Getting ready for paint and transfers

Finally got around to filling the join in the boiler, fitted a couple of other small parts and designed the lining, numbers and cartouche for the transfer for the side sheet. Cheers Ian

Accomodating 'finescale' wheels meant a complete rethink on the boiler!

The loco body is almost ready for paint but it has gone through many changes since last week! I started to realise that with a model, I could design in the necessary clearances for the closer together than scale wheels which necessitated creating a cut-out in the rear of the smokebox for the front splasher, and in the boiler side and the firebox front for the driving wheel splasher. I realised this would be easier if the boiler was also in resin so, in this 7mm model, I redrew it all and made it in two parts with the joint being mid-way, just under the dome in this photo. For the 4mm version, I will be able to print this all in one piece. I may also print the splasher top and have an inset etch for the front.

Anyway, starting to get the detail on all this and will need to think of paint soon! The twirly cartouch around the number also needs drawing and printing. Oh, lots to keep me going yet!!

Cheers, Ian

On its wheels!

A bit of a battle with bearing hole sizes has ensued. When I designed it, I had bearings from Roxey which are 6.3mm outside diameter and now I have some from Markits that are 7mm! I only just left enough metal in the design to be able to accommodate these luckily as they aren't there in real life, just outside bearings which on the model are dummy ones. Anyway, it matches the tender for height so all going well. More soldering now and then a bit of cutting of boiler and firebox to accommodate 'finescale' wheels and then I can hopefully get the 3D parts glued on and put some paint on it. Happy Easter!

With a boiler, it looks more like a loco!

153 continues, start of the loco body etc

Another day, another bit done!
So, I realised I needed to design and print a lot of parts for the loco before I could finish this, so that's what I have been doing, whilst starting to solder some parts together. Here are the front buffers and bufferbeam, smokebox, smokebox cylinder lubricator, weird thing at the rear of the chimney(anybody know what it might be?), the chimney, clack valves, dome, salter spring, axleboxes, springs, whistle, firebox with backhead, safety valve both inner and outer, the main part of the footplate and outside frames soldered together, the top of the motion plate soldered, then the front splasher, driving splasher, cab front and sidesheets. I have a boiler to roll also and managed to get the brackets to fit the cab front to and a couple of handwheels onto the firebox top as well as the sight glass, regulator handle, and firebox door etc onto the backhead all part of the same print. I have started the chassis also and am trying to get all the soldering sorted before gluing on all the prints. Oh, and a photo of what I am trying to make!
Cheers Ian

153 next and trying to get other bits completed ready for paint.

Well, with a bit of extra time on my hands, I have started the 7mm test etch assembly for Cravens 153. Page 71 of Bradley Vol 1 if you want to take a gander.
I didn't manage to get the 7mm Slaughter Goods to the etchers so I am doing what I do have.
3D printing is also just for my bits at the mo as I am almost out of IPA to clean the resin prints with, wish it was the beer as I can still get that!
So I drew the tender parts in 3D after assembling the etched parts I will include in the revision of the etches.

I also added the 3D resin parts to some type 8 and 9 carriages

Now I need to think about their interiors then paint and finish with transfers which I have printed using the new laser printer and some decal paper. Simon has reported back on the first set I printed for Blatchington and he has used them okay.

So then I spent the day designing the smokebox with all its rivet heads! That took a bit of head scratching to get them on the wrapper but now sorted. Also, the chimney base is quite a crude style, a flat part curved around the smokebox wrapper with a nice shape coming out! Why do I pick these difficult things!

Anyway, rather a bit more to do so will get on with it! Bye for now!