A couple more Golden Arrow kits.

I gave in to temptation (well, I'm easily led!) a few weeks ago and ordered what I think will be the last couple of "Golden Arrow" kits I'm interested in, these being one of the last batch of 10 "Merchant Navy" loco's, and also Bulleid's "Leader" project kit. The 'MN' strangely uses a Hornby "B of B/West Country" chassis which I already have, although it does need an "MN" trailing bogie truck which I have yet to source, so this is the kit (which I've begun to clean up the 'flash' on). As this version had the 6000 gallon 'long wheelbase' tender and the new tender body mounts onto the Hornby long wheelbase tender chassis which is quite a rare (and expensive) item, I shall attempt to scratchbuild a suitable tender chassis, which should be fun! (I already have a set of axlebox castings for this).

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The "Leader" project is something different altogether, probably why it interests me so much, as I find prototypes, 'one-off's' and 'oddballs' so much more fascinating. It uses an open framed double ended shaft motor, mounted between one bogie frame as it's drive, and one side of the chassis is 'live' if built according to the instructions. However, me being me, I want to do it differently, especially since my layout is DCC so no good having one side of a loco frame 'live', as that's a recipe for any decoder having a short life and a gay one! I'm planning (hoping) to use two motors, one per bogie, so it should have more 'Ooooooomph', and although I'd prefer can motors rather than open frame, I doubt I'd be able to find a can motor of small enough dimensions, especially with a double ended shaft. The drive setup has a worm either side of the motor, driving a cog on the axle of each outer set of wheels with the centre pair free to rotate and also rise and fall slightly to accommodate uneven track. The bogie castings and associated parts are very nicely cast, with just the odd 'pip' to file off, probably the best white metal castings I've had the pleasure(?) of working with, though I suspect the bogies themselves are going to be the most difficult part of the build, as the bodywork looks pretty straightforward, but I'll need to start ordering drive parts first, and most firms are still closed for Xmas/New Year........I may be some time, watch this space!
Keith.

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I anticipate soldering it Toto, but the bogies have to be built around the motors and gearsets (which I don't yet have) so when I get around to it will be dependant upon suppliers extracting their digits and getting my orders out.

Keith.

 

I'm still waiting for parts from 'Markits" (since December 29th), so not advanced with the bogies at all yet, but I have got around to work on the bodyshell, so I've decided to start a new topic on this build.
Keith.