Having looked at a few photos of both Dorothea (the prototype the kit is based on) and other locos in the same class there doesn't seem to be a common pattern to the rivet placement on the front buffer beam. Not only do the placements of the rivets vary between locos but they also appear to vary slightly over time on the same loco. Having said that in most cases there are rivets across the top of the buffer and at least one line of vertical rivets where the side frame attaches to the buffer, so I've used that as the basis for detailing the model.
Adding these rivets was a little more challenging than doing the door runners. The two sets of vertical rivets were easy as the parallel lines are part of the transfer sheet. The line across the top was a bit more tricky though as essentially I've used one rivet from eleven separate lines on the sheet. This means that there is no real gap between the rivets and the next in line so the piece I had to cut out was very very thin and fragile. In fact it took me three goes to get it right, which is a pity given how expensive the transfers are! I think it was well worth it though as it certainly adds more character to the front of the loco.
It is looking very good. Have a good Easter.
ReplyDeleteAll very neatly done, and as you say they do add character.
ReplyDeleteApparently they can get knocked off quite easily until protected by a coat of primer so beware!
Yep, they can definitely get knocked off! Both of the sets on the rear started to lift with just light handling. I don't know if this was because I only used water to affix those, but I put them back using decalfix, and used decalfix on the front ones and they seem much more attached than before.
DeleteYes, decalfix is the answer and I'm sorry, I should have told you about this. The loco is looking fantastic, what a difference those rivets make. I have been doing a great deal of research into Dorothea Quarry as you probably know, and have come across some references in the Gwynedd Archives of "repairs to the Hunslet" which on one occasion involved the smith and fitter making a new buffer beam and repairs to the frames. Other repairs were undertaken to the De Wintons and it seemed that the quarry fitter was quite an engineer. The whistle bracket could have been made in the smithy, which was next to the mill. I know you are not modelling "Dorothea" in particular, but hoped that would make you feel better about the rivets!
ReplyDeleteAh, that probably explains why the photos in the book show two different buffer beams, thanks!
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