1st of August 2009.
This kit is is now available in EM gauge only direct from 52F Models priced at £46.50 inc postage or complete with Gibson wheels and crankpins for £65.95 inc postage.
For details on how to order ring us on 01670 362451 or by email from "Contact Us" tab.
Please make all cheques payable to "Peter Stanger"
This is the latest addition to our Easi-Rider chassis range and is designed to be a direct replacement for the NER Class 290, LNER/BR Class J77 rigid chassis supplied with the Lancaster Model Engineering kit.
© Peter Stanger. 02/11/2009. This is the finished and painted body on an unpainted chassis. The track is deliberately bowed and twisted to show how all six wheels are in contact with the track. We at 52F Models feel that the new chassis really improves what was always a nice model. It's a great shame that it's been out of production for so long and there are no plans to re introduce the body kit. For all you EM modellers who have this model and would like to bring it into the 21st century, now's your chance.
Image © Peter Stanger. 04/08/09 This is a photograph of our latast production chassis under a Lancaster Model Engineering body. The production chassis differs from the chassis in the photo below in that the buffer beam supports have been modified to accomodate sprung buffers. In all other respects the production chassis is the same as the prototype chassis shown in the image below. Comparison between the two images shows clearly what a difference in appearance the Gibson wheel set makes.
When finish painted, this model will be 68408, the last of the class to be withdrawn from South Blyth shed on 27/02/1961 after a life of almost 86 years. I've always felt that it was a shame that possibly the longest lived locomotive on British Railways didn't find its way into preservation.
Photo © Peter Stanger 04/03/09 The above photo is of a prototype Easi-Rider chassis for the Lancaster Model Engineering NER class 290, LNER/BR class J77 0-6-0T. The chassis is fully compensated with the leading driving wheels mounted in horn blocks and the second and third axles being part of the bespoke drive train and work as two pairs, pivotted around the centre point.
The chassis is really easy to build due to the fold up construction. This one took me 8 hours to build including making notes and taking dozens of photographs. The level of detail well exceeds the rigid chassis supplied with the kit with prototypical brakes and rigging, seperately applied guard irons and brake anchor brackets, detailed ash pan and firebox lower section.
The coupling rods are produced from 12 individual etched parts. Each rod has a solid centre section and front and rear overlays to produce the prototypical forked joint.
On the trial model, the rods fitted perfectly over standard Ø1.0mm Romford crankpins with Ø1.0mm drilled holes in the coupling rods and had only the slightest hint of being a little tight. Fitting the rods in this configuration helps position the horn blocks before they are finally soldered into place. The cutaways in the frame are only 0.1mm wider than the horn block bearing so the worst that can happen is that they are trail fitted 0.05mm from where they should be.
The wheels are old coarse scale Romford Ø16.00mm x 12spk and would not fit inside the splashers on the Lancaster kit in EM gauge. A set of Gibson wheels has solved this problem as they are a lot nearer scale width.
The brake gear follows the usual Easi-Rider practice of being removable to allow Gibson wheels to be fitted while retaining minimal clearance between the shoe and the wheel rim. The chassis can be assembled as seen and test run before being completely stripped down for painting.
At present the plan is to produce a production EM version and if there's enough interest then a OO version will follow. If demand warrants a production etch then this chassis will go on sale at £46.50 for each version. We now can supply the appropriate Gibson wheels sets for this kit at an additional £19.45. Hopefully we will be able to supply Mashima motors when trade supplies of these parts can be arranged and the motors are available.