Over on RMweb Mark Tatlow mentioned the clack valves on the side of the boiler on the Barney and made me realise that the misshapen blob was supposed to represent themThis is the blob that I refer to:[img]https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7832/39851133783_eeaeab0d9b.jpg[/img]

Having had it pointed out I had to do something about it. Mark had pointed me at some castings by Alan Gibson but I figured that they couldn’t be too difficult to make a pair and although a little fiddly they were fairly easy to do.

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They comprise, a couple of brass track rivets, two etched washers and 0.7+0.8mm brass rod.
First I drilled through the rivets to take the .8mm rod and then with the thick end of the rivet held in a pin vice I used the Proxxon pillar drill to spot drill and then drill through one side of the narrower section. I then soldered a length of .8mm rod through the centre with a stub sticking out of the narrow end. Then I soldered a length of 0.7mm through the hole in the side threaded on the washer and soldered that.
I scraped the misshapen lumps away with a scalpel and then drilled the boiler side finally bending the 0.8mm rod to shape and using a tiny piece of 100 degree I wafted the microflame over the clack until the solder melted and it was in place.

Another evening session saw the Barney almost complete. It still needs steps and handrails but for the latter I need to buy in some long handrail knobs because initially I had only bought shot ones. I also need to source some turned buffers for the Jones Goods so I have emailed Andrew Hartshorne to see if he has anything suitable in his range.

DJH 4mm Highland Barney Loco Body

DJH 4mm Highland Barney Loco Body

DJH 4mm Highland Barney Loco Body

DJH 4mm Highland Barney Loco and Tender

It looks like there will be plenty of hacking of the body to get the coupling rods to clear the foot plate but I also think that the oil pots on the coupling rods will benefit from a  bit of refinement too to make them a bit more scale. This should help with the clearance issues but before I start on that I plan to get the Jones Goods to a similar state of build.

I cracked on with the tender and completed it apart from fitting the couplings

DJH 4mm Highland Barney – Tender Finished

DJH 4mm Highland Barney – Tender Finished

DJH 4mm Highland Barney – Tender Finished

DJH 4mm Highland Barney – Tender Finished

Next I started on the loco frames. They are made of substantial stuff for a 4mm scale kit – 0.9mm etch.

DJH 4mm Highland Barney – Chassis

DJH 4mm Highland Barney – Chassis

DJH 4mm Highland Barney – Chassis

A good while ago I was asked if I would do a couple of DJH 4mm Locos and having agreed I said that I would endeavour to have them finished by the end of the year. Well as you can see the end of the year is almost upon us so I have broken off the J6 to try to get them done over the Christmas break a couple of sessions have seen the tender well on it’s way for the first one

DJH 4mm Highland Barney – Tender

DJH 4mm Highland Barney – Tender

DJH 4mm Highland Barney – Tender

DJH 4mm Highland Barney – Tender

DJH 4mm Highland Barney – Tender

I scratch built a vac pipe as it wasn’t included in the kit and I replaced the brake stanchion with one that I had in my spares box because the cast one broke as soon as I looked at it.

DJH 4mm Highland Barney – Tender just needing Buffers and front handrails

DJH 4mm Highland Barney – Tender just needing Buffers and front handrails

DJH 4mm Highland Barney – Tender just needing Buffers and front handrails