Gladiator 0-4-0 LMS Ramsbotton Industrial Loco in 7mm

OK ..... we move on to the reversing rod ......... or lack of one ...... the destructions do at least tell you that its been missed from the kit so credit where credit is due. Its probably been noticed after the artwork for the kit had been sent to the etchers .... so its a do it yourself job.

The apology on the destructions ....

the work around showing what you need to make .....

my version of that from some scrap etch ....

and it goes together ......

and soldered in for a test fit .....

Mmmmmm ...... ..... not happy ......

a bit clumsy looking. Meant to be 2mm right enough but I fear mine stretches that dimension a bit .......

So ..... decision made ..... its coming back out and either file it down or look for a slightly narrower bit of scrap etch .....

However ..... thats for tomorrow.

cheers for now from the fun house

toto

 

You've not seen the state of my fingers.

 

So tomorrow ....... have another attempt at the reversing rod and file smooth down around the dome, chimney etc to get a smoother transition to the join on the boiler. Have a look at the brake lever and reversing lever.

There is still a bit pipe work to be done, sand boxes to be fitted and lamp irons etc, so enough to keep me going until my lost wax suspension springs arrive from Laurie Griffin to replace the white metal version currently fitted.

There are a few small fittings to be fixed to the backhead including the odd gauge etc. Another epoxy job I think.

Also start to get my head around the brake rigging and shoe fittings etc. ..... canny wait.

Cheers for now.

Toto

 

A little further .....

Sand boxes and pipes fitted ....

and again ......

an other .....

and on the rolling road awaiting another test with the body on hopefully holding back the motor ....

a little sand around the boiler furniture and two self tapping screws added to fix the boiler to the foot plate.

Now ...... lamp irons and some miscellaneous pipe work ....

more later

toto

 

Going like the clappers on the rolling road .....

toto

 

Sand box pipe feeder thingies ......

tother side .....

and a general shot ....

cheers

toto

 

Lamp iron brackets .....

two on the front buffer beam. there is meant to be one top centre of the boiler front but nI aint going anywhere near that with a soldering iron. that's for later and some epoxy.

and two on the back ..... a complete guess as to the position. It can always be moved later if it turns out to be incorrect.

cheers

toto

 

Thanks pete .... learn something every day.

and here is another " thingy "

cant solder this pipe in yet as the boiler has still to be able to come out to let me fit the lost wax suspension springs when they arrive.

just bits and bobs until then really as i cant fit the brake rigging yet either. Although ........ I can start preping for the fitting of the shoes .....

leave that with me.

cheers

toto

 

OK ..... advice required .....

can anyone identify this little critter ......

my guess is its a whistle ..... I stand to be corrected however.

Now on the images that I have at hand, its not to clear exactly where it goes .......

there is not much room on the white metal fitting to bore a hole to fit it so my guess is it is located directly behind it between the fitting and the front of the screen.

opinions .... oh yeah ...... and I take it the bigger bulbous end is the top and the we scabby bit would be dressed off and located in the hole bored in the top of the boiler. ?

cheers

toto

 

I must be blind ..... thanks Rob. I can easily move them. I will be moving on to the brake rigging tomorrow. I need to drill out holes in the castings to provide the upper fixing to the chassis. The lower fixings go onto the rigging itself.

It looks like there are two rigging rods run in parallel along each side. There are holes which I am presuming have lengths of brass rod passed through, the brake shoe being fixed between the two rods.

I'm maybe not explaining myself too clearly here but you'll see as I progress it tomorrow. Really just awaiting the brass suspension leaf springs. The end is drawing nearer.

I decided that I am going to do a straight forward all third coach on the joint build in order to be able to keep up with the boys as the internal conversion on the all brake and the two compartment brake third will slow me down quite a bit. The brass sheet arrived for the coach conversions today.

After all joint coach build, the 4F is up and then back to coach conversions and the other Ramsbottom. ...... going to be busy. That little lot should keep me busy well into the third quarter of the year.

I'm getting the bug for this now.,

Cheers

Toto

 

Hi Rob,

I have just started that very task by sending away for books on stanniers, gresleys and Fowler's. I will ne looking for a few more to add to the library. Paul has an excellent book on black fives and there are other books between the two of us that can go between as required.

I will be starting to gather some info on the 4F over the next couple of weeks.

Cheers

Toto

 

Sent away for one on 4F's and another on LMS tanks .... jinties etc. I have two jinties to build so they'll come in handy. His nibs has one as well.

Cheers

Toto

 

Back on course ...... today I think is going to be a milliput day. ..... and epoxy.

I have one lamp iron to fit to the front of the boiler and although it's going onto nickle silver, the rea of the boiler frontage is in direct contact with the resin of the boiler so I'm taking no chances and using epoxy. The thing is, it will only need the tiniest amount. Bit of a waste of time and energy really.

Next up will be to lower the lamp irons on the outer back wall as I soldered these in to high.

Then ..... milliput time. A little fill and sand exercise on the boiler furniture and on a slit that is visible on the boiler side which was caused by my dremmel when enlarging the boiler opening to take the motor.
First time I have tried milliput so ..... another small learning curve there.

Last will be to form the handrails for the sides and front of the boiler. I was initially waiting until the " last fit " moment but have decided as a means to keeping myself going ahead of receiving my suspension springs and undertaking the brake rigging, I'll form them now and just leave the final two spot solders to connect to the bunker sides until the last minute.

So ..... that's where I'm at and this will start later today as I have to take SWMBO out the monthly shop. ..... oh joy ..... still, maybe they will have some of the " essential " John Smith's back in stock.

Cheers

Toto