No.10 - Thompson Packet
Some
initial views of Thompson Packet following the naming ceremony. The chosen
nameplates are of the Penrhyn Hunslet style, due to the large cabside area it
was thought that they would make good use of the space. Matching number plates
have been affixed. The plates were supplied by Guilplates true to artwork
supplied to them.
The battery power has been upgraded to twin 7.2v AA packs of 2500mAh capacity. This has given runs of two hours plus, with the smoke generator running and a good train. There are two charging sockets fitted below the dummy tank filler allowing a standard 6-cell charger to replenish each battery.
Experiments with smoke oil (due to the original Bachmann supply running out) shows that most light oils will produce smoke, but perhaps the best results to date were with Lamp Oil. Using Citronella versions may have added benefits on hot days......
In the hope that we'll be troubled by snow here on the south coast, a Bachmann K27 snow plough has been delivered to the CSLR, with the aim of fitting it to Thompson Packet.
First
of all, I removed the existing front deck plate, buffer and coupling beam and
catcher by removing the four screws underneath. The first picture shows the loco
with the removed gear, and the new front plate from the Bachmann kit ready to
fit. In order to fit the new plate flat onto the top of the original steelwork,
there is a central fitting to remove - it pops out, and then two recesses are
made in the plastic front plate to allow two steel moulded nuts to fit
underneath.
Next,
two holes in the in the steelwork are enlarged to 3mm diameter and a new hole
drilled rear centre to allow one of the original screws clearance into a moulded
fitting on the new front plate. The support struts are removed from the front
plate and pushed into their mounting holes on the sides of the smokebox. They
don't reach the lower mountings on the front plate, but they will not be visible
once the plough is fitted. The three screws are passed through from underneath
into the plastic front plate to hold it on. The angled blocks on the front of
the new plate fit against the front of the original steelwork. Finally, the
plough itself is fitted to the two posts with screws in from beneath (the front
plate needs to be removed to do this, then refitted with the plough attached).
The first fitting left the plough too high from the rails, so I removed 2mm from
the mounting posts and a corresponding 2mm from two levelling blades inside the
plough moulding to lower the whole assembly.
The top of the plough just sits under the headlamp, but of course prevents the smokebox door from opening, perhaps a prototypical modification would call for a cutout allowing the door to be opened for servicing?
The final two shots show the result on the track. The plough has had a coat of clear acrylic varnish to dull down the finish a little. I need to add some detailing by way of chains ... and wait for some snow!
Chains added. The chain is an old silver necklace with the links blackened, dropped through holes in the top of the plough and secured internally. The upper ends are linked through split pins that have been shortened. The split pins then fit into brackets already on the loco smokebox (for flags?) needing only to be drilled thru 1.5mm diameter and a minute drop of cyanoacrylate glue to secure.
Still
no snow though - but it was -5degC last night!