Southwold No. 4 Wenhaston (ish)

[ge_rik]

Just thought you might be interested in progress on my first semi-scratchbuild of a steam loco - the Southwold Railway No. 4 - Wenhaston.

The bodywork is almost complete - needs another rub-down and some cosmetic filling here and there before the top-coat goes on. There's still a fair bit of work to do under the footplate and the electrics need to be installed. She's going to be my first fully-fledged battery powered loco.

The donor for the chassis was a Zillertal U-class.

The wheel sizes were spot on for 15mm scale - though the wheel spacings are out on the trailing drivers. I had hoped there would be plenty of room inside for the batteries etc, but as it turns out I've had to make a few compromises to fit everything in. I've managed to keep the cab clear so there is some backhead detail (courtesy GRS).

The dome was my biggest problem. GRS supplied me with one for a Gauge 3 Jinty which was the right size but had a flat top. In the end, Mr. Sainsbury supplied one - from the top of a sun cream bottle - thanks to the spell of good weather!

The dome is very slightly over-size (would have been perfect in 16mm scale!).

Hope to finish her off over the coming week. I could really do with some bad weather to have an excuse to work inside!

Rik

 

[lone ranger]

Re:Southwold No. Wenhaston (ish)

Very smart Rik.

 

[yb281]

Re:Southwold No. Wenhaston (ish)

Loving that Rik, excellent.

 

[jameshilton]

Re:Southwold No. Wenhaston (ish)

Rik that looks superb Great bit of scratchbuilding indeed

 

[PaulRhB]

Re:Southwold No. Wenhaston (ish)

Yep recognise it, a very nice job
I've picked up some G3 domes for my 7/8ths steamers and today raided Wickes for a selection of different size pipes and fittings. I might have to redo the saddles though as the 3F boilers huge

 

[CoggesRailway]

Re:Southwold No. Wenhaston (ish)

Very nice, and you'll love having battery power too. I'm betting that once in service this will get a lot of running!

 

[mbiff]

Re:Southwold No. Wenhaston (ish)

likes it

 

[ge_rik]

Re:Southwold No. Wenhaston (ish)

Thanks guys.
She has the essence of the original which is what I was after. Can't wait to get her up and running, but the finishing-off jobs always seem to take longer than expected. Spent most of this afternoon just doing the handrails on the cab - fiddly but quite pleased with the outcome (as long as you don't look too closely). Might have a go at a Sharpie if this works out OK - though finding room for the batteries in one of those will be even more of a challenge!

Running session tomorrow - so she'll have to stay on the workbench for the day

Rik

 

[flyingsignalman]

Re:Southwold No. Wenhaston (ish)

Looks good Rik, what did you use to make the rest of the bodywork?

 

[mike]

Re:Southwold No. Wenhaston (ish)

fantastic loco.. tips my cap to you sir!!

 

[jimmielx]

Re:Southwold No. Wenhaston (ish)

Fantastic job Rik. That has a lot of character - love it! Looking forward to seeing it after the paintshop...

 

[whizzo]

Re:Southwold No. Wenhaston (ish)

wow that's great Rik , a really smart loco -looking forward to seeing - how and what batteries you use -as I am stuck myself on this bit - running a lgb motor regards Dave

 

[ge_rik]

Re:Southwold No. Wenhaston (ish)

Looks good Rik, what did you use to make the rest of the bodywork?

Hi Keith
Good to hear from you again - hope things are well with you.

Most of it is plasticard but the boiler came from the plastic tube from a super-large party popper - which just happened to be the right diameter (I seldom throw anything away because one day ..........). The smokebox was formed from a piece of one of those tubes of silicon sealant. That proved to be a bit of a b#@@*r as the plastic was resistant to all known adhesives - which presumably is why they use it to package all sorts of sealants.

The fittings are mostly from GRS - though as indicated above I had to source my own steam dome.

I made the main part of the body whilst away on holiday in a gite in France. We go there most years and I've now accumulated a supply of tools and adhesives there so we can just fly out with just cabin baggage. I'm no good at just sitting by the pool with a book so I use the two weeks to get some serious modelling done. The http://riksrailway.blogspot.com/2009/08/how-i-made-two-cattle-wagons.html < Link To two cattle wagons and the http://riksrailway.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/how-i-constructed-crane-wagon.html < Link To crane wagon were constructed during these hols. I like the challenge of having to construct something with minimal tools and whatever materials (usually two grades of plasticard) I have to hand. Mind you, I do get a few strange looks though as my case goes through the x-ray machine on the way home.

Rik
PS I'm putting together a blow-by-blow account on my blog - will upload it as soon as I've done the final paint-job.

 

[ge_rik]

Re:Southwold No. Wenhaston (ish)

wow that's great Rik , a really smart loco -looking forward to seeing - how and what batteries you use -as I am stuck myself on this bit - running a lgb motor regards Dave

Hi Dave
I've used one of those 12v blue Li-ions from China.

I had to strip off the covering to squeeze it in - but it means I can locate the on-off switch underneath one of the side tanks

You'll notice that I've packed the smokebox with .22 air rifle slugs. Every nook and cranny will be packed with lead to give it as much weight as possible.

Rik

 

[steven large]

Re:Southwold No. Wenhaston (ish)

wow that's great Rik , a really smart loco -looking forward to seeing - how and what batteries you use -as I am stuck myself on this bit - running a lgb motor regards Dave

Hi Dave
I've used one of those 12v blue Li-ions from China.

I had to strip off the covering to squeeze it in - but it means I can locate the on-off switch underneath one of the side tanks

You'll notice that I've packed the smokebox with .22 air rifle slugs. Every nook and cranny will be packed with lead to give it as much weight as possible.

Rik

hi mate...
so where did u get that battery from? link me if u can? hw long will it go flat for?

 

[ge_rik]

Re:Southwold No. Wenhaston (ish)

hi mate...
so where did u get that battery from? link me if u can? hw long will it go flat for?

Hi Steven
There are quite a few suppliers based in China who sell through eBay - eg

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/360657908...the battery will run for less time. Rik

 

[garrymartin]

Re:Southwold No. Wenhaston (ish)

It's great that you have taken the time to build a Southwold loco and a pity that the railway does not receive L & B type attention. What liveries are you considering for her Rik ? I have seen precious few colour pictures of Southwold locos and most models I could find pictures for seem to be either a bright royal blue or black.

 

[MRail]

Re:Southwold No. Wenhaston (ish)

Interesting to see you've been brave enough to strip off the covering.
I'd like to do similar with my two batteries.
After all the dire warnings we've seen, I've refrained so far.
The more recent packs have both leads switched and the LED is permanently on.
It would be good to disconnect it.

 

[ge_rik]

Re:Southwold No. Wenhaston (ish)

It's great that you have taken the time to build a Southwold loco and a pity that the railway does not receive L & B type attention. What liveries are you considering for her Rik ? I have seen precious few colour pictures of Southwold locos and most models I could find pictures for seem to be either a bright royal blue or black.

According to Mitchell & Smith (Branchline to Southwold), Wenhaston stayed throughout her life in dark green with light green and dark green lining - though I've not seen any evidence of lining in the photos I've found - eg this one on the Southwold Museum website. Either the lining is extremely subtle or Mitchell & Smith have got it wrong.

I'm going to paint her in my railway's colours (Brunswick Green with gold lining) on the basis that my railway bought her when the SR closed in 1929. That's one of the reasons I set the period for my railway as 1932 - so I can legitimately run ex-SR stock.

Rik

 

[ge_rik]

Re:Southwold No. Wenhaston (ish)

Interesting to see you've been brave enough to strip off the covering.
I'd like to do similar with my two batteries.
After all the dire warnings we've seen, I've refrained so far.
The more recent packs have both leads switched and the LED is permanently on.
It would be good to disconnect it.

I haven't seen the dire warnings - but then one of my philosophies on life is inspired by that memorable quote from Douglas Bader.

"Rules are for the obedience of fools and the guidance of wise men."​

Mind you, there are plenty of examples through my life which maybe show I don't possess a great deal of wisdom.

When one of my other blue batteries wouldn't take a charge I decided to strip it down and test each cell individually. That way I found one cell was duff and the other two were OK. The only way I could squeeze this battery in was to remove its covering so it was a case of needs-must.

Rik