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ACME Bullied light Pacific kit

Discussion in 'Kits, Kit bashes & Scratch builds' started by paul blythe, Jun 29, 2020.

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  1. Jun 29, 2020 #1
    paul blythe

    paul blythe Full Member

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    20200628_144638.jpg
    Heres a few photos of the Bulleid pacific kit I have had in the stash for more years than I can remember. It is a typical Jim Harris design. 20200628_144812.jpg
    Tender etches in Brass
    20200628_144836.jpg
    Fire box and cab etches. There are no formers for the firbox. Instructions suggest using the cab front as a guide
    20200628_144852.jpg
    Heres the rest of the loco etches. all in very thin brass
    20200628_144902.jpg
    The chassis was originall designed for a loco in original form. the instructions mention making a cut out at the front. This is the same chassis etch as found in the Meteor Air smoothed west country
    20200628_144914.jpg
    Preformed boiler barrels. riveting the smokebox may proove interesting
    20200628_144923.jpg
    Nickel silver valve gear etch. All looks very delicate. i may look to replace with Premier Components
    20200628_145054.jpg
    Lots of whitematal. The castings look to be good quality allthought the brake rigging looks quite heavy. Notice whitemetal formers for the boiler barrel.
     

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  2. Jun 29, 2020 #2
    paul blythe

    paul blythe Full Member

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    20200628_144956.jpg
    1st problem found. The tender rear, front and middle bulkhead do not have the distinctive curve of the prototype and are just straight. ive curved the sides to the correct profile. I will most likely put some filler pieces behind and fill. I am aware of a few other problems which I will higlight as I continue
     
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  3. Jun 29, 2020 #3
    Kimbo

    Kimbo Staff Member Moderator

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    Looks a nice kit Paul, will enjoy following your build. Kim
     
  4. Jun 29, 2020 #4
    paul blythe

    paul blythe Full Member

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    Its got a few faults (many of which are acknowledged in the instructions) but should build ok. the only thing that really fill sme with trepidation is forming the firebox as there are no formers or supports.
     
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  5. Jun 29, 2020 #5
    York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

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    Interesting build you have started Paul, I'll get some pop corn out and follow your progress :thumbup:. Personally speaking if you don't mind me saying but I don't blame you for replacing the motion and rod components with better quality Premier ones... I did an ACME Ivatt 2 tank earlier this year and if your etch pieces are anything like what I encountered in mine it was an instant decision to upgrade as and where. My etches did fit quite well but were thin nickel silver and much rivet detail was missing, in the end the loco turned out a good'un as they say so that was all that matters. Good luck in the build and thanks for bringing an interesting thread to the forum.:tophat::thumbs:
     
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  6. Jun 29, 2020 #6
    Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    Looking forward to following your progress ...... great stuff. :tophat:
     
  7. Jun 29, 2020 #7
    paul_l

    paul_l Staff Member Administrator

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    Hi Paul

    Do you have an end view drawing showing the firebox. You could trace the profile, print it out on paper. Then stick two pieces of plywood / mdf /hardboard (approx 1 to 2 mm thick) together with double sided tape. Stick the paper template on to the timber. Drill 3 or four verticle holes within the profile the diameter of some dowel or screwed rod.
    Cut the profile out and sand smmoth. Separate the pieces and insert the dowels or screwed rod and adjust the profiles on the dowels until they are the correct length and parallel to each other

    upload_2020-6-29_17-54-3.png

    You can use this to form the firebox over.
    Note on the profile use a scanner to reduce the overall width by twice the thickness of the etched metal.

    Paul
     
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  8. Jun 29, 2020 #8
    Rob Pulham

    Rob Pulham Happily making models Staff Member Administrator Feature Contributor

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    Hi Paul,

    I would suggest making some formers using the cab front as a template and then solder some lengths of suitable diameter brass tube along the top shoulders to give you something to form the firebox against.

    If you have the facility to do it you could make them from rod drilled and tapped to screw to the front and rear in the manner of David Andrews kits but I appreciate that's a bit more involved than simple lengths of tube.

    Editted to add Paul L posted at the same time putting into pictures what I was suggesting.
     
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  9. Jun 30, 2020 #9
    paul blythe

    paul blythe Full Member

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    Some excellent ideas there many thanks. I had considered getting some etched formers made but that would cost a fair amount or even try a 3d printed firebox. I am pretty adept at CAD. The suggestion of making a jig will be much more cost effective
     
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  10. Jun 30, 2020 #10
    Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    Interesting as I have a couple of ACME kits on the stash so I'll be interested in how you get on.


    Toto
     
  11. Jun 30, 2020 #11
    paul blythe

    paul blythe Full Member

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    20200629_215102.jpg
    Made a start on the tender. Some of the soldering has to be done from the outside and I'm guilty of using a little too much. No worry it will clean up. The tender cab roof was not long enough so I have filled a small part in where the was a gap. It will need trimming and cleaning up. I could have made a new one but I'd have lost all of the rivet detail
     
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  12. Jun 30, 2020 #12
    Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    Coming together despite any challenges being met though so confidence must be high. As you say, any excess solder will clean up nicely. :thumbs::thumbs::thumbs:
     
  13. Jun 30, 2020 #13
    York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

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    Ah for the challenges of these kits :facepalm: your modification is looking good tho Paul:thumbup: I'm sure this will make a cracking loco once complete.:tophat:
     
  14. Jul 1, 2020 #14
    jakesdad13

    jakesdad13 Staff Member Moderator

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    One of the problems with little Jims kits. He is a top scratch builder but as a designer he was not so skilled, parts under sized, parts over sized, especially castings. His Acme 08 kit was a swine to build. The bonnet was supplied flat and refused to form the curves for the top where the vents were etched, the white metal castings for the springs and axle boxes were at least 100% too thick and had to be filed and sanded down to fit. To be fair though, once built it was a very nice looking model and ran a dream.
    I've also got a kit for an LNER K3 that he commission designed for a shop in Sheffield. The fit of the cab to the running plate is poor and the smokebox saddle is a way too thick white metal casting, I made a start on it years ago and gave up on it and stuck it in the naughty drawer where it still resides. Maybe, one day, when I've built all my other kits, I will make a fresh start :avatar:...............

    Cheers, Pete.
     
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  15. Jul 1, 2020 #15
    paul blythe

    paul blythe Full Member

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    Thanks for the encouragement. There are lots of undersized and over sized parts on this tender. Almost all in fact are not quiet right. I probably should just remake some of them from scratch but i believe there would not be much of the kit left. The castings do look good. It was a bargain ebay find several years ago so not much lost. I will continue to bodge it into a resemblance of a loco.
     

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  16. Jul 1, 2020 #16
    jakesdad13

    jakesdad13 Staff Member Moderator

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    Well they do say forewarned is forearmed. There are worse kits out there, Gateneal for one but I have built two of them successfully. It does make the build less than pleasant but if you take your time and think things through the feeling of achievement is worth all the cursing and spitting out the dummy.

    Cheers, Pete.
     
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  17. Jul 1, 2020 #17
    Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    Mmmm I have a Gateneal in the stash too. Could be happy times ahead. As you say though perseverance is the key. Looking forward to seeing more.

    Cheers

    Toto
     
  18. Jul 1, 2020 #18
    York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

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    Interesting report Paul and a project which sets a challenge, all the chaps here will be supportive and encouraging, that's for sure because they were when I did the ACME Ivatt kit, abate not a Jim Harris offering and not even the version which became the College Models production run, I believe the etches were hand drawn on a kitchen table by Mr Brooker. Point is perseverance eventually did make a lovely loco but at a cost in upgrade replacement parts, I learnt a lot from that build but would not go there again with another. So best luck with this kit and most importantly do enjoy the project, as Pete implies a lot of this old stuff is really only an aide to scratch building and comes from a period in time when that was all there was available.
     
  19. Jul 2, 2020 #19
    paul blythe

    paul blythe Full Member

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    Its not the worst kit I have ever made. I did build a Q kits cast whitemetal baby deltic once which made MTK look state of the art. I have only ever given up on one kit which was an O gauge A4. I spoke to Jim many times at the York show before he went to Spain and he was always very helpfull and honest about his kits.
     
  20. Jul 2, 2020 #20
    paul blythe

    paul blythe Full Member

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    20200702_070952.jpg
    I filled in the rear corners of the tender with blobs of solder and filled/sanded to get an almost flush finish and hide the large gaps. Lots of work but definitly worth doing
     

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