Drummond's Bug

Its bugging me.

Its a kit that i have wanted for a very long time.

Even when i bought this kit i had heard many times that it was a problem.

I have never seen one running or one even built for that mater.

I think as i said in a previous post, there was a note left in the box, if you can get this to run i would like to see it.

Getting this thing to run has been problematic but perseverance and patience has paid off.

I have done away Jidenco's arrangement and sprung the rear bogie.

Fitting a Highlevel Lo-loader gearbox with a 1020 Mashima motor has worked. Unfortunately there is very little space between the front bogie and the cylinders to get much side play so we shall have to settle for its minimum radius equivalent to those new Peco Bullhead points.

I had soldered the side frames of the bogies to a piece of PCB and using 2mm split axles for electrical pickup, only after realising that for some reason the original axles and wheels i had, were running on 2.5mm axle. Abandoning that idea and reverting to an original 'wiper' set up.

Making up the splashers and providing some means of fitting them to the bogie proved challenging to say the least.

The next problem came when trying to fit the Connecting rods, they are to long, by about 2.5mm as you can see in the photo below.......

Drummond bug connecting rod

 Remembering of course that the crosshead needs to be added to this.

Drummonds bug crosshead

 Connecting rod, duly shortened. Whether this is right or to scale i am not sure but it works. 

Drummonds bug connecting rods and crossheads

Connecting rods sorted the brakes was the next thing to sort out.

This went together without an issue.

Drummonds bug brakes

 Cylinders, Pistons, crossheads, slidebar, brakes and connecting rods all soldered up.

To be honest, i have moved the cylinders out a tad just to try and get some sideplay and add a bit of clearance.

Drummonds bug front gear all soldered up

 My god, it runs.

Drummonds Bug Chassis

 Well guys, its beginning to look like the beast its intended to look like.

 There is still a lot of work to be done here but nothing that hasn't been done before (famous last words) Lamp irons, chimney etc.

You are probably going to hate me but livery will be SR olive green for the Loco part and Dark Brown and Salmon for the carriage part still with its LSWR lettering. In other words, as it was after its refurbishment from Eastleigh Paintshop in 1932.

The carriage interior will also be fully detailed.

(does anyone make a 4mm scale toilet bowl, top fill with pull chain?)  

Drummonds bug and its body

 Just a few more photos of our 'Bug'

Drummonds Bug

Drummonds Bug

Drummonds Bug

Drummonds Bug

Well, i thought you might like to seeing it running.

Its as smooth as silk, not that youtube videos always show that.