Well, possibly - it still seems to work! The Llanmynach winter works programme for 1994/1995 has, amongst other things on the list "Start on Port Hunslet", with a footnote to the effect that the work was held pending acquisition of an Arnold Chassis. It was started but never finished and has been in this state for years (indeed, when I was still Publicity Officer it appeared in the Society showcase in this condition in 1996!) So yesterday afternoon I had another look at it. You might note that I've given it a sheet brass cab roof, opened out the cab backsheet to accommodate the motor back bearing and shortened the front of the running plate (per Richard Glover). As usual it's stuffed with as much ballast as I can get it, especially in the front end. I'm sure that chimney was square when I built it. I'm not altering it now, that's for certain or it'll be another 16 years before it's finished! Only one problem remains. Can't find the box containing all the detail parts! Like 'Cackler', it's always been destined to handle the slate traffic.
That looks very nice, David.
I bought a Chivers Cackler and chassis from the man himself many moons ago at a NarrowGauge North (when it was at Lawnswood School).
It took me ages to build it, and it is still unfinished (no couplings!) It sits a bit low at the rear.
Many thanks Hugh. Because I was making notes for the photo-article I wrote for the News, I have a detailed account of the building of my own Cackler. By memory it took 76 hours spread over about 6 months - in the days when I had fewer calls on my time and could knock out two locos a year! Some people can build a 7
Are you sure its not the camera that's distorted the chimney? I only found out recently that if i take a piccy on mine without using the telephoto it actually takes it on "wide angle" (-ish) which tends to give the effect you have on yours...
I remember reading somewhere that portrait photographers use long lenses to reduce distortion in their subjects, so the same would hold true for photographing a loco...
David, a friend of mine in Scarborough is finishing building a 5" gauge A4. He's tested it on compressed air and hopes to steam it at Gilling in the next few months. Sorry - off topic
Quote from: Hobby on March 19, 2012, 12:14
"Are you sure its not the camera that's distorted the chimney?..."
You're very kind. I thought that might be the case so I checked it with the square. Everything is perfect except the damn' chimney!
Hugh, on the other matter, that's a perfectly acceptable bit of thread drift. An A4 in 5" will be quite something - you don't see many in the live steam scales. I hope he has some good success with it. I've never been to Gilling but from the videos I've seen it looks fantastic!
Hi David,
Looks good (to me)
Do you have any ideas/plans for it's colour?
Stuart
Yep! After a bit of touch-up on the primer she'll be in LMS Crimson Lake, just like my other red locos. She'll look different because unlike the others she'll be finished in satin and not gloss. Not sure when that'll be though - the lure of 7
Just came across your new engine, David. Perhaps you'll need to make up some detail parts from scratch, but it will make a pretty little loco in crimson lake.
The lure of 7
Quote from: tedp on April 02, 2012, 22:43
I spent most of the afternoon waxing the hull of our boat, in quite nice weather...
Well I think waxing the hull of a boat is probably a more therapeutic and less painful pursuit than waxing your legs...........apparently, I wouldn't know as I served in the army, not the nautical services :o ::)
Sorry. couldn't resist this puerile bit of thread-drift. By the way, did you know that a very well known friend who is an exhibition layout builder of some renown, who has a splendid Isle of Purbeck clay industry themed layout has named his two cats Hunslet and Bagnall? I thought that Kitson might have been more appropriate personally. Ahem, back to the subject and more matters Hunslet............
Mick
Quote from: tedp on April 02, 2012, 22:43
Just came across your new engine, David. Perhaps you'll need to make up some detail parts from scratch, but it will make a pretty little loco in crimson lake.
The lure of 7
Quote from: MickT on April 03, 2012, 10:44....Well I think waxing the hull of a boat is probably a more therapeutic and less painful pursuit than waxing your legs...........apparently, I wouldn't know as I served in the army, not the nautical services :o ::)...
Funny that you should bring this up then Mick, of all people... ;D
To be honest waxing and polishing a boat is more painful than you'd think - teetering on a ladder for some hours makes you aware of muscles you didn't know you had... the next day!
Quote from: Tigger on April 03, 2012, 13:43
....Dear Don Boreham Built himself a 'modelling box', a bit like a toomaker's cabinet, which used to accompany him to the beach during family holidays - the details of it appeared in his book on narrow gauge railway modelling....
Yes, I remember as I have the book. During my seafaring days I had a small plywood box full of modelling materials and tools, which went in the bottom of my suitcase. There are still many models running on my C&DR that came from that box!
Sorry to hijack your thread, David!
Quote from: tedp on April 03, 2012, 19:08
Yes, I remember as I have the book. During my seafaring days I had a small plywood box full of modelling materials and tools, which went in the bottom of my suitcase. There are still many models running on my C&DR that came from that box!
Sorry to hijack your thread, David!
How silly of me not to think you might have done the same Ted! :) Bob Smith, retired marine engineer and now owner of the Comrie Railroad built the cab, air pump and tender of his 7