York Paul's Britannia loco 2020 Shelf Queen competition entry.

This is the second blow over of Railmatch acrylic Loco Green paint using my airbrush, a couple more passes over the next few days should hopefully bring out the full colour tone and then once settled I can bring in the black. The Silvertown mechanical lubricators are now fitted onto their respective pedestal brackets and I even managed to drill out the oilways and add in lengths of 0.3mm wire. I could only manage five oil feed pipes per side on these twelve feed cases tho and in fairness pipes cannot been seen that much so just a few showing either side at the front will be enough.

The ABC helical gearbox is on order now having had a bit of a faff with emails and I'm hoping to complete the final bits to the motion, I won't fit the motion and the Stones speedo until the motor is in and tested.

 

Thanks for the heads up Rob, today I received an acknowledgement email from ABC regarding the order and asking for payment transfer... I'm holding back because the email states my order has now been added to the waiting list and that doesn't really inspire much confidence. I'm also being given the same nonchalant attitude from a well know transfer company... what is wrong with all these people I ask myself.

 

True and very wise words Keith, it's not so much a "want it here and want it now" thing with me but a few of these operators present their wares as if it was a full time business and I do object paying money up front if goods don't arrive for several weeks, ten days or so is ok as a max but beyond that no I'm not really buying into the delay myth. I think I'll email and request a lead time for dispatch and if I get oh a couple or three weeks I'm going to suggest making only a 10 percent deposit with final full payment once dispatch is made.

 

Currently I have three well known sellers who are fobbing me off or who have not sent out goods already paid for, I can understand the transfer company in having to preplan print runs but they shouldn't advertise bespoke services if they cannot deliver, the gearbox trader just talks rubbish and the emporium seller couldn't even get the delivery address right and hasn't responded to my emails... that order dates back to 22nd July.

I don't suffer fools gladly and as with Dundee's belated track order folk don't call the bloke who runs C&L "Doorknob" for no reason.

 

Interesting experience Paul and coincidentally the gearbox man has now returned to me saying the item is not stock and he will endevour to make my helical 30 to 1 box within two weeks, no mention of full payment on completion but I get the impression a firmly polite and business like approach often works, so we shall see if he delivers as promised.

Anyway onto more interesting subjects hows your build coming along ?
cheers Yorkie

 

This last few days I turned focus towards getting the bodywork into basic paint before varnishing to apply transfers and lining, all on order and hopefully will arrive soon as the ones I ordered are not special items, anyway the nameplates and other badges are now fitted and will become sealed under varnish. All we need now is an helical gearbox unit and then I can wire the loco with pick ups and run it in, once happy I'll fit the valve motion which is all made up ready.

So here we are on the Rail over River scenic diorama with 70010 Owen Glendower posing in the misty sunlight of this afternoon.





And going away into the mists having crossed over the River Churnet... actually I'm not sure a Britannia ever ran down the Churnet Line... but hey ho this is our hobby and whatever goes goes.

 

Happy to know that Owen Glendower is bringing pleasure and inspiration, I have enjoyed the build and indeed at some point would do another Brit. Owen Glendower was first choice for me since it was the only Brit I ever saw in working service way back at Prestatyn in 1966, a second one for me would probably be one of the later loco's fitted with a BR1G tender, as for names I hadn't given that much thought. I suppose such named subjects and topics are like anything contemporary they fall in and out of fashion and the choices of the 1952 naming panel wouldn't been seen as relevant today and in some aspects not even palatable. Having said that I don't do politics and for me modeling a particular engine is a recognition of historical fact but I certainly get what you mean about a couple of those 40B named Brits.

 

Phew that was close cos the next Brit I fancy doing is Rudyard Kipling because the reservoir near where I lived was named after him. I checked out on shed allocations and it was at 40B in 1963 ending its days at Kingmoor same as Owen G... 70035 had the same 1A tender so I guess my next Standard build could well have a large capacity tender. As our great flounder Toto often says... but things could well change.

 

Yes you are correct Mr S it was Rudyard Reservoir which inspired Kiplings parents to name him that. Can't beat it nothing like getting a bit of history wrong... we need more Modernists painting engines really gaudy shades of florescent green.