Hello all

First post here so I'll introduce myself first. Craig is the name and I'm an ex injection mould toolmaker with a pretty decent range of machines in my home workshop which I'm looking to put to use in producing a 5" steam loco.

I have aquired a part started A4 Pacific loco in 5" gauge, basically just the chassis rails, cross members and buffer beams for the loco and the tender in 5" gauge. I think it may have been a part built Modelworks kit but not certain.
Anyway, I'd like to finish or at least continue the build but not a huge fan of the A4 locos so was hoping the bits I have are more or less the same on a Flying Scotsman type, A3 loco?

If I can build an A3 onto these chassis rails does anyone produce a good set of drawings for them? I have seen the Clarksons catalogue on Blackgates website and they state they were produced in the 1970's. Are these still a good set of drawings or has anyone produced a better set since then?

Complete drawings of all parts would be ideal and if there is the option of a metric set, I'd take them…

Many thanks

Craig.

Many thanks all

Those drawings of Doncaster certainly look like what I'm after. I'll speak to Reeves soon and see if I can get a set ordered up.

I will read through that thread Simon but having a quick look it certainly is something to aspire too, very nice work going on there.

I was lucky recently to assist with the clearance of a closing down workshop and managed to get myself a Colchester Bantam lathe and a very clean Bridgeport series 1 mill. All came from a university department so not heavily used, digital readouts and plenty of tooling to go with them. Bridgeport has the key way cutting head on the back too which will be a new thing for me to try out.
Cost a fair bit for a 3 phase inverter big enough to run them as intended but, well worth the money in the end.

I have a 3" scale Burrell traction engine to rebuild first. It's a very well used model and needs the crank journals re-turning and new bearings making for it and I may have to remake the tender due to corrosion. It is a steel boiler and a couple of the stays may need milling out and replacing too but will be a good project to cut my teeth on as it were.

Craig.