3MT Renovation - Part 3

Both the front bogie and pony truck, which are identical, had suffered some damage and this one shown has become brittle with surface cracking. The metal,  made from MAZAK, is prone to this if it contains impurities or incorrect proportions of metal. Mazak is an alloy of mostly zinc with some aluminium, magnesium and copper content.

The circular pivot point had fractured into 3 pieces with one part missing. The missing part was recreated using car body filler, as was part of the wheel flange that was also missing. The other grey coloured parts are tailored from plastic sprue and glued in place but these are fragile and will not take a hard knock. The additions have since been matt black painted.

I considered remaking the entire bogie using the 3D printer but as this is a vintage toy I wanted to retain as much of the original as possible whilst it is still serviceable.

The rusted weathering effect on the chassis coupling rods was removed using toothbrush and oven cleaner spray and moving parts then lightly oiled. I may paint the wheels matt black as the natural grey finish is just not right.

Now I need a motor, which might take a while to obtain.

To Final Part.

3MT Renovation - Part 2

The remnants of the original lining, number and emblem were removed by scratching them with my thumbnail. They simply cracked and fragmented.

I did not think that a DIY approach to replacement with the facilities to hand was a viable proposition so I searched Ebay for suitable transfers. It was then that I found a supplier who offered not transfers but a complete refurbishment set for R59 as sticky paper labels. That got me thinking whether or not I could design replacements in my graphics application and ink jet print onto sticky paper. (The ink I use is Epson Durabrite, which has excellent colour retention properties and is water resistant).

The design was straightforward and print quality fine. It is worth noting that sticky backed paper once peeled off the backing is thinner than normal 80gms print paper. When applied to the model its thickness is thin enough to look like a slide transfer.

The pannier tank lining was given black edging and black infill between the white and red lines. The first cut was made along the outer edge of the white line and the panel peeled off as a whole, stuck on the pannier tanks and then a second cut made along the inner edge of the red line and the white panel peeled away leaving a remarkably good quality lining.

The other panels were cut out and fitted, retaining the black inners and numbers.

The 'early' emblem is from a HMRS Pressfix transfer sheet that is years old and lost most of its adhesion. To ensure they stayed in place they were placed on top of a puddle of watery PVA glue and when dry covered with matt varnish.

To Part 3.

3MT Renovation - Part 1

Inspired by the success of the Jinty renovation project I dug out from storage my very first locomotive given to me when I was just a few years old in the 1950s. It is the Triang 3MT, catalogue number R59.

This one has a chassis but no motor. For a while in the 1970s I used it as a static, derelict locomotive. It was also my first attempt at weathering with streaks of rust and water marks applied.

I have already repaired a half broken and missing rear buffer beam with a 3D printed part I designed (shown circled in the photo) and have removed the Humbrol enamel paint weathering effects with tooth brush and oven cleaner spray.

Next job is to repair the lining, number and emblem.

To Part 2.

AMRC expo + Jinty Final + Hymek etc..

There is a connection between these apparently separate topics, as will be revealed.

Andover Model Railway Club exhibition 

The annual Andover Model Railway Club exhibition was visited today and I must say it was an excellent show. I may be biased because I was able to buy every rare thing I needed plus a bit more!

On entering the first hall our attention was immediately drawn to the layouts there, which were of a very high modelling standard, from the vast Thornbury Hill (fine scale 00), with its precision scratch built track laying and a plethora of red buses bringing colour highlights to the scene, to the diminutive Shad Dock (00) and its electric arcing third rail simulation as the EMU shoe contacted the end of the rail.

It is a close call but my best in show goes to Dock Green (0 gauge). It has just the right level of modelling details, so important for that touch of realism in the larger scales. The photos here show the goods shed and office. Note the filing cabinets inside the nicely lit office.

And so to the traders. Probably the greatest variety of traders with high stock levels I have seen for some time.

Jinty Renovation - Final Part

Following on from the previous two posts on this subject we needed to find a complete chassis with motor for the forlorn body. Yes. there were some available on Ebay but we were pleased to see Country Park Models at the Andover show. (I hope I have named the right trader). His is the stand with neatly hung locomotive bodies and separate chassis.

He had a variety of 3F chassis for the Jinty. Comparing the Bachmann and Hornby chassis in the flesh so to speak against the Triang Hornby body that we took with us we could see the higher detailed Backmann would not fit so easily. We opted for the second hand Hornby, which was a second series I believe as the screw fixing was not compatible with our early body.

Having got it home the chassis ran like a dream. Extremely good slow running considering its age and obviously serviced well before sale. The body fixing lugs did not quite fit so had to open up the locating holes in the body. The front end interfered with the buffer beam that I had rebuilt. Some filing of the chassis and body for relief finely resulted in a snug fit.


Hymek

After a very successful running session with my 1970s Hymek diesel loco a couple of weeks ago I left it standing on the track whilst other trains were being observed. On looking round I saw a plume of smoke rising from its power bogie. Quickly taking it off the track I then disassembled it to find the cause. One of the motor brushes had lost its carbon brush and flipped over the armature causing a low resistance that made the other carbon brush overheat (I assume). The missing carbon brush has not been found.

I then started looking on Ebay for a replacement X67 brush and was a little shocked at the prices, about £5 a pair plus postage. Whilst at the Andover show I enquired of Country Park Models who dug out a pair from his stock box and relieved me of £5 for it - the going rate it seems.

Please to say no further damage was caused to the Hymek, which now runs fine with its new brush and I have a spare one to hand for the next travesty.

Class 66

A previous post laid bare my attempts to find a Class 66 in EWS livery. Ebay and a Train Fair I went to had none available, or not within my budget. But I did secure a Class 66 in Freightliner livery. I could not beleive my eyes when at the Andover Model Rail Show there was a trader with three EWS versions on his stand! I left them there of course as the Freightliner had fulfilled my need.

This is not the first time traders at a Model Railway show have come up trumps. I feel Ebay is not the panacea we may think it is for finding those obscure out of manufacture items. It is always worthwhile getting up from the computer to visit a model railway show.

Jinty Renovation - Part 2

47606 just out of the paint shop with late crest emblem applied.

Now we need a chassis.