Too bad it’s N: Bronwen the Austerity…
Yesterday a package from Light Railway Stores arrived. A parcel isn’t usually quite so transformative, especially one with just two tiny 1mm tall pieces of etched brass, but blackened and fitted these nameplates complete Bronwen…
I love the dry brushed gun metal on the steps. I love the streaked wash softened by airbrushed dirt. I love the layers; these craft steps combined to produce a tiny model with such deep character.
Posed on Paxton Road I compose a photo and share it with my good friend Chris…
It makes me think how the phrase has changed to “Too bad it’s in N”.
On my phone I can almost infinitely zoom in to immerse myself deeper into the character of this engines finish — an experience I would be denied or at least challenged to know in person with the model in real life.
Those layers. Yes! A story not only of “worked” but of working and expected to work tomorrow too. And within it not an overall weathering but the artefacts of use such as that highlight of paint worn off.
Chris’s reflection ‘too bad it’s N’ does also relate in a slightly less positive way too - for this tiny model is of largely plastic construction and built to a price. The gear train and drive has a fair amount of stiction. It’s noisy and struggles to crawl without pausing, the friction in the drive leading to it coming to a halt. It doesn’t have enough mass to ensure reliable pick up… it feels like a ‘I wish Farish had done it’ model. With a proper diecast chassis with thin white nylon gears, bushes and light acting wiper pickups, a diecast footplate and boiler, this thing could have been as good as the wonderful Farish 03 and 08. Sadly, she looks great, runs well once moving but will struggle to shunt Cwmbach. A mixed bag…
Creating her though, a deeply rewarding process. I’m glad she exists and I could share her with Chris, and you. Until next time, more soon…
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In my 2FS conversions there's two things that are changed that I think has given me good running on DC Analogue - firstly the wheel bearings are a tighter fit with the axles and secondly I needed to replace the gear on the axle with a brass M0.3 20T gear, and based on what you've said with some experience of the N Gauge ones, I wonder if replacing that gear has made the gear train a little less loose and improved starting. In terms of weight, I think they should have made at least either the footplate or saddle tank as a casting which would have made the difference I think. I will be applying some of what I did on my 2FS examples to a N Gauge one in the near future, including seeing what I can do about those coupling rods and to see what I can do about the running...
ReplyDeleteIt was one of your 2mmFS models at Warnerley two years ago that tipped me over the edge eventually John. I think there are a few 4mm ideas that have been shrunk down which are the main culprits here… it reminds me of the Dapol Pannier too, in terms of its design. That too looks lovely but is light and suffers from poor running due to drag in the drive and less than ideal pickups.
DeleteApart from the running issues you have done a really nice job weathering and adding the etched name plates to this lovely looking Austerity loco James.
ReplyDeleteThank you Kevin.
DeleteHi James
ReplyDeleteThat is a really great piece of weathering. It brings the the loco to life. Seems so much like those Austerities I saw in the coalfields back in the 1970's
Shame that it does not run as well as it looks. I used to semi couple the temperamental 00 locos to a weighed wagon back in the day. This had the effect to slower running at higher control settings but getting the manufacturer to sort this before release would be a better option.
Best regards
Alan