[berth44]

Hello train peoples,just to show 'the boat people' that there is still life without the Endeavour (!!!)I thought that over my 10 day break it would'nt be all 'merry', I'll have a look at some of my 'train stuff' and see what I can get up to,but I'll have another beeeer first!
OK,so first up was an LMS Princess 6208 'Princess Helena Victoria'(Crimson Livery. It's a model that I picked up a few years ago from 'Cash Converters' and stuck it in my storage box. Out it came for inspection,it ran,but did not go anywhere!
It's got the motor in the tender, a quick inspection showed that the small gear wheel that's located between the two large drive gears was dislodged from the motor shaft. I took the motor apart and found it to be in perfect condition, actually, I'd say it was 'as new'as there was little or no wear on the brushes. I put it together again and before refitting the two large driving gears ,I gently tapped the little metal gear onto the motor shaft. The two gears were re-fitted and the loco re-united with the tender,low and behold,an absolutely perfect runner, no hint of sticking valve gear on the loco,perfectly 'in sinc' with the 'drive unit'.
All that was needed now was to remove the 'LMS' branding from the tender and the '6208' from the loco cabsides. This was done with the aid of a 'fibre (brush) pen' and my finest 'wet and dry' . It will be re-numbered and the 'late' BR crest adourned to the tender,that is,when I source these from the UK...later.
Next was a sister loco,' 46203 .The Princess Margaret Rose' This is an identical loco,again in 'Crimson' but this one had been 'super detailed' by me at some time, perhaps in Scotland (??) I think,it was one of the first ''full length' versions after the first effort by TRI-ANG...were we not easily satisfied way back then!!!
Anyhoo, why was it maroon liveried?? (crimson)I asked myself when in actual fact this loco was BR loco green (Brunswick)during my 'spotting days' in the early 60s, "hmmm" was the model originally green, cause I had 'air brushed' it obviously (going by the finish),perhaps to replicate the preserved loco..I don't know,too long ago to remember!!
It was a runner,and again very good,not quite as good as "Helina', a quick clean up fixed that. It now required some of the 'detailed' parts to be re-fitted,but something was beginning to click here, 'Helina' had to be detailed as well, locos were re-built to some extent and 'my Helena' displays the old style 'dome/top feed' arrangement that are 'as one' atop the boiler,whereas, I've re-modelled 'Margaret' with top feed and separate dome,this is correct pattern for a 60s loco...
So, in conclusion, the two model locos will exchange names and numbers, my detailed crimson loco will become 'Helina',her 'body' will be super detailed with the above mentioned 'tf and dome' for starters,other bits will be removed and added and finally re-painted' linedgreen'....this ends a tale of two Princesses,next will be after lunch...Dave

[SkyFire]

They sound like very nice locos. Can't wait to see the photos.

[berth44]

It's after lunch, had too much to eat! Right,the third and final 'Stanier',namely Coronation Pacific 46248 'City of Leeds' I've had this loco for a while as well, probably more than two years,ex Rails purchase and this was my first total 'failure' of a loco from them!
After removing it from the box,it was placed with tender on my 'test track',it ran for 1/2 an inch,and promptly fell on it's side,motion all 'sheezed up' ,disaster!
Rather than go through all the 'rig ma roll' of sending it back, I decided to fix it (hopefully) myself. This was a total strip down of the motion and removal of the driving wheel sets,the lot,in total, a complete 'works'job.
I put the problem down to the fact that the wheels were not 'quartered' properly, so I wondered as to why the loco was not tested before despatch like they normally are? Anyway, I 'fixed it', or so I thought at the time.
So, when she came out of 'hiding' I placed it on my 'test track' once more, no falling off this time,(phew)it run quite well,but there was a wee trace of 'notchy' running,not good, I didn't like that!
I removed all of the motion once again,everything off till it was an 0-6-0. I also removed the motor off it's mount on the chassis,but left it electrically connected so that it could run freely by itself for a brief 30 minutes or so at 'medium' power in both forward and reverse, to 'run-in' ...so to speak (ideal way if no layout or 'rolling thingy' is available!).
I had removed and cleaned the gears as well,I did not delve into the chassis this time,the wheels were all running perfectly 'in-sinc' as tested with the connecting rod still in place. This was, or should have been 'easy stuff',everything back in place as it was,but on the left side I noticed that the small 'fly crank/eccentric rod' was running quite strangely.(wonky!!)
It has a 'flat sided' hole through which a tiny bolt goes and this secures it to the centre wheel which also has a flat sided bit (I have not a clue what you call it!!),but in effect it stops the crank from 'free wheeling',,,, but here, it was doing just that! It seems that I had not fitted it correctly and it had in actual fact 'squashed and was broken!!'...in other words,using railway terminology...'failed!!'
Now I have a big problem,and incidentally,forgot to mention,she is running fine by the way,the notchy running is cured,but in effect the Walcharts valve gearing is rendered useless on the left side because of this tiny part and the gearing now reduced to just the 'coupling rod on that side!!
I can't have that,and I'm desperately looking for a spare,got heaps on old Tri-Ang/Hornby stuff,but it's all too big,so I thought 'I could make one of those?', 2 days later,2 efforts,one from brass... but it broke as per the 'original bit!!',' numero 2' was from a bit of left over 'n/silver fret...success!! thank you god for magnifying glasses to see and drill out tiny holes and for my file to file tiny holes square, and a vice (and fingers)to hold it......now it all looks right and works perfectly...who needs boats??, no working Walcharts on one of them to behold!!!!!!!!................. (end of saga).........Dave

P/S this loco,though the tender is connected permantly by two wires runs fine with the wires disconnected. I will re-connect them when in actual fact I have a lay out for better contact with the rails over points etc etc....................end of the end

[SkyFire]

Well done on the repair job.

[berth44]

Thanks Anthony,there is usually a way to 'fix' things!,but still, there is some work ahead,I didn't mention the fact that on the 46203 'Margaret',I removed her walcharts gear and 'swapped' it with 'Helena', reason?, I had 'slightly detailed' that as well with a bit of dubious filing of the slide rods, so that means 'technically' 'Helena' is almost done,just some additions to detail her pony and trailing 'trucks',bit of work on the 'crimson' paintwork,and she'll be right. I may seek out some brass name and number plates for her,they just add that 'extra' touch! 'Margaret' already has her plates.
To finish off 'City of Leeds' a set of brass plates would be good,but I'd really like to see her with a new identity.. 46254 'City of Stoke on Trent' she was my favourite and the most favoured loco for the 'Caledonian' and she was usually in a 'well kept' condition, probably my 'mostest times spotted' of the entire class!,,those were the days...sigh...Dave
Lastly there is a 4th Stanier 'pacific', 46233, 'Duchess of Sutherland', (preserved loco)again in my favourite 'crimson', she is somewhere amongst my collection,and I know for a fact she is a 'bad runner' this is one falure with a tender drive,but I think the real problem(if I can remember) lies in her gear,it was a hit and miss affair,sticking all the while as it was being 'propelled' by the tender!,it will be 'fixed' when it's her time.....Dave

[bluedot0]

Have a look at Fox Transfers, just search on "City of Stoke" it brings a few items up, should have what u need.......Phil

[berth44]

Got it Phil, (great minds think alike!!)done and dusted,got plates for Princess Helena when I was at it! Funny thing, you can no longer order paint,I thought I'd get a tin of Crimson when I was at it...not no more...bugger bugger!!......Dave

[berth44]

OK,the butchery and detailing is proceding on my 'Ex' Princess Helena Victoria. This only started yesterday, (Sunday)I thought I'd 'start' as it was a wee bit overcast and the wife was away to 'DFO' with her friend! (when tha cat's away!!)
The loco body was just 'sitting there' so it was ready for the knife. Firstly, off came everything that could be removed without surgery, namely, hand rails and 'knobs', nameplates,not much,but you got to start somewhere!
As I said previously,this loco (being early LMS) is fitted with a combined 'top feed and dome', So, this is first on the agenda,I'll file off the 'dome' part of the top feed,with a bit of careful filing here it should leave me with a single 't/f' with only it's base requiring to be filled where is meets the boiler. I did that, but it might benefit a touch of 'plasticard', I'll see how it looks after an 'undercoat' of grey.
Next, I had previously sorced out an old 'what's left of' Airfix 'Royal Scot' body, the dome is there still and it looks the part, just got to cut it out and shape it, I'm always thinking here,is it better and easier to just cut out a hole in the boiler, or, file the dome down to shape and just sit it atop the boiler?,the later is by far the quickest and easiest solution,but 'what if' I arse up filing up the hole??..I opted to file the 'dome'..Just as well,as I thought positiong it 'centraly' between the firebox top and' top feed' was right and glued it using two part appoxy glue, "oops" this was wrong!
A quick look at live video on 'U Tube' showed it to be just forward of the firebox top,luckily the glue hadn't set,so it was put where it should be, no 'exact' spot,as I have no plans, by the old 'eye' ..of the beholder,and that was me!!
The boiler top was 'cleaned up' with 'wet and dry' and using 'normal' plastic glue this time, the 'dome' was fitted in the 'correct' position then 'wet and dried'...it looks as if it were always there!!
This completes the addition of parts for this 'era' Princess. What's left is what you might say,'improving' and detailing. The two 'smokebox/cylinder steam pipes are the 'wrong shape', immersing them in boiling water might allow me to get the correct bend into these, but they only broke!! These were fixed using the well tried 'drill and pin' effort....plus a wee bit extra ! I'm 'happy' with them, but I feel a 'scratch build effort' would have provided a better result, once 're-painted' with a 'matt' black, and a bit of very slight bit of 'weathering', they will be fine,at least they look the part, and a very distinctive part of this loco they are to!
Attention was now given to the 'pipe' that runs from the cab to the smokebox, this is moulded on by Hornby,so it was cut off and replaced by a brass rod held in by small 'eyelet' things I got out of (what I call) my 'South African' box (my deceased best mates box of goodies, think of it, and it's there~!!) It was bent to shape where it required to be and fitted to a 'plasticard box' at it's cab end. Additional 'copper wire' was introduced to it to represent at least the main pipe run,other bits will be fitted in place after it gets a coat of 'green' paint!
Right,that's my progress so far, it's now ready for an undercoat,after that I'll look again and see what needs done,more later,watch this space (if you want to!!)........Dave

[SkyFire]

Sounds like it's going well, any chance of some photos. ?

[bluedot0]

Your a busy little bee.....there is nothing like giving a "princess" a facelift.....Phil

[berth44]

Yip, I'm 'fer' happy Anthony with my work but I really should take photos, I know that, but I can't find my camera, that's the honest truth! (it's not lost,it's in the 'hoose' shumwer) and I don't know how to get photos onto my MAC anyway,I'm what you call totally useless with computers,and yet, the last forum I was forever posting photographs,I call that 'my PREMAC time!'...........Anyhoo, if I do, they will be of the finished loco and then one will have to compare for ones self the dif between an 'out of the box' and Dave's 'changeling'...perhaps a new Bloggy thingy, called 'Spot a la deeferonce..ah ha!"could be started??? ..and sorry, (if there is) there will be no prizes!!!......Dave

[berth44]

"Oh oh" ah forget to mention,I found the 'Duchess of Sutherland",it's intact,unfortunately, she's a non runner. It has an 'older' style motor in the tender, (I definately brough this one over from Scotland, so it's probably 30 year old or so!)so after I finish the above,I'll get it stripped down and see whats what.
The valve gearing is a bit 'dicky sticky' as well and it has trouble even free wheeling!!, a wee bit work is surely required on this one............Dave

[SkyFire]

Is that number 4 then, I've lost count. - lol

Good luck with it

[berth44]

Yip Anthony,you are kowekt, 2 Pwincess cwass and 2 Duchesssssssssss...I'm thinking that I must have a gween Duchess,so another will be poychased frae Wails of Shoyfeild at a waiter date,so I'll be a lookin' one up to she wot ish availeeeble el cheapo...
Meantime back at the ranch,I found some 'Tamiya grey primer' and emptied what was left in the can on the 'Princess Helena',more or less to see how my mods went, I was very happy with the result,just a wee bit of wet and dry work where I had cut off the part of the top feed, why I bothered? ,I don't know, because I more or less made a new one, (feed)...not 'completely new',I reckoned I had to make it a wee bit 'taller' so I cut a measured bit of 'N/Silver' to lay along the top of the top feed, to top it off..so to speak!! This increased it's hight by a scale 3 inches,not much I know,but I did it anyway.(self satisfaction??)
Now,one might be thinking,it'll not look right,"hum??"...dead right,so I cut and shaped two bits of 'plasticard' for the front and back of the 'feed',then spent most of last night (while watching the telly) filing,'wet and drying' to make these '3' parts to look as one..I also removed a couple of boiler bands that I felt were a bit too 'thick' when I was at it.
Next on the agenda, I'll remove the thing (blob) on the buffer beam that's supposed to be a coupling 'hook' and fit a scale one in it's place, If I can find a pair of 'sprung oval buffers' I'll fit these as well. A pair of 'grab handles' will be fitted on the front part of the footplate,I'll also need 2 steps for here as weel, probably need to make these from 'plasticard/brass.
The smokebox will require a new 'dart', this will be made from a handrail knob and wire, and lastly 4 lamp irons fitted, (staples) and that should complete the detailing for the front end...I think,maybe a couple of holes drilled for the footplate 'lifting lugs', then I think it'll be time for the paint shop.
The last thing that I'll do to complete the 'transformation' on the loco will be the 're-naming' and numbering,glazing for the cab and a bit of 'real copper' fitted in the cabin to make it look a wee bit more realistic, 'Fred' will be the driver and 'Barny' his fireman...maybe I'll use one of those LEDs that I bought for the Endeavour to give my 'firebox' a nice yellowish 'glow?/!'
Fortunately the tender is OK, I might cut out the 'plastic' coal and get some 'real' stuff in,but as it's 'tender drive' she'll always be 'full!!'
I'm not sure if I'll line her out, I'm thinking that at this late stage in her life, I'll send her into Crew works for her last overhaul. She will have a nice new Brunswick green paint job,but seeing it's her 'last' ever before withdrawal,shell have no 'lining' This was common practise it seems, I've seen it for real on 'other' locos,she'll look quite good I reckon??
Lining out 'may' come later on if I can get a lining sheet from the UK...my Edinburgh pal will do the leg work!!, more or likely from 'Harburn Hobbies',now where's that 20 quid note I got for Chistmas from the Mother in Law??
Lastly, I've some detailing to finish off on the chassis and that should be it,who needs ships,these 850,000 words (cough) have been for just 'one' loco,(more or less) but you know me......and luckily, there are plenty more to go!!!.............Dave

[bluedot0]

I put more into my trains than ships as well Dave.......tho not in as many words as you.....but I don't have any Staniers to work on either, a couple of Gresley's and a Riddles or two and maybe a few hundred diesels....

But it sounds like your creating another masterpiece my friend, I await with much anticipation for more words.......Phil