Frank Kelly: S Class, F Class, and Baldwin W Class (4mm scale)

All,

Frank has sent me some more photos of early VR steam locomotives. This time it is S Class 4-6-0, F Class 2-4-0, and Baldwin W Class 4-6-0. Again, all items are scratch built by Frank's fair hand.

Julian

Frank Kelly: Various VR Locomotives and Rollingstock (4mm scale)

All,

And here are some more examples of Frank's work. This time there are some various locomotives he has scratch built in 4mm scale, including a B Class riding the turntable.

Julian

Frank Kelly: J Class (4mm scale)

All,

Frank Kelly agreed for me to post some pictures of his work.

Below is a VR J Class (that same class of locomotives that I am converting to P87 18.39mm). This model is scratch built in 4mm scale. A lovely replica of the prototype.

Julian

Frank Kelly: VR D4 Tank Locomotive P87 (18.38mm)

All

Below are some photos of a Victorian Railways (VR) D4 tank locomotive which Frank Kelly recently converted from 16.5 mm to P87 18.39 mm gauge. As Frank has told me "...a lot of machining had to be done but enjoyable work."

Frank has spent many years scratch building VR and South Australian Railways steam locomotives in 4mm scale. He is a relative new comer to working on P87 18.39mm locomotives. He's said that he would have got into it a long time ago - amongst other things, he said that prototype designs don’t need to be converted as the gauge (and everything associated with that) is correct scale. Amen to that, Frank.

Julian

South of the Border

All,

Proto87 stalwart and fellow Proto87 protagonist, Rene' Gourly, came down from Vancouver BC, Canada to Bellingham WA, USA for the day to help me out on my Australian prototype layout. These are the crazy things one can do when living close to the border.

We discussed several aspects of the layout, including legs, back scenes, carry cases for the layout and lighting. We also got the outstanding modules all but finished. Rene has had the good fortune of bumping into the modeling husband and wife team, Gordon and Maggie Gravett. (Some of the Gravett's wonderful layout, Pempoul, can be seen here.) Rene' suggested that I follow the Gravett approach by using the carry cases as layout 'legs'. They have to go somewhere, so I may was well put them to good use...

Anyway, a big thanks to Rene' for coming down - and for the box of Tim Bits. Legend.

Julian

We're off to the races!

All,

It’s been many months since last posting. However, I’ve made a lot of progress on the J Class; it’s finally running smoothly.

As can be seen from the images below, a lot of detail must now be added. This ‘prototype’ is my model. But I can now finally move forward with confidence onto the second J Class kit modification, which I have promised a mate. Thanks for your patients, Damian!

Actually, there must be something in the water for 18.37mm broad gauge Prooto87 steam locos. Firstly, Damian is anticipating delivery of another Victorian Railways (VR) steam loco. While a mutual modelling friend is close to producing a South Australian Railways (SAR) steam loco kit. But I’ll let the respective modellers provide more details…

VR and SAR broad gauge Proto87 steam locos? We’re off to the races!

Julian

Take that, you cad! You bounder!

All,

Further to my last post, I promised to write some more about the J Class.

The J Class and I have been eyeing each other off from opposite corners of the room for a while now. Just when I think I'm getting somewhere, it flicks me the bird and tells me to "...jam it where it fits, pal..." (Well, that's what it felt like to me, anyway.)

So after many long months of fruitless effort, I finally went back to the start. I spoke with some local modellers, read many posts on  www.rmweb.co.uk, and revised some of Iain Rice's books. To cut a long story short, I took my time, became meticulous, and methodical - no advancing to the next stage until I was absolutely sure that the previous one had worked. I'm embarrassed to say that it sounds pretty obvious, doesn't it...?

I'm happy to say that I have finally cracked it. What a relief. While I will not go into every detail, I will tell you about the application of Markits crank pins and nuts. In particular, I installed the nuts into the connecting rods (from behind) and filed back the protruding section (also from behind). Thus creating a brass sleeve (see below). Now all connecting rods are snug on the crank pins, and the wheels rotate freely when lightly pushed along the track, and when driven by the rear axle.

In hindsight, I should have been taking far more care from the very start; treating the chassis, wheels, and motion gear like a clockmaker would a fine time piece. Also, I have to say that I have learnt far more from what hasn't worked than what has. Not to mention the palpable sense of satisfaction.

We're moving next weekend from Vancouver, Canada down to Bellingham, USA. Within a few days, the modelling room will be up and running in the new basement. So the next photos of the J Class should have it looking a lot more like the finished product.

At long, long last.

Julian