A scratch built VB model locomotive

[Tony Bird]

Hi,



On a Wednesday evening the GR members of the CMES use my workshop to repair and make model steam locomotives. A few years ago they made a number of Cracker locomotives which worked very well. The next model to be tackled was a bit more advanced than the Cracker with its single acting single oscillating cylinder and gear drive. The later engine is a bit more complicated using a double acting single cylinder geared to the leading axle the wheels being coupled with side rods. I designed and made a prototype which was based on a Deryk Goodall design name Usk and uses some of the late Colin Binnie technology in its vertical boiler.
One of the GR group is moving away from the area and has been putting in some extra time to complete the model before he moves. The photographs show his progress to date. There are 5 other models of this locomotive being made.







The prototype model model which I made some years ago.





I will post further photographs when Michael has progressed some more.

Regards Tony.

[steamie1]

Cor!

[kandnwlr]

I really like the neat little size that´s been achieved. Congrats to the builder.

[Tony Bird]

Hi,

A very popular VB model locomotive was designed by Dave Watkins many years ago.

For those who might not have seen one of Dave's 'Idris', which is a reasonably close scale model of a De Winton quarry locomotive here are a couple of photographs of one of several built some years ago by ADW.







Originally meths fired now fitted with Dave's gas ring burner. Showing a lot of wear and tare could do with an overhaul and a ceramic burner. The gas ring burner works OK but can be blown out by the wind. I assume Dave came up with the name Idris (a mythical Welsh giant) as the De Winton has to be the smallest Welsh locomotive to be built. I have a liking for VB locomotives as well as this Idris and Bianca I have 3 other VB model locomotives.

Plans for Idris at;

http://www.davewatkins.pwp.blueyo...co.uk/16mm%20railway/idrispln.htm

Regards Tony.

[Big Jim]

Funny you should have posted pictures of Idris.
I aquired a load of old magazines recently and amoung them was the issues of SMT that include the articles that Dave Watkins wrote. As they were the only SMT issues in the large pile I assumed that some one was planning to build one.
I was going to post a question asking if anyone built one and how did they get on? Obviously people did as your last post shews!
I fancy having a go myself when time permits.

[dewintondave]

I was going to post a question asking if anyone built one and how did they get on? Obviously people did as your last post shews!
I fancy having a go myself when time permits.

I can thoroughly recommend the Idris. Here's mine, widened for 45mm gauge, and with a slightly larger diameter boiler. We kept with the meths firing.



Best wishes,
Dave.

[funandtrains]

These do make the new Mamod effort look rather poor and actually look better than any of the previous commercially made VB locos.

[Tony Bird]

Hi,

Yesterday Michael managed another day in the workshop, this along with his regular Wednesday night sessions has given him a model that runs on air. He has finished and tested the burner. The lubricator is finished and when the reversing valve linkage is finished it can have a steam test.

Burner test.





Model as it looked at the end of play yesterday.





Regards Tony.

[Tony Bird]

Hi,

Well here it is an F1 VB?



Regards Tony.