Mr Grumpy

[Brian Daniels]

These any good. I see there is one tucked up under the front windows but did not get a good shot of it.


.

 

[Mr Grumpy]

Thanks Brian, they are spot on! Nice firebox and tank filler details too!
Did you get any shots of the auto gear?
They would also be useful.
Thanks again,

Richard

 

[Mr Grumpy]

The washout and drain plugs are now fitted, along with the chimney and handrail knobs on the boiler. The rest are just posed to check for fit.
The boiler and fire box are very thick and heavy castings and take a lot go heat to get the solder to flow. I resorted to the gas torch for the chimney and smoke box saddle fixings. My 100w iron has a huge right angled tip so isn't ideal. I'm hoping to solder the smoke box door from behind, inside the fire box.

 

[Brian Daniels]

This all I took of the auto gear out of 130 pics! Is the rod to the right of the brake gear an auto bit? I did get in it and under it. Are you adding inside motion? Another pic hanging out the front window of the lifting ring tucked up under it with a spare bit of chain for company.

 

[Mr Grumpy]

Many thanks Brian, they are just what I was looking for

I won't be fitting inside motion, there is none provided in the kit. At my level of expertise it would be a bridge too far to try to engineer it!

 

[Mr Grumpy]

After admiring the boiler sat in place on the footplate, I noticed the smoke box was 2mm too far forward in the saddle. The boiler needed to have a 2mm slot cut where rear of boiler engages with tank top spacer to enable the boiler to fit correctly.
Of course once the boiler is moved back, the mounting screw holes don't line up. Therefore the smoke box mounting screw cradle had to be removed using my gas torch and the mounting screw holes in the bottom of the smoke box slotted by 2mm.
Well worth the effort, I won't get caught with the next one

Before....


After....


2mm slot cut in rear of boiler...

 

[Mr Grumpy]

Modeling time is becoming a tad scarce at present. However, I got the dome, safety valve and bonnet on today. I used 100 degree solder for the dome as I was worried the smoke box wrapper may suffer with the heat of the gas torch if I used 145.
The safety valve was a nice quick assembly, the base needed the six holes for the valve assembly drilled out, but no probs encountered. As the fire box is thin walled, I was able to use the iron and 145 solder for the valve assy, the bonnet is removable, but will be held in place with double sided tape ( thanks for the tip Mark) for the occasional polish with Brasso

 

[Mr Grumpy]

Modelling has been a tad thin on the ground this past week, we have been up to our ears in looking after a very boisterous grandson!
I managed to make the Reading show for a whistle stop shopping spree and managed to whip round and make a start on buying stock and buildings for my new layout.
I must thank MarkJJ who kindly helped as I whizzed round with carrying my ever increasing boxes and locating traders stalls for me.
On top of this, with Mark's generousity, I am the proud owner of some very nice Slaters wagon kits and a lovely book covering the Tetbury branch.
I have severe 14xx withdrawal symptoms, but will hopefully fire up the soldering iron in the next couple of days!
I have some very exciting kits in the pipeline

 

[Scale7JB]

with a spare bit of chain for company.

I should think that chain is for the whistle when connecting an autocoach to the front..

JB.

 

[simond]

Did they do that?

I thought the gong was a surrogate for the whistle. Not sure if this is informed thought, assumption, or ignorance...

Best
Simon

 

[Mr Grumpy]

I have managed to grab a few minutes of modelling time here and there, but not a great deal to show I'm afraid!! I got the tank top gubbins on today, I used JLTRT lifting brackets and tank vents as they looked superior to the castings provided with the kit. As for the tank vents, some locos have a flange 1/2 way up the vent pipe, but I chose not to fit them, the flange seems to come and go on the loco at Didcot! I also won't be fitting the top feed. The boiler and fire box still need a little fettling,and boiler bands fitting. I want to fit the plating that sits at the bottom of the fire box and between the boiler and tank top. I have some very thin brass, but even this looks a tad too thick, so I will thin it down to about 1/2 it's thickness and try it.



Here are some photos of (very minimal) progress:

 

[Scale7JB]

Did they do that?

I thought the gong was a surrogate for the whistle. Not sure if this is informed thought, assumption, or ignorance...

Best
Simon

We were running 1450 and autocoach at the Epping Ongar last year, and there was identical chain out the back of the cab for the whistle too..

JB.

 

[Mr Grumpy]

The boiler bands are fitted.....the eagle eyed and those still awake may have noticed the dome has been moved back towards the cab by a couple of mm...
From this angle the chimney looks a tad askew, it isn't !!

 

[Mr Grumpy]

Following some fed back regarding the safety valves, I have rotated them through 90 degrees.
I have fitted the boiler handrails, tank top beading and lower tank rivet detail.
I'm going for the lamp brackets and auto train equipment next...

The 14xx really is a pretty little loco.

I think the boiler cross brace needs 4 bolts on either end....


The tank infills, steps and handrails await fitting

 

[Mr Grumpy]

If things go to plan, my layout may be moving on at the weekend, so I couldn't resist a quick pose......

 

[Mr Grumpy]

Even slower than usual progress, due to a reoccurring medical problem, but I should be back on full steam next week
However, a little progress has been made, the lamp brackets, tool hooks and boxes and smoke box pipe covers are now on.

 

[adrian]

What an exquisite little loco, it's really looking the part now and a very tidy build.

 

[Mr Grumpy]

Thanks Adrian
I think it helps being nickle silver, as I find it solders so much easier than brass, also there seems to be much less cleaning up, possibly because the solder is hard to see
Yes, it is a beautiful loco, and a lovely model. It has been an absolute joy to build
The sound decoder should arrive on Friday
I have the MOK 64xx waiting patiently on the shelf... I just wish David would produce the 1366 pannier. Weymouth quay would make a lovely layout!

 

[adrian]

I think it helps being nickle silver, as I find it solders so much easier than brass

Without a doubt, I much prefer n/s over brass for that and several other reasons.

I have the MOK 64xx waiting patiently on the shelf

Now that is one build I will definitely follow as the 54xx for MOK is high up on my future purchase list!

 

[Mr Grumpy]

I believe the 64xx is essentially the same kit with smaller splashers and a few detail differences etc.
Dave took a large delivery of brass castings a few weeks back, and I think they look to be of a higher quality than those provided with the 14xx. Having said that, they were still very good!!