Brassmasters Blk5 45232

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grovenor-2685
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Re: Brassmasters Blk5 45232

Postby grovenor-2685 » Tue Jun 16, 2020 5:06 pm

Regards
Keith
Grovenor Sidings

Dave Holt
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Re: Brassmasters Blk5 45232

Postby Dave Holt » Tue Jun 16, 2020 7:04 pm

This is a Brassmasters kit and it, together with a fully rivetted version I have yet to build, are both entirely etched in nickel silver.
I think my previous Black 5 came with an earlier, brass version.
Not sure about current production, but an LMS 4F inside valvegear etch, shown as N/S on the web site, was supplied in brass. So perhaps they only use brass now?
Dave.

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Horsetan
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Re: Brassmasters Blk5 45232

Postby Horsetan » Tue Jun 16, 2020 9:35 pm

grovenor-2685 wrote:The website says brass!


Just looked at mine. All n/s.

Maybe the next one I buy will be brass.
That would be an ecumenical matter.

triumph3
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Re: Brassmasters Blk5 45232

Postby triumph3 » Wed Jun 17, 2020 11:42 am

When we produced these large LMS kits they were brass but later ones we did in Nickel solver as it solders much better. However the cost of N/S continued to increase so we reverted to Brass.
The 3 different overlays enabled us to offer the 3 variants as simply as possible. The tender chassis suspension system has also been changed, the early version used compensation beams but now uses a CSB system.

David

Dave Holt
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Re: Brassmasters Blk5 45232

Postby Dave Holt » Sat Jun 20, 2020 2:03 pm

The tender body is now finished except, perhaps, for filling in the half etched bend lines at the turn-ins inside the upper sides. I'll use filler if that happens.
Finishing touches include brake and scoop handles, bulkhead coping strips, vents, scoop dome, filler and lifting lugs on the rear tank top and reinforcing angles and the three lower lamp irons on the rear edge of the footplate.
BM_Blk5_45284_150.JPG

BM_Blk5_45284_151.JPG

BM_Blk5_45284_152.JPG

Back to the chassis, now.
Dave.
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johndarch
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Re: Brassmasters Blk5 45232

Postby johndarch » Sat Jun 20, 2020 4:30 pm

Very nice Dave. Let's hope all your troubles are now behind you.

Dave Holt
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Re: Brassmasters Blk5 45232

Postby Dave Holt » Sat Jun 20, 2020 4:56 pm

Thanks, John, I certainly hope so.
Just looking at the rather larger than life photos, I've just spotted blobs of excess solder on top of the two lower LH steps which I hadn't seen on the model. Now suitably dealt with.
Dave.

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barrowroad
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Re: Brassmasters Blk5 45232

Postby barrowroad » Sat Jun 20, 2020 6:39 pm

Very nice Dave keep up the good work

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Re: Brassmasters Blk5 45232

Postby Dave Holt » Mon Jun 29, 2020 9:46 pm

Thanks, Robin.
Very modest progress since the last entry. The front and rear buffer beam overlays have been fitted, along with the front rubbing block and buffer housings (w/m buffers still to do), rear buffer housings and coupling hook. There will be no shackle as I use Alex Jackson couplings. Buffer heads will be fitted after painting.
BM_Blk5_45284_153.JPG

BM_Blk5_45284_154.JPG

No modelling tomorrow as I'm back working on 35006, P&O, at Toddington (GWSR). First working party since lockdown and loads of risk assessment conditions to comply with.
Dave.
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Re: Brassmasters Blk5 45232

Postby Dave Holt » Thu Jul 02, 2020 8:32 pm

Not much progress, but the loco and tender are now connected. The loco and tender kits are from different periods of design and manufacture and the adjustable draw bar supplied with the loco is far too long for the later tender. The fault really lies with the tender because the draw bar pivot is far too close to the buffer beam whereas the earlier tenders were about scale in this respect. The more recent tender is not easily modified to correct this aspect, so the only solution was to make a hybrid draw bar using the etched bar at the loco end and a new part, incorporating a formed eye, made from 0.8 mm brass wire at the tender end. It took a couple of goes soldering the two pieces together to get just the right pivot centre distance so that the rubbing blocks touch but allow the required movement between loco and tender. Although the gap between loco and tender is almost scale, the fall plates on the loco do not land on the front platform on the tender, so some further work is required on this aspect.
BM_Blk5_45284_155.JPG

Dave.
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Re: Brassmasters Blk5 45232

Postby Dave Holt » Fri Jul 10, 2020 12:32 pm

Four small steps for a man, a giant leap forward for Holtkind.
The tender has now acquired four sets of steps and all the springs and axleboxes and is beginning to look the part. Intermediate buffers and hoses still to do. Buffer heads will be fitted after painting.
BM_Blk5_45284_156.JPG

BM_Blk5_45284_157.JPG

BM_Blk5_45284_158.JPG

BM_Blk5_45284_159.JPG

Dave.
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johndarch
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Re: Brassmasters Blk5 45232

Postby johndarch » Fri Jul 10, 2020 5:11 pm

The finishing line is in sight at last Dave. Keep up the good work.

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barrowroad
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Re: Brassmasters Blk5 45232

Postby barrowroad » Fri Jul 10, 2020 6:55 pm

Nice job Dave, it really looks the part.

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Serjt-Dave
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Re: Brassmasters Blk5 45232

Postby Serjt-Dave » Sun Jul 12, 2020 5:09 pm

Excellent work there Dave. With a name like would it be anything else? LOL. It's a shame it didn't rib off on me. How are you with MERG stuff?

All Best and Keep Safe

Dave

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Re: Brassmasters Blk5 45232

Postby Dave Holt » Mon Jul 13, 2020 8:49 pm

Vacuum and steam heat bits have been added to the rear. The kit provides W/M castings which I thought might be rather vulnerable, especially the vacuum stand pipe, seeing as it stands up above the top of the chassis.
Home made versions have been made from brass wire and various other bits of brass and N/S.
Photo is slightly out of focus but is the best I could do.
BM_Blk5_45284_160.JPG

I'm still pondering if I can make the intermediate buffers sprung or just fix them rigid, as intended by the kit.
Dave.
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JFS
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Re: Brassmasters Blk5 45232

Postby JFS » Tue Jul 14, 2020 8:05 am

Dave Holt wrote:...
I'm still pondering if I can make the intermediate buffers sprung or just fix them rigid, as intended by the kit.
Dave.


I am currently building a Finney Drummond tender and pondering exactly the same question. It is someting I think "ought" to be worthwhile.

That said, the the only solutions I have come up with so far involve an hour or so standing at the lathe ...

Great job Dave,
Best wishes,

Dave Holt
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Re: Brassmasters Blk5 45232

Postby Dave Holt » Tue Jul 14, 2020 7:36 pm

Thanks, Howard.
Not having a lathe, I'd be relying on various diameters of brass tube. A further complication, with this tender, is that the drag beam is a closed box with a depth of about 4 mm to contain the buffer mechanism. My first thoughts of drilling through the back to take a tail-rod have been dashed as the inner frames are directly in line with the buffer housings. So, the sprung buffers would have to be completely self contained but still give a reasonable travel.
All that said, I recall putting sprung intermediate buffers on my WD 2-8-0 only to find the heads came off the side of the buffing pads on the loco on tight-ish reverse curves and then locked the loco and tender together and causing derailments.
Perhaps I'm just trying to be too clever?
Dave.

Steve4RoseGrove
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Re: Brassmasters Blk5 45232

Postby Steve4RoseGrove » Tue Jul 14, 2020 9:45 pm

Perhaps some of the 'mechanism' can be within the buffer head - if it's a bit like a bullet cartridge? I'm thinking of 2 of these back-to-back, one a sliding fit in the other, with a spring in the middle. Need something to retain the buffer part. I need to draw it up. If you need anything turning I can supply, or we could do it at the L&WMRS when we feel safe to do so as there is a decent lathe there now....
P.S. Nice job you're turning out here - as usual!
Steve

Dave Holt
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Re: Brassmasters Blk5 45232

Postby Dave Holt » Tue Jul 14, 2020 11:39 pm

Steve,
Thanks for your thoughts and offer of lathe work. Having looked again, I now find that not only are the buffer housings in line with the inner frames but the frame locating tabs protrude into the drag beam box by a millimetre or so, significantly reducing the space available for the buffers.
As a result, I've decided to fit the fixed W/M buffers provided. Even so, I've had to saw a slot in the end so that the buffers push in far enough to give clearance to negotiate curves and point work.
Dave.

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Re: Brassmasters Blk5 45232

Postby Dave Holt » Wed Jul 15, 2020 10:30 am

An executive decision was made - fixed W/M buffers!
BM_Blk5_45284_161.JPG

BM_Blk5_45284_162.JPG

The tender is now complete and has temporarily been connected to the loco. The latter has had some fine strips added to the rear edge of the fall plates, to bridge the gap to the tender.
BM_Blk5_45284_163.JPG

BM_Blk5_45284_164.JPG

Still got to fit locating pins to the loco number and shed plates but, otherwise, I think it's finished ready for painting.
Here is the finished loco, face to face with a later class mate.
BM_Blk5_45284_165.JPG

Dave.
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barrowroad
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Re: Brassmasters Blk5 45232

Postby barrowroad » Wed Jul 15, 2020 12:54 pm

Looks fabulous Dave, great work

Robin

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Mike Garwood
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Re: Brassmasters Blk5 45232

Postby Mike Garwood » Wed Jul 15, 2020 2:53 pm

Wonderful work Dave.

Mike

triumph3
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Re: Brassmasters Blk5 45232

Postby triumph3 » Wed Jul 15, 2020 3:48 pm

Dave, excellent work. Presumably you are doing the weathering of the chassis and then I can paint, line and weather the loco and tender.

We can meet up for a handover of the loco.

David

Dave Holt
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Re: Brassmasters Blk5 45232

Postby Dave Holt » Wed Jul 15, 2020 11:25 pm

Thanks for the kind comments, gents.
David, I'll be in touch shortly.
Dave.

Mark Tatlow
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Re: Brassmasters Blk5 45232

Postby Mark Tatlow » Thu Jul 16, 2020 1:45 pm

They do look rather fine Dave.

Given that they are not supposed to be glamorous engines, I do think the Black 5s were very tidy engines.

Is the coal load on your painted black 5 out of gauge? Best take my barrow to the first tight bridge it goes under!
Mark Tatlow


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