My Xmas present to me from me!

Discussion in 'Hornby RTR' started by Keith M, Dec 22, 2019.

  1. Keith M

    Keith M Staff Member Moderator

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    I've been on the lookout for a Hornby "Britannia" loco for a while now, intention was to find either the "William Shakespeare" or "Iron Duke" versions, since these particular loco's were used on the Southern's "Golden Arrow" service for a while, drafted in after a crank failure of one of Bulleids "Merchant Navy" loco's, which resulted in the entire class being temporarily withdrawn pending inspection. I wanted a 'loco-drive' version, which seem to be thin on the ground, though one trader on Ebay presently has the NRM "Special Edition Golden Arrow" version (pre-owned) at just under £250.......you're having a laugh, surely?!
    Anyway, after a recent disappointment chasing one, I decided to bite the bullet and go for Hornby's latest incarnation, 70046 "ANZAC", then go down the 'rename/renumber' route'. The list price is around £179, best price at the 'Box-Shifters' is around £139, but then I chanced upon Amazon, surprisingly £122.98, a saving of well over £50, and free delivery, which arrived this Sunday morning! I'm aware of the significance of ANZAC Day in Oz (it happens to be on my birthday next year),and my late Father spent quite some time there during the last war whilst the Free French ship "Le Triomphant" to which he was attached as a signalman, was being repaired, but for my needs, this loco will become 70004 "William Shakespeare" in due course, name/ number plates, transfers and a full "Golden Arrow" regalia set on order already from Fox Transfers, total cost just under £150.....Bargain!
    Here's what you get.

    IMG_1782.JPG
     
  2. Keith M

    Keith M Staff Member Moderator

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    As it comes, the trailing truck is fitted with a flangeless set of wheels "For display purposes only"??? Don't quite understand why, but in the detailing pack is a flanged set, so this has been changed, the rest of the detail pack I'll look at after DCC conversion, easy as it's in the tender, and fit what is suitable for my purposes. I already have a LaisDCC 8 pin decoder, no intention to fit sound as I already have a dozen sound fitted loco's and in my opinion, you can have too much of a good thing. I imagine I'll get around to working on this loco and the "Brighton" Terrier I also need to DCC convert, at some point over the Xmas break, Family permitting, maybe even progress on other projects currently in the "Pending Tray", we'll see. Anyway, here's the loco before I make a start.
    Keith.
    IMG_1783.JPG
     
  3. Gary

    Gary Wants more time for modelling.... Staff Member Administrator

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    Beautiful locomotive. I have been very tempted of late to purchase one !

    Cheers, Gary.
     
  4. Mark4mm

    Mark4mm Guest

    I agree totally a beautiful locomotive.:thumbup:
     
  5. Andy_Sollis

    Andy_Sollis Staff Member Moderator

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    Seems a shame to rename it.
    Following to see the progress.. What a splendid model! :thumbs:
     
  6. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

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    What a lovely loco Keith and a great choice at an attractive price too. :tophat::thumbs: Just a comment is this loco missing its side rods or have they still to be fitted ?
     
  7. Gloria Aldridge

    Gloria Aldridge Full Member

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    Hi Paul,
    Yes they are a lovely loco, I have seen them in my GWR days at Penzance Station, Britannia, Oliver Cromwell, Tornado. I can remember if my memory serves me right the boiler casing fell off in the station and was taken out of service and repaired at Long Rock Loco Sheds.
    I had a Minitrix Britannia and Bodacea in N Gauge both DCC fitted.
     
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  8. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

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    Hi Gloria,

    My memory of Britannia locos was seeing 70010 stopped at Prestatyn station in July 1966 with a passenger train to Holyhead, the loco must have either come from Manchester or from Crewe, I remember looking over the bridge down onto the platform to watch with awe, on the other side heading towards Connors Quay was a double headed van train with a Caprotti Black Five and another Black Five, presumably that train was loaded from the docks. I've got the numbers somewhere and no doubt they will become the subject of a build one day, there is an O Gauge Britannia kit on the work bench at the moment and its going to be 70010 it just need the motion finishing off so I guess much of my modeling is about recreating personal memories.
     
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  9. Keith M

    Keith M Staff Member Moderator

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    They are indeed there Paul, but they are blackened, so are not easy to see in my pic as they're not reflecting light. I've not seen "Britannia" in the flesh, but I saw "Oliver Cromwell" in the sheds at the GCR Model Event at Loughborough a couple of years ago. It appeared to be having some welding work done to the smokebox area at the time, so not a 'runner' back then.
    Keith.
     
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  10. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

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    Ah I see... I didn't know the rods were blackened... silly question for blackening which product would you recommend ? If not done this process before.:thumbs:
     
  11. Keith M

    Keith M Staff Member Moderator

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    I've not done the blackening Paul, the loco rods are blackened as supplied. I have tried Carrs Blackening chemical (at a 'tenner' for a rather small bottle), but found it very poor so wouldn't recommend it. I understand that "Gun Blue" is also a blackening chemical and we do have a Gunsmiths in Alfreton, but I've not got around to trying any of that as yet.
    Keith.
     
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  12. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

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    Cheers thanks Keith... just thinking about blackening the drawbar and couplings on these loco builds... I also heard Carrs often gave disappointing results... whether that's down to application technique or just weak ingredients I don't know but others say the same.
     
  13. paul_l

    paul_l Staff Member Administrator

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    Nice Keith, you're getting Santa well trained :giggle:

    A little dry brushing with a very dry brush of gunmetal paint (maybe even with a bit of mat black added) would just give a slight metalic glint to those black pipes so that they just become a little more obvious.

    Paul
     
  14. Gloria Aldridge

    Gloria Aldridge Full Member

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    Good morning Paul,
    Did you watch the repeat episode of Train Truckers last night.They moved the Brit 70000 from Crewe to the Severn Valley Railway by road, looking lovely she was, just how I remembered her, but she was weathered then in my day. The side rods were well polished shining steel, lovely black wheels and cylinders fresh green paint on her boiler, cab, and tender.
    May i also take this opportunity to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Hope Santa brings you something nice.
    My kindest and best regards,
    Gloria.
    Ps happy 2020 modelling.
     
  15. Keith M

    Keith M Staff Member Moderator

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    Nah, it's 'cos I've been a good boy!!!! (.....and if you believe that, you'll believe anything!:avatar::avatar::avatar:)

    Keith.
     
  16. paul_l

    paul_l Staff Member Administrator

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    Aye, but Mrs Claus, has a long memory, and will pick the most opportune moment to allow you to earn the good boy points, can't tell you how I know this :avatar:

    Merry Christmas to one and all


    Paul
     
  17. Keith M

    Keith M Staff Member Moderator

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    Made a start on changing the identity of "Anzac". As can be seen in this pic, side rods all present and correct.

    IMG_1784.JPG
     
    Last edited: Dec 25, 2019
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  18. Keith M

    Keith M Staff Member Moderator

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    ......and now becomes "William Shakespeare" .

    IMG_1786.JPG
     
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  19. Keith M

    Keith M Staff Member Moderator

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    ....and t'other side.

    IMG_1787.JPG
     
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  20. Keith M

    Keith M Staff Member Moderator

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    Numbers are easily changed by using 'Brasso' ('T Cut' car paint cutting compound works just as well) and a cocktail stick with one end cut to a chamfer, dipped in the 'Brasso' and gently rubbed until the painted on numbers disappear. A clean up, transfer applied, and after drying, a coat of clear varnish and that's it. I still have to apply the smokebox number plate and the "Golden Arrow" regalia, these will follow when time allows, then finally fit brake rods and any other bits in the detail pack. I won't bother with a front coupling, tender coupling has already been changed for a No 18 Kadee. As the original "Anzac" 'plates' were tampo printed onto the smoke deflectors, there was no need to remove them, just apply the etched "William Shakespeare" plates over them.
     
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