When Matt Chivers advertised a batch of obsolete Chivers RC26 diesel kits, I thought 'why not'? And in due course a box with the kit arrived. I looked at the castings from all sides, then (some time ago) I unearthed a possible chassis, not really planning to do very much about the diesel kit yet. I like rod-coupled diesels and this chassis came out of a box of defective chassis I was sent by an old friend in Germany, Klaus Olschewski, many years ago, writing I might find a use for them.
It was a very old V60 jackshaft diesel chassis by Atlas or Rivarossi, with one of those dud cylindrical motors half built into the plastic of the chassis. It was complete though, with the wheels and gears looking in good shape. The motor however - it hummed when I put the power on, and smelt badly - no life in it. So I took it apart and thought of another motor: a Mashima 9x16 which proved to have the right shaft diameter.
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2013%2Fgallery53%2Fimages%2FIMG_5225.jpg&hash=ec01334e9318f857f0aa4aa2a897edd5561e47a8)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2013%2Fgallery53%2Fimages%2FIMG_5232.jpg&hash=451ee93d626c23ff1652d01ec3b40ac9862018fe)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2013%2Fgallery53%2Fimages%2FIMG_5230.jpg&hash=aee30f7e21de39d593478227f12f56e506653c80)
I knocked the shaft out of the old motor so I could reach the worm with a worm puller - the rotor was one side of the block and the worm was locked inside a recess in the bottom. I cut off the circular motor base and substituted the Mashima, using the end bearing of the old motor to centre it. I thought I might glue it on to the chassis.
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2013%2Fgallery53%2Fimages%2FIMG_5236.jpg&hash=834725d77159430491896f647f6f56f72f3e2b59)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2013%2Fgallery53%2Fimages%2FIMG_5241.jpg&hash=b56f030c16346c43ce648742af023c9ed660503b)
By then the chassis looked a right mess. Nothing happened for a few weeks, and in a lost moment yesterday afternoon I cut the excess shaft off the Mashima, fitted the worm and assembled the chassis. This proved to be a difficult job as all these chassis have a spur gear train that has to be locked up by the keeper plate, with all the wheels in the same position, and the coupling rods fitted into the bargain. I tried gluing the motor to the footplate but that didn't work. Then the guests came in and I left it as it was.
-----
This morning (Boxing Day) I woke up early and couldn't catch sleep again. So I went into the railway room which is only a door away, quietly so as not to wake the Missus, and had another look at the chassis. I decided a bracket was needed to lock up the motor. This I fashioned from a piece of 1mm aluminium cut out of a sheet of the stuff.
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2013%2Fgallery53%2Fimages%2FIMG_5791.jpg&hash=3595ed15dccfe1429a36e7afe4601388c2f82336)
I tried running it but the motor was pinched and wouldn't turn very well. After some fiddling I finally got it running freely, despite the funny large diameter worm and the old gears and wheels. Getting it to run took me an hour and a half.
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2013%2Fgallery53%2Fimages%2FIMG_5795.jpg&hash=ca74f3edaadb6fb7d5faed2f2fdb194ebe5095a1)
Later today I fitted the footplate of the RC26 kit and the buffer beams, so as to put some weight on the chassis, and it proved to be a very good runner. Waste not, want not!
To be continued.
Meanwhile I have some progress to report. The chassis and footplate need some more explaining by the way.
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2013%2Fgallery53%2Fimages%2FIMG_5796.jpg&hash=35aecd1a66aaf6287c51b89a997fcdfcf29a2195)
The nut at the rear end closes up a piece of styrene that makes a clip to keep the rear end of the footplate down. There is another nut under there which can be loosened if the keeper plate below the wheels needs to be removed. The nut at the front end was glued to the whitemetal footplate. This serves to keep the footplate down on the chassis. There is a screw from below which loosens up the front end and enables the chassis to be removed. Meanwhile I have completed most of the body on the footplate. Part of the top of the hood needed to be taken off due to the motor protruding through the hood. There will be a slightly higher section made up of styrene to close this up.
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2013%2Fgallery53%2Fimages%2FIMG_5810.jpg&hash=643a45138f2f73e965d209702a5277c7b2c9ed6b)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2013%2Fgallery53%2Fimages%2FIMG_5812.jpg&hash=395100111126944e12814af88048b275efd39112)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2013%2Fgallery53%2Fimages%2FIMG_5816.jpg&hash=36dea6b1988c516f959b3effd160070fc260d113)
The loco looks rather nice with a couple of Roco hoppers in tow. The kit has a nice exhaust silencer, but what I am thinking of is to fit an exhaust chimney, Hudswell Clarke fashion - it might almost be a 1930s Hudswell Clarke diesel with those rods, if not for the radiator pattern which is different:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2013%2Fgallery53%2Fimages%2FIMG_5821.jpg&hash=b7dd7bc89179941b902fbdc8ca7f75175550218f)
To be continued!
Yesterday evening I made a thin cowl from tinplate to cover the motor where it protruded through the hood. Now I was faced with a choice of exhausts - either use a home made steam loco type chimney, or the silencer that came with the kit. In the end I was advised to use a chimney.
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2013%2Fgallery53%2Fimages%2FIMG_5822.jpg&hash=3d44448ee5ba3db25abfdad06e506ff129325449)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2013%2Fgallery53%2Fimages%2FIMG_5826.jpg&hash=f905529e3e728b79dd1a4c298ed1bd2598be7af8)
I wasn't happy with the shape of the chimney, so I decided to turn something more shapely from plastic rod. I tried making up one with another pattern but thought it would be too big. However, it didn't look too bad on the model. I turned it from a plastic tube, fitted a lip of copper wire and a base made of a steel washer. Some PVA glue to smooth the curves and it looked like this:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2013%2Fgallery53%2Fimages%2FIMG_5828.jpg&hash=a07d0e8d7101ebb410ad126f9680ef5a44f04dbc)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2013%2Fgallery53%2Fimages%2FIMG_5837.jpg&hash=a4b816fdcd863a8f2777b70d1a758432a2a3ae47)
It's not very different in size from what Hudswell Clarke fitted to their locos:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leedsengine.info%2Fleeds%2Fimages%2FHudswell%2520Clarke%2FNarrow%2520Gauge%2520Loco%2FDiesel%2Fhcd571%2520armley%2520mills%2520leeds.jpg&hash=b1ac4bbdefb6274087a1a871212a3416ea57b4b5)
Diesel powered D571 of 1932 seen at Armley Mills Industrial Museum (Photo Kris Ward)
Source: http://www.leedsengine.info/leeds/histhc.asp (http://www.leedsengine.info/leeds/histhc.asp)
The radiator top might be rounded off a little. Fitting grille inserts and a radiator top plate with the Hudswell legend might improve the looks of the loco - sort of a freelance Hudswell Clarke. All in good time. I enlarged the front windows so they follow the roof line. Next was de-greasing the model and putting on the first coat of primer to see what gaps and blemishes should be filled. Extra detail (ladders and grab rails) can be added later, together with cab interior and window glazing.
Then it looked like this.
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2013%2Fgallery53%2Fimages%2FIMG_5844.jpg&hash=c5d5ea5f9320eb88c7f23767f8d529a4460633b5)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2013%2Fgallery53%2Fimages%2FIMG_5848.jpg&hash=4fe7360231f1e92b7cfc3a47abda207d1ddf5ad5)
Some blemishes need to be smoothed, and the gaps on the cab must be filled. I am going to try PVA glue this time. I'm not dissatisfied with the chimney. Perhaps the windows may benefit from rims all round - note the changed shape of the front ones. The bracket to the motor will make a good control panel for the driver.
By the way, all the motor bracket does is prevent the motor from flipping around the shaft. The top is just clear from the end face of the motor. This has some freedom to move - its shaft passes through a bearing in the floor of the cab with the worm below it. Somehow it runs better than with the motor fixed.
Very nice, Ted. I would agree that the chimney does look better than the silencer, perhaps because a 'steam' chimney on a diesel is a nice surprise! Having said that, IMHO and not for a moment casting any aspersions on your turning skills and the product thereof, I think I would personally go for the original chimney - there's something perhaps more 'industrial' about the straight-sided version?
David.
[Chimneys are very much a matter of taste - I will write more about this on my B&W thread soon...]
I too like the original. It has echoes of the real Hudswell loco shown. I think it is the rather large base/saddle that makes it look a bit out of proportion.
Ted
The chimney you made is fine in profile but just too bulky. I think the first one, with a less heavy base, would look better.
Rod
There is nothing like leaving a project for a few days to reconsider. Looking at the plastic chimney you may be right it is too bulky, although the chimneys Hudswell fitted to their diesels are very wide. The base of the original chimney is a Roco skip wheel minus the plastic centre - I have some ideas for a slim base. For the moment I am occupied with the 3D printed saddle tank.
Good morning again Ted ;)
The diesel is coming along nicely, I don't think the current chimney looks out of place, but I'm sure your judgment will prevail.
Keep up the good and prolific work :)
Kind regards,
BrianT.
Just stirring the pot with my own opinion on the chimney - I agree with the comments already made that the plastic chimney is a very nice profile but is a little bit too bulky in proportion to the loco. I rather like the original one complete with the bulky base - to me that provides additional atmosphere to it and is quite a 1930's style of "pretending" to be a steam loco chimney but not really fooling anyone if you see what I am trying to say! Keep the original and don't alter the base!
Mick
Well, just to satisfy all you mutineers, here is the latest update on the diesel! ;D I reinstated the old chimney (which incidentally is part of a 1960s brass ballpoint reservoir) but I removed the thick base and laid a wire collar round its base. The wire washer that formed the flange of the old chimney was stuck so fast it couldn't be removed!
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2013%2Fgallery53%2Fimages%2FIMG_5927.jpg&hash=09ed68364da4a33df7dd0d3a86ab8c2b0e8c938b)
Still a few blemishes to remove from the glued parts (next to the cab, and on the new chimney), otherwise all is ready for finishing.
The new year has started with a vengeance - for some reason I almost fell asleep in front of the TV tonight!
However, I managed to get a second coat of Tamiya NATO green on the diesel, and fit 009 couplings. There is some detail to be fitted still - a horn, a headlight and cab steps, and the cab interior and windows must be added. Then it needs weathering - Rod Allcock mentioned a faded, washed out green.
I thought it looked nice with a couple of Roco tubs in tow.
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2013%2Fgallery53%2Fimages%2FIMG_5957.jpg&hash=b7117eb39ca1b9a5b5a4ad7354faab774738c78c)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2013%2Fgallery53%2Fimages%2FIMG_5963.jpg&hash=4bd7c7dd2effbb720c1d15d1930d680a9a6a71dd)
I think I had some unfinished business last Christmas. Therefore I invoke the Ghost of Christmas Past!
When I was (trying to) clear up my railway room, I ran a few trains round the circuit at Rae Bridge. Then I came across the little diesel I was building last Christmas. I put it on the track, ran it a few laps and noticed it ran hot. That put paid to the clearing up for today, and I opened it up. I burnt my fingers at the motor. The cause eventually proved to be the body pinching the tail end of the motor shaft, which stuck out a little from its top. So I ground that away, and although it still runs hotter than I like, it is all right for several laps - more than enough for an industrial shunter.
The cab on this loco is too low, but if the driver is portrayed sitting down I think I can get away with that.
So I started detailing the loco. I had been toying with working lights, but there was too little space ahead of the exhaust chimney to put one in. So I substituted a nice lost wax casting. I fitted a battery box on the running plate, and I found a pair of steps cut off the Jintybash I did last year. Waste not, want not. I found some number transfers and put number 23 on it. The last thing done tonight was drilling holes in the headstocks and fitting short lengths of wire, after which I hung 4-shackle lengths of chain from them.
And before I forget, note the wheels have been painted black, after someone said they were a bit too 'Germanic' for a British outline diesel.
I'm not displeased. Still to be done: horn on the roof, windows in the cab, a driver sitting at the controls, and various handrails. And final painting and weathering.
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2013%2Fgallery53%2Fimages%2FIMG_8446.jpg&hash=83025b2f3b53bcb3ac6b12bc20bfa1dbc57dac9e)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2013%2Fgallery53%2Fimages%2FIMG_8440.jpg&hash=aff6548a1b76a75736950926aff2b9c6c9dcaaa6)
Developments.
I did considerable detail work on the diesel. Here is the present state of affairs. First, I transformed the aluminium bracket that keeps the motor in place into a control panel with gear/clutch levers and a brake handwheel. I used a signal box telegraph device for instruments - just the presence of something detailed is often enough.
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2013%2Fgallery53%2Fimages%2FIMG_8461.jpg&hash=bd9b9cc29ab185d7279f19a027c2700de5c81d44)
From outside it looks like this. Note that I will have to re-touch some of the black border that has run. Also the holes for the handrails were drilled too big, so they will have to be filled and re-touched.
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2013%2Fgallery53%2Fimages%2FIMG_8451.jpg&hash=d7891fa009a6d516d725f4ef43036da96799d2ea)
Driver's seat. The horn on the roof is a trifle coarse. I turned it from a piece of plastic sprue, as I didn't have a whitemetal casting.
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2013%2Fgallery53%2Fimages%2FIMG_8452.jpg&hash=1208b270513912b1ed173e4e6f0cf7c9816ad581)
Finally, some outside views before touching up the paint and weathering. I postioned a raised piece of plating on the top of the cowling, which is for ventilation. I saw this in one or two prototype diesels and it fills the broken line of the cowling due to the cover next to the cab.
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2013%2Fgallery53%2Fimages%2FIMG_8466.jpg&hash=ea042c81253b37bc60669c55944bf651a1c03d73)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2013%2Fgallery53%2Fimages%2FIMG_8469.jpg&hash=e3a7fe219b9887936abf96f3ec64f8bae65c51fc)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2013%2Fgallery53%2Fimages%2FIMG_8473.jpg&hash=2ee311b01a9aa640d4475e46fbd3fbcaec968aa7)
One or two details still lacking, but I feel I am getting there.
Tonight I completed the diesel, apart from some weathering that still needs to be applied. I touched up the paintwork, painted the details and finally applied a coat of matt varnish. Here is the result - no. 23 hauling a string of Roco hoppers into Rae Bridge. I think this might be a suitable 1940s to 1950s locomotive - one for the modern timeframe once I get round to reporting on that.
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2013%2Fgallery53%2Fimages%2FIMG_8488.jpg&hash=8a203b3ea1ac7bd878e28154b4bbc31d2164866c)
And a few close-ups. I think the raised cowl plate does a lot for its appearance. I'm rather pleased with the result, which proves that detailing an ugly duckling may turn it into something... rather less ugly! ;)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2013%2Fgallery53%2Fimages%2FIMG_8485.jpg&hash=eb45b1461444c177cbc72cb508a8282894ddd644)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2013%2Fgallery53%2Fimages%2FIMG_8481.jpg&hash=b4a4c83a19b7cac755c9706491b42d820e6dab18)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2013%2Fgallery53%2Fimages%2FIMG_8482.jpg&hash=f55a35727a45492613c434f9559a45a36753d6fd)
PS did you notice what the handrails are made of? ... staples... ::)
This morning I was running a few trains including one hauled by the new diesel, and I decided to do a short video of it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyIzn-g6rq8 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyIzn-g6rq8)
In addition, I found this a pleasing, although very improbable scene - a freelance diesel passing the new Brigadelok hauling Lynton & Barnstaple carriages. ::)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.009dutch.nl%2Farchive%2F2013%2Fgallery53%2Fimages%2FIMG_8491.jpg&hash=4fab7a2e72fe0a6baeca66f9e897b48890b7f82f)