Shelving - stock storage...

I had a trip out to B&Q today to get some white Contiboard and some shelf supports, so I could tidy up the stock storage shelving in the garage.

Squeezed an extra shelf in between two, to hold the L&B bogey goods rolling stock...

Replaced some skanky old improvised shelves, with this setup - nice and tidy

Loco Kit (10) - RC Electronics Fitted...

Initial setup, power to the speed controller & receiver, checked the controller binds and LED lights flash...

working out how to fit things in to the tender neatly..

a power on/off switch is hidden on the under side of the tender....

the batteries have been put in a small 'snap shut' box to keep them in place

Testing the power connection form the tender to the loco chassis

All the electronics done and tidied up.... plus I did a quick diagram to remind me where all the bits are...

I fitted an extra switch to turn the power from the tender to loco on/off; this allows me isolate the tender electronics if I want to run the loco using power from the track.

Once all assembled, it was time for its inaugural run on battery power around the garden layout...

Now its off to the paint shop ... hooray ! 😀

Loco Kit (9) - some progress..

Tender/Loco coupling...

 To stop 'buffer lock' when reversing, I cut off the front curved part of two LGB couplings and fitted them..

Loco Crew..

Modified Preiser figure and a 3D print fireman from ModelU....

Filling and sanding..

Started filling in the gaps with some thin strips of plasticard and sanding smooth to get ready for painting...

RC Electronics

The radio control kit has arrived from Fosworks. Speed controller, receiver and hand held controller; the same kit I used on the Baguley diesel.

I'm going to have to figure out how to fit it all into the tender with some batteries. 

Another Loco project ....

I've always liked the look of the Glyn Valley Tramway, so when I spotted a loco for auction on Ebay I made a low bid. Nobody else wanted it; it arrived today...

A scratch built loco body made from cardboard and plasticard; its needs a lot work to make it more robust and then some extra detailing to be added.  There was a SM32 plastic chassis with motor, which was so old and falling to bits that I've chucked it in the bin.  The loco body ......

It may look something like this when I've finished tinkering with it...

I managed to find a nice reference book which has plans of the locos and rolling stock.

For rolling stock, IP Engineering do a nice selection of kits....

For the moment I've put the the loco (plus a spare SM45 chassis) into a box, lets see how long I can keep my hands off it - is it my next 'winter project'  ? 😉

Sunny Sunday (2) - L&B Bogey goods rolling stock... ....

 After a bit of building maintenance (new coat of paint for the roofs of some buildings)

Time to run a train, using all my L&B bogey goods rolling stock...

A little video...

Loco Kit (8) - finishing off the build..

Some work on the tender...

Front of the tender detail added...

used some spare bits of plasticard up to provide a 'holder' to keep the tender top in position...

the top is now held on with some screws...

Footplate & Chassis...

Fixing the chassis to the foot plate - a nice attachment point at the rear (one screw from each side)

For the front attachment point, I made a snug fitting slot.....

The fiddly bit of adding couplings done...

boiler and cab stuck to footplate, front couplings done. The smokebox support has been given a more correct look..

Couplings Tender/Loco...

A quick simple coupling scheme implemented....

The running weight about to go into the boiler (with a suitable adhesive to hold it in place)

Smokebox door on ....

Some pics of the finished build....

A quick run test....

I've got the coupling for tender and loco just right,  <2mm gap on the tight radius 1 curve.

Nice to see it running ....

Left to do....

Nice to get the main build done; there are some things to sort

• Better Couplings to connect tender and loco
• A scheme for the electronics, so I can add battery power and remote control.
• Tidy up the surfaces and prepare for painting.

 

Loco Kit (7) - all the main bits assembled...

The fiddling, fettling & fitting continues.....

Smokebox front... 

Some plasticard bits stuck on to the back keep it centred when in place..

trial fit to the boiler front....

Cab detail

The backplate, with controls and dials assembled

positioned in the cab to check for fit...

Boiler...

The handrail holders, marked out.... 

Handrails fitted along with funnel, dome; all done...

Trial fit assembly....

With all the main component parts done, nice to do a dry fit assembly....

A load of small jobs todo: couplings, fixing points for assemblies, etc. Then the trickier job - how to fit in the radio control electronics and power feeds. Enough to keep me out of mischief 😀

Loco Kit (6) - the puzzle continues....and the boiler finished

 This old kit is more like a 3D puzzle; a few missing bits and bits not 'cut to size' with instructions that are not exactly clear....; like a jigsaw puzzle it is addictive, as you look for the right bits to put in place

Some plasticard strips added to the chassis to support the 'foot plate'

Trial fit of parts - starting to look like a loco now...

adding side trim,  buffer beam and back to the 'foot plate'

handrails for tender top and cab side; plus some trim for the cab side and rain strips for the roof

a bit of a breakout....

• source a missing dome for the boiler - ordered one from Swift Sixteen £25 !
• sort all the remaining parts into bags so I can find them easily - done
• figure out a plan to get round the smokebox casting which is missing- the scheme: wrap plasticard strips around the smokebox end to the right level and find a suitable circular item for the front.

Its a wrap....

Thin pasticard wraps, the boiler and fire box end, (held on with rubber bands till glue dried)

After a search around, I found a spool of solder had the right diameter to go in the front of the smokebox; so I took all the solder off and put it round something else.

the smokebox door fits on it nicely....

A lot of strips of plasticard were cut to wrap round the smokebox end....

till the correct level was reached....

the final front wrap, from the kit was the rivet detail for the smokebox...

dry assembly of the bits finished so far ...