28-May-2008 08:14

This engine is from a Scorpio kit that is designed to produce no less than 6 different versions of saddle tank.  This view of the myriad parts in bags will give you some idea of its complexity.  There were also many sheets of etch.

The footplate and cab, (what there is of it, hardy lot those old engine crews) makes up fairly easily.

This is the basis of the tank and requires overlays fitting to suit the particular variety of engine.  In this case they will have to be scratch built and fitted, since I want to model an earlier version than the kit caters for.

The boiler/firebox, shewn upside down here, sits inside the tanks and leaves plenty of room for motor, gearbox, DCC control equipment, speakers and ballast etc.

The smoke box is not an easy part to make or fit since there are no locking tabs anywhere.

The chassis has scale thickness frames, which makes them somewhat floppy, even when the spacers are fitted.  Also, it still uses old fashioned turned brass spacers that take a lot of heat to fit.

The wheels were turned up from Alan Harris castings and the rods soldered and cleaned up very early in the piece.  I do not like taper pins and so fit the telescopic axles with 10BA bolts into threaded holes in the axle components.  The brass turning in the front is the tool for removing the Carl Legg crank pin nuts.

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