ModelWorks Duchess

[Jason]

Okay, I did not get much response on the ModelWorks Black 5, so I must be the only one at the moment building one on this forum, or no body else wants to admit to having one
I have also got a deposit down on ModelWorks 5” Duchess due to start later on this year.
Just thought I would test the water to see if firstly if anybody on here wants to admit to also going to build this model and also I would like to hear any comments either positive or negative on this model.

Jason

[pannierstan]

Well I will say well done and you lucky devil

I'm Sure it will be great, but its difficult to pass any comment on it yet as nothings started.

Well done Modelworks and well done Jason. I'm sure you wont be disappointed.

Stan

P.S If its any consolation nobody ever replied to my post Re:57xx and there must be plenty of those.
Human nature is often quick when theres a problem or complaint but not praise or advice. I say this as I am a Service Engineer constantly facing customers and not just talking about Forum members.

[Jason]

Cheers Stan

It’s nice to see some else who seems happy with the level of service you have received from ModelWorks. I find all the staff down there I have come into contact with like Debbie Ian and Dean have been very friendly and helpful. I have already been down and had my Black 5 air tested and hopefully be going back down soon to get it steam tested which has been invaluable to a novice like myself, I know I could probably get this level of service from my own club members, but the difference is that when you take your model to ModelWorks and they see a problem part they just unbolt it and replace it with one straight of the shelf, no messing, and it was this level of service which made me not hesitate to put down the deposit for their Duchess.
Like yourself Stan, I am a service engineer and cannot agree more when you said people are quick to hand out complaints but not praise.

Jason

[pannierstan]

Yep too right Jason,

Unfortunately I think they are getting bogged down with the legacy of Winson and while trying to help out and finish off those models getting bogged down and slagged off for it at the same time!!

I find it all great fun and a challenge to build the kits and I wish I had the finance to get more.

Wonder if Dean wants to part Ex a Mondeo 2.5 V6 VGC only 52000 miles ;D ;D

[locoworksnorth]

Hello Jason,

Yes, yes , yes.... I have ordered a Dutches and thats the reason my first complete 9F is for sale. ( the second is approaching running chassis)
I recon it will be the best kit yet.
Can't wait to get kit 1.
As for the black 5.... I am currently on with one for a Gentleman.... stripping it down rightnow so I really don't have any comments yet. But it will be sorted and I will let you know where the pitfalls are.
Locoworks

[Jason]

Hi Locoworks

Nice to hear from you !!!! Like you I can’t wait for kit 1 to arrive for my Duchess!!!! I agree that this will be the best model yet to come from ModelWorks and I also hope they put plenty of detail into the model using plenty of lost wax castings!!!!
I also look forward to hearing of any hints you might have in getting the most from my Black 5, I gather the 9F on ModelWorks site is yours, and you have done an excellent job in getting it to perform!!!
It’s nice to know someone like yourself is going to be building the Duchess and hope I will be able to keep in contact with you to swap tips. I am also hoping to keep a Web site of my progress a bit like Britannia builders has done, but perhaps with not so many updates, I am hoping to maybe just summarise each kit a bit like the one setup for the Black 5 as with work commitment and also constructing the model it will not leave much time for anything else !!!! Here is the link to the site I am hoping to keep up to date and will gladly add anything anybody wants to contribute!!! uk.geocities.com/duchessbuilder/

Jason

[Deleted]

Hi Jason,

Britanniabuilder here, I look forward to following your Duchess website. I get about 70 visitors a day now to my Britannia site, so there's a lot of interest out there! Do you know when Modelworks are planning to ship the first Duchess kit? Not before they've finished the Brit, I hope! They still have the final 3 kits to go, and they've been slipping a bit behind the monthly schedule recently. I've now caught up with their production, which I didn't expect to happen when I started.

I agree with your comment about lost wax castings - I've been a bit surprised that they haven't used more on the Brit. They seem to prefer to machine parts such as brake and spring hangers from solid brass - I would have thought that castings might be cheaper in the quantities that they need to produce. I guess the lead time for castings is longer and they would need to plan ahead further.

A website with a single update summarising each kit would be great if you haven't the time to give a blow-by-blow account - being retired certainly helps here! In fact I don't spend that much time updating the website - I keep the format very standard, just type the day's entry into Notepad with very simple HTML tags, check the local copy, and then upload the page to the web server - I can do a simple update in 5 minutes or so. I've put a link to your site on today's entry.

Kind regards,

John

[Jason]

Hi John

I really appreciate you adding the link to my site onto your own website, and having your seal of approvement as I felt a little cheeky copying your idea .
I am one of the 70 visitors to your web site, and like I said in the email I sent you last year, it was your site that encouraged me to order the Duchess having seen the quality of the kits that ModelWorks is now producing!!!!
I have not been given a date for kit 1 yet, only is should be around about September, I guess this date might slip until they finish the Britannia!!! Although if they start the Duchess in the same way as the Britannia by producing the tender first they might be able to start on time using tender parts from the Black 5 which is similar!!!

Jason

[locoworksnorth]

Hi Jason,

Thanks for your kind remarks.
How about we get in touch when we both get kit one. I intend to start the day it arrives !
Its a BIG wrench selling the 9F, but the duchess is just about my all time fav loco. I am planning to give the 9F one last run this Sunday at Gilling
Locoworks

[Deleted]

Hi Jason,

I see that there's a new Duchess brochure on the Modelworks website now, which shows the sequence of kits.

John

[6233]

Hi,

With regards to the Duchess kit, I will not be ordering one, this is because I have scratch built mine, 6233 Duchess of Sutherland. Mind you it would have saved me a lot of years. To all of you who have ordered or are thinking all I have to say is that you will not be dissapointed, this has to be one of the finest model locomotives you can have, the power from her is emense.
I would like to offer my services to anybody on this list who is embarking on this kit , be it advice, a chat, info on any detailing that you may wish to add, or help with building the kits.
If anybody wants to email me directly they can do so at [e-mail].
As I say good luck and I will help anybody with this one or any other problems if I can.
If you would like to see my loco then visit my Yahoo group at Yahoo.co.uk the group can be found under the search Live Steam and is railwayman7, feel free to post any words or pics you see fit.I hope this is of use to you, shortly we will be having 3 Duchess locos in steam at our club track at Nantwich, if anybody is interested email me, also the loco will be in steam at the Earwash track, Dearby on the Saturday 15th July.

Regards

Mark.

[Jason]

Hi Mark

I have just had a look at the pictures of both your Britannia and Duchess!!! Both look superb !!!
I hope my Duchess ends up looking half as good as yours !!!
Keep me informed of when you are going to next run it, i have sent you an email.

Jason

[mott]

Jason, I'm impressed with your enthusiasm for the Duchess project. I haven't put down a deposit but have been thinking round it. What about the issues arising around building such a large , heavy engine? What sort of building frame will you use? How will you move it around? My 14XX is about at my comfortable level - say 65KG - when it come to transferring from bench to carrying box or car. I have a hydraulic lifting table which is essential with a matching one at the club but it is still a big heave to move it if your'e solo. I think a really well engineered building frame to allow safe 360 degree rotation will be absolutely essential and quite a project of it's self. Maybe the Britannia builders have faced the same issues. The other thing I notice is that driving these large engines requires a very long stretch over the tender to get at the minor controls assuming the regulator has an extension fitted. I have a strong back but I would like it to stay that way!! Just a few thoughts but you can see I am leaning towards perhaps a larger tank loco as my next build.I have noticed that ModelWorks put a lot of metal into their kits and I do wonder just how much the Duchess will weigh when complete, do you have a figure? The trouble is when you get to a certain age these factors become more important! All success to your build and I will follow your progress with great interest.Mott

[Jason]

Hi Mott

You have raised a lot of questions I have yet to answer myself !!!! The size is an issue and I agree a rotating frame is a superb idea, especially with the inside motion, but I have not got the answer to this one yet, regarding transporting it, well my ModelWorks Black 5 me and the girlfriend can pick it up and put into the boot of the car as it must weigh around about 220 pounds. I have seen a 5” Duchess and it weighed in at 352 pounds which makes it a 4 man lift and not me and the girlfriend ;D!!!!!! I am thinking of devising a lifting trolley which will allow me to get it into and out of the car, but I have over 2 years to solve this problem!!!!!
I have driven a few tender locos and have not had issue will leaning over; I find my legs give in before my back!!!!!!!
I would also be interested in hearing other ideas to transport such a large loco.

Cheers

Jason

[baggo]

Hi Jason,

You could always start slipping the girlfriend a few steroids! ;D

Seriously though, I've seen a lot of people using a small trailer for transporting their locos which is probably easier than trying to get it into the back of the car. They fasten lengths of track to the trailer floor to run the loco and tender onto and carry a loose section to connect the trailer track to the running track for loading/unloading.

This is one advantage of 2-1/2" gauge locos - you can carry them under your arm!

John

[Jason]

I agree that a trailer is a simple solution to the problem, the only down side is it will rattle the Loco a lot more than it would in the back of a car. To get to and from our track you have to go over quite a few speed bumps, which some are very severe !!!! So I would prefer to try and get the engine in my car, plus if I want to visit any other track it would be a lot quick to travel distance without a trailer !!!!

Jason

[mott]

HI Jason. My solution has been to acquire a twin axle trailer which gives a good ride compared to the DIY single axle trailers you see around.It has "mini" sized wheels -10inch which gives a better ride. Cost about £590. I still use a carrying box - haven't been brave enough to put a track down on the bed of the trailer. I hold the loco in its box with beams at each end designed to locate over the buffers. So far no damage. Obviously you have to find a means of stopping the box sliding about in the trailer but thats easily done and it leaves room for all the other parafinalia - ride on trolley etc.Mott

[pannierstan]

Hi Jason,

I think you will be surprised. It all depends on the car when all said and done but at the recent Modelworks Rally one of the SCMEE steamers wheeled his 71/4 Britannia out of a Volvo estate .

What I would say is start looking toward either a 4WD or an estate car and you will be fine. I have an Astra estate and could get all my gear in no problem. I have now moved on to a Fiat Scudo although this IS NOT strictly for carrying locos Honest!! ;D

Stan

[Jason]

Hi Stan

A Fiat Scudo sounds just the ticket for carry loco’s around in, especially if you get it adapted with a tail lift ;D!!!
I did not realise you where at the Modelworks rally, as I was there myself and it would have been nice to have met up with you!!! I’m hoping to go to the next Gilling main line event in August and also hope the weather is not like it was at the last one, if you are going let me know and I will see you there !!!!

Jason

[6233]

Hi,

I can answer some of the question raised as I have already mentioned I scratch built my Duchess from castings supplied by Breeze.
I made a simple rotating frame for the chassis, if anybody would like to see this I will be email you the pics.
As for transport I transport the loco tender and all the other bits required in the back of my Mondeo estate car with no problems at all.
Yes she is big but that does not mean it has to be a problem, at no time do I pick the loco up.
I have built a special steel transporter frame that she is locked it to which then sits in the car, again I can email any pics you require on this, even send you details on how to build your own or alternativly build one for you.
In case any of you are interested we will be having 3 Duchess, yes thats 3 Duchess locos in steam at our club track site in Nantwich Cheshire this Sunday, 3rd Sept, if anybody would like to come along for a chat you are most welcome.
Its hard to describe that transport arrangements here, everybody is different, my friend transports his in a trailer in the frame described mainly because he has a small hatchback car.
It take me about 15mins to load the Duchess fromstart to finish from the workshop.
I hope this is of interest to you, as I have already siad I will help anybody with this project in anyway I can.
Regards

Hope to see some of you on Sunday, if you need directions email me asap.

Alternativly the track is located behind the Peacock Hotel/travel inn, go onto the travelinn web site and enter Nantwich for a map of the hotel, the track can be found at the rear of the carpark down a short drive.