J15

[NTrain]

I have been asked by a local group, to find out more. They want to make a layout and require an N Gauge J15 Steam engine.

Steam is not my area of interest/expertise, so I am looking for help.

Is there a kit/rtr, available/under development, that anyone is aware of.

Failing all else, I will have a go at drawing up the CAD, once they can provide me with sufficient dimension details.

[Roy L S]

Hi Bob

No kit has ever been available. I suspect it is a model which would attract a significant amount of interest but the challenge of powering it would be interesting to overcome - it is a very small loco.

Regards

Roy

[NTrain]

I am testing something for a different project, which may work for a model like this.

[Adam1701D]

Would a UM Tender Drive work for the J15? It can fit a Dean Goods, I would have thought so...

Actually, the J15 would be quite a good UM project, I suppose - 0-6-0, tender drive, inside cylinders.

[Dr Al]

@Atso  might be the man to ask on this one.

Cheers,
Alan

[Stevie DC]

@Atso  might be the man to ask on this one.

Cheers,
Alan

Thanks for the heads up on this Alan. I've got both a J15 and E4 in my to do pile for sometime next year (gotta clear some commissions first).

Would a UM Tender Drive work for the J15? It can fit a Dean Goods, I would have thought so...

Actually, the J15 would be quite a good UM project, I suppose - 0-6-0, tender drive, inside cylinders.

Union Mills does do a generic GER tender now for their D16/3. I say generic because it is somewhat overscale to fit the UM 6'6 by 6'6 tender wheelbase and, I think a little too tall to clear the motor (I think, from memory, that the tender is around 3-4mm too long). GER tenders were typically 6' by 6' although I think that both the J15 and E4 had tender wheelbases of 6'6 by 5'6. Personally, I'd like to have something a little more to scale although the Union Mills tender does look the part behind the D16/3 if you're not looking too closely and is a cracking effort from Colin.

[martyn]

As has been discussed, motorising will be the problem. The 'Clauds' had a 3450 gallon tender, but the J15s had a 2460 gallon version, which was visually much smaller. The Union Mills tender drive for the 'Claud' is actually overscale for them and would be even more inaccurate for a J15.
The Union Mills Claud tender could be used on the other GER 060s, J16-20, with the same level of inaccuracy as used on the Clauds.
I haven't got one to measure up, but possibly a Union Mills 2F/3F tender drive chassis would be closer to scale?
Martyn

[Stevie DC]

As has been discussed, motorising will be the problem. The 'Clauds' had a 3450 gallon tender, but the J15s had a 2460 gallon version, which was visually much smaller. The Union Mills tender drive for the 'Claud' is actually overscale for them and would be even more inaccurate for a J15.
The Union Mills Claud tender could be used on the other GER 060s, J16-20, with the same level of inaccuracy as used on the Clauds.
I haven't got one to measure up, but possibly a Union Mills 2F/3F tender drive chassis would be closer to scale?
Martyn

Hi Martyn,

I believe that the UM 2F/3F tender drive is to the same 6'6 by 6'6 wheelbase that the Claud's overscale tender uses.

Gareth's (thebrighton) Terrier tank or Fleischmann small tender drive idea would be a better solution, although for the J15 and E4 you'd still have the problem of the incorrect wheelbase as well as the lack of traction tires (using a Terrier). I'm wondering if it could be possible to motorise the locomotive using a small coreless motor, that'll solve the problem of finding a tender drive of the correct size and wheelbase.

[Glen B]

I'm pretty sure the 2mm Association used to have a book suggesting how to go about scratch building a J15, which suggests that it's technically feasible. I believe the scheme envisaged a motor in the tender with a shaft and universe joint to transmit the torque to the loco wheels.  I've always fancied doing an ex-GER branch line in N and a RTR J15 would be a necessary prerequisite.

[Izzy]

 I think that an etched kit was/is available in 2mm for a J15, but not totally sure. Even fitting a motor in the tender driving the loco wheels via a cardon shaft could be difficult considering how small the normal exGE tender used would be. Not quite sure if there are any available that would fit except perhaps the tiny 6v ones from Nigel Lawton.

Be a challenge though........

Izzy

[NTrain]

Steve is going to test a motor, which might suit. Provided it can do more than pull the skin off a rice pudding................

He and I ha a good conversation the other evening, and I am pleased to be able to get out of trying to do the J15 myself.

[martyn]

I hope all goes well with this project, as, if it is successful and doesn't require too much cut and shut to get a drive unit, then I might well be interested in building one (or two or three....); and if it is successful, then I would like to see an E4 as well.
Here's hoping..........
I think the 2mm booklet was a guide of how to scratch build in 2mm, and chassis construction principles, and a J15 happened to be the subject built by the writer, but I have never actually seen the booklet, only read about it.
Stelfox did a J17 in 4mm, and this was reduced to 2mm for sale (and also an N7), but they are rare and AFAIK, didn't include how to motorise the kit. Gibson and Nu-cast also do/did the J15 in 4mm kits; the Gibson one is etched and may give some ideas. I've never seen an N scale J15 kit (though I don't say one has never existed!).
Hope all goes well
Martyn

[thebrighton]

Hi,
Here's the Stelfox J17 powered by my tried and tested Dapol Terrier tender conversion.


Plenty of room for a lower tender.
Gareth

[martyn]

Another superb model, Gareth,
Makes my 4F to J17 via a BHE Claud seem to be tinplate quality../..
Martyn