Helen Longish

[jgb7573]

Great stuff. Wish I'd been there to see it.

[baggo]

spurley said:

How about the 'photographic grey' applied to the Brighton Baltics, with L.B.S.C on the large tanks, just before grouping? That way you also have a chance to pay homage to LBSC as well as having a subtle variation on normal paint jobs but remaining prototypical too.

Brian, that's an interesting option I hadn't considered. I've always thought that locos look rather smart in photographic grey. Unfortunately I don't have any colour photos of any of the Baltics so it's not easy to imagine what the full size locos really looked like in their respective liveries. I'll have to try and get hold of some. Any suggestions for sources would be appreciated. I've got till the end of the running season to choose anyway!

John

[spurley]

Hi John

I have several books on the Brighton at home, it happens to be my 'pet' company. So I'll look out some suitable pictures and either give you a list of books or scan a few for you. From memory A C Perryman's book on the Brighton Baltics from Oakwood has a good few shots as well as R C Riley's the Brighton Line Album by Ian Allen. I think the RCTS Locomotives of the LB&SCR must also be a good source too.

I just thought it would look good and be a tribute to Curly too!

Cheers

Brian

[GeorgeRay]

Brian
I thought the only Brighton Baltic to run in grey for any length of time was 333 all the others running in umber once they had had their photos taken and were run in. I dont know whether the Hughes baltics ever wore grey. The only pictures I have are in LMS red.

[Jo]

Hughes Baltics: The first engine was painted out in grey for her official photo back in March 1924 and ran wearing it for at least 3 weeks before her official test on 8th April. I do not have a record of when she was repainted in LMSR crimson Lake.

I believe the other engines after their works photos (in grey) were painted in crimson prior to entering service.

Jo

[spurley]

Hi John

George looks to be right about the Baltic liveries (he's older than me ) I have attached a few black and white pictures of the way they appeard in their early days. Looks like numbers 328 or 331 didn't receive a name until the Southern took over so you could have an Umber one with LBSC on the tank, or go for the works grey with Charles C Macrae? Or even go for works grey and L Lawrence as the name? According to AC Perryman; 333 Remembrance ran for some time in April 1922 in Red Oxide with just a number painted on the bunker there is a picture of her on the Brighton turntable, didn't scan that as she only looks black!

It's your choice, I think it would be great!

Lovely looking engines!




What do you think?

Cheers

Brian

[baggo]

Looks like I'm spoiled for choice. Decisions, decisions! I think what I'll do is colour my original outline drawings with the various liveries and see which appeals the most.
Here's a pic of a Hughes Baltic in photographic grey:

www.modeng.johnbaguley.info/photoalbum/Hughes Baltic.jpg[/img]

Looking at Josslin's original drawing for Helen Long the similarity seems too much of a coincidence although they do say great minds think alike!



Personally I think the shorter tanks of the Hughes design spoil the overall appearance which is the reason I've extended the tanks on my version. Also increases the capacity slightly!:



I'm busy building a driving trolley at the moment ready for another running session at Coalville this Saturday. Can't wait!

John

[mackintosh]

Hi John
How many hours are there in your day? Your excellent work seems to move at warp factor 10, without maintaining your web site and keeping us up to date. Keep it up.
Bob

[Shawki Shlemon]

John
the longer tanks looks great . I had a 2-8-2 tank engine with tanks even longer and it looked fine( the engine was stolen ) .
you still can see it on my website .It is called SMR10 . Keep up the good work .

[baggo]

Hi all,

just come back from a days running at the track of the North West Leicestershire Society. This is quite a long (approx. 1/4 of a mile) dumbell shaped track. I was a bit concerned about one of the curves which is fairly tight but had no problem. Turned out to be a glorious sunny day with half a dozen 2½" gauge locos running. Managed quite a few laps with Helen despite a few problems with the fire again. My fault though, letting it get too low before putting on more coal. Since Rugby I've fitted a temporary sleeve in the blast nozzle to reduce the diameter slightly and this has definitely helped the steaming. When the fires right she steams like a witch and runs with the safety valves feathering all the time. I think I may try mixing some anthracite with the steam coal to see if that will make the fire last longer inbetween firings. It's very difficult to fire these small locos on the run so it's a case of doing a couple of laps and then stopping for a fuel up!
I've spent the last week frantically building a driving trolley and got it in a running condition late last night. No brakes yet though! It seems to run fine and rides well.
Actually managed to get a few pics this time!

Me driving:



Brother Mick driving (his first ever drive). Note he's the sensible one wearing a hat!

[mackintosh]

John remember this wet and cold day at Stafford waiting for your hydraulic test. You have achieved a lot in what eight weeks. She looks great. Hardly recognised you without a hat.
Bob

[baggo]

Hi Bob,

I'd forgotten you'd taken a photo! Yes it was a miserable day. Didn't need to fill the boiler manually, could have just left it in the rain and it would have filled itself ;D Looking forward to a run at your place next year!

John

[baggo]

Hi all,

I haven't updated this post for some time so:

Most of the mechanical side is now complete and the painting is progressing slowly. A couple of pics of the chassis and boiler so far:





The smokebox is painted with the Halfords high temperature gloss enamel which gives a slightly dull gloss. The loco has been run for an hour or so on a very hot day since painting and the heat has had no effect on the paint so far. Whether it will eventually dull down with the heat remains to be seen. The boiler cleading is Precision Paints enamel as are the wheels and cylinder cleading. Frames are Halfords high temp satin black and the running boards and cylinders the high temp gloss again. Had a 250ml tin so may as well use it! The backhead is the satin gloss and the fittings high temp red gloss. All the surfaces were primed with U-Pol acid 8 etch primer.

I've found the best way (for me) to get a good finish on the paint is to use a method mentioned in Chris' book. This is to spray on 3 or 4 coats in quick succession giving each coat just enough time to go slightly tacky. This builds up a good thick coat which I found pulled out to a pretty good finish. Not perfectly flat but, to me, acceptable. Comments were passed at the recent Rugby rally that the finish looked good

The tanks etc are now ready for painting and should be finished in a couple of weeks. I was a bit iffy about the Olive green as it looked a bit dark at first but I now really like it and I think she'll look stunning when the tanks and cab are painted as well.

I did throw the loco back together to go to the Rugby rally on the 8th so there's a few scuff marks on the paint where the tanks were refitted temporarily and a few scratches around the fire door!
We had the best run yet with Helen covering about 3.5 miles only stopping for coal and water. She ran like a sewing machine and I was well chuffed ;D I am sure the new PTFE rings have made a difference as she ran well notched up with the regulator just cracked open, purring like a cat

[brozier]

Wotcha John,

That Olive looks great on the boiler. Finish is looking rather glossy too - excellent ;D

Cheers
Bryan

[paul]

Superb John and nice to look back over the thread and see how it's all developed.

The green is most attractive but I was hoping for grey as I've never seen an engine in that colour 'in the flesh'. Perhaps you could 'knock off another' for us? ;D

[baggo]

Unfortunately Paul, I didn't take any pics when she was in the grey primer ;D

I don't think I could build another - too many wheels There is a chap in Australia wants to build a 5" gauge version when I've finished drawing up the plans. Now that would be some beast

[mackintosh]

John
Hope you are bringing her to Stafford at the end of the month so I can see her in the flesh and dry hopefully. She looks stunning.
Bob

[baggo]

Yup, I'll be there

Most of the painting should be done by then hopefully

Look forward to seeing you again,

John

[paul]

Whats happening at Stafford, it's only 15 mins up the road from me?

[baggo]

Hi Paul,

there's a 2½" gauge Association rally at Stafford & District SME on Sunday 29th June, 11am to 4.30pm. I am sure you would be welcome if you wanted to come along.

John