Noticed that Trainworld has a pretty good deal on the Bach Emily engine. Anyone seen an aftermarket boiler front to replace the moving eyes? Other than the eyes, it sure does look like a pretty piece!
There are a few people looking for not only a “Boiler front for Emily”, but other after market detailed parts for her, like vacume Brake hoses, couplings, backhead replacement parts, and other detailed parts…
Fred - I’m in contact with a member of the Gauge 3 society here in UK. Their ‘thing’ is live steam 64mm gauge, 1/22.6 scale models. The ‘matching’ model engineer train scale to that is 2.5" gauge - the smallest actual passenger-hauling Model Engineer scale.
Both of them have a variety of available accessories, available to members of the Society, that is, but although I’ve built a few G3 wagons for friends, I’ve never seen spare bits like those you want. Certainly not smokebox fronts or backhead details, as we discussed the other nght. Needless the say, the market here is astonishingly small - most people here don’t have space to run Gauge 1, let alone Gauge 3.
Right this minute I’m waiting for a call from Matthew at GRS in Princes Risborough - a company that has made G3 much more popular in the last few years by producing their own range of about a hundred cars and locomotives - let’s see what HE has to say, eh?
Besp
tac
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOKay, gentlemen - this here is the REAL skinny - so don’t hassle me any more, K?
I’ve just spoken to Michael Adamson, boss of Garden Railway Specialists of Princes Risborough - THE major proponent of what they call G64 or Gauge 3 in this country.
He advises me that -
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There are a PILE of steel and brass buffers suitable for Emily.
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There are a pair of different vacuum pipes types - white metal AND brass, for the loco front and tender.
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There are suitable working screw coupling sets in brass and steel - front and back.
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There are a number of different resin smokebox doors - HE is right this minute measuring up an Emily in-store to determine which one would be best.
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There is NO one-piece backhead unit, BUT - there IS a set of fittings for an LMS/Midland 2F - an early freight loco - with many gauges, levers, handles et al., to make a convincing backhead for Emily that won’t cause offence
He is sending me a list of the parts for G3/64mm that are available right now in store.
I’ll email this to Fred, Ken and Jon as soon as I get it here, for them to pass on to the rest of you.
I’m quite happy to do it all from this end - he is only about an hour away from me [if I drive quickly] and a trip is definitely needed. He might be pursuaded to put together a dress-up Emily package, IF I talk to him nicely.
On the other paw, you are all big boys, and could do it yourselves. It’s up to you.
tac
A “Dress-up” kit might be the answer…if he could put one together, I would be interested.
A smokebox front, working buffers, working screw couplers, vacume hose, and basic parts to make a modified backhead look believeable, would be fine. The parts need not be high priced brass. White metal, or resin castings would be fine. The screw link couplers might best be brass, as they might be used in some cases, when Emily takes to the rails. Her coaches would also need new working buffers and screw link couplers.
Your friend might want to considder putting together a parts kit for the coaches too.
This whole project might provide him with a marketable product line.....who knows...I would hope that the smokebox front, would resemble the real one on a Sterling Single.
Fred - he’s not my friend - I’m an occasional customer, that’s all
I’ve already mentioned that a set of suitably suitable suitable bits might be a plan for those who do not concenrn themsleves overly with the finer detail, just want to improve the model to a more model appearance.
It will hit at the $100 mark, though. I could do the research here easy enough and maybe produce a set of instructions - their’s are hoby-wide renowned as being bilge.
Besp
tac, ig, ken the GFT and the Mountain High Boys
Tac,
I’d like a set of those for my Emily. Smokebox front does need a slight curve to it. I have a book on the Stirlings that Rob Fern found for me in the UK.
Terry;
$100 would not be too much if it can be done.
It looks like I will finally have to pull young Emily off her shelf, and start getting intimate with her. I guess the first part of the project is pulling her cab and backhead off, to see if cutting the backhead is feasable. The face should come off without much discomfort, as it is shown in the exploded parts diagram as removeable.
I guess I should start looking at her tender too, with a spare 27Mh receiver available, she will need that installed with a battery. Possibly a bit of a deck plate between loco and tender, would hide the connecting wires.
Hey....if we are going to do this project; we may as well do it properly.....
Now to budget for the two coaches…they were offered to me, for under $50 each…
Quote:I'd love to have a detailed Stirling Single.
$100 would not be too much if it can be done
If the backhead detail is already a kit of parts (for the LMS loco) then that can be a separate item? Another kit for the buffer/vacuum pipe/couplings?
I can get Alan at G.A.L. to laser-cut a wheel splasher in styrene with all the cutouts - just need a plan and an engine.
Pete Thornton said:Do it!!! I would buy a set!!!
...I can get Alan at G.A.L. to laser-cut a wheel splasher in styrene with all the cutouts - just need a plan and an engine.
Looking at it up close, it’s going to be a bugger to cut the sides out without toasting the ‘fender’. Mine should be here in a day or two…As it was my intention to do this anyway maybe I will try and cut it “in place”. The hardest part for me will be the hand-rails…How to remove the molded in rails and replace them with brass rod? May just wind up stripping and sanding the whole shell…
Here is a low rez scan of the Stirling Single from a book I got. Several small drawings in the book this one seemed to be the best. I have a good 600 dpi scan also. Email me if you want a copy of it.
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/gunjeep444/_forumfiles/Stirling3lowrez.jpg)
Well, that looks like we have a candidate manufacturer for the splasher fret.
Good work there, Pete.
tac, presently snowed in and going nowhere.
Quote:Don't hold your breath - I'm up to my elbows in projects. When I get a minute I will try to do a drawing for Alan - but I don't have access to a loco at the moment, so if anyone else wants to do it, feel free.
that looks like we have a candidate manufacturer for the splasher fret. Good work there, Pete
I was thinking (That can lead to trouble, in it’self…!!) that for those not into massive undertakings, like cutting out a whole section of the splashers; just a set of dry transfers, or a Decal, would help to simulate the openings on the existing ones.
As far as the handrails; it would not be too hard to remove the cast on simulation. It would only take time, several sharp blades in a hobby knife, and the experience of refinishing the Styrene afterwards. Replacing the simulated handrails would only involve securing some brass, or spring wire for the railings, and appropriate stanchions There are, probably, stanchions available from the same source that is contemplating the marketing of the “Detailing Kit”.
As to the detailing kit. We should all be spreading the word, that it may become available. Maybe someone could post the full name, snailmail address, telephone number, and email/web page, of the shop. As soon as the information is made available; we could let others on other forums know about their efforts.
Too often there are a lot of model railroad parts, and equipment, available in Britain, that is never seen or heard of in other parts of the World. Some of the “Stuff” has univeral appeal, and would be of use to modelers everywhere. Open the doors, and windows, and share what you know is available…if you have any knowledge of it. That’s what these forums are for.
Fred - any day now you should be receiving the G3 component list I sent you. Mike Adamson is not around today [guess he can’t get in to work, like half the country], so I’ll give them a call tomorrow and have a chat.
However, what worries me is that so far only you and Jerry have shown any interest in a set of components being made up at a probable saving cost - remember that ALL the prices you see have to be reduced by 20% - the Gouge & Screw Tax over here in Yesterdayville.
The rest of you - any interest, or am I pissing up a rope here?
tac
Hi, tac,
I am VERY interested in parts for retrofitting Emily. As a Yank in Maryland, I cannot easily visit GRS for visual selection of what is appropriate. So I am dependent on the good offices of others in helping me make those decisions.
I don’t mean I want you to go to a lot of effort or travel on my behalf. You have already done much by starting the ball rolling, and we thank you for that. However, whether or not your GRS contact decides to offer one or two upgrade packages, if you would pass on to us the parts numbers he identifies, it would be enormously helpful to us. In the absence of an assembled upgrade pack, we could at least plan our projects and order correct parts.
Far be it from me to judge what you do with a rope in the privacy of your own home.
Thanks again,
Ted
Pete Thornton said:Hi, Pete,
Don't hold your breath - I'm up to my elbows in projects. When I get a minute I will try to do a drawing for Alan - but I don't have access to a loco at the moment, so if anyone else wants to do it, feel free.
You may not want to rush headlong into this splasher project anyway. The first 8’1" Stirling Single (GNR No 1, built 1870, preserved at Britian’s National Railway Museum, York) had eleven oval piercings in the splasher plate. The drawing of No 3 posted by Jerry shows only ten. The book I have which details Stirling engines shows photos of No 1 with eleven and only ten in No 3 and several later singles which had piercings. I could find no information about No 2. These Singles were built with many variations between 1870 and 1895. By No 662 (1881~3) they used plain splashers - no piercings. Bachmann’s Emily is based on a children’s cartoon fantasy with specifications closest to the final series of 1894~5.
I seriously doubt if anyone will ever make a perfectly scaled Single out of an Emily, BUT I think some very worthwhile likenesses are possible. Question for you as Harry Callahan might say, “Do you want eleven piercings or ten?”
I’m too new on this forum for PM priviledges, so I can’t email you, but I live down the road from you in Bowie, I have an Emily, and the book. PM me if you would like to get together sometime about this. I have also been active in WVMGRS since 1998. If you know any of its members, they can denounce me to you.
Ted
I hear ya, Ted. And note. As I pointed out erofeb, it’s no trouble at all for me here, as I have, for reasons I cannot fathom, have achieved a certain notoriety with some dealerships.
I’ll be giving the boss of GRS a call in the morning IF he’s managed to get in to work. A couple of inches of snow here, and whole country falls to pieces…sheeesh.
tac
Its amazing how a few miles changes the locals perspective on snow. I drove over Stevens Pass a few years ago, in a blizzard. There was at least 8 inches of snow on the highway, the highway hadn’t seen a plaw in hours, and visibility was down to 50 yards or less. I must have been the last car through before they shut down the pass, because I didn’t see anybody else. No worries, put on some chains and went through without incident.
24 hours later, I was held up at the north end of the Grapevine for about 5 hours, on my way into Southern California because a whole inch had fallen and had melted off the road, but was still here and there in patches. The CHiPs was not impressed that I was a Washingtonian, nor did he believe me when I told him that I knew how to drive in snow.
Sigh. It was as bad as Seattle when it snows.