Having cleaned the track on the garden layout yesterday, tried to run a train but one of the points had some conductivity problems .. a wire brush on the edge of rails and power restored...
The loco build project finally finished. Four coats of gloss varnish applied, apart from the smoke box and funnel. Left to harden off for a few days.
A lovely sunny day to pose the loco outside...
On the final stretch now with this project; I have given the loco its first coat of paint
A warm'ish morning today, so I setup my spray booth in the garage. I used some sea grey acrylic spray paint - the loco was given a nice coat as a primer ..
Now it is starting to look the part; current plan is to paint it maroon on the boiler, cab & end tanks; black for the rest, I may leave the wheels in red or touch in with maroon as well.
To give the loco a good base coat I wanted to prime it with some acrylic spray paint. So I improvised a basic spray paint 'booth'; a rummage in the garage yielded a couple of bits of shelving and a couple of large green chopping boards. All screwed together, rather basic but will do the job.
hopefully some warmer weather approaching this coming weekend, I'll set myself up in garage and get spraying....
Finished painting the loco crew .......
Still thinking on the paint colour for the loco - black, burgundy, racing green ? ?
Today I've been tinkering with the setup of weights on the loco for traction.
Initially I removed the pick ups from the front motor-less motion to allow the wheels to move 'free and easy', thus obviating the need for any weights in the front tank.
To get enough traction for the rear driving motion, I needed to add some extra weight, this was done by positioning it in the cab roof...
Then it was play time, the loco pulls 4 coaches or 8 or 9 wagons; the Radius1 curves on my layout slow the rolling stock down as there isn't much play in the Accucraft wagons' wheels (really should run these on Radius 2+ curves). Anyway what the loco can pull is my typical train anyway, so success.
Run test with goods train .... (youTube)
I am going to look into the option of powering the front motion again, although I may need a new controller with more oomph to drive the two motors.
Also bought some loco crew (from Modelu).. primed but not painted yet...
I wanted some river detail on the edge of the tanks; found some strips of rivets from Zinge Industries ( https://www.zinge.co.uk/collections/flexible-resin ); tricky to get off the backing - had to stick the strips on user super glue..
I had a quick run test with the front motion motor removed, playing around with weights. It does run OK, but the rear motion slips a bit with 5 coaches. I will have to experiment some more to get the weight balance right with enough at the front for the non-powered motion to move and the rear powered one to get enough purchase on the track.
Couplings added ....
Turning my attention to the water tanks and coal bunker...
The tanks made and the tops trial fitted (will fix them in place once suitable traction weights are added)....
Making good progress on the build ...
Underside of plastikard footplate showing weight for adhesion ( I may need to add more later...)
The shiny dome rather showed up my improvised safety valve made of plastic bits
While waiting for delivery of some plastikard I've ordered for the build, I made a neat'ish drawing of the pieces for the front tank...
Some bits arrived in the post this morning - a brass dome and some handrail supports.
The tricky bit drilling holes in a straight line along the boiler....
Knocked up a cardboard prototype of the end water tanks...
