Hi Guys
has anyone built a fireless locomotive are they any good and easy to build
thanks
Alan
Hello Alan,
I don't think building a model of a fireless loco is really much different to building any other steam loco. You typically need a bigger diameter tube for the steam reservoir than for a boiler. You don't need a chimney or a smokebox door, but a dished end to the steam reservoir is typical.
Julian
Quote from: Julian Evison on July 18, 2021, 21:48
Hello Alan,
I don't think building a model of a fireless loco is really much different to building any other steam loco. You typically need a bigger diameter tube for the steam reservoir than for a boiler. You don't need a chimney or a smokebox door, but a dished end to the steam reservoir is typical.
Julian
Hi Julian
thanks for your reply and sorry i should have mentioned i was looking at this kit https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/154384505082?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160908105057%26meid%3Db654ac9dca0a46aab0d0915ae459f913%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D15%26sd%3D154384505082%26itm%3D154384505082%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2380057&_trksid=p2380057.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3Ad526a070-e809-11eb-9bd8-d6a4e508f93e%7Cparentrq%3Abb62c13a17a0a764c27244bcffc77c88%7Ciid%3A1
i really should stick to doing 1 thing at a time
thanks
Alan
If you do intend to build it then it is less expensive from Dundas!
https://dundasmodels.co.uk/webstore/index.php/search/product/5526-sittingborne-kemsley-victor-0-4-0-fireless-loco (https://dundasmodels.co.uk/webstore/index.php/search/product/5526-sittingborne-kemsley-victor-0-4-0-fireless-loco)
The eBay seller looks interesting though - it could be the actual manufacturer, Golden Arrow.
Quote from: GraemeD on July 19, 2021, 07:35
If you do intend to build it then it is less expensive from Dundas!
https://dundasmodels.co.uk/webstore/index.php/search/product/5526-sittingborne-kemsley-victor-0-4-0-fireless-loco (https://dundasmodels.co.uk/webstore/index.php/search/product/5526-sittingborne-kemsley-victor-0-4-0-fireless-loco)
The eBay seller looks interesting though - it could be the actual manufacturer, Golden Arrow.
Yes it does look like eBay selling is indeed Chris Meachen. They are in Hastings and the sellers name is 'goldenarrowmodels'. There are also some photos on the Golden Arrow web site are clearly taken on the same wooden table:
http://www.goldenarrow.me.uk/index.htm
Intresting that the kit is cheaper from Dundas! It is probably new old stock.
Possibly Dundas prices have not crept up due to stock having been bought in the past, but I understand it is customary or business etiquette for manufacturer's direct sales not to undercut their stockists.
Ebay charge something like 11% and PayPal another 2-3% and so it can sometimes be more expensive than buying from a retailer.
@Alan - have a look at the Golden Arrow website here (http://www.goldenarrow.me.uk/products.htm#narrow) where Chris is selling the same kit for £28.00 as buying it direct from him means that nobody had to pay eBay (and other?) fees.
As to building the kit I can't comment as whilst I have one in the stash - and it's interesting to read the eBay description as I thought they were designed for the Ibertren 0-4-0 originally rather then the Bachmann 0-4-0 "docksider" - I haven't built it yet. In any case both chassis are out of production so you may be better off ordering a chassis from Neville Kent at N-Drive productions (https://www.n-driveproductions.com/rangeandprices.htm) (believe me they are well worth the wait) and as the prototype loco had a wheelbase of 4' 6" (18 mm to scale) and wheel diameter of 27 1/2 inches (9 mm) then I'd order one of Neville's 16 mm wheelbase chassis with 8.5 mm wheels as the closest match. Looking at the photo of the Golden Arrow kit's footplate you will not need to order the 'cylinders reversed' option as the hole for the mounting bolt at the cylinder end of the chassis is under cab, putting the cylinders prototypically under the cab and in the right place.
The other suggestion as to an alternative chassis would be the Fleischmann 0-4-0 (fairly close but not identical to the Ibertren chassis). I'm not sure about the new Bachmann 'Percy' chassis, which i suspect will fit but my suspicion is that the wheel diameter and wheel base my be a little on the small side & end up making the loco look like it is on tip toes.
Do bear in mind though that you may need to make some modifications to the kit to fit to fir any of the suggested alternatives, but knowing that the Bachmann Docksider has many issues (split plastic axle muffs and failed plastic motor frames) even if you do locate one there may still be work to do in stripping down the chassis to replace parts.
Hope that helps.
Alternatively you could try scratch building...
(https://live.staticflickr.com/2738/4321174467_de02be95f5_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/7zR9C4)
This was built on an Ibertren that I obtained with the cylinders reversed so they were under the motor and the cab is from an Airfix L&Y 'pug' kit (cut down). The Pressure Vessel (boiler) is (from meory) the plastic tube that some dentil floss came in, but any round tube will do the job, capped off with some thick plastic card sanded & filed to shape with other bits found in the spares box and knocked up from wire. It really needs a rebuild to bring it up to current standards though (its about 20-30 years old).
Julien
Edit - I realised that I should have posted what I intend to use under my Golden Arrow kit. I have an Ibertren 0-4-0 chassis that I'll fit bigger wheels to (especially as I have a chassis I picked up somewhere that has finer 2mm Association wheels instead of the standard ones so will need re-wheeling for 009 use in any case ).
Hi Guy's
thanks for the information its much appreciated
thanks
Alan