At long last, assisted by a few days off work over the recent Easter weekend, I have finally completed a few outstanding items on the workbench. This has mainly been around renumbering, naming and weathering a few items of rolling stock so I thought I would share with you some of the locomotives that I have now finished.
I have detailed a few times on this blog my method of renumbering (see Workbench Witterings #3 here) and also weathering (such as in this post here) so I wont repeat all those details this time.
First up, is a Bullied Battle Britain Class 21c149 ‘Anti Aircraft Command’ for friend and fellow post war period modeller Robin Sweet (Gwrrob on RMweb) for use on his excellent, albeit GWR, layout ‘Brent’ based on South Brent in Devon to represent one the regular SR crew route familiarisation turns, via Dawlish to Plymouth that also took WR engines over the ex LSWR north Dartmoor route.
21C149 was in this period a Salisbury engine, so again like the N Class I have done for Rob before, again a nice link to Fisherton Sarum, but Exmouth Junction must have hijacked her for a while…
She started as a Hornby 21C159 split from one their train packs as this was in the correct condition with the original forward position of the safety valves, She gained the wedge shaped cab modification in March 1948, was named in April that year and not fully renumbered to 34049 until April 1949. In addition to the renumbering and naming using HMRS Pressfix decals and Fox Transfers etched nameplates, I also fitted front steps and cylinder drain pipes from the excellent RT Models range, Springside Models front lamps and real coal in the tender.
Secondly are two Hornby S15s, one as number 829 from the first batch of the Maunsell S15s built in July 1927 paired with a Urie style tender and one as number 845 from the third batch of Maunsell S15s built in October 1936 paired with a Maunsell flat sided bogie tender.
Number 829 was a Salisbury allocated engine during my 1946 to 1949 modelling period, whilst 845 was initially allocated to Feltham but in 1947 was moved to Exmouth Junction and therefore would also have regularly been seen at Salisbury.
Finally for now, is Hornby Schools Class V number 929 ‘Malvern’ whose repainting and numbering was the topic of my Workbench Wittering #2 post way back in June last year! Now finally her weathering is complete. As I mentioned in that post Schools class number 929 “Malvern” was one of only seven members of the class not to regain malachite green livery after the war, but stayed in SR black until January 1949. The Schools Class V were not often seen at Salisbury in SR days but as she was a Brighton allocated engine from 1947 my excuse is that she has arrived on one of the Brighton to Plymouth services that changed locomotives at Salisbury.
That’s all for now, I will post some details of some of the other items of rolling stock that I recently completed in due course.
Superb work and many thanks Graham.
A pleasure Rob.
Hi Graham, as usual excellent and informative.you really capture the era very well.
Is it possible in your workbench series to explain what you did to convert the hopper / ballast wagons I think from the Lima or Hornby models. I have tried to look at what is required but I must admit I am still not sure after looking at various prototype pictures. What really needs to be done.
Keep up the good work.
Best Gerry White
Hi Gerry, many thanks for the kind comments. I did dicsuss my 40t hopper conversions in my Talking Stock#11 post here http://semgonline.com/model/lima-sea-to-40t-hop.html and also on the SEmG website here http://semgonline.com/model/lima-sea-to-40t-hop.html if however you have any further questions please do not hesitate to ask. The only recent amendment is that I have replaced the Ratio diamond frame bogies that I originally used with those now available from Cambrian models as being mainly single piece mouldings are more robust and stand up to being transported to exhibitions etc much better.
Many thanks Graham looks like I have no choice now but to go for it.
Many thanks for your kind reply
Gerry White
Graham—I just picked up a pristine Hornby R2219 Blackmoor Vale model but it seems to have an odd collection of details. For example it has the modified cab but the Southern name on the tender and original numbers. The deflector is the original short version yet it has the safety valves in the rear position. Wouldn’t the deflectors have been extended to the standard length when the cab was modified? And weren’t the safety valves in the forward position until they boiler pressure was reduced? Can you clear this all up, it seems to be a collection of details that should not have appeared on the same loco at the same time. Thanks—Larry
Hi Larry,
The Hornby Blackmoor Vale represents and is correct for her in as preserved condition rather than her historical Southern Railway condition.
Graham—thanks for the reply confirming my observations on the R2219 model. So to backdate it, applying the RT Models etched deflectors would be a good start but what about the safety valves? Does anyone make those?
Unfortunately although the Hornby is designed with separate inserts for the safety valve positions they are not available as spares anywhere unless you can get hold of a second (perhaps damaged) body from somewhere to be a donor for the inserts.
Graham—I think I answered my question. It appears that the Hornby model of Blackmoor Vale is of the preserved loco thus the collection of incongruities. Should one want to backdate the model I guess the RT Models etched deflectors would be a good start but how to move the safety valves and go from 2 to 3? Any suggestions on available parts for that? Got one of those in your spare parts bin? How about a photo of the valves on your Winston Churchill, I may have to just do a name and number change and leave the valves as is.Thanks—Larry
Graham—when you instal the RT Models drain pipes do you drill mounting holes in the bottom of the cylinders as Hornby did with the Merchant Navy models or do you just shape the supports and glue them directly to the back of the cylinders?
Hi I usually drill mounting holes.
Graham—I have another detail question concerning the WCC locos. On some locos the area around the smokestack is flared or ramped up on each side presumably to direct smoke up. However on some others that area is flat all around the smokestack. Most Hornby models seem to have the former arrangement however you can see the latter on the Hornby Torrington model. I have read through the Derry book and cannot find any mention of this feature so can you clear this up for me? Was it an early characteristic that was modified in later shop visits? Thanks—Larry
Hi Larry,
Yes the earlier locos did not have the ‘ramp’ either side of chimney and were later retro fitted on shed or works and no dates appears to have been recorded.
Any records of which was the first loco to receive the ramped surround?
Sorry but I want to clarify my reply. Do we know which loco was the first to receive the ramped surround when built, not retro fitted with it?
Hi no sorry I don’t believe it is recorded anywhere.