Thursday, 31 December 2009
Webmasters Apologies
Thursday, 27 August 2009
Donald and Douglas - Complete!
Wednesday, 19 August 2009
Bachmann Thomas and Percy Upgrade!
Saturday, 8 August 2009
Thursday, 6 August 2009
Douglas - 40% Done
At current, Douglas is 40% done, the body is having splashers, handrails and cab roof fitted, so it won't be too long before the main part of the model is done, once that is done, i can then make a start on building the tender, which is an easy job and won't take very long for me to do.
Pics will be posted later of the models current progress..
Wednesday, 5 August 2009
Update on new model projects and new layout
Firstly, Douglas is halfway near completion, the boiler, cab and smokebox have been built and the chassis mounted to the scratchbuilt runningplate, so i am hopin to have Douglas completed by the end of next week, if all goes well with the model.
Secondly, the new layout i designed has began construction and all the trackwork has been pinned to the baseboard and tested. All tracks and sidings work nicely with full power, so i have only to solder the wire to the rails to keep power permanently running through the rails.
The proposed layout i am modelling is Elsbridge from the first series of Thomas The Tank Engine, the station has some nice features to it, such as the footbridge, canopy and the road where Thomas and Bertie raced each other. I am modelling the layout using pictures i printed off the computer for reference, and adding some of my own details to the rest of the layout once Elsbridge has been built and detailed.
I have decided that once Douglas is complete, i will move on to my next new project, which will be a re-model of my old Rosie. The model will be made from an old playcraft 0-4-0 mould, or, i might just scratchbuild her completely, but i am waiting for a good friend of mine to send me a list of parts i need in order to make her.
Well, that's all for now, will keep you updated as soon as more progress is made.
bye for now
regards
The Thomas Modeller
Sunday, 14 June 2009
Douglas - Work in Progress!
I have all the parts i need to start Douglas, apart from some Slaters Mek-Pak bonding glue, which i have currently run out of, and need to get some more, which i will be able to do by next weekend, so i will have more news on the project then.
Keep checking back often for more news and previews of new projects planned.
Wednesday, 27 May 2009
Boco (D5702) - Complete!
Tuesday, 12 May 2009
Boco (D5702) - Work In Progress!
(from The Railway Magazine, January 1959)
Twenty 1,200-h.p. mixed-traffic diesel-electric locomotives, Nos. D5700-D5719, are being supplied by Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. Ltd. to the London Midland Region of British Railways. All are being allocated to Derby and will be used on passenger and freight trains in the Midland Division.
The mechanical parts are being manufactured by Metropolitan-Vickers/Beyer Peacock Limited, and the electrical equipment by Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. Ltd. The locomotives are being fitted with Crossley Vee-8 engines; this is the only conventional engine of the two-stroke type being supplied to British Railways for mixed-traffic locomotives, and it will provide a basis for comparing two-stroke and four-stroke cycle types.
There is a full-width body and driving cab at each end. The driving position is on the left-hand side of each cab. Up to three locomotives can he driven in multiple. Also multiple-unit operation of these locomotives with others now being delivered under the modernisation scheme and fitted with electrical equipment by the General Electric Co. Ltd. and Brush Traction Limited has been arranged by co-operation between the three companies.
The main driving controls are the master controller and the brake valves. Instruments comprise a main generator ammeter and engine tachometer, brake gauges and speedometer. Three indicator lights, "engine stopped", " wheelslip" and alarm" follow the standard system introduced in locomotives being supplied to British Railways. Each lamp is normaly dim, and comes up to full brilliance under fault conditions.
The intensity of illumination of these lamps under dim conditions, and also the intensity of the instrument lights, can be adjusted by individual variable resistances to suit the driver's requirements under all conditions between brilliant sunshine and total darkness.
Electric cab heating is by tubular heaters, and there is also a foot warmer at both driver's and assistant's positions. Demisters are provided for the outer front windows, using heated air fed from the traction motor cooling system. The cab roofs, and the cab bulkhead at the engine end, are lined to provide heat and sound insulation.
The underframe, carlines, cantrail, floor and body sheeting form a complete welded structure designed to give maximum strength with minimum material. The underframe is made up largely of folded plate sections welded to form continuous longitudinal and transverse members with diagonal bracing, the transverse members being positioned at the load carrying points. A special feature is the incorporation of the main fuel and boiler water tanks with the underframe top and bottom plating.
In sections not used for tankage the traction motor air ducts are also built in.
Besides the side buffers and centre screw coupling fitted initially, provision is made for the replacement of these items by a central automatic coupler at some future date. Among the special provisions for lifting and jacking of the locomotive in the event of derailment is the facility for using a single rocking jack at the centre of the underframe.
The body is divided by transverse bulkheads into four main compartments, namely, two driving cabs, an engine and radiator compartment, and a generator and boiler compartment; the upper portion of the bulkhead between the latter two compartments is removable.
Louvres are provided at the various air intake positions, and where access is necessary these take the form of doors. Sections of the roof are easily detachable for removal of the power unit, boiler, and auxiliary machines, while a number of smaller panels are provided for access to engine cylinder heads, fuel pumps and boiler fire compartment roof.
Entrance doors are arranged on the assistant's side of each cab and, near to the cab bulkheads, on the opposite side in the engine and generator compartments. End doors conceal the flexible gangway connection used when locomotives are operating in multiple. The engine room floor is arranged so that any spillage of fuel oil or water drains into a tank beneath the underframe, which can be emptied from time to time.
The diesel engine is a two-cycle type with eight cylinders in Vee formation, continuously rated at 1,200 h.p. at 625 r.p.m. The one-hr. rating is 1,320 h.p. at the same speed. Safety devices ensure that the engine is automatically shut down in the event of overspeed, low lubricating oil pressure, low engine cooling water pressure, or high engine cooling water temperature. Twin outlets are provided for the exhaust gases, the positions being chosen such that contamination of overhead contact wiring is avoided.
The main and auxiliary generators, both direct current machines, are of integral construction, with the frame flange-mounted on the end of the engine, and the armatures are mounted on a common hollow shaft, which is solid coupled to the engine crankshaft at one end and carried on a single roller bearing at the other.
Each of the five axles is fitted with a nose-suspended axle-hung traction motor; all five motors are connected permanently in parallel. The drive to the axle is through totally-endosed single-reduction spur tooth gears with a ratio of 15 : 67 ; the gearwheel provides for torsional resilience between hub and rim.
Ten notches are provided in the master controller to control the engine speed and power. Automatic control of generator and motor field strengths ensures that the engine power selected shall be available over a wide range of locomotive speeds. This is achieved by the use of a servo-mechanism which functions in response to a signal from a hydraulic pilot valve associated with the diesel engine governor to control the electrical output of the traction generator. Hence the total power is maintained at a constant value, irrespective of changing track speeds and load conditions.
Most of the control equipment is housed in a cubicle adjacent to the driving cab at the generator end of the locomotive. The main items are the load regulator, electropneumatically-operated contactors and reverser, auxiliary switches, relays and resistors. Deadman equipment is also fitted.
Auxiliary equipment includes the auxiliary generator, on the end of the main generator; an air compressor, driven by engine, to supply compressed air at 100 lb. per sq. in. for locomotive brakes, electropneumatic control gear, sanding, whistles and window wipers; two vacuum exhausters, driven by electric motor, for train brakes; three fans, driven by electric motors, for force ventilating the generator and traction motors; engine ancillary equipment, comprising motor-driven pumps, and radiator panels with motor-driven pumps, and radiator panels with motor-driven fan; a battery for starting the diesel engine, using the main generator as a motor; and the train heating boiler, for steam heating passenger coaches. Provision is made for a.t.c. equipment to be installed later.
Monday, 4 May 2009
'Arry and Bert - Complete!
Henry 1 - Complete!
Monday, 20 April 2009
Henry I - 50% Complete
I have already cut the templates for the tender, so these will be played about with once the main body is completed. Check back soon for new pics.
Saturday, 11 April 2009
Next new project - Henry II (TV Style)
Although i like the Bachmann version, the tender is somewhat abit short of Henry's cab roof, so, i'm going to build my own Henry II from scratch, using a suitable donor 4-6-0 chassis, this model i hope will be just like the tv model. I'm deciding to model Henry II, but, i will also make a second body so i can switch them from Henry I to Henry II, one will have the firebox similar to Gordon's and the second will have the belpair firebox like that on the TV Henry II model.
I cannot say at the moment what chassis i will be using to build Henry II, but, announcements will be made via the Thomas Modeller Forum and soon will be posted here, so check back soon for new updates and latest pics.
Saturday, 4 April 2009
Donald the Scottish Twin - Complete!
Monday, 30 March 2009
Donald Pictures Pt 2
Saturday, 28 March 2009
Donald Update!
The body is almost complete, today, the splashers have all been fixed to the underside of the main boiler. The dome, safety valves, whistle and cab roof have all been added this afternoon, and so far, the model is starting to look like the tv model of Donald, which is what i was aiming for and have almost reached my goal in making him come to life.
The buffer beam is at current being prepared to have sprung buffers and screw link added, these will be added tomorrow if not this evening. I shall post more images tomorrow of the models current state.I am hoping to have the tender started either tomorrow or in the week as i am now off work on holiday for a whole week. So i can spend some time adding further details to the model then, and hopefully, have the body ready for priming.
I am happy with the progress of the model, so far, everything is going according to plan, and i won't be suprised if this model isn't already the first to be modelled from scratch using plastikard by other Thomas Modellers out there.
Thursday, 26 March 2009
Donald Pictures Pt1
Wednesday, 25 March 2009
Donald In Progress
The chassis being used for both Donald and Douglas, are the same as those used on the Hornby 'Pannier' 57xx locomotives, the tender i am considering buying as a Brass kit from Caley Coaches, or, i will just built the tender along with the body.
Pictures will be posted tomorrow of the model in progress.
Sunday, 22 March 2009
Donald the Scottish Twin - Work in Progress!
The power classification for these engines are the same as those of the BR/LMS 3F. To this day, there is only one sole survivor of this stunning locomotive class, No. 828 (BR No. 57566) which is currently undergoing a major overhaul at the Strathspey Railway.
In fiction, Donlad and Douglas are known as No's 57646 and 57647, but in reality, the numbers of the 812 only went up to 57645.
There will be images uploaded of the models progress very soon as well as some black and white scans of the two twins.
Wednesday, 25 February 2009
Thomas Modeller - Message Board.
However, the Thomas Modeller will be screening all new members before they have their accounts activiated to ensure that they are between the ages of 14 and over, under 13's will need to ask permission from their Parent/Guardians before they can acess the board.
The board at current is still in the building stages, so a link will not be posted just yet, and unlike the other message boards i created in my time, this one is going to be set to private and it won't be open to guests, so you will need to register an account in order to start viewing the boards.
I have not yet given an estimated date for the boards opening, so it will be left a while till such time as i can post the link here.
Sunday, 15 February 2009
0-8-0 Crane Engine - Next New WIP in OO
So, this project is to commence later in the week and will be made once again, using my most favourite of all materials, plasticard and an 8F Hornby chassis.