Getting my Mamod/Meccano MEC1 running

This is an engine that I bought last year, which came with problems (see here). Basically the boiler was scrap, and the options were to scratchbuild a new one or sourcing a secondhand job. I did get as far as buying the material for a new boiler, but I haven't had the enthusiasm to do the work. So when I found a used boiler on eBay I put in a bid. I won, and the boiler promptly arrived. All I needed to fit it was to solder the steam pipe to the cylinder backplate, a 5 minute job. Then I could test it, first with air and then properly with steam;

As all was well I riveted the top cowl back in place (once I'd found it, it had gone missing);

And of course I steamed it again.

At some stage I'll get some Meccano and see what I can do with this rather nice little engine. I quite fancy turning it into a locomotive.

Paul.

Corrugated wheeled hut thing

Here's something quite unusual, a corrugated iron hut near to a converted water mill that we've been staying in over Easter;

A closer view of the steering arrangement;

It looks smaller than a typical shepherds hut (not that I'm an expert), and the corrugated sides look more like a repair being laid over planking as this interior shots show;

And judging by the wheels it's not designed to move any real distance, just around a yard perhaps.

Here's a photo of the mill, called Barford Old Mill, near to Barford Saint Johns in Oxfordshire;

It's not as cool as Mapledurham (I wonder how many will get the reference!) but still very nice. The undershot wheel and workings are still in situ, although sensibly enclosed and no longer capable of being used;

The mill is also surrounded by red kites, I counted 10 in the air at one time.

Paul.

006 single plank waggon

I decided to try my hand at converting a 009 Society 1 plank wagon to 6mm gauge. I've built one before, seen here, and it is an excellent and affordable kit.

I started by chopping down the floor, cutting 4mm from the length (2 planks) and reducing the width to 16mm. Both ends could then be cut to suit, using a razor saw and cutting so the join was next to a stanchion;

With care and the tiniest amount of filler the join is invisible.

The sides had the same treatment;

I cut down along the corner plate on one side, glued the plate into place then once the glue had set reduced the length of the side to suit.

For the solebars I started by removing 1mm from each end, then removed a section from the middle so each solebar measured 24mm long. I added a strip of styrene behind each solebar for strengthening.

Here's one in place;

Note the .040" square styrene strip glued under the ends, this is to give larger surface to attach the couplings to.

As the solebars have been strengthened and shortened I decided to trap the wheelset in place now rather than spring it into place later, which I felt would be difficult as there's now less give in the axleboxes. So, I covered the treads in masking tape to protect them from paint;

Wheels are, as usual, home made. The diameter is 6mm, and they sit on 1.5mm dia. axles 12mm long with an approx. 54 degree taper turned on each end.

After giving the waggon a waft of grey Hycote primer I first painted the bare wood decking, using a Lifecolor Weathered Wood set (Warm Wood base, Warm Light Shade, followed by Warm Light Shade 2, then finished with Cold Light Shade). The rest of the body was brush painted with my go-to for non-mining 006 waggons, Vallejo 70.982 Cavalry Brown. Axleboxes are Vallejo 70.862 Black Grey. The number 12 (this is my 12th 006 waggon) was done with a mapping pen and white ink.

And forming part of a train on the as-yet-still-unfinished Drystone Moss;

On the left is my Borth van, detailed here, and on the right a R.A.R. gunpowder van, covered here.

To show how tiny this waggon is here's a couple of shots of it with a standard unmodified flat;

A successful conversion I'd say. The proportions suit the waggon well and I like the couplings and the extra material below the waggon ends.

Paul.