D9500 class 14

[Hardwicke]

As I'm happily back into active modelling again I looked at my long abandoned Construction Models class 14. Not the best kit and one that didn't take on best practice at the time of introduction. I think someone took over the etches.
A quick look at the chassis for which I've adapted it for P4 beam compensation and driving off the drive crank so all axles float and I realised my deficiencies at soldering years ago...
It never worked properly but when I first built it I proudly showed my mum. It looked amazing in raw etches brass. If I can't get it right this time I'll use the MOK chassis I found in a sale bin once.

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[Hardwicke]

And now the offending hornblock is out.

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[Enigma]

I had a Constructeon (spelling? Can't remember how exactly!) kit BITD. I think I may have bought it from a shop they had? I had already built an MOK one and, once I really studied the Constructeon one, I realised it wasn't anywhere near as good. It went on a 'pre-loved items' sales stand at a show. Perhaps you may have bought it Mike?!

[Hardwicke]

I had a Constructeon (spelling? Can't remember how exactly!) kit BITD. I think I may have bought it from a shop they had? I had already built an MOK one and, once I really studied the Constructeon one, I realised it wasn't anywhere near as good. It went on a 'pre-loved items' sales stand at a show. Perhaps you may have bought it Mike?!

Paul, I seem to remember I bought it directly from them somehow. It said it had all parts for industrial versions but had none, missed the lifting holes in the buffer beam, missed the "lip" at the front of the footplate, missed the mesh behind the footsteps, the etching was basic, even for the 80's, the window surrounds were too thick and the frames were two slabs of thick brass. They were based in Ripley town centre, Derbyshire and I went in and let them know they were misinterpreting the kit by the description on the box. I can't remember his reaction. I was never able to find the MOK one as they ceased making it and went 0 gauge soon after. I do have their 08 and 47 to build though and a 40 in green. I saw a n/s chassis on a second hand stall at Barrow Hill and snapped it up for a few pounds. It's too narrow as is the Constructeon one (00). Oh the joys of trying to make something out of a sow's ear. At least it's not whitemetal MTK...

[Hardwicke]

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[Hardwicke]

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[Hardwicke]

Porter's Cap gearbox if I remember.
The jackshaft cranks were white metal set to incorrect Romford crankpin settings. After a lot, and I mean A LOT of messing about including semi melted casting and oversized holes, I made new brass rears, bushed to the Sharman crankpins and then the whitemetal was fixed on as cosmetic. It worked, but obviously the error on the horn block meant it didn't run well. I think I really cut my teeth on this brass kit.
After this I had the confidence ( ) to scratch build an unrebuilt West Country chassis under an Airfix body. The cylinders have dropped off as I didn't use decent glue but it pulls. Boy does it pull. Large Portescap power. A Branchlines 76000 was next, built in my student digs. All stored away presently.

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[Enigma]

My MOK loco drives on the flycranks so the 'front' 2 axles have side beams and the 'rear' has a central pivot. I made my own flycranks from 1/16" brass, drilling them as a soldered together pair on the lathe to suit the Gibson crank throw. I initially tried the Gibson flycranks but they kept splitting so gave up on them. A Sagami can motor (plenty of room for it!), a Stelfox lost-wax brass 'gearbox' and Romford 40:1 gears and it runs (or at least it did last time I tried it some time ago!) very well. Saw action on my 'Lower Pandy' layout back in the 90's. Not had a layout since to suit it. Rather large for 'Enigma Engineering'! (And 'Braynerts Sidings' - which will hopefully be appearing at Wakefield Show Sept 30/Oct 1)

[Horsetan]

Late to the party on this one, but Class 14's did have a narrower chassis, with the hornblock guides outside rather than inside the frames.

Nowadays, Judith Edge kits has quite a nice Class 14 chassis etch available for about 35 quid, and that could be used in place of the Constructeon one.

Being completely unaware that MOK had ever produced a Class 14, I went down a different rabbit hole and acquired a Mercian Models Class 14 kit.....