Two MM Locomotives kits

Gooner53 · September 17, 2013, 08:47:40 AM

Has anyone built one of their kits? If so, what was it like? I'm conscious of the fact that they are a wee bit more expensive than most, particularly as you need to source wheels, motor and gearbox. Where would you source N gauge loco wheels from? I'm really keen on a LSWR Adams Radial 4-4-2T - http://www.twommlocomotives.co.uk/TwommLocomotives/Other_Locomotive_Kits.html

Nick

Chinahand · September 17, 2013, 09:19:28 AM

They look to be very nice kits Nick and, re. the wheels, the web site seems to suggest that they can supply them to suit whichever loco you are building though they are not cheap at up to £72 per set.

BernardTPM · September 17, 2013, 09:38:24 AM

I suspect these are aimed at 2mm scale modellers using finescale (9.42mm gauge) wheels. There is a wide range of wheels available for that, but nothing much in N, other than spares from commercial models.

Michael Shillabeer · September 17, 2013, 09:48:02 AM

Very interesting models.

Motors and gearboxes will be available too - the website has an empty page for those.

The wheels shown aren't 2mmSA products. The wheels are new with 3D printed centres http://2mmmodelengineering.blogspot.co.uk/ and it says "N-Gauge wheels are also available in the same range".

I'm tempted by the Rocket!

Michael

Chinahand · September 17, 2013, 10:00:48 AM

I'm tempted by the Dean Single 4-2-2 and the little '1361' 0-6-0 Dock Shunter but will have to save the pennies for a while.

MikeDunn · September 17, 2013, 10:28:26 AM

Don't understand what you guys are so excited about ... while there's lots 'announced', I'm not sure much has actually been produced

. Which is a shame, as I like the LNER tank engine

I'd be happy buying the kit if I could see what it was, and get the various other bits as well !

Mike

Michael Shillabeer · September 17, 2013, 10:33:57 AM

I'm excited because its potentially kits rather then RTR!!!

Michael

MikeDunn · September 17, 2013, 10:44:01 AM

I think the key word here is "potentially"

Gooner53 · September 17, 2013, 02:46:35 PM

I need a couple of 43xx Moguls for the ex-Taunton traffic on my North Devon layout. I've already ordered a P&D Marsh white metal kit which will utilise a Farish Prairie I've already got and I fancied trying one of the 43XX kits - http://www.twommlocomotives.co.uk/TwommLocomotives/Great_Western_Railway_Locomotive_Kits.html - but could prove expensive compared to the Marsh option. Thing is will it be more accurate? I suspect it might be given that the kit is not built to fit a commercial chassis. I'll email to see if they can supply N Gauge wheels, gearbox etc. I can't think where else you can get N gauge wheels, plenty for finescale as mentioned above but not N.

Problem is, as Mike has said, it's all potential! Even some photos of kits would be good, photos of kits in the process of being built would be even better and some captions to go with the photos in the gallery would help....

Nick

BernardTPM · September 17, 2013, 03:07:52 PM

Have you considered converting a Manor? The tender, the wheels and the driver spacing is all the same. The cylinders could be moved, one pair of wheels from the front bogie used for a pony. I wouldn't be surprised to find fair chunks of the bodywork could be shortened down to suit too. If you were doing the Collett versions uch of the cab could be adapted. It might even be easier than building the kit and would certainly be more realistic as the old Farish chassis is way out in the basic wheel/wheel spacing area. Most of the Manor drive wouldn't need disturbing either, again probably easier than trying to work round the Farish motor. The kit even when made well has chunks of worm gear on display.

Gooner53 · September 17, 2013, 03:16:22 PM

Quote from: BernardTPM on September 17, 2013, 03:07:52 PM
Have you considered converting a Manor? The tender, the wheels and the driver spacing is all the same. The cylinders could be moved, one pair of wheels from the front bogie used for a pony. I wouldn't be surprised to find fair chunks of the bodywork could be shortened down to suit too. If you were doing the Collett versions uch of the cab could be adapted. It might even be easier than building the kit and would certainly be more realistic as the old Farish chassis is way out in the basic wheel/wheel spacing area. Most of the Manor drive wouldn't need disturbing either, again probably easier than trying to work round the Farish motor. The kit even when made well has chunks of worm gear on display.

That's certainly worth thinking about. The only limiting factor would be that N gauge Manors are pretty scarce, I haven't seen one in a while. I'll get a 43XX priced up from this company and then take stock, could be that it is worth waiting for a Manor to appear on eBay, I'm not in any rush as I will have the P&D Marsh version to start off my timetable. Let me see how this version prices up, I'll keep you posted...

Gooner53 · September 18, 2013, 04:48:20 PM

Quote from: Gooner1953 on September 17, 2013, 03:16:22 PM
Quote from: BernardTPM on September 17, 2013, 03:07:52 PM
Have you considered converting a Manor?

That's certainly worth thinking about. The only limiting factor would be that N gauge Manors are pretty scarce, I haven't seen one in a while.

Ages since I've seen a Manor and lo and behold there's two on eBay today! Need to do some careful thinking now....

Dorsetmike · September 18, 2013, 07:57:01 PM

I've had problems trying to fit N gauge wheels into 2mm kits, the kits were Worsley Works classes 700 & T9 Admittedly these were actually 2mm scale not his later N gauge option, the overall width of a pair of N gauge wheels on axle at correct back to back was wider than the width over cab and splashers. The Worsley works tenders were a beautiful fit on a Union Mills tender drive though.

I was using ABS wheels which are a slimmer profile than found on RTR loco wheels, they are however a right PITA to quarter, the earlier ABS/Beaver wheels did have a square axle end and hole in the wheel, but tend to be like rocking horse dung and hens teeth, there are a few on Ebay recently but only one axle/2 wheels, not a set of 4 or 6. The later ABS came in packs of 4 or 6 coupled, I used to phone him up and arrange to call at his house about 3 miles away.

Gooner53 · September 19, 2013, 08:41:43 AM

Quote from: Dorsetmike on September 18, 2013, 07:57:01 PM
I've had problems trying to fit N gauge wheels into 2mm kits, the kits were Worsley Works classes 700 & T9 Admittedly these were actually 2mm scale not his later N gauge option, the overall width of a pair of N gauge wheels on axle at correct back to back was wider than the width over cab and splashers. The Worsley works tenders were a beautiful fit on a Union Mills tender drive though.

Mike, I'm confused. Shouldn't the N gauge wheels/axles be an easier fit in a 2mm kit given that the track gauge in 2mm finescale is, I believe, 9.42mm and therefore wider than N gauge? Also the back to back is supposed to be greater in 2mm compared to N. Or have I got all that completely wrong (wouldn't be the first time!)...

Nick

Dorsetmike · September 19, 2013, 10:45:14 AM

Nick, I think it was probably a combination of 2mm bodies being a tad smaller than N so they were narrower, and the thickness of N gauge wheels, as the problem was the outside face of the wheels would not fit into the cut out in the footplate, the majority of T9s and all the 700s had narrow cabs which probably aggravated things.

I've just measured up some locos over the cab sidesheets, kit and RTR, and most are overscale being nearer 9' than 8'; T9 and 700 were 7'6" over cab sides and splashers, except for the 300 series of T9s which were 8'

The maximum width on the UK standard loading guage is 9' from 3'6" above rail height, below that 8' 8", for some ex SECR lines tha max width was 8' whilst GWR lines could accomodate 10' a legacy of broad guage. Some GWR locos were banned for SR lines as the cylinders would not fit between platforms.