Comet Chassis, convert to Fowler type & super-detailing the Hornby Railroad body

Once upon a time……
To compliment my recent additions to my coaching stock (built 4 x "Sheffield" Ratio suburban coach kits) I decided I needed a Compound as motive power (as identified in the loco listings at Millhouses in 1939).

I found a GEM Midland Compound kit on Ebay and purchased it. Reading that the chassis are usually white metal and not great, I went ahead and ordered a Comet etched one instead.

When I received the chassis, the instructions informed me that the chassis was to fit the Hornby model (40mm wheelbase) and not for scale models with a 38mm wheelbase. Darn it……

Rather than re-sell the chassis, I decided to buy a used Hornby body from Ebay and buy a set of Alan Gibson mainframes for the GEM model. So, after letting go of a whole £7.50, I received a black Hornby Midland Compound body (1072) in the post.
I had a set of drawings of the LMS Compound 4-4-0 and decided that I quite liked to have one of those rather than a Midland version. I already had the 6'9" wheels (Markits) which came with the GEM kit so I was part way there.

I set about the body with my trusted razor saw, modelling chisel and blow-torch, and then began re-building it as the Fowler LMS type.

Body modifications to date;
Removed moulded detail such as boiler bands, handrails etc except rivets, wash-plugs
Fitted handrails to cab side and back of cab, along boiler (secured with split-pins), smokebox side and front (.45mm brass rod)
Exhaust valve moved to left and replaced (Alan Gibson w/1mm brass rod & tube)
Lamp irons installed on front end and on smokebox door (.45mm brass rod)
Cabside numbers removed (soft fibre glass scratch brush)
Fowler dome and chimney (Alan Gibson)
Replaced Ramsbottom safety with Fowler type (Markits with old WM base)
Replaced cab roof hatch (scrap brass)
New reversing lever (made from spare sprue)
New Westinghouse pump (Markits) w/.33mm brass rod as pipes)
New buffers (Alan Gibson sprung type)
Removed moulded Coupling "hook"  from buffer and installed coupling plate (Brassmasters) ready for Screw coupling (MJT etched)
Replaced moulded boiler bands with Wizard coach roof tape (0.5mm)
 
To do:
Remove manufacturer plates under smokebox (replace with etched ones from 247 Developments after painting)
Prime
Re-spray Black
Re-number
Fit decals, coupling, glazing, safety valves etc
Paint cab interior and backhead
Build chassis (kind of important I suppose)
Find/build appropriate tender 

You obviously enjoy doing this kind of thing Ian and the results are testament to your skills.

 Having read your opener about buying the GEM kit, only to discover that most of the bits needed replacing, I wonder if I am making a mistake in tipping you off that just such a loco is offered RTR by Bachmann …………………. :pedal   That's an awful lot of shiney new bits you've added………………………
 

I think I've said earlier in your other threads that I envy you your skill in tackling such a project and really wish I had both such skill and the patience.  The end results are usually wonderful.

I'll be following this with interest.

Thank you Peter. Although most of the LMS locos are available rtr, i simply enjoy the challenge of kitbashing, modifying or building kits.
The best bit, which made me laugh a little is that the GEM kit is also wrong and uses a 40mm wheelbase rather than a scale 38mm so the Comet chassis would have worked just as well. However, i am sure i can mod the footplate to make it more accurate and use the Alan Gibson mainframes. Its only 2mm difference after all.

Hi Ian,  I did a similar upgrade on one of these in n gauge a few years back.It was an old Farish Poole built model with minimal detail.I re-numbered it 1014 which was a Derby built right-hand drive, but I had mine in LMS red rather than black like yours.They are lovely old engines and I'm looking forward to seeing this develop.

Cheers,John.B.

Thank you John. Working on the Comet chassis right now and just waiting for newer wheels to arrive so i can get it running. I am numbering it 1088 as it was located at Millhouses in 1939. I am tempted to paint it crimson and line it as it was probably that livery in 1939.  Hopefully i will be ready to paint it next week. We shall see!

Getting on well with the chassis just waiting for new wheels to arrive. The ones that came with the Gem kit didnt have the crankpin holes drilled out on the non insulated ones and my attempt just ruined them.

It's looking good. What a shame though about the crankpin holes not being drilled.

I believe on early Romford wheels, they weren't. You get a marler to drill, but even with my Proxxon I couldn't drill a clean, straight hole. Apparently Wizard have been waiting months for Markits to restock them so I have no idea how long it will be before I can finish it. I may look elsewhere for the wheels for now.

There's Ultrascale of course, but they ain't cheap.

Hi Ian,

Same frustration here, I have three builds waiting wheels. May go with Gibsons. 

Nigel

[user=1632]BCDR[/user] wrote:

Hi Ian,

Same frustration here, I have three builds waiting wheels. May go with Gibsons. 

Nigel

Gibsons will be my fall back option. Ultrascale are very pricey and can take a while to arrive as well. AGW arw usually very quick. The main issue with AGW is the tyres pulling off the centres when using the wheel puller and the crankpins distoring in the hole when soldering up the retaining nuts.

I managed to source a set of markits 27mm (6'9") wheels from ebay and have fitted those along with a high level gearbox and motor. Bench tests seems to run fine. Off to the paint shop now for a coat of primer and some precision paints crimson lake befire fitting the pick up and dcc chip.
Still need to find a tender though. Probably end up with a Comet kit from Wizard!

Looks really good. Looking forward to seeing it painted and lined.

I hope i can do it justice! Lining is not one of my strengths!

I got lots of practice with lines when I was at school !!   :hmm :cheers

[user=6]Petermac[/user] wrote:

I got lots of practice with lines when I was at school !!   :hmm :cheers

Join the club.  

Detention for us was copying 2 pages from the old phone book, or writing an essay on a 2 sided A4 sheet on the inside of a ping pong ball!!! Taught me how to bull s@#t if nothing else!!!

Here is the loco painted and lined just waiting for a tender to join it.

Very nice job Ian.