It seems that the start of this project I previously posted has disappeared into the ionosphere with the forum software changeover, maybe this 'new' thread can be reunited with the original at some point, but here goes. I left off at the point where I'd created the basic chassis frame and had been awaiting parts, in this case, the brass bearings for the wheelsets. With these fitted and the 'outer' bogie frame cut and formed, axlebox castings added together with some piping, the tender chassis was at last painted thus.
Buffers etc fitted and body temporarily fitted in place, all looks ok so far. Kadee coupling also in place.
The usual first coat of primer showed up previously unseen body imperfections which need attention before 2nd primer coat. This is the chassis underside with plunger pickups and associated wiring in place. I made and fitted a suitable tender drawbar and just visible at the top of this pic is the 2 pin plug (recommended by Rob Pulham, thanks Rob!) which will connect the tender pickups to the socket on the loco chassis. Incidentally, the loco concerned is a 'Golden Arrow Models' "Merchant Navy" kit, using a Hornby "West Country/Battle of Britain" DCC ready chassis.
Here's the loco chassis, and you can just see the small white 2 pin socket under the cab. The Hornby trailing truck has to be replaced with a cast item from "Markits", and this leaves adequate clearance between the truck and cab underside for the socket. Linking tender and loco pickups together gives 12 wheel pickup, so should avoid any 'hiccups' over points or dirty track. I completely removed the Hornby 8 pin DCC socket to give more space (although there's plenty of space within the "Unrebuilt" body shell).
After finish coat painting of loco and tender, decals from my usual supplier, "Fox Transfers" together with smokebox numberplate and number transfers (35029) and the nameplate crests for "Ellerman Lines", I'm quite pleased with my efforts. I have to confess that these "Unrebuilt" loco's (Spam Cans as they are nicknamed) are my all-time favourite loco's and it's a great shame to me that the entire class was rebuilt. Although the rebuilt ones are indeed a handsome loco, in my opinion, Bulleids original design, although the source of a good deal of problems due to the hitherto untried technology used on them, are still 'top dog' to me and it's good to see some of the similar but slightly smaller and lighter unrebuilt W/C's and BofB's still running on preserved lines today. I only have faint recollections of them on a holiday spent in Margate on the Kent coast in the mid/late 50's, but the memory of these has stuck with me despite living my entire life firmly in LMS?LNER territory!
Superb looking loco, though not a Southern fan, I think they look awesome, the rebuilt ones look proper thugs . Pete.
I'm happy with my first attempt at brass chassis construction, even if I did take the easy way out and only build a tender chassis rather than attempt a loco. Maybe next time! Keith.