Unfinished Business

Just over a year ago I posted about a new build loco project that had stalled in December 2020. It didn't restart until some point in 2021, where a set of channel frames eventually emerged and changes were made to the cab. Although I cannot pin down when the 2021 work took place, it may have co-incided with receipt of the Kato 11-109 chassis on which the loco sits, my first of the new generation chassis. However the loco then went back in the drawer until late February 2022

The 2021 work had given it channel frames rather than plate ones and also a revised cab. I think at that point I had realised that it actually looked too like it's inspiration (SMR No.3), so I made changes to overcome this. Drawing more inspiration from the RH&DR's 'Redgauntlet' I looked towards the original build of that loco, where it sported round spectacle windows on the cab front. My spares box revealed an A1 Models 009 etch that I had attempted (and failed) to convert to O9 but the cab front and roof were salvageable, and were incorporated into the rebuild. All the Feb 2022 onwards work has built on this theme.

As well as the A1 etches I have used parts from the MG Models fret of grilles, louvres, hinges etc to make the hinged bonnet side doors and front grille. Other bonnet details include a RT Models headlight, and filler caps made from Dapol Drewery coupling rod pins. The exhaust was in the spares box, used in a previous test build. The air horn on the cab roof is No.3's original fitting, I think either a Crownline or early A1 Models casting.

A look from the other side reveals that I had to cut the etched grille down and this side of the surround is in fact styrene strip. Under the channel frame the suspension/axlebox units are cribbed from the Black Dog O&K design but with a few differences. I had hoped to use the original axlebox mouldings from No.3 on here but the started to disintegrate on clean up so instead I dug further back in my modelling career to find some etched ones last used on a model I made in my youth. I had to strip layers of Humbrol gloss paint off to clean them up!

Around the back of the cab can be seen the 2021 modifications made to open out the rear window to follow the roofline. Another RT Models headlight features here, the position still echoing No.3. The coupler blocks on the buffer beams are scratchbuilt, but retrieved from the scrap box having been recovered from a previous project.

With the cab and driver figure removed, we can see the rudimentary detailing. The control panel is from the Dapol Drewery kit with a Peco track pin as a control. The gearbox is represented using a Drewery sandbox with another pin. The original sand dispenser forms another lever, purpose unknown! A modified wagon handbrake forms a (brake?) lever at the rear of the cab, and the driver has a thin cushion to sit on. I'd offer more comfort but headroom is limited a little, commercial figures won't fit so he is a Chinese Prieser copy suitable cut about.

Next stop is the paint shop...

Colin