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Re: Brassmasters Duchess test build

Posted: Wed Nov 20, 2019 3:50 pm
by best33
grovenor-2685 wrote:
The photo below shows the way I do it.

Or rather it shows the end result :) More information on the way its done would be very useful.
Regards

The slot is put in the axle on the outer edge around 2mm deep using a milling machine but it could be done with a saw it just won’t look as tidy. The wheels are fitted and when the quartering is satisfactory the slot in the axle guides the drill to produce the slot in the wheel hub. Then you push a pin in. This method allows the wheels to be removed easily from the axle if necessary.

Re: Brassmasters Duchess test build

Posted: Wed Nov 20, 2019 7:11 pm
by jim s-w
There’s more pictures of progress so far now on the Brassmasters site

http://www.brassmasters.co.uk/Coronation_pre-production_build.htm

Re: Brassmasters Duchess test build

Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2019 7:04 pm
by jim s-w
I've moved away from the loco for a while as the next stage of the build is the cylinders and I don't have the castings i will need for them just yet. So attention has shifted to the tender.

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The first stage is the outside sub frames - a simple box really. The kit allows for springing or internal compensation. I've opted for springing.
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Underside of the tender showing the sub frame, brake gear and water scoop gear. A little fiddly but its been fun to build so far.
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Re: Brassmasters Duchess test build

Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2019 10:35 pm
by jim s-w
The tender chassis is now effectively done - Not a lot else to say really so here's some pictures.

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Right hand side

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Rear end

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Front, or loco end.

Re: Brassmasters Duchess test build

Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2019 9:26 am
by JackBlack
Looks awesome. Really nice clean job. Presumably the holes in the back of the axlebox castings allow for the movement of the axles? Or you had to grind them out?

Cheers, Nick

Re: Brassmasters Duchess test build

Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2019 5:41 pm
by jim s-w
Hi nick

I needed to open them up. The axle boxes and springs are separate but a couple of seconds with a round burr in a minidrill is all that was needed.

Cheers

Jim

Re: Brassmasters Duchess test build

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2020 11:24 am
by jim s-w
Moving on to the tender body...

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Brassmasters supply a basic sub structure with different overlays for the 3 main types of tender found behind a Duchess.

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This is the coal chute and front bulkhead assembly.

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The 2 sub assemblies test fitted together.

Re: Brassmasters Duchess test build

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2020 8:03 pm
by Dave Holt
Jim,
Good progress with the body. It looks as if the sloping base to the coal space does not extend right back to the rear bunker bulkhead. Is there another piece to bridge the gap, part of the coal pusher perhaps? Or is just an illusion?
Dave.

Re: Brassmasters Duchess test build

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2020 11:37 pm
by jim s-w
Hi Dave

You are right. The coal pusher is a 3d print. I guess it fills the gap but haven’t got that far yet.

While you’re on. How heavy is a Brassmasters stanier tender without additional weight? If I secure the front bulkhead I won’t be able to get back Inside later unless I cut a hole in the floor.

Cheers

Jim

Re: Brassmasters Duchess test build

Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2020 11:44 am
by Dave Holt
Sorry, Jim, I don't know the weight. I can't remember if I have added any extra ballast to the Brassmasters tenders I've built in the past, but it shouldn't require much to deflect the CSB wires a bit. You always could place weight in the coal space, if needed, unless you're modelling it empty,that is.
Dave.

Re: Brassmasters Duchess test build

Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2020 11:52 am
by jim s-w
Thanks Dave

I might end up cutting a hole in the floor anyway as I haven’t decided where the decoder will end up yet. The tender is 68 grams so far with a lot of stuff still to be added.

Re: Brassmasters Duchess test build

Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2020 5:04 pm
by jim s-w
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Progress on my tender build continues. This is the front end with some of the detail started.

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And the rear end.

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Inside showing the fire iron tunnel and and the coal pusher which is a 3d print.
Below are the some images of the tender in its nearly complete state. There's still a few bits I need such as the ladder etc but focus will now shift back to the loco.

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Re: Brassmasters Duchess test build

Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2020 10:59 pm
by Horsetan
Going well there :thumb

Hopefully the kit will be available some time next year.

Re: Brassmasters Duchess test build

Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2020 1:08 pm
by Mark Tatlow
I have just plonked some rather nice (and in a pair of cases unusual) pictures of the early Coronations on my external blog:

https://highlandmiscellany.com/2020/07/ ... mment-4563

Re: Brassmasters Duchess test build

Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2020 4:22 pm
by jim s-w
Great stuff Mark.

Re: Brassmasters Duchess test build

Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2021 1:54 pm
by jim s-w
After a longer gap than  would have liked attention had returned to my Duchess build.

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Starting with the lower firebox and damper operating rod.

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Next up the brakes. As can be seen clearance is kind of on the minimal side.  Theres no springs fitted yet either so the chassis sill sit a little higher than is seen here.

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The motion brackets. Again theres not a lot of clearance between the bracket and the leading driving wheel.

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The chassis so far.

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Moving on the next stage is the footplate, seen here in its assembly jig.

Re: Brassmasters Duchess test build

Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2023 2:20 pm
by jim s-w
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Footplate with mounting bolts and Splashers in place and tided up ready for separating from the jig.

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But before I can do that need to fit the cab, firebox, boiler and smoke box so that theres something to give it a degree of rigidity.  This is the basic cab assembly.

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And inside mounted to the footplate.  The seats are posable!

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The cab roof.  This builds up on its own mini jig too.

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Underside from the front end.

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The main super structure comes in 3 parts cast in resin.  The firebox and boiler. The smokebox saddle and the smoke box.  There are 3 types. A round single chimney.  The flattened top double chimney from the ex streamlined locos and a round double chimney as seen here.

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The body removed from the jig, tidied up and fitted to the chassis.

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Finally - I couldn't resist!

Re: Brassmasters Duchess test build

Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2023 3:07 pm
by Chas Levin
Wonderful looking work Jim, as others have said.

I'm also very much enjoying the photos in themselves, so may I compliment you on your photography techniques? These pictures are a pleasure to look at...

Re: Brassmasters Duchess test build

Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2023 11:37 am
by Dave Holt
Hi Jim.
The test build has suddenly come on in leaps and bounds. Now i see the relevance of out PMs - as a matter of interest, how did you separate the footplate from the jig?
From the photos, it looks like there's a slight gap between the footplate and firebox. Is that an illusion, due to the boiler unit not yet being permanently attached or something else?
Dave.

Re: Brassmasters Duchess test build

Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2023 7:44 pm
by jim s-w
Thanks both.

It's an optical illusion Dave The gaps you can see are between the underside of the far footplate and the frames. The footplate jig removal was dead easy and worked perfectly. I think I'd convinced myself it would be a problem based on nothing at all!

Re: Brassmasters Duchess test build

Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2023 5:34 pm
by jim s-w
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Just a little update this time - Been fitting some of the details to the body.  Bogie wheels are temporary as I was doing a little testing (read that as shuffling it around on Brettell Road).  I never realised how big these actually are.  Right on the limit of the loading gauge!

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Head on view

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Left hand side. - In addition to the body details Ive also added the sandpipes and springs. The latter in both senses as I've fitted the main functional springs to the model as well as the cosmetic ones behind the wheels

Re: Brassmasters Coronation test build

Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2023 8:53 pm
by Chas Levin
Very impressive looking!

Re: Brassmasters Coronation test build

Posted: Fri Mar 03, 2023 1:59 am
by Philip Hall
Nice work Jim, as usual. Intrigued by the little turned ‘knobs’ on the ends of the smokebox door handrail. How did you make these and then fit the handrail into the handrail knobs?

Philip

Re: Brassmasters Coronation test build

Posted: Fri Mar 03, 2023 9:02 am
by jim s-w
Well spotted. The handrails are 0.4mm wire and the end bits are just a teeny bit of 0.6mm tube soldered over the end (the second one with the handrail in place on the smoke box front ). Nothing clever ;)

Re: Brassmasters Duchess test build

Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2023 10:43 pm
by Horsetan
jim s-w wrote:Image
Just a little update this time - Been fitting some of the details to the body.  Bogie wheels are temporary as I was doing a little testing (read that as shuffling it around on Brettell Road).  I never realised how big these actually are.  Right on the limit of the loading gauge!

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Head on view

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Left hand side. - In addition to the body details Ive also added the sandpipes and springs. The latter in both senses as I've fitted the main functional springs to the model as well as the cosmetic ones behind the wheels


Looking forward to this kit coming out next year or 2025. Well worth waiting for.

The use of disc bogie wheels reminds me of Deutsche Bundesbahn's re-boilered 03.10 pacifics, some of which had those.