Gladiator 7mm Stanier LMS 3P 2 -6 -2 tank

[P A D]

Having just completed the Scorpio BR Standard 3 tank and Gladiator Stanier Mogul, I did not anticipate building further kits in the near future.

However, David Hill at Gladiator contacted me and asked if I was willing to do the test build on the 3P, taking photos and making notes to assist him in writing the instructions. As I built one of the two "prototype" etches by Mike Edge I couldn't resist, so we came to an agreement. I won't be doing a blow by blow on here as I have already covered the build in my previous thread, but I'll post photos of the progress and highlight the changes to the etches that have been made.

So far I have part assembled the frames and rear pony truck.

I'm building in my usual way with fixed outer axles with the middle one floating, but there are parts to make it compensated along with half etch grooves on the inside to cut out for hornblocks of your choice. David requires plunger pick ups which will be a first for me, so I've scribed the outline of the wheel flanges on the frames to mark the locations for drilling.


There are no tabs and slots in the frames or trucks, but there are half etch grooves on the inside of the frames to locate the 9 spacers. I had no difficulty producing a square rigid chassis free of wobble.

This is the rear truck which now comes with the correct "U" shaped frame in place of the "A" frame on the prototype etches. The front truck has the correct "A" frame as per the prototype etches and locomotive. I'm waiting for the springs and axleboxes castings for the trucks so will leave the truck for now and assemble the front one to the same stage.


To assist in getting the spacers square against the frames, I used an old 00 back to back guage as a square on a flat surface, as I wanted to show that it can be built without a chassis jig.


Cheers,
Peter

 

[Genghis]

I am really grateful to Peter for helping me out with this. He has already identified some areas for improvement. Wherever possible we will include these.

 

[dibateg]

I'm really glad we will see more of your workmanship Peter!

Regards
Tony

 

[Genghis]

I'm really glad we will see more of your workmanship Peter!

Regards
Tony

And I know what's coming next!

David

 

[P A D]

So, here's the state of play since the last post.


The chassis is largely completed and the next step will be to add the valve gear.


The brake gear now includes the pull rods and the rear truck now has the correct U shaped frame, with the front truck having an A frame.


At the moment David doesn't have the castings for the driving wheel springs, so I've laminated plasticard to the etched springs on the frames and filed to shape as I did with the original Mike Edge version.


The cylinders and valve gear are removable and to secure the unit in place, I've added an extra frame spacer behind the rear cylinder plate, with a right angle bracket soldered onto the back of the cylinders. A single 8BA screw locks the unit in place.


As usual, I've tapped the Slaters crank pin bushes 10 BA and replaced the 12 BA bolts in the wheels with 10 BA bolts so that the bushes are screwed to the wheels. To gain clearance behind the slide bars, the front crank pin bush is reversed and there is a recess in the coupling rod to accept it. I've drilled 0.8mm holes in the bush so that it may be tightened with the end of a pair of tweezers.


For a better appearance on the rear crank pin I've used a smaller 12 BA nut tapped to 10 BA along with a 12 BA washer reamed to fit the 10 BA bolt in the wheel boss.


The big end of the con rod is spaced from the coupling rod boss with a bush made from 5mm N/S ros about 1.3mm thick, although suitable washers could be used. The con rod is secured with an extra Slaters' top hat bush reversed with the flange on the outside. The return crank will eventually be fixed to flange.

Cheers,
Peter

 

[P A D]

This afternoon I got the valve chest/slide bar and valve rod and guide fettled up and fitted.



I then added the combining lever and union link, as well as fitting the return crank


And the same on this side.


The copper wire wrapped around the valve slides is to stop the valve guides sliding out the back.


Cheers,
Peter

 

[Genghis]

Coming on well!

 

[P A D]

Thanks David.
The valve gear is installed on both sides and all runs sweetly.

I made a bit of a mess soldering the weight shaft on this side, but I'll clean that off before proceeding.


Cheers,
Peter

 

[Dave Holt]

Very neat work, as usual, Peter. And quick. I'd still be looking at the bits in the box.
Dave.

 

[P A D]

This is the latest state of play with the 3P.




Cheers,
Peter

 

[LarryG]

Lovely looking model. The 8' x 8' 6" coupled wb really looks stretched on these Class 3 locos. They were quite rare in some areas, in fact I saw them working out of Manchester Central.

The thing I could never work out was why they were said to be feeble engines. They were nothing like the truly feeble Fowler 2-6-2T which had a Class 2 0-6-0 loco boiler. The Stanier Cl. 3 2-6-2T had a specially designed boiler and a modern engine part with long lap long travel valves.

 

[Genghis]

Wow! Coming on very well.

 

[dibateg]

Nice, and that is very clean Peter, has it been dipped in something?

Tony

 

[P A D]

Thanks Gents.

No Tony, it hasn't been dipped. I gave it a scrub with the bar keeper's mate just for the photos. It's already showing sings of tarnishing after only half a day, but that's brass for you. I used your method of fastening the centre portion of the roof under the rainstrips so it can be clipped on and off. Works a treat.
Cheers,
Peter

 

[chigley]

Picasso's got nothing on you for works of art Peter

 

[P A D]

Still a way to go but I'm closing in on the finish line. Just the lubricators, tank beading, backhead and cab seats to fit on the body. On the chassis I've still to finish the brake gear at the rear, fit the sand pipes, motor and pick ups.

 

[P A D]

The sand pipes and tank/cab/bunker beading have been added, so externally all that's left is the mudhole covers on the firebox shoulders and the steam lance cock on the side of the smokebox.


This closer image of the sand gear was taken before the beading was added.


I've also added the brake crank and rear pull rod on a bracket which is detachable to allow the rear pony truck to be removed.

Cheers,
Peter

 

[Genghis]

Brilliant work Peter. I am really grateful for your help with this project.

Peter and I need to have a discussion about a couple of minor changes that I may ask Mike Edge to make to the etches but other than that I think we have everything in hand and nearly ready to go.

David

 

[P A D]

The 3P has now been handed over to David and will be on the Gladiator stand at Guildex. It came with a Laurie Griffin cast brass backhead which is excellent if a little time consuming to assemble. In the rush to get it ready for David this morning I failed to take any images. These final images show the completed model albeit without motor and pick ups which David will fit. The resin cast lubricators are very nice and much easier to work with than white metal or brass. They are just blue tacked in place for the photos and will be fitted after painting.






Cheers,
Peter

 

[Genghis]

Having taken possession yesterday I can confirm that it is a stunning piece of work by Peter. (And a nice kit too, so well done Michael).
David