Unklian's G3 workbench .
- Thread starter unklian
- Start date
unklian
Western Thunderer
Happy New Year to all Thunderers, here's hoping 2016 is constructive for you all.
I was asked a little while back if I would be able to convert an LGB chassis/motor block to Gauge 3. I had done this before a long while ago so I thought I better have a practice run. I dug out an old chassis and made longer axles for it. I decided to reduce the flanges on the wheels a bit before I reassembled it. This proved interesting, I had forgotten how hard LGB plating is, the flanges simply wore grooves in my usual cobalt steel tool. So it was out with the tungsten carbide to turn them down.
I turned up some spacers and reassembly was straight forward enough, so far so good.
I then had a further rummage in my G scale bits and bobs and dug out another 4 wheel block. This one had been obtained cheaply because the axle holes had worn so badly the gears kept jumping out of mesh. So as well as longer axles I machined some brass bushes for the axle holes. The holes were drilled and filed out in a very made to fit/bodger fashion so that when the bushes were fitted the gears meshed nicely again. Collars with grub screws were made up to keep the wheels, axles and gears centred in the block.
Wheels before and after turning the flanges.
The pile of bits.
And all together, with err original plastic rods ! These will almost certainly have to be replaced . The next problem is what to do with these two now I have converted them. I can get a motor and gears for the first one easily enough, so they can both be runners.
So for the record first one 76mm wheelbase with 38mm diameter wheels, about 5' 8" and about 2' 8" diameter. ( These are the standard dimensions for most LGB motor blocks and wheels )
Second one 77mm wheelbase with 45mm wheels, about 5' 8" and about 3' 4" diameter.
Best I have found so far is a Shrewsbury and Hereford ( correction O,W and W Rly ) 0-4-2ST of the 1870's, apart from a fair few industrials .
I was asked a little while back if I would be able to convert an LGB chassis/motor block to Gauge 3. I had done this before a long while ago so I thought I better have a practice run. I dug out an old chassis and made longer axles for it. I decided to reduce the flanges on the wheels a bit before I reassembled it. This proved interesting, I had forgotten how hard LGB plating is, the flanges simply wore grooves in my usual cobalt steel tool. So it was out with the tungsten carbide to turn them down.
I turned up some spacers and reassembly was straight forward enough, so far so good.
I then had a further rummage in my G scale bits and bobs and dug out another 4 wheel block. This one had been obtained cheaply because the axle holes had worn so badly the gears kept jumping out of mesh. So as well as longer axles I machined some brass bushes for the axle holes. The holes were drilled and filed out in a very made to fit/bodger fashion so that when the bushes were fitted the gears meshed nicely again. Collars with grub screws were made up to keep the wheels, axles and gears centred in the block.
Wheels before and after turning the flanges.
The pile of bits.
And all together, with err original plastic rods ! These will almost certainly have to be replaced . The next problem is what to do with these two now I have converted them. I can get a motor and gears for the first one easily enough, so they can both be runners.
So for the record first one 76mm wheelbase with 38mm diameter wheels, about 5' 8" and about 2' 8" diameter. ( These are the standard dimensions for most LGB motor blocks and wheels )
Second one 77mm wheelbase with 45mm wheels, about 5' 8" and about 3' 4" diameter.
Best I have found so far is a Shrewsbury and Hereford ( correction O,W and W Rly ) 0-4-2ST of the 1870's, apart from a fair few industrials .
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Jon Nazareth
Western Thunderer
Ian
Being a lover of all things early, the 0-4-2ST of 1870 sounds good to me.
Jon
Being a lover of all things early, the 0-4-2ST of 1870 sounds good to me.
Jon
unklian
Western Thunderer
Thank you Jon
Sorry got my Great Western Railway constituent companies in a muddle ( reading RCTS books late at night ), as you can see it was an Oxford Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway engine. Definitely rather cute. Only problem being that this is probably the only info available. He says whereupon WT members deluge him with pictures (?)
I would like to do a Manning Wardle 0-4-0ST, but these chassis are too long a wheelbase
.
Ian
Sorry got my Great Western Railway constituent companies in a muddle ( reading RCTS books late at night ), as you can see it was an Oxford Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway engine. Definitely rather cute. Only problem being that this is probably the only info available. He says whereupon WT members deluge him with pictures (?)
I would like to do a Manning Wardle 0-4-0ST, but these chassis are too long a wheelbase
.Ian
jamiepage
Western Thunderer
Leafing through the Beckton Gas Works book, Gas Light & Coke Company No 1427 was an 0-4-0 Manning Wardle, wheelbase 5ft 6in., driving wheels 3ft 0in.
Ex Burton Brewery loco, delivered new there 1899, then on to Mansfield Standard Sand Co in 1926, then Beckton 1945. Scrapped 1959.
Ex Burton Brewery loco, delivered new there 1899, then on to Mansfield Standard Sand Co in 1926, then Beckton 1945. Scrapped 1959.
geoff_nicholls
Western Thunderer
The Neilson 'coffee pots' with Ogee saddle tanks, bought by the GER had a 5' 9" wheelbase, and 3' 6" wheels. They would be a good choice. I believe John Taylor is scratch building one, He might be prepared to make some extra bits...
jamiepage
Western Thunderer
unklian
Western Thunderer
Thank you Jamie,
I will have to look that one up in 'THE' Manning Wardle book.
Thank you Geoff,
Coincidently I have been looking at the Nielsons with Cookie, but on a different tack as a live steamer. An electric one would be just as nice though. Must talk to John Taylor for sure.
I will have to look that one up in 'THE' Manning Wardle book.
Thank you Geoff,
Coincidently I have been looking at the Nielsons with Cookie, but on a different tack as a live steamer. An electric one would be just as nice though. Must talk to John Taylor for sure.
unklian
Western Thunderer
You are going to have to help me out on that one Mike. My reference for the premier line is a bit limited and the internet has not heard of those either. I found 4 foot tanks but nothing smaller. As to your LGB chassis, no problem I will collect it from you at the AGM .
Jon Nazareth
Western Thunderer
What does LGB stand for, Ian?
Jon
Jon
unklian
Western Thunderer
Like the man Dai said ....
And now look what I found/rediscovered in the loft. My next victim.... Bwaaa HaHaHaaa !! Unlucky 13 ?
Which leaves me with a question, do other Thunderers regularly find things in cupboards, etc. that they had forgotten or didn't realise they still had ??
Mike W
Western Thunderer
Drawings were published in either "The Engineer" or "Engineering". My volumes are packed from our recent move, but I'll try to find another copy ....
Just found a weight diagram and the wheelbase is 5ft 6in. Personal opinion I guess as to whether that is close enough.
Just found a weight diagram and the wheelbase is 5ft 6in. Personal opinion I guess as to whether that is close enough.
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geoff_nicholls
Western Thunderer
Of course you'll need quite a few LNWR wagons for it to push around. Are there any available in gauge 3?