Model Engine Works: April 2022

The creation of this model started as a challenge to me to create a 3D printed chassis as well as an engine body. I picked the Beyer Peacock 2-4-0T as it worked well with the motor, gears, and wheels I had selected for the job. Over time and several versions of the model it evolved and I got one to work with a Halling motor bogie as a temporary chassis. This was taken to a meeting at the Oldham 009 group in November 2021 where it ran on Paul Titmuss’ 00n3 layout Wood Brook.

It was suggested that it would be a good idea to work up a copy of the Castlederg and Victoria Bridge Tramway Beyer Peacock 2-4-0T but with motion covers and frames on both sides to allow the use of the Halling chassis. With a lot of help from Paul and the 00n3 group, a 3D model was drafted based on the original and confirmed as looking correct. The idea behind this model is to offer to modellers a tempting introduction to the 00n3 gauge.

This also turned into a challenge for a friend who runs a small 3D printing business Thingymaker to see if he could produce a print to compete with Shapeways. This is a challenge that has for several years eluded him. I had a pair of prints produced by Thingymaker and Shapeways. These were both in acrylic resin but using two different processes, so they are not exactly alike, but the level of detail is good and sharp on both prints. Both do take a bit of preparation to make ready for finishing in different ways.

The Shapeways print in Fine Detailed Plastic, as usual, needs the wax support residue removed and a fair bit of surface residue removed from some of the print faces before priming and adding details. But this is as we expect form this material. The Thingymaker print is supported on sprues and they are tightly packed inside the print, so a bit of careful removing is needed to avoid breaking anything off the model. There is also some work to do on the internal surfaces of the print to remove some areas where the resin domes as it finishes printing, a bit like surface tension on a liquid surface. This is a little bit fiddly on some of the smaller parts but not insurmountable

I have developed the model to print in several parts, a bit like an “Airfix” kit, we have the main body, the upper cab and the front bogie are the main pieces. Details parts such as the sandboxes, smoke-box door, funnel, bell dome, and safety valves, Westinghouse pump, toolbox, water tank filler caps, air cylinder, and boiler fittings are separate for ease of finishing and adding more details.

There are also several other small parts that I have added. Cab handrails formed in 0.45mm brass wire, pilot holes are formed in the bodywork for these, a brass whistle by Markits, brass grab rails on the boiler using short handrail knobs, and wire again by Markits. Pipework from the boiler fittings to the cab in soft 1mm steel armature wire. I also used this to make the coupling hooks mounted on the front bogie and under the rear buffer beam. This was obtained from a jewellery craft supplier on eBay and is soft and pliable.

To create the bogie pivot a 12BA cheese head machine screw was used with a couple of washers, one under and one over the bogie frame. The thread was screwed straight into a tight hole drilled in the bodywork where a pilot whole marks the location to drill. The wheel set on the bogie was from a Tralee and Dingle Railway van by Dundas Models. The axles were slightly shortened with a file, turned down in an electric drill to give a clearance fit in the V pockets of the bogie frame, and retained by some 0.45mm wire slotted in holes under the axle in the frame. A small amount of sheet lead was added to the top of the bogie frame to give it a bit of weight, and help it to run better. Lead sheet was also added to the tank sides above the motion cover frames on each side of the body, which seemed to add enough weight to give the model reasonable traction.

A pair of white metal vacuum hoses were carefully reshaped to work on the front and rear of the model. The front one is flat and sitting on top of the buffer beam, the hose retained to the right side viewed from the front. The rear one sits to the left side of the buffer beam viewed from the rear, with the pipe bent towards the coupling hook then under the beam. These can also be done with armature wire of about 1mm diameter.

When painting the model, I gave it a few coats of grey spray primer. Most of the parts are painted separately and added to the model when dry.

The crimson lake I worked with is a mixed colour using Humbrol gloss 20 maroon and a bright matt red Revel M36, the same one I used for the buffer beams. This is toned down on a second coat with the addition of a Revel red-brown matt 37M to the mix which takes most of the shine away but leaves a matt to a satin finish.

I have then dry brushed on some Revel 9M charcoal black to highlight the rivets and shadows on the model. The 9M charcoal black is also used on the foot pate, motion frames, roof, bogie, and smokebox areas. Some parts are highlighted using a mix of the black and silver (gunmetal). Areas like the bogie axles boxes, cab steps, smokebox door handles and hinges, Westinghouse pump, pipework, and handrails all benefit from this.

The models had their first outing at Narrow Gauge North in March 2022 and were displayed on Paul Titmuss' layout Wood Brook. This is where the pictures show them running.