PNP's O-16.5 Workbench

[PinkNosedPenguin]

Whilst waiting for the decoder to arrive, I added the seat (containing nut for securing body to chassis) and the brake column:
IMG_8369 by Pink Nosed Penguin, on Flickr

IMG_8370 by Pink Nosed Penguin, on Flickr

I then looked at the whitemetal driver I had purchased (from S & D Models - Phoenix #43) and realised he is way too tall for this little loco!
IMG_8372 by Pink Nosed Penguin, on Flickr

So I amputated both his legs (!) the left one below the knee so his bottom actually sits on the seat, and the right one above the knee so I could re-attach it at an angle so his right foot can rest on the clutch pedal. Both arms were then attached, the right one so it rests on the brake wheel, and the left one kind-of resting on the bonnet. I was originally intending to attach the head looking in the main direction of travel, but decided it would look ridiculous when travelling 'in reverse' so just have him looking straight ahead (sideways to the loco):
IMG_8378 by Pink Nosed Penguin, on Flickr

IMG_8377 by Pink Nosed Penguin, on Flickr

You'll also notice from the above photo that I used a spare part from the kit to make a section of flooring in front of the radiator - this will allow me to attach some lead underneath (for added weight and to counterbalance the driver - who weighs a useful 7g!) and also hides the worm gear underneath! I found at least one photo of a simplex with such a floor panel (http://c8.alamy.com/comp/E6XW10/demonst ... E6XW10.jpg) so decided it was prototypical enough for me!

Here is the driver from the other side:
IMG_8374 by Pink Nosed Penguin, on Flickr

He is just resting there posing for photos at the moment of course, pending painting, so his final position can be adjusted. The bonnet is also just sitting in position awaiting the keep alive which will (hopefully) fit nice and snugly inside it!

[Mountain]

That is fantastic the way it is coming along! What colour will the main body be? I thing some faded green colour?

[PinkNosedPenguin]

Thanks for comments.

My decoder and keep alive arrived and I was pleased to confirm that the latter fits under the bonnet . I soldered the usual four wires from the decoder to track pickups L/R and motor red/black and connected the keep alive unit. The simplex ran which was a relief! So, wanting to keep everything in place under the bonnet without shortening the wires too much (just in case!) and to make it all 'disappear into the blackness under there', I used some black insulating tape to hold the electronics in position on the chassis:
IMG_8380 by Pink Nosed Penguin, on Flickr

I now felt it safe to glue the bonnet to the rest of the body:
IMG_8382 by Pink Nosed Penguin, on Flickr

I then fitted the exhaust, radiator top hose and hose strap. The silencer is another resin casting; there didn't seem to be anything to attach it to under the bonnet (perhaps because I had opted to omit the fan drive in favour of the keep alive?) so I improvised with a small piece of white metal (which will be 'hidden' when painted):
IMG_8385 by Pink Nosed Penguin, on Flickr

With the driver in place too:
IMG_8386 by Pink Nosed Penguin, on Flickr

So now I thought it was time for some more playing on my, erm, layout


P.S. Whilst running the loco, I gave the driver a lick of paint . . .
IMG_8394 by Pink Nosed Penguin, on Flickr

[TimberSurf]

Nice!
It even sounds like the phut phut of a Diesel!

[Mountain]

I love the sound. Did you manage to cram DCC sound I to it or is it the motor?

[PinkNosedPenguin]

Nice!
It even sounds like the phut phut of a Diesel!

The only trouble is, I think they were petrol

I love the sound. Did you manage to cram DCC sound into it or is it the motor?

Haha definitely no sound chip or speaker! Its just the 'natural' sound of the little motor and all those worm gears - but it is quite a pleasing noise yes

[PinkNosedPenguin]

Onwards with the simplex build

I added the 'sprung buffers' and then came to the point I was always kind-of dreading - "COUPLINGS" . After all the effort I went to fitting 'easi-shunt' couplings and NEM pockets to my N gauge stock (those springs were TINY and lost forever if pinged off onto the carpet!) I have gone with standard 00 tension lock couplings. I actually think they look ok on my other 0-16.5 models, but they were never gonna suit the Simplex as this shot shows all too well:
IMG_8396 by Pink Nosed Penguin, on Flickr

So I decided to make something out of an old paper clip. I thought the loco doesn't really need the 'arm' part of a tension lock, as the 'other' vehicle will have one so I came up with these:
IMG_8401 by Pink Nosed Penguin, on Flickr

... which when fitted, look like this:
IMG_8403 by Pink Nosed Penguin, on Flickr

Its much more under-stated and will hopefully blend in quite well when its all painted. I am anticipating the Simplex spending most of its time messing about with a few of the little slate wagons like this one I built earlier:
IMG_8404 by Pink Nosed Penguin, on Flickr

I only have one of those so far, but wanted to see what the Simplex's pulling power is like for such a small light loco:

[Mountain]

It certainly pulls well for such a little loco.

[PinkNosedPenguin]

Painting time!!!

First a coat of grey primer (after a bit of sanding and filling):
IMG_8408 by Pink Nosed Penguin, on Flickr

Then a top coat of Drab Olive which I thought an appropriate colour (and happened to have some!):
IMG_8410 by Pink Nosed Penguin, on Flickr

I then carefully removed the masking tape which had been on the radiator grilles for quite a while (!) and picked out some other colours = radiator hose in black, controls in red:
IMG_8411 by Pink Nosed Penguin, on Flickr

I then applied some light weathering and installed the driver. Attached the body to the chassis. This effectively completes the model - except for nameplates which have not yet arrived:
IMG_8419 by Pink Nosed Penguin, on Flickr
IMG_8420 by Pink Nosed Penguin, on Flickr
IMG_8421 by Pink Nosed Penguin, on Flickr
IMG_8422 by Pink Nosed Penguin, on Flickr
IMG_8423 by Pink Nosed Penguin, on Flickr
IMG_8424 by Pink Nosed Penguin, on Flickr

The diminutive little Simplex (soon to be named Stanley) next to Mable:
IMG_8426 by Pink Nosed Penguin, on Flickr

Thanks for reading . . .

[Mountain]

Now that really looks the part! I'm impressed by how it pulls a decent load.

[TimberSurf]

Nice job!
Not sure about the drivers trousers and cap colour scheme being the same as the engine?

[PinkNosedPenguin]

Nice job!
Not sure about the drivers trousers and cap colour scheme being the same as the engine?

You thought I was saving on paint ? No, they are brown, the engine is drab olive; don't worry they look different 'in the flesh'!

[PinkNosedPenguin]

Nameplates arrived from Narrow Planet, so now my Simplex is "Stanley" and has DCC address #4
IMG_8433 by Pink Nosed Penguin, on Flickr

IMG_8432 by Pink Nosed Penguin, on Flickr

I also constructed two more Smallbrook slate wagons, so it now has a little train of 3 to pull


This now completes Stanley . . .

[carnehan]

It is an absolute beauty PNP, you should be very proud of it. The paint finish on it and the wagons is first class, it just oozes character. I really want to see it in its scenic surroundings now.

Paul

[PinkNosedPenguin]

It is an absolute beauty PNP, you should be very proud of it. The paint finish on it and the wagons is first class, it just oozes character. I really want to see it in its scenic surroundings now.

Paul

Many thanks Paul; that's what I'm liking most about narrow gauge - the fact that each individual vehicle can have its own character. Partly imposed upon me by their being nothing RTR in UK format in O-16.5, and partly by the fact that I don't feel constrained by any particular prototype. I think it'll be a little while before my few trains get to run in scenic surroundings, but for now I'm happily building a few locos and rolling stock with (I hope) character