Whats the least expensive 7 1/4 build?

Now that my 7 1/4 Invicta is complete I would like to make something using plans and castings (instead of my own drawings and solid). Who offers the cheapest build casting set?

PING

Pong

I would have thought a bit of what you fancy the look of would come into it rather than just building an engine that your heart was not into even if your wallet was. Can't really help with a suitable subject as I/m not a loco man but would have thought some sort of freelance 0-4-0

Edited By JasonB on 15/08/2016 19:57:44

Reeves (not known for being the cheapest) have some drawings and castings packages on offer at the moment. In 7 1/4". Tug at £980 seems to be their cheapest offer. I would have thought that any simple 4 wheel contractor's loco is likely to offer the best value. How about Sweet Willaim, the larger version of Sweet Pea?

Rod

After reading Neil Wyatt's Southam article in the ME that arrived this morning I was looking on Kennion's site for the price of the "Tich" hornblocks, and accidentally found the "Big Titch" instead. By my reckoning the drawings and castings come out at £819.

Brian

Good evening Fizzy,

I must be one of the most tight fisted model engineers around, the only castings I'll shell out for these days are wheel castings. Some of the prices quoted today for cylinders are astronomical and frankly I'll provide my own blow holes! There isn't much on the stock designs that cannot be fabricated, in fact some of the cast items offered are very poor; cylinders are a reasonably easy to replicate, see the current series in ME by Terrence Holland, even the new build Brighton Atlantic at the Bluebell Railway uses built up fabricated cylinders. By careful choice of prototype, say the little L&Y 0-4-0 pug, even the wheels can be fabricated. If its a stock design you'd prefer then there are a number that'll lend themselves to fabrication with perhaps the only investment being wheel castings.

Regards,

Bob

I dont know the answer to this.

I agree with Jason that something you really want to build and have an interest in scores more highly than overall cost, which when spread out over a number of years is of less importance, plus Bob's very salient points that very rarely do you have to buy castings.

If I were to build a 7.25"g loco I would choose Don Young's IW Terrier Newport design. It is an excellent loco, one of which Don was very proud of shortly before his untimely death due to cancer. I have done a revised/improved valve gear design for it. There is a 7.25"g variant of his Tom Rolt design which is quite excellent but it wasnt done by Don (he did the 5"g version).

The Ken Swan designs are well worth considering, but if 'Wren' which I have some experience of, the boiler could do with superheaters added.

The GLR/Kennions 1366 class GWR 0-6-0PT loco is a nice design in 7.25"g

I just hope you dont build one of those dreadful Tinkerbell or Romulus locos!

Cheers,

Julian

Edited By julian atkins on 15/08/2016 22:50:15

I always fancied the GWR dock tank 1100 class. Also known as Midge. A build series was in ME in 1936 by George Gentry. Recent castings and drawings by Jim Vass but now with Horley Miniature Locomotives.

A strong engine and not 'PUG' ugly in my view!

http://horleyminiaturelocomotives.com/

Edited By Old Elan on 16/08/2016 09:49:10

Edited By Old Elan on 16/08/2016 09:50:25

What's wrong with Romulus ?

Richard.

Photo?

Judging by your avatar you have time for a long build so go on start a 9F

Perhaps as you are not committed to any particular model you could wait for a part built chassis or set of castings on ebay or through the 7 1/4 association which might get it down to price.

Ive got a complete set of drawings and castings for 5" Speedy but It just doesnt do it for me, so I apreciate the part about building something you want to build. My passion would be a GWR 1100 040 tank in 71/4 gauge. Im not into scale replicas so no problems with a few adoptations and fabrications, id just like to build to a proven design safe in the knowledge that I wont have to remake most of the parts further down the line. Do drawings exist for such an item (or a 71/4 Pansy, although I like the simplicity of 040)?

Try looking at Old Elan's link, they list the drawings etc

Midge is a very old design and the drawings would require quite a bit of work to bring them up to modern spec IMHO especially the boiler. Not usually on anyone's 'to do' list these days.

I was asked about Romulus. It is pretty basic compared to most 5"g designs and one of the boiler options is very - erm - basic with an appalling tube layout and no superheaters.

I like brass domes and copper capped chimneys and GWR green...

**LINK**

Cheers,

Julian

Again, Old Elan's link is to updated drawings & design, not the 1936 Midge

Julian, that 1366 is spot on, just a shame the wheels would cost £300. Im definately tempted though. Thanks

I have made a start on a USRA 0-8-0 (almost identical to Martin Evans` Caribou) .Making own wheel patterns via wax ,lead and finally aluminium to be cast for free by a friendly guy.Only outlay so far was frame material.A long long way to go, but I suppose you build a loco the same way you eat an elephant-small bites! Should have said earlier that it is in 7.25 inch gauge.