Westlake Publishing Forums

Sorry about the intriguing title. My latest project is an 18inch gauge loco used on the Woolwich Arsenal in east London.  This strange thing (called "Lachesis" - that's a Greek religious word - had to google that one!) was the second internal combustion loco in the UK (and only the third in the world). It was an 0-4-0 built by Ruston in 1896 using an Ackroyd single cylinder nine-and-a-half h.p. oil-engine, the first of four (the others were 2-4-0's). They were somewhat underpowered and only lasted a few years (all were scrapped by 1920).  Very little information is available, just a few rather grainy photos, the only drawing (a side elevation) is full of inaccuracies. What looks like a vertical boiler at the front is in fact the cooling system.   Definitely a challenge.  I'll keep you informed of progress.  Scale is 16mm (1/19th).     
Les Tindall

Les, that looks and sounds like  a fun challenge.
About your intriguing subject line, when I read the name "Lachesis", Loch Ness immediately came to mind > "Monster" rather than "beast"

By all means keep us posted on your progress. -- Russ

Hi Les, seem to remember Barney had a go at this one as well , in 1/24 ?

Think he gave up on it due to the frustration of trying to get anymore info ?

Sometimes when you are lacking all the information you have take a wild guess and then fake it.   

This is as far as I got + a set of wheels and a bucket full of gears + a head ache
Barney

Trying !!

Getting there -I think

Hope Les can work this one out Im already Thinking about having another go at this little beast
Barney
Just fiddling with the camera I think Im getting there -

Bill, I think there will be quite a bit of "faking" on this project - still I'm having fun (so far) and no one can check with the actual engine.
Barney, that's the side elevation that has the errors (positioning of suspension, linkage from the brake column, etc).
Working on the suspension at the moment so should have some progress pics next week.
Les

Les - yes I see what you mean - Not sure where I got that drawing- No wonder it give me a head ache  - still no one knows anything about it so it makes things easier
and keeping us happy is the important bit
Barney

Even so, you guys have an unusual advantage: If you both plan to build a model you can help each other figure out what to correct and how best to fake what remains. It would be the first time on this forum that two guys wanted to build models of the same thing at about the same time. I, for one, would find the construction thread fascinating since you'd probably be consulting with each other all the way through. -- Russ

What an unusual beast, and a very interesting project!

Progress is coming along quite rapidly.  The suspension is now complete all from styrene strip and rod.  It sits at an angle because of the "fore and back" movement the single cylinder, slow revving, large flywheel drive would produce. It would probably be like being on a ship in a rough sea!   If the springs were in the usual position the movement would produce considerable stresses in the metal and possibly shear any vertical supports.

The wheels (24mm dia 3D printed ones from the bits box) are just loosely slipped onto the axles, though not much will be seen of them as the loco frames are just 2 or 3 inches off the top of the rails at their lowest point.

Barney has been in touch and says he has found info on the complex gearing system, which will be a help.

Next stage is the cooling cylinder at the front.

Les

The other side