N2

[Hardwicke]

I bought an GMR (nee Airfix) N2 from Scalefour North a few years ago with a part built Bradwell chassis.
I've been collecting missing components since. Recently I've built a High Level Road Runner+ to power it. Last week I reamed out the holes and yesterday soldered up each subframe intending to assemble it at the evening meeting of the East Midlands Area Group. Except I forgot my tweezer, so assembly was somewhat hampered. I did notice that the original chassis builder had put full beam compensation with all wheels floating, effectively making it two rocking bogies. Which posed the question "what the **** do I do with my half built gearbox?".
Lateral thinking and a good memory and there was an article in MRJ where full beam compensation rested on a bar on the rear of a portescap which was otherwise free to float on the axle. As the High Level gearbox didn't have a bar, I turned it around and soldered some scrap nickel silver (from the gearbox etch), to act as a stop for the pivot beam. Let's hope it works.

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[Hardwicke]

I fished out the Wizard/Mainly Trains brake block etch last night. A bit basic, but ok. No pull rods.

[Hardwicke]

I fished out the article in MRJ 20 as well, just to see which variety of N2 I have. I have another tucked away with a Bradwell chassis. I bought the loco in the early 80's. Chassis some 15 or more years ago ..

[Hardwicke]

Had a quick look and it's a non condensing loco 695(??). Only had a new whitemetal dome fitted.

[Hardwicke]

I'm stuck with the suspension on the N2. The original builder cut out all the horn guides on the chassis and put a flexi chas beam between the pony and the rear driver. No other suspension was with the bag of bits when I got it but it did have floating axleboxes. Should I go with diagram 77b in the relevant digest sheet and treat it as an 0-8-0 with all axles floating, or something else?

[Hardwicke]

Update.
I've found it has two equalizing beams on the two front axles, so three point suspension is maintained. I think the "H Project" in early MRJ used something similar. I wonder if the builder intended a Portescap on the front or middle axle? At least now there will be daylight under the boiler as I'm using the High Level gearbox on the rear axle. Onwards to the brake gear...

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[Hardwicke]

Brake blocks tinned with 243 solder. This is so the blocks don't drop off the hangers later.

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[Hardwicke]

Fiddly brake blocks successfully built. I have sore fingers today from filing away excess wire and solder.

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