From a 7mm Gladiator Models kit.

Ernest Lemon was Director General of Aircraft production during the second world war.

In 1931 he began a brief tenure as Chief Mechanical Engineer of the LMS prior to which he had been a very innovative production manager as a Carriage and Wagon Superintendent at Derby.


Shortly before Stanier took over as CME , the LMS built a series of 0-4-4 passenger tank locos which were considered the last of an ex MR design.


last December  I chose a Gladiator Models rendition of this loco as my last MR/LMS loco kit build.




This is the journey……………………………………








The kit has thick gauge nickel silver etches for the chassis and thick brass for the superstructure.






There is no provision for chassis compensation, but the hornblocks and rideheight is half etched.








I found the brake pull-rod parts to be too basic for me.   Fortunately, Laurie Griffin produces many replacement parts for this particular class of loco. I used these and parts from Peter Roles to upgrade the entire loco kit to match the standard of my other LMS loco builds.








I always start a loco kit by making the coupling rods and with the use of axle jigs and sprung hornblocks from HobbyHolidays, it is relatively simple to assemble a trouble free running accurate  chassis.






Now that Mashima motors are no longer in production I chose a Canon 1833 and Branchline models 40.1 fold up gearbox.




The rear bogie is not compensated and is a simple but robust build……………………………………………..








I`m not a great fan of etched spring details and replaced these and other chassis parts with those from Laurie Griffin.






















Painting the chassis is a combination of Clostermanns black etch primer and chemical blackening…………














……………………..next installment…………………

Thanks for this John.  I do like the 0-4-4T.  Grateful to know about parts for upgrade too…that is if I ever do a loco kit.

I'm gradually getting to know the people in the trade and what they offer.  Good experience.

John

[user=565]Brossard[/user] wrote:

Thanks for this John.  I do like the 0-4-4T.  Grateful to know about parts for upgrade too…that is if I ever do a loco kit.

Now come along John!!….. stop what your doing, clear your workbench and get that 1F started…………………


Once you`ve read my experience with this kit`s superstructure however, you might decide to try something else !!!!




john

What an absolutely stunning build.

John, you're an inspiration to us all and,  even if I knew what the parts were and where they went, I doubt that I would even attempt to open the box let alone attempt to build what's inside.


Magnificent.


Allan

Hear hear, Allan.   :thumbs

[user=1780]Twobolt[/user] wrote:

[user=565]Brossard[/user] wrote:

Thanks for this John.  I do like the 0-4-4T.  Grateful to know about parts for upgrade too…that is if I ever do a loco kit.

Now come along John!!….. stop what your doing, clear your workbench and get that 1F started…………………


Once you`ve read my experience with this kit`s superstructure however, you might decide to try something else !!!!




john

Ha ha.  I'll be standing by for that.  Having only started in 0 gauge a few months ago, the list of to dos is almost overwhelming.  I have been working on wagons and coaches and then there's a layout to build.  It's a matter of trying get the priorities right.

John

As long as those priorities don't include mowing the lawn, re tiling the bathroom and making self collapse shelves, John, you'll get there - oh, and taking the wife shopping for a new hat that she'll never wear.

Allan

No fear of any of that Allan.  I hate mowing so much that I have a service to do it.  I'm not one to succumb to all the trivialities that society imposes on us.

John, I see what you mean about the body.  How many would even know that there are errors.  Remarkable that you resolved everything.  The finished result is stunning as usual.

I hope you keep posting your builds and providing details on how you sort out deficiencies.

John

BTW here's a link to Laurie Griffin:  LG Miniatures – LG Miniatures castings and parts

Thanks very much Allen, John and Max………………


Allen
Your architectural modelling skills are legendary…………. there are no mystic skills to assembling an etched loco kit and I`m sure you`d have no problems with your abilities….. it`s all down to plenty of heat, proper acidic(yes dangerous ) fluxes and lead ( also dangerous) solder and a willingness and desire to get the job done, plus burnt finger tips !!!

I don`t even have a workshop or a lathe and everything has been done on the `kitchen table` Peter Denny style



Although now I`ve retired the `kitchen table` has moved into a drafty shed………………………………..


And this is me in the 1980`s learning how to make mistakes……………………………………..



….my entire toolbox contained in one large cardboard box…………… not a lot has changed………………..

So John…….  no excuses you can get on with it all in front of the TV……………………………..

I don't know how you do all that great work in a small space.  I suspect it comes down to what you're accustomed to.

I've got a basement and a separate workshop (used to be a spare bedroom) where I keep everything more or less to hand.  I even tidy up now and then and then curse under my breath when I can't find this or that.

From what you say, working in 7mm is somewhat different than 4mm so I will be paying attention.

John

Today she came out of the paintshop for the first time.
Not my finest paint finish but I`m pleased she looks like a Stanier loco.

Still needs buffers,  couplings , and whistle plus works plates and
number plate.

Good grief, John. If that's not your finest finish, then what on earth must your best look like !

Superb.


Allan