - no platforms on the goods line!
Hopefully I will not leave such a long gap before my next post.
Crimson Rambler
Resuming from my last post all of the baseboards have been completed and are sitting bolted up on their two continuous support timber beams. The 'boards took a bit longer that i anticipated to finish due to other Midland, but non-modelling, commitments. In the end they were finished I think by about the middle of April.
Had a bit of a set back in the little tank engine suffered a bit of damage while being carried in its purpose-made carrying box. The base of the box dropped out leaving me with the upper portion and the handle! It suffered less damage than it could have done but has left me with an awkward upward bend in the platform and a dent in the cab roof.
Not sure for the moment how I can restore the platform truly flat or whether it might be quicker in the long run just to cut out a replacement. While I make up my mind the engine has been put away in disgrace while I concentrate on the train set for a bit.
View looking in the up or south direction and reveals about 2/3 the length of the layout. goods lines on the left with the passenger roads in the middle and three sidings on the right.
In this view we are looking north - sort of as if standing on the overbridge. The separate goods and passenger lines are now clearer as are the sidings. There will be another bridge at the far end but there is too much junk on the baseboards for it to be photographed while in any case none of the 'track bases' have been made for this section.
The final photo is taken roughly from where the station will be - no platforms on the goods line!
Hopefully I will not leave such a long gap before my next post.
Crimson Rambler