Well I've reached that time in life

Discussion in 'Kits, Kit bashes & Scratch builds' started by York Paul, Dec 3, 2022.

  1. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

    Messages:
    5,816
    Likes Received:
    6,870
    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2017
    Well chaps I've reached that time in life where I'm going to take things easy... well very easy actually in fact so easy that I'm only prepared to consider occasional client work which suits me, after a working life of 45 + years its time to take a well earned rest. So I've decided to treat myself as a sort of semi retirement gift from me to me, yep another kit and one I'm looking forward to getting to grips with, kit is question is a Finney 7 Duchess Pacific and I've bought the complete shooting match... inside motion, inside crank castings, hornblocks, motor gearbox... I've already got the name plate set which I got some time ago. The loco subject in question is to be City of Stoke on Trent and livery will be the LMS Crimson Lake lined out with BR number and crest but without the yellow restriction stripe that was applied to engines prohibited from operating south of Crewe. As a very young child I saw 46254 at the 1960 commemorative exhibition in North Western Yard at Stoke. When the kit arrives I'll post up pictures in the Forum's time honoured manner.
     
  2. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

    Messages:
    15,419
    Likes Received:
    3,842
    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2017
    Great to hear of your winding down a bit, and why not. It's great that you are in the position to do it. Enjoy every moment.

    Likewise, I'm sure you will enjoy the kit that you have planned. Looking forward fo seeing the contents when you get them.

    Take it easy.

    Toto
     
    York Paul likes this.
  3. Rob Pulham

    Rob Pulham Happily making models Staff Member Administrator Feature Contributor

    Messages:
    3,881
    Likes Received:
    4,189
    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2017
    Nice one Paul,

    You will enjoy retirement and soon wonder how you ever found time to work.

    I have pretty much the same box and contents with the exception that mine is the Martin Finney kit, bought pre Finney7 and the name plates are for Duchess of Buccleuch. DOB is one of the examples that were built un-streamlined as a comparison to the streamliners by Stanier who wasn't a great fan of streamlining. Mine will be in it's original single chimney form without smoke deflectors. A guise which seems to send Princess Coronation fans into fits of angst for some reason...
    Sadly other than the stuffed and mounted DOH in the NRM I haven't seen a Duchess in the flesh.
     
    jakesdad13, paul_l and York Paul like this.
  4. Vinylelpea

    Vinylelpea Full Member

    Messages:
    733
    Likes Received:
    476
    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2017
    Retirement is a wonderful thing. I retired about 18 months ago, loving every bit of it. Enjoy.


    Phil from Australia
     
    York Paul likes this.
  5. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

    Messages:
    5,816
    Likes Received:
    6,870
    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2017
    That sounds like a great plan Phil... its time in life to do the things you want to do and not what others want you to do. Thanks for the support comment.

    Yorkie
     
    Vinylelpea likes this.
  6. Walkingthedog

    Walkingthedog Full Member

    Messages:
    964
    Likes Received:
    957
    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2020
    I retired in 2006 age 57. I’ve loved every second of it. Hard work though.
     
    Rob Pulham likes this.
  7. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

    Messages:
    5,816
    Likes Received:
    6,870
    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2017
    Thanks Rob, 46254 doesn't have the curved forward footplate as the other non streamlined class members had but was never a streamlined loco... having been fitted with the "open" type front footplate it has the smoke deflectors with the curved underside edge to suit... I think I've got that research right and am happy to be corrected otherwise.

    I suspect the often felt feeling of angst towards the "Duchess" design minus the deflectors is down the unfamiliarity of that design period, a brilliant book to use for research is LMS Locomotive Profiles No11 - The Coronation Class by David Hunt, John Jennison, Bob Meanley, Fred James & Bob Essery, in it evidence says the Duchess locos were originally called "Coronation Class as against the "Princess Corronation Class", however book author Alan Baker who was a cleaner at Crewe North back in the day says enginemen only ever referred to the Pacifics as "Big 'uns"

    What I found very interesting was to learn the plans for a proposed next batch intended to have eight wheel tenders and that another future batch of two "Large Passenger Locomotives" or "Super Pacifics" proposed were to be a 4-6-4 arrangement sporting enhanced power and thermal efficiency with a boiler pressure of 300psi with steel fireboxes. Also proposed these "Big Lizzies" would be fitted with Kylchap double blastpipe... there was also another proposal in 1938 to build a much larger Coronation Class fleet intended for constant high speed passenger work between London and Scotland to much faster timings.
     
  8. Rob Pulham

    Rob Pulham Happily making models Staff Member Administrator Feature Contributor

    Messages:
    3,881
    Likes Received:
    4,189
    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2017
    Ahh, yes, being built in 1946 I assume that 46254 is one of the so called Ivatt Duchesses (I don't have a copy of Duchess Wild Swan book, I had been loaned one when building the two streamliners) as opposed to the earlier Stanier versions. People seem to refer to the open footplate type as "utility"

    You will probably get to yours before I get to mine so I look forward to seeing it progress.
     
    York Paul likes this.
  9. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

    Messages:
    5,816
    Likes Received:
    6,870
    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2017
    46254 was in the final batch of non streamlined locos 6249 - 6255 as the book says built and delivered in 1946, The final two locos 6256 and 6257 were modified from the final batch by Ivatt incorporating a redesigned rear truck and cut off cab side sheets with 46257 City of Salford being delivered into traffic 19th May 1948.

    Just had an email from Richard to say one of the business partners will ring me to arrange collection, I just have to drive down to Cawood near Selby which is about half an hour away from where I live.
     
    Andy_Sollis and Rob Pulham like this.
  10. Rob Pulham

    Rob Pulham Happily making models Staff Member Administrator Feature Contributor

    Messages:
    3,881
    Likes Received:
    4,189
    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2017
    You learn something new everyday. Although I am aware of the Ivatt Duchesses, I wasn't sure how many there were.

    Say hello to Mick for me when you collect the kit.
     
    York Paul likes this.
  11. Chris M

    Chris M If 2 wrongs don't make it right ... try 3 Full Member

    Messages:
    156
    Likes Received:
    182
    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2019
    Well Paul ... not sure that building a locomotive qualifies as retirement. In my case I believe I retired 10 years ago but somehow I never seem to get there ... :scratchchin:
    Anyway, have fun.

    Chris
     
    York Paul likes this.
  12. paul_l

    paul_l Staff Member Administrator

    Messages:
    9,848
    Likes Received:
    5,902
    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2015
    This building loco's in retirement seems to be a common thread - I turned reduncancy during the Great Lockdown of 2022 into early retirement, and in the planning of said event had started to aquire a wee stash of victims.

    Now two years on the first victim is being lined up against the wall, another Stanier design the 8F.
    I have to warm the soldering iron up first to complete the 4F, but Toto will soon be applying pressure for the build to start.

    Good luck on the build and retirement, I've got a big bag of popcorn on order, so I'm ready.

    Paul
     
    York Paul likes this.
  13. jakesdad13

    jakesdad13 Staff Member Moderator

    Messages:
    4,535
    Likes Received:
    2,071
    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2015
    I officially retired 2 years ago though I actually stopped working 10 years ago to be my wifes carer. I used to get more modelling done whilst working, mainly on afternoons and night shifts. For some reason nowadays I spend more time helping and running round SWMBO and waiting for her next taxiing trip. :facepalm:

    Pete.
     
  14. Andy_Sollis

    Andy_Sollis Staff Member Moderator

    Messages:
    3,894
    Likes Received:
    3,621
    Joined:
    Aug 4, 2018
    I think I have another 24 years yet, providing retirement stays at 70! Between now and then!
     
    jakesdad13 likes this.
  15. Rob Pulham

    Rob Pulham Happily making models Staff Member Administrator Feature Contributor

    Messages:
    3,881
    Likes Received:
    4,189
    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2017
    It's only 67 at the minute Andy.

    I was lucky, through good planning on Chris's part, I as able to retire at 55 (just I was 6 weeks short of being 56).
     
    Andy_Sollis and jakesdad13 like this.
  16. Andrew Laing

    Andrew Laing Full Member

    Messages:
    357
    Likes Received:
    531
    Joined:
    Jan 19, 2020
    Sounds like a good plan.
    I've another 10 years to go...
     
  17. gormo

    gormo Staff Member Administrator

    Messages:
    5,991
    Likes Received:
    4,140
    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2015
    Good on you Paul,
    I retired 15 years ago and it was the best thing I ever did.
    Enjoy your time off
    :tophat:Gormo
     
    Andy_Sollis and York Paul like this.
  18. Walkingthedog

    Walkingthedog Full Member

    Messages:
    964
    Likes Received:
    957
    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2020
    Same here 16 years.
     
    York Paul likes this.
  19. paul blythe

    paul blythe Full Member

    Messages:
    304
    Likes Received:
    448
    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2020
    ive got about 25 years to go before i retire (being optimistic it might be less). working on a stash to keep me busy as currently life gets in the way. I may have the 4 or 5 locos i have on the go finished by then.

    Duchesses are a favourite of mine. i can see the finney7 kit being on my list when funds allow. probably to be built by about 2035 lol plenty if time
     
    Andy_Sollis, York Paul and Rob Pulham like this.
  20. Keith M

    Keith M Staff Member Moderator

    Messages:
    4,446
    Likes Received:
    2,902
    Joined:
    Dec 16, 2015
    I retired almost 11 years ago, still have to get around to starting that Rebuilt Merchant Navy kit I bought a couple of years ago......doesn't time fly?:giggle:
    Keith.
     
    jakesdad13 and York Paul like this.

Share This Page