This is the best photo I have found, I zoomed in on the original and you can just see the hatch which appears to have, to my eyes, what looks like a hand rail knob for opening. The hinges look to be really small in 7mm but now my attention is piqued they are going to have to be fitted!! Cheers, Pete.
Pete, If you want I can easily print something like this for you, just let me know the diameter of the ball. Mossy
Cheers Mossy, I imagine the handle to be around 1.5/2mm diameter, a couple of mil tall. The hinges maybe 5/6 mill wide, 3mill deep, I' only guessing at the mo, I would have to check what looks right on the loco. Thanks mate, Pete.
Pete No probs, I will modify the sketches and get something put together. They are just the kind of thing that 3d printing seems to be made for, just like Rob's brake shoes. Are there 2 or 3 hinges? Mossy
Great photo. Sorry to have opened that can of worms! I'll probably use a small handrail knob and fill in the holes with solder.
Pete, Hinge and handle redesigned to your measurements. If you want the dimensions changing just let me know. Two versions of the hinge with and without wings because thinking about it, it would be flush with the running plate so the wings were probably not visible. 6.2 mm long .2mm diameter, with wings 6 x 3 mm. With the winged version, the wings are currently .7mm deep, that's just to safely print them so they would need filing down to an appropriate thickness. I can print both or either one so please let me know which you want. Handle, ball is 1.5mm dia, height including base roughly 2mm. Printing will take less than 30 mins, so email me your address and they should be with you in a couple of days or so. Mossy
EasternO "I also need a set of round buffers like yours. Where did you get them?" If you want I could easily knock up a 3D printed set for you that would work on the Jim McGeown principle with piano wire springing. All I would need are the dimensions which Pete could probably supply me with. Mossy
That's really kind of you buddy, but I've got a couple sets of this type to buy and a couple sets of the square base to buy, plus a few more sets in the future so I better find a source anyway. Thanks very much though!
Having gone back to the original photo and zoomed right in (the resolution on the photo is amazing, really clear at 285%) the hinges look to have wings. Could I be really cheeky and ask for 2 sets, I have another kit to build. Thanks Mossy, Pete.
Pete You were always getting at least 2 sets, spares in case any print failed. So 2 full sets plus a coupleofspares, no prbs'. Mossy
Pete Have you seen Rob's brake shoes I printed, they are on the dabbling with Fusion 360 thread. If you can find someone to draw up brake shoes I will print them for you as Rob say it eliminates any shorting between the shoes and wheels. I don't have any sketches or diagrams of GER loco being exclusively an NER man. Mossy
Hi Mossy, yes mate. Actually I have had some printed by a fellow 7mm scale society I'm a member of for the other kit I have to start building. Thank you for the very kind offer. Pete.
More than 12 months later I have managed to do some more work on my J69. Here are a few photos. The paint is still wet so looks glossy but it should dry a satin finish. Mossy's hinges and inspection plate knob look brilliant! Thats it for now, once the paint has hardened I will make a start on detailing and assembly. Cheers for now, Pete.
Thanks Mossy, I haven't done much else just yet, I've been working on sorting out my modelling shed, It has been a chaotic mess for nearly a month now on top of major garden remodelling work. I was thinking of something the other day for 3D printing but for the life of me I can't remember what it was only something small Cheers, Pete.
A bit of a catch up to bring the build up to date. I've painted the interior of the cab, there is some discussion on whether locos had their cab's painted back in the day or if it's a recent thing with preserved locos, personally, I like it. I also spent time yesterday fitting the wheel balance weights, the ones that were with the kit had gone missing, so I had a go at making my own in plasticard, should be easy right? two and a half hours later I had them cut out and glued in place with epoxy. Well thats it for now, i will paint them next and have a go at putting the decals on, it's going to be in LNER livery and numbered to represent the branch loco, but thats for later. Cheers, Pete.