Dapol/kitmaster prototype deltic

[peterairfix]

I brought this one on the cheap lots of parts have come loose but unbelievably its all there and with a kit of this age there is lots of clean up but the only significant flash is on the cab ends.
And for this kit I have purchased extras
Flush glazed windows
Etched plates and decals from fox transfers
And the cab ends
And the rest includes the loose bits
The actual body sides and floor aren't to badly warped so I should get away with it.
And excuse the mess of the build area

 

[papa 695]

Just pulled up my chair Peter.

 

[adt70hk]

Wow!

 

[davecov]

A lovely chunk of plastic. I built one of these about 13 years ago. I am interested to see how the stripe decals go on as I had to draw the lines freehand.

Dave

 

[Dave Ward]

And excuse the mess of the build area

Mess?, what Mess? pristine compared to my bench!
Dave
ps don't forget a piece of rail to display it on!

 

[peterairfix]

don't forget a piece of rail to display it on

That's one thing I have plenty

 

[peterairfix]

. I am interested to see how the stripe decals go on as I had to draw the lines freehand

I will be sanding the nose flush as with the real one the body stripes are slightly raised so I will be sanding the back a little

 

[davecov]

Here is a picture I took in the Eighties of the prototype English Electric Deltic when it was at the Science Museum:



The two men to the right give a good idea of just how big these things were. Click on the image for a much bigger picture.

Dave

 

[Mickc1440]

I used to be a working member of the Deltic Preservation Society and remember when the prototype was extracted from the museum. It was looked to see if a couple of dps spare engines could be fitted but iirc it involved too much alteration to the engine room to fit them so it wasn’t pursued

 

[Dave Ward]

I once had the 'privilege' of working on a Napier Deltic diesel engine, fitted to a Patrol Boat. It was one of the most complicated engines I've ever seen - you could only perform the most basic of maintenance on the engine in place. Things like changing injectors needed the engine to be removed ( OK in a loco, but not in a boat ). For those unaware of rhe Deltic engine. Each 'bank' of the engine consisted of 3 open ended cylinders arranged in an inverted triangle, each cylinder had two opposing pistons connected to crankshafts at the corners of the triangle. The crankshafts were geared down to an output shaft. The engine didn't have any inlet/exhaust valves, ports being uncovered by the pistons. Engines would have multiple banks - the Locos had 6 banks - ( 18 cylinders ). They were very poweful, the power/weight ratio being high, but maintenance was very complicated - OK on a railway, where you could have a centralised overhaul shop, wth welll trained staff with all the correct gear. Normally the engines would be swapped with a previously overhauled unit to limit down time
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e4/Napier_Deltic_Animation.gif
The engines were successful, but their configuration limited their physica fitting size, and the more conventional form diesels were easier to produce & maintain & had more development potential.........
Dave

 

[Tim Marlow]

Great stuff Dave. The animation is really worth seeing as it explains the way they work very well. The bit that’s rarely taken on board, except by geeks like me, is that these diesel engines were only used to generate electricity. The loco was actually powered by electric traction motors that used this electricity. I’m sure a lot of casual observers think the diesel motor drives the wheels.

 

[Dave Ward]

I forgot to point out that the Deltic was a two-stroke diesel engine! Marine engines used reduction gearboxes, usually runnibg at a constant speed, drive being by controllable-pitch props. I seem to recall that it took a lot to start a Deltic, and unless the fuel system was correctly adjusted, could produce huge plumes of black smoke...............
Dave

 

[peterairfix]

Time to start
First thing to do is remove the flash from the cab ends and a little bit of filling required as the frame has split on the window frame.
And fill the sink marks the first seats and buffers

 

[Andy T]

I remember butchering one of these some time ago to make a post-apocalyptic type thing. Will be good to see it built properly!

 

[peterairfix]

I now have a set of cab instruments as it's very bare

 

[yak face]

Great start peter , loving the bench btw - just like mine ! I’ve a soft spot for the Deltic , as kids we used to go to our grandmas house in the six weeks holidays and it was near a railway line that served the local colliery ( remember those ? Brookhouse pit btw ) . We used to get excited when a deltic came by , they used to make the ground shake and seemed such a huge beast to us kids !

 

[peterairfix]

I have sanded the front ends flush
And painted the seats

 

[peterairfix]

Two bogies built and wheels replaced with metal ones


And started on the cabs

 

[peterairfix]

Got the body constructed needs filling at both ends
Roof painted

And a full mock up

 

[Jim R]

Rather an iconic bit of railway history. The kit looks OK but lots of work. I didn't realise that so much after market stuff was available. Is that due to the many railway enthusiasts? You're making a fine job of this.