Ol' Bill

[Chris Cairns]

Glad to hear you found the problem Jim.

If you are going to pin the return crank I was advised to get 2 drill bits (one for each side) and where possible drill through one side of the return crank before fitting then drilling through the crank pin.

If you are not going to pin the return crank then either use an M2.5 socket head bolt & nut ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DHhK2lk0BY ) or an M2 x 12mm socket cap & nut (as per the Association's 'Victory'). I've attached the page from the Victory instructions showing the mod suggested for the clamping slot.

Chris Cairns


Click to download file

[Big Jim]

Cheers Chris

[Big Jim]

Well then, I had hoped to get the Brick finished tonight. However paint problems have put its rebuild back until tomorrow.
Ol' Bill's compleation was waiting for me to buy a length of RC control rod but I found one in the bottom of the scrap box. So in all his glory, I give you Ol' Bill.

20170108_223617 by bigjimiflash, on Flickr

20170108_223631 by bigjimiflash, on Flickr

I am going to have to get some metal blacking on the safety valve as it sticks out a bit.

[LNR]

Nice colour for a working engine Jim. Maintained but not much spit and polish. That's the way I like to see engines. Hope it runs as good as it looks.
Grant.

[Big Jim]

It runs rather nicely.
It may be up for a repaint rather earlier than I would like as the paint doesn't seem very tough. But I am rather pleased with it. The matt paint on the boiler has gone satin with the oil spray but I quite like the effect.

[Chris Cairns]

Looks great Jim.

Your safety valve seems to be a bit higher above the cover than I've seen on other Billy's.

Chris Cairns

[williamfj]

Ol Bill looks really good, the cut back bufferbeam rather suits the Billy.

[Big Jim]

Thanks, It was one of the things that I wasn't keen on with the Billy, a dirty great front buffer beam and nothing behind it. I was going to build a foot plate but decided against it so I just cut a new buffer beam from brass and pressed some rivets into it.

I wondered about the safety valve, it screws into a larger lump of brass, which I think R/H refer to as a filler plug. It does look a little OTT, hence the desire to darken it.

Since this pic was taken I have gone over various chipped bits of paint and screw heads and it all looks okay. I think the handrails need a bit of a darken. When it has been run a bit I will see what needs doing regarding weathering.

I did wonder about the wasp stripes, I know they are a bit 'marmite' but I like them. I did toy with the idea of painting the buffer beams but I saw a picture of a SG loco at one of the NCB collieries in the Warwickshire area with just the tank fronts and rear bunker painted and it looked okay so I copied it. (In the same book was a saddle tank with the front of the tank painted with stripes that looked like they were radiating from the smoke box door and that looked stunning. )

The next project is to build a small breakdown/engineering train to run behind it. I don't fancy building a crane from scratch but you never know.

Thanks for the kind words folks

[Dannypenguin]

Can't believe that's the same engine! :O

[Big Jim]

Yes it is that one.

[Big Jim]

20170114_131939 by bigjimiflash, on Flickr

[Peter Butler]

A very nice looking loco and a beautifully smooth runner, well done for all your work Jim.

[SimonWood]

That finish looks even better in the daylight, Jim, it really does look good. (Lovely setting of course, too, Peter!)