All I got is this photo to go by. The front wheels are 1:24 scale wheels from Simpson. The tender wheels are LGB and the driver is scratch built out of styrene.
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Gordon Birrell
http://www.flickr.com/photos/77318580@N00/
THIS I gotta see.............
You've been hanging around with Jim Wilke way too much!!! ;D ;D
Really wild. Love the large disk wheel.
Marc
As long as it has lots of rivets ;) ;)
you are a busy man, with all those loco's in such a short time. You have a secret arrangement with Uncle I guess . Soon we'll see a Finescale Railroader Annual specially dedicated to Mr Birrell.
chapter 1 trucks
chapter 2 locomotives
chapter 3 outhouses
have a good time with this new one.
Jacq
Now that's a really cool prototype! Should be relatively easy to model too.
Ray, maybe not so simple when I'm missing so much info on the loco and my minimal amount of knowledge on the subject. I don't even know if it has one or two cylinders, what the drive line and valve gear are like, how the water is delivered to the boiler, the look of the back head and so on. Even the photo can be very deceiving. So this model well be mostly made up. I am going with a 4' 8" gauge so I can use the same diorama that I am building for the Oregon Pony. I am thinking about making it with some type of gear box. That is some thing I can get in my head.
Gordon Birrell
http://www.flickr.com/photos/77318580@N00/
I would be pretty sure that this thing had 2 cyls. With only one ever time it stopped on dead center it would have to be pushed to get off dead center to get it going again. It's really quite a contraption! I wonder if https://www.pgworks.com/ would perhaps have an archive?
Here are two photos of the boiler. The half-round rivets are from Simpson part number 660. This is the largest styrene rivet out there and the only rivet Simpson makes. Grandt Lines largest rivet is almost the same diameter but they are not full half-round. I don't use the Simpson rivets often but I had enough to do this loco so I used up what I had. The Grandt Line rivets are .063" diameter and the Simpson rivets are .060" diameter. Someone needs to make styrene rivet castings around .080" for sure and maybe even .100".
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Gordon Birrell
http://www.flickr.com/photos/77318580@N00/
Where do you get those "Simpson" rivets? I tried googling it but didn't turn up anything useful.
Around a year ago Coronado scale models got some castings from Simpson for me. I had an old catalog so I knew what part numbers I needed. Sheldon is at coronadoscalemod@aol.com, he may be able to get you a catalog. The part number for the rivet is 660. Simpson does 1:24 scale parts. You are better off going through Sheldon than trying to go direct to Simpson.
Gordon Birrell
http://www.flickr.com/photos/77318580@N00/
Quote from: Ken Hamilton on August 13, 2009, 06:41:13 PM
THIS I gotta see.............
Well Ken that makes two of us!!! This guy Gordon is simply amazing.
Jerry
Looks like another one of Gordon's Goodies so far.
Those rivets are......riveting.
Love following your builds, Gordon. Thanks for the updates.
Yet another interesting project Gordon. You are possibly the most prolific scratchbuilder I know... inspiring work as always.
Paul
Hey Gordon,
You are really producing some outstanding projects... I always look forward to reading your posts
mike thinks gordon should have new username reserved for him "Scratchmyrivitsman" :D ;D :D ;D
(just kidding...just enjoying the lift this forum brings me)
Gordon it is okay to rest now and then.... ;)
A fan of your skills..
Mike
Thanks guys for your comments. I have come to the slower work now on all three locos and I am still a long way off from completion. In the coming weeks I will be spending my time getting my article and contest entry for the Modelers annual. My military modeler friend has almost got
the 1:35 scale Hellcat tank destroy built and weathered. I will also be starting a small diorama to set it on and will do a thread on both.
Gordon Birrell
http://www.flickr.com/photos/77318580@N00/
Gordon,
Looks good, as always, - here are some links of note. Great Models is in Sandy....
http://ww2photo.mimerswell.com/tanks/usa/med/m18/m18.htm
http://ww2photo.mimerswell.com/tanks/usa/med/m18/03953.jpg
http://ww2photo.mimerswell.com/tanks/usa/med/m18/03951.jpg
http://www.greatmodels.com/~smartcart/cgi/display.cgi?item_num=AB35D28
Scott
Thanks Scott That fence looks like a good starting place for the diorama. Scott is building the Hellcat for me and I can't wait to see it.
Gordon Birrell
http://www.flickr.com/photos/77318580@N00/
Here are two more shots of my progress The two gears And fly wheel with the basic Stephenson Valve Gear was the only thing I could get my mind around. I also placed the steam chest up on top of the cylinder.
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Gordon Birrell
http://www.flickr.com/photos/77318580@N00/
Gordon,
Splendid as always!
Marc
This photo is of the water tank core with the side sheeting. Also the coal bunker sheet and the wood form I used for the shaping .I used rubber bands to hold the sheet to the form and placed into hot water.
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This photo is of the coal bunker sheet finished and added to the car. Also the finisher water tank.
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Gordon Birrell
http://www.flickr.com/photos/77318580@N00/
....you make it look so easy.
It's coming along really nicely, Gordon. Thanks for the update.
Hey Mr Scratchmyrivitsman, :P
Another fine piece of work... looks great.
Ken,
He does make it look easy.... And that is what amazes me... :D
Mike
Looking good!
The man is truly nutters (or should that be 'rivets'). ;) ;D
M
Gordon,
Here is that picture of "Pioneer" that I was telling you about.
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For those that missed our conversation this is the Locomotive Pioneer. It was brought to Chicago by sailing ship in 1848 and was the first locomotive in Chicago and the West. Serving the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad and later the Chicago Northwestern it made it's first run on October 25th 1848. This is a standard gauge, 10 ton, 4-2-0 wood burner. This photo is from (I'm guessing here) the 1950's showing it in restored condition.
I'm sure there is more information out there about this guy, I haven't researched it. I just ran across this old photo in a junk store and thought of Gordon's loco projects.
Thanks all.
Rick Marty
Here are two more shots of my progrees. The stack is brass with styrene rivets.
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Gordon Birrell
http://www.flickr.com/photos/77318580@N00/
Gordon, sometimes I think you build those models just to make the rest of us jealous of your skill. You make it look so easy whereas the opposite actually is true. -- Russ
Russ,
Gordon is building in this tempo so you can publish a special about ALL the models he has built till now, from the first shay ( as far as I can remember) to the latest BETSY of the Madera Sugarpine Lumber Co. including the building tips.
I for sure will be one of the first to buy it...
Jacq
You think you are joking, Jacq. But Gordon has completed a model in time for each Annual and is actually running ahead of schedule! He will have two articles in the upcoming December Modelers' Annual. To make matters worse, the quality of his modeling continues to improve. -- Russ
Great craftsmanship as usual Gordon,
I particularly liked the shot of the water tank under construction...nice to see the thought process behind shaping something like that, using the various styrene rounds and angles to gain uniform curves and edges under the tank skin. Previously I would have probably tried to shape something like that from 1 piece of timber. Interesting seeing how a scratchbuilders mind thinks in breaking the tasks down without relying on the "instruction manuals". Your builds are always entertaining and educational to watch.
Cheers,
Dan
Quote from: NORCALLOGGER on September 22, 2009, 07:21:20 PM
Gordon,
Here is that picture of "Pioneer" that I was telling you about.
I'm sure there is more information out there about this guy, I haven't researched it. I just ran across this old photo in a junk store and thought of Gordon's loco projects.
Thanks all.
Rick Marty
Great image and info...thanks. I am sure Gordon could nudge Jim Wilke to see what info he has knows about her....probably more than you ever wanted to know ;D ;D ;D
M
Thanks guys for your comments and Rick for the great photo. I've been working on a 1:1 brick fence the past five weeks and have had less time for modeling.
Here is a photo of the fence 7 of the 21 panels we laid the last brick on Saturday
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Here is a photo of the Tea Pot in a jig to hold it while I work on the bottom
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Gordon Birrell
http://www.flickr.com/photos/77318580@N00/
That's a neat jig, Gordon. Nicely done!
BTW, what did you use for wheels? If you mentioned it somewhere in the thread, I can't find it.
Nice brick fence, too. Must've taken a long time to scribe mortar lines in those big styrene sheets,
and those laser-cut pallets are a nice touch.
Ken, the info on the wheels is in the first post of this thread.
Gordon Birrell
http://www.flickr.com/photos/77318580@N00/
Gordon, why on earth would you interrupt your modeling to do actual work and get paid? -- Russ
Quote from: Scratchman on November 01, 2009, 09:03:16 PM
Ken, the info on the wheels is in the first post of this thread.
(Must've had a Senior Moment)
I didn't scroll up to the very first photo in my search yesterday,
but now I do remember seeing that.....
I'll probably ask again tomorrow.
Gordon nice jig while your making money. Beautiful brick wall.
Ken a Senior Moment hate that when it happens ;D
Jerry
Here are four photos of the finished model.
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Gordon Birrell
http://www.flickr.com/photos/77318580@N00/
Geez, Gordon. That's a beautiful model.
The details are super...and you paint as good as you build.
Bravo!!!
Beautiful, as always!
Is the tender a part of the loco, like a Forney, or is it separate? Would the wheel arrangement be 4-2-0 (plus tender), or 4-2-4?
Another most satisfactory model, Gordon. I am glad you could find the time to complete it. The underbody detail is wonderful. -- Russ
Hi Gordon,
Superbly finished model as usual, I particularly like the finish on top of the water tank, nicely mottled effect. Great build, but geez, she aint no glamourous looking piece of machinery is she...sort of like the tomboy workhorse in the fleet I think ;D
It would have undoubtably been picked on at school for having big wheels or something... ;D ;D
Cheers,
Dan
She's beautiful Gordon. I like the paint and finish. Very cool.
Great build and paint. Look forward to your next one! ;D
M
Great project!
Could you tell us a little bit about te painting and weathering?
-Regards, Håvard H
Indeed, your usual beautiful work, plus an extremely unique subject.
I don't know if you have been asked before, but what becomes of these? Are they displayed or stored or? It would be quite a sight to see your locos all together.
Gordon, Very nice job on the Tea Pot.....How about some tips on how you did the painting and weathering. Craig
Fantastic work as usual Gordon... love the underbody detail and the finish on the top of the tank is particularly fine. I'm curious about the solid disk drivers... I see in the original photo they were solid disks, just curious as to whether the backs of the drivers were a flat plane or had some form of ribbing. They are certainly unusual and I wonder how they made the originals...
Paul
Thanks guys for your comments
Ray, I go with the 4-2-0.
Chuck, all my models are sitting on shelves in a small building in back of my house. One good earthquake though and they'll all be on the floor.
Painting is very easy. I use Floquil Engine Black out of a rattle can, over this I brush on powdered hard pastels with a big soft brush to highlight the detail. The water tank, stack, front wheels, drive wheels and the tender have had a coat or two of Testors Dullcote. I still need to do this to the rest of the engine. I use a hard pastel stick for the white trim on the wheels and the tender floor.
Gordon Birrell
http://www.flickr.com/photos/77318580@N00/
.
Your paint and weathering techniques are simple but seem to work just fine, thanks. -- Russ
Quote from: Scratchman on November 11, 2009, 11:06:54 PM
Painting is very easy. I use Floquil Engine Black out of a rattle can, over this I brush on powdered hard pastels with a big soft brush to highlight the detail. The water tank, stack, front wheels, drive wheels and the tender have had a coat or two of Testors Dullcote. I still need to do this to the rest of the engine. I use a hard pastel stick for the white trim on the wheels and the tender floor.
Best example of the KISS approach I have ever heard!
A great inspiration, and a reminder that you dont have to make things so damned complicated all the time.
But I guess that if you had the chance to ask Leonardo da Vinci about his drawing techniques he would answer along the lines "naw, I just grab some red crayons and some paper and start droodeling..."
Nice model! Awesome as usual... ;)I like the paint job and finish, all in smoothness!
Franck
Your model is great, Gordon, and as usual its building was very well documented. I particularly like the pic of the upside down loco in a jig.
Gordon,
Be careful with earthquakes. We had one not that long ago here in California and it busted up four of my locomotives that were sitting on shelves. My GS4 fell 6 feet and was broken in two. Incidentally, it is now back together and ran at the recent Southwestern large scale show.
John