A personal tribute to Bill
As all our local modellers know, Bill passed away on March 15 2023 after a really hard time with his health..
He was a good friend and skilled modeller who was never too busy when others needed help or advice. He kindly put the white metal lorry kit together and it now sits on my desk as a fitting reminder.
Bill the Builder has tackled something different this month.
Could it be the start of a creamery project?
Bill's Efficiency Trial
Rob Roy on full chat with a load of about 450 lbs at Birmingham MES on Sunday. The occasion was LittleLEC, a 2 day national locomotive efficiency competition for engines up to 50lb in weight. Not entirely a trouble free day, but I scrambled fourth place. Rob Roy on full chat with a load of about 450 lbs at Birmingham MES on Sunday. The occasion was LittleLEC, a 2 day national locomotive efficiency competition for engines up to 50lb in weight. Not entirely a trouble free day, but I scrambled fourth place.
Planet Diesel
The Taff Vale Models Planet kit just about finished. Rear coupling still to be fitted, and cab roof fixed down. The kit was a joy to put together - the nickel silver etchings are beautifully done, the instructions are thorough, and everything fits together. I bought it because it came complete with motor and wheels, and I would recommend it. Zimo sound decoder from Digitrains fitted, and working lights, and the slow running is exemplary.
The Great Central Railway Passenger Announcement
The Directors of the Great Central Railway had to announce the postponement of passenger services to their new station Lincoln St John.
When the inspector of railways Captain Vimes visited the station he pointed out there was no signal box, and refused to sanction services starting. A spokesman for the company, Mr P Stibbons, said the well respected firm of Hackem and Stickit had been contracted to do the work. The station had been designed by Mr Heath Robinson and his assistant Mr B S Johnson, and the track had been laid without allowing ground space for a signal cabin, so an elevated design was called for. Work quickly commenced with a wooden half-height cabin being erected on a girder framework spanning platform 2.
Unfortunately Mr Hackem had cut the side girders a bit too long, and Mr Stickit had got busy before it was noticed. The support column is now a bit near the platform edge. No doubt this will be mentioned on Captain Vimes next visit, as will the current absence of a lever frame....
The Credits
The signalbox is from Lcut Creative, who deserve compliments for their speedy service and an excellent product. Girders are from York Model making, who deserve a similar accolade. The whole thing was stuck together with Roket card glue, which belies its name by adhering well to plastic and wood as well. This was supplied by Old Barn Hobbies, who stock all sorts of useful goodies.
It's not like it said in the instructions!
Attached pictures show the Walschaerts valve gear on the Flying Pig. I'm afraid it is not my best work, for reasons that will become evident.
The motion plate came as laser cut to the drawings, and I should have been alerted by the amount that had to be milled or filed off it to allow room for the connecting and coupling rods to move. The anchor link is in its third incarnation along with the associated crosshead fixing in order to get the combination lever somewhere near the valve centreline. Combination levers had to be remade as they were not correct to length and fouled the crosshead. The motion plate holes were in the wrong place for the radius rod, and the link fouled the reversing rod bracket. The eccentric rods had to be remade to allow for the necessary kinks.
Oh, and the reverser was specified with the wrong thread and had to be remade totally. I sometimes wonder why I bother. Needless to say the drawings are a bit of a fairy tale, and it's obvious the designer has never built a locomotive.
Now I'll go and lie down in a darkened room. Nurse, the screens!.