David Andrews Princess - 6206 Princess Marie Louise

Just follow the instructions and you will be fine. Sadly I tried to bite off more than I could chew at the time and instead of building it from the box I tried to make too many modifications that I didn't have the skill or confidence to see through at the time. I do keep picking it up and doing a little more and as soon as I have my last commissions behind me I will get stuck in and finish it.

 

Only one of the Princesses was ever fitted with a coal pusher tender, probably as a trial for the Duchesses which came out a short time later. So I can see why he wouldn't include the option.

 

While mulling over how to get the fire iron tunnel in place and the left hand side to fit without a gap I decide to make up all the little details that contribute to the whole.








The castings for the intermediate buffers were a little soft around the edges so I turned some from nickel that are a little more crisp looking.



I did the same with the windlass handles for the brakes/water scoop

 

Next, I moved onto the springs and hangers. Several of the dampers had become detached from the springs. The white metal pins are the vulnerable parts so I decided to replace them.

First, I cut off all the dampers and pins from the springs. Next, I used a burr that came with a set of tools for the Dremel in the mill, to mill out the remains of the pin between the frame of the damper. I had to slow the mill down to 320 rpm in order not to over heat and melt the white metal.








I used a clothes peg to hold the springs to drill them again using the mill.



I cut lengths of brass rod to replace the white metal pins. I made a jig from a piece of ply with a blob of bluetac and a hand vice to help with soldering.








Not the prettiest of soldering but they look a lot better.

 

Pretty much all of the external detailing is now complete. Studying the only photograph that I have of the rear of the tender (LMS Loco Profiles No4 Page 84) I noted that there was a small fitting with what initially looked like a single outlet pipe. Which is how I fitted the small casting, that I found tucked away in the corner of the castings bag.








However, having checked the Finney Duchess instructions and then looking at an a scanned and enlarged view of the fitting it seems that there is indeed a second pipe so I will need to revisit it and fit a second pipe if I can.


I have posted elsewhere of the lamp irons that I milled from recycled plug pins but I haven’t showed them fitted.

 

I forgot to add that, for some reason probably oversight, there were no castings for the steam heat pipes. I had a look in the spares box but the casting that I had wasn't very good so I made one up from rod, scrap etch and fine wire.


I also made the vacuum pipe removable (screwed on from underneath by a 10 ba screw) to ease painting.

 

A few good sessions at the bench over the last couple of days has seen the tender finished, aside from one remaining task. I have made the cross frames which fit between the wheels removable via some brass angle soldered to the inside of the outer frames. One of them needs to be cut to fit around the scoop operating mechanism.



Despite having built several Stanier tenders now, this one has been the most challenging to date. Some of that has been due to the large half etched panels and straightening out the bowing of them brought on by the etching process. The remaining fight has been with the fit of the coal space.

Not that clear in the photo below due to all parts being nickel, but in order to finish of the left side, I had to cut a triangular strip 3mm wide tapering to nothing over 55mm




Here we are with the axle box/spring castings just rested in place for the photos. They will be fixed in place after painting.







If you zoom into the photo below you can see that I did revisit the second feed pipe on the coal pusher mechanism.

 

Thanks Gents,

I hope for an easier ride with the loco despite its additional complexity.

 

Thanks Gents that's a nice surprise.