Earl's Chassis

Over the weekend, the chassis for the Earl has been started. I've decided not to use the one that is supplied with the kit as the boiler detail inside the cab is poor. The other reason is a bit long winded so here it goes... My Earl of Merioneth has been built in current form, which has a Hunslet boiler. The Langley kit is based on the original Merddin, which had a Spooner ‘Waggontop’ boiler. There are slight differences in the shape and stay arrangement, I won't go into too much detail. But basically, the Spooner ‘Waggontop’ it higher in the cab than the new Hunslet designs. So, how have I done it? Here are some pictures, which have a thousand words…

It is made of a single piece of plasticard, with slots for the bogies. Two phosphor bronze strips are pickups, which rub on the bogies’ pickups. The chassis should be finished within the next week, and then I will start on another for Merddin Emrys which will be scratch built in 1970s style (Shorter tanks, no cab, half cab sides and black domes) Here is a picture…

If anyone has some side-on photos of the engine in this condition, or some close ups, could you send them to traeth.mawr.railway@gmail.com It would be much appreciated.