Cast Locomotive Kits
Cast locomotive kits generally provide the quickest root
to producing a steam locomotive, and the better ones, such as the ex GEM
48XX/58XX kit produced by 3SMR, can be made into reasonable models. 3SMR
also market a high quality Brynkits chassis kit which can be used with
this model.
The main body components for the 48XX/58XX kit. The parts are
reasonably accurate, except for small footplate "skirts" underneath the
boiler, which also has its base missing. The skirts are easily removed,
and the underside of the boiler made good with a bit of copper water pipe,
or similar. There are a few minor bits of flash which need to be removed.
Although the castings are quite neat, the cast-on handrails betray
the kit's age. However, with a bit of care, these can easily be removed
and replaced by wire, as shown here. Other cast-on details such as whistles
can also be replaced.
A basic chassis lash up will enable you to check clearances. Here
the Brynkits chassis has been bent up, and the bushes, Society finescale
wheels, High Level Roadrunner gearbox frame, and Mashima 1220 motor have
been dropped in. This model is intended for 14.2mm gauge; for 12mm
you'd need to use, say, the Slimliner gearbox and 1020 motor available from
Finney & Smith, and wheels of your choice. It was found that
just a little carving of the footplate was needed, to increase the width
of the gap for the motor, and later on a bit taken out of the base
of the cab front, to clear the top of the motor.
The assembled chassis, which features a compensated rear axle. You
can easily alter such chasses to your own ideas. One here, to further
improve suspension, was to file the front bearings to give a small amount
of vertical movement and spring the axle using phosphor bronze wires;
these were later removed because the top-bearing pickups used gave enough
springing. Another was to use 0.7mm nickel silver rod to attach
the brakes, rather than the brass rod cum spacers provided. Also the
brakes were positioned further from the wheels, to allow the wheels to be
freely added or removed. The nut on the middle cross piece is for
bolting on the pickups, which were made removable for ease of adjustment.
The body assembled and awaiting tidying up. Apart from the handrails,
extra detail includes whistles (Bruce Hoyle), steampipes (modified 4mm
Branchlines coach), coupling hooks (Worsley Works wagon), and front lamp
irons (4mm nickel silver wire).
End on view of the motor and gearbox, with axle and final gear loosely
in place. The axle bearings provided with the gearbox have been
replaced with Branchlines shallow "straw hat" ones, so that the gearbox
fits comfortably between the frames. One of the original bearings
will be reused inside the gearbox as shown, to limit sideplay, in preference
to the High Level recommendations.
The chassis mainly complete and capable of being tested. Pickups
are phosphor bronze wire soldered to a bit of copper clad sleepering,
suitably gapped and with a hole drilled in the middle, and then bolted
to the chassis. Sandboxes need adding, and balance weights to the
wheels.
Almost complete. Needs sandboxes, glazing and coal, and awaits
final testing, and fixing of the coupling rods. Transfers are from
the Society's PC Methfix range, number plates the Society's Martin Finney
number plate kit.
The main body components for the 48XX/58XX kit. The parts are
reasonably accurate, except for small footplate "skirts" underneath the
boiler, which also has its base missing. The skirts are easily removed,
and the underside of the boiler made good with a bit of copper water pipe,
or similar. There are a few minor bits of flash which need to be removed.
Although the castings are quite neat, the cast-on handrails betray
the kit's age. However, with a bit of care, these can easily be removed
and replaced by wire, as shown here. Other cast-on details such as whistles
can also be replaced.
A basic chassis lash up will enable you to check clearances. Here
the Brynkits chassis has been bent up, and the bushes, Society finescale
wheels, High Level Roadrunner gearbox frame, and Mashima 1220 motor have
been dropped in. This model is intended for 14.2mm gauge; for 12mm
you'd need to use, say, the Slimliner gearbox and 1020 motor available from
Finney & Smith, and wheels of your choice. It was found that
just a little carving of the footplate was needed, to increase the width
of the gap for the motor, and later on a bit taken out of the base
of the cab front, to clear the top of the motor.
The assembled chassis, which features a compensated rear axle. You
can easily alter such chasses to your own ideas. One here, to further
improve suspension, was to file the front bearings to give a small amount
of vertical movement and spring the axle using phosphor bronze wires;
these were later removed because the top-bearing pickups used gave enough
springing. Another was to use 0.7mm nickel silver rod to attach
the brakes, rather than the brass rod cum spacers provided. Also the
brakes were positioned further from the wheels, to allow the wheels to be
freely added or removed. The nut on the middle cross piece is for
bolting on the pickups, which were made removable for ease of adjustment.
The body assembled and awaiting tidying up. Apart from the handrails,
extra detail includes whistles (Bruce Hoyle), steampipes (modified 4mm
Branchlines coach), coupling hooks (Worsley Works wagon), and front lamp
irons (4mm nickel silver wire).
End on view of the motor and gearbox, with axle and final gear loosely
in place. The axle bearings provided with the gearbox have been
replaced with Branchlines shallow "straw hat" ones, so that the gearbox
fits comfortably between the frames. One of the original bearings
will be reused inside the gearbox as shown, to limit sideplay, in preference
to the High Level recommendations.
The chassis mainly complete and capable of being tested. Pickups
are phosphor bronze wire soldered to a bit of copper clad sleepering,
suitably gapped and with a hole drilled in the middle, and then bolted
to the chassis. Sandboxes need adding, and balance weights to the
wheels.
Almost complete. Needs sandboxes, glazing and coal, and awaits
final testing, and fixing of the coupling rods. Transfers are from
the Society's PC Methfix range, number plates the Society's Martin Finney
number plate kit.