New Hornby Class 700 0-6-0

 Yes-Yes, I know this is 4mm but I have one of
these to build so this seems the ideal way to help
 building.
Plus it is a lovely little engine, just right for the 4mm version of East Boldre.
Just three parts to add, the tender brake gear, front vacuum pipe and the front coupling.
Must add crew and headcode plus coal and it's ready.
Impetus to build the 3mm version now.

Coming together nicely!

 Posed on Nigels new layout- this does look like a Class 33 I think.
A long way to go yet but the basics are there.
Bruces resin casting is very good and the chassis runs well after a few tweaks.
So next to undercoat and then fit the two together before painting proper.

A chassis for a Class 33.

 I received the chassis for my Class 33 just before Christmas.
Bruce Smetham made up the 3mm Society chassis for me and here it is.
Driving all axles (and therefore wheels) it shows how the kit goes together  and has the bonus of correct wheelbase .
Cruelly enlarged below, I will post some pictures of the body astride the chassis another time.

A new Q!

This is for East Boldre 4mm!
I couldn't resist this South Western Finecast kit on a brass chassis.
Picked up from Ray Heard at the Poole Exhibition, most of the one's I have owned previously had Tri-ang/Hornby or Hornby Dublo chassis in them.
This is different .!

Class 33 from Bruce Smetham.

After what seems an age, I have at last had time for a new post. Don't get too excited though because as usually happens something comes along to disturb the peace and quiet!
The 3mm Society meeting at West Byfleet was most enjoyable. I spent too much as usual and part of the spend was this, a Class 33 in resin by Bruce Smetham. He has promised me a working chassis as well so this one may run sooner than the Hymek.
Crisply cast bogie sides and buffers in white metal complement the resin body- should look good in early BR Green- can copy its big brother Heljan!

3mm Scale 08 0-6-0 Shunter.

Sorry again for the poor pictures- the model really deserves better.
Nigel has cut a Tri-ang TT 08 shunter in half, thinned it down and stuck it back together to create a really nice model.
Worsley Works supplied the chassis and Nigel has made his own outside cranks.
3mm doesn't have to be expensive.

A 3mm Bubblecar.

 Sorry for the grainey pictures- dont quite know what happened there.
Nigels 3mm Bubblecar is from a Worsley Works kit with a power bogie built specifically for this unit.
You may remember the Cullibo posts before All Fools Day?

An outbreak of Adams Radials.

 This is Colins 4mm version, unfortunately the motor for my 3mm effort is no good so advancement is stalled until a replacement can be obtained.
This , from a PDK kit I believe is coming on nicely and runs as good as it looks.
Later this week I hope to show some of Colins other skills!

Standard 4 2-6-4T.

Kindly given to me by Paul , this will form part of the motive power for Swanage and also East Boldre.
Sitting in front of the body is the chassis from Worsley Works.
It needs a bit of fettling before it will fit, plus wheels etc- I know I was one step ahead!

Class 47.

A Class 47, or Brush Type 4 in old money, made
 an appearance at our meeting. This has been aquired by Peter and appears to be a rework of the Tri-ang Class 31. It certainly has its motor and extended chassis.
Still some work to do, especially the roof but I think it captures the look of the prototype better than the cast whitemetal kit often seen.

Adams Radial-The build begins!

 Not much time recently but, at our January Dorset Group meeting i had the chance to do a few hours modelling whilst others of the group ncontinued the dismantling of Swanage.
Imust say that I lke this kit- once you get the frames square and the axles all in a line! Bit of a wake up call to learn new ways of doing things rather than the usual fold up or screw together efforts that I am used to. Anyway this is how far I got in about three hours- chassis together, motor fitted although it needs a bit of work to lower the motor so it goes inside the body- a small problem.

T'was the night before Christmas!

 All I want for Christmas is a Radial, all I want for c
etc. etc.I have always wanted an Adams Radial or
Class 0415 if you want.
As boasted earlier- I now have one- well a kit of
one anyway.
The body and chassis are excellent- and I am going
 to justify this one on my Southern Region layout
even if it means the truth is somewhat elastic!
No chat tomorrow-enjoy the card-
Happy Christmas to all.

Just to tempt you!

Branchlines were at Warley and they relieved me of most of my hard earned!
Having only one of these was a relief- or the wallets anyway.
I will keep you all in suspense as to the contents of this box but the lid is a bit of a give away!
Also supplied are gearboxes for 3mm scale plus chassis spacers plus a 9F- maybe next year.

Standards keep on coming.

Another impulse buy was a Standard 5 cast whitemetal body by BEC. Then I found the chassis for it- yes I know it says 12mm but is actually for 14.2.
I should have gained enough knowledge thinning down the 700 chassis to be able to tackle this one.
Another reason is that there was a lengthy article in Mixed Traffic on producing this engine so will have a good read of that first- If nothing else it does pay to become a member of the 3MM Society- someone has usually done it and made the mistakes for you!

Worsley Works BR Class 4 Standard Tank Chassis.

 Looking into the future, there is much that needs building for Swanage.
Already being made is the M7 and 700 Class 0-6-0. So the next will be a class 4 Standard Tank. The chassis is a fairly new offering from Allan and is etched to his usual high standards-sorry about the pun!
I have been promised a body so looking forward to the first of several Standard Class engines.

Just Pictures S&D Locos.

Somerset and Dorset come's to Teignford.

 John O'Dell kindly provided a S&D flavour to Teignford at the Blandford Museum's Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway 150th Anniversary Exhibition celebrating the opening of the railway from Blandford to Templecombe..
Such a busy weekend with much to se, I only took a few shots of John's locos posed on Teignford.
The lighting was poor so please excuse the poor images.
To the left is the icon of the S&D the 7F.

Spaceship 92203 poses by the cattle dock.

I really didn't want to give this back! A lovely 0-4-0 Pug seen sometime on the S&D. I really want one of these! It ran superbly.

Bullied 34107, Blandford Forum also put in an appearance- and also had it's picture taken with its big brothers nameplate.

Questions-Questions!

It's nice to be asked a question every now and then. Jim Barry, a fellow 3mm Society member asked for directions to the posts about 54/64/74XX Pannier Tanks.
Jim- i'm happy to oblige.
Some pictures to refresh first.

The basic shape.

Basic body added to footplate and society parts added.

The finished article.

Jim -search for rapid prototyping and all will be revealed.Plus search in the locos section.

M7 Build Continues.

 The next stage is to produce and fit the boiler.
This is simply a 13mm brass tube sourced from my local model shop- this one specialises in radio control aeroplanes but keeps a good stock of general modelling supplies.
Once cut to length, the area around the motor/gearbox needs to be cut away. Once this has been done the whole thing is aligned and the boiler soldered into place.
In hindsight, it would have been easier to thread a bolt through and tighten a nut to hold it all together in line- but as they say hindsight is a wonderful thing.
Now theboiler is attached, the body can be assembled onto the footplate.
One thing with this kit is that ,being etched in nickle silver, it does solder together well and the fit has been exact so far and looking at the rest I have no reason to doubt that the rest will also fit.
So on to the body next!

LSWR 700Class 0-6-0.

 Yes- it's Worsleys again!
I am, as has been said before, planning a Southern Region layout.
Already having an M7 and O2 under construction, this kit added another dimension to the planned loco stud.
Worsley Works kit's are, from my experience well thought out and cleanly etched.
The chassis for this is for 14.2 gauge but will be adapted for 12mm.
Etched in Nickle Silver, some of the castings have already been aquired from John Bateman- who also supplied the castings for both the M7 and O2's.