Harry P. Posted April 6, 2011 Share Posted April 6, 2011 Ok, a quick history lesson first... so you guys know what the heck you're looking at. This is Stephenson's "Rocket" locomotive, built in the UK in 1829. It was actually an entry in a contest sponsored by the Liverpool & Manchester Railway Co. to find the best, most competent locomtotive design. The "Rocket" was not the first steam locomotive, but it was the first "modern" steam locomotive design, that is, wheels driven directly by pistons instead of geared cogwheel setups. This is actually the first design. The cylinders, mounted on an angle, were a problem. They gave the locomotive a bumpy, pounding ride as the pistons cycled. A subsequent redesign had the cylinders at only a very slight angle... almost horizontal, the way all steam engines had them ever since then. Since photography was only in its infancy back in the 1820s and still in the experimental stage, no photos of the "Rocket" exist. The current examples in various museums are all replicas created from original engineering drawings. Here is the kit. It's 1/26 scale (), from Minicraft: I made a display base for it. The ballast is from the model RR aisle of Hobby Lobby, glued down with a 50/50 Elmer's glue/water mix. The crossties and rail sections are included in the kit; I just detail-painted them. I added "coal" in the tender; it's the same ballast as I used on the track bed, only painted black. I also added real wood strips to the inside (unpainted) surfaces of the tender. The "brass" straps on the tank are BMF that I first painted by brush with Humbrol "Brass," then cut strips and applied to the model. The rest of the "brass" pieces were made by painting the kit plastic pieces first with Rustoleum "Metallic" brass, then toned down and given a more "aged" (unpolished) look with a wash of the Humbrol brass, thinned down. After painting, I added a little weathering here and there to give it a more realistic, less "showroom shiny" look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregg Posted April 6, 2011 Share Posted April 6, 2011 Bill Borgen eat your heart out!!!! Way to go boss! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nitro Neil Posted April 6, 2011 Share Posted April 6, 2011 Nice job Harry. Good to see something different here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxer Posted April 6, 2011 Share Posted April 6, 2011 (edited) That's cool .. I like the primitive log ties too. and 1/26 scale! Lets see it next to a Model T Edited April 6, 2011 by Foxer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Z Posted April 6, 2011 Share Posted April 6, 2011 Bill Borgen eat your heart out!!!! Way to go boss! HEY!!! Watch you typing!!! This is really KOOL Harry and knowing Bill, will definately get his juices flowing... Great job on something REALLY different... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Kren Posted April 6, 2011 Share Posted April 6, 2011 Yes nice job! Dont let Bill see that he will be getting one. Last nite he brought a new build to our meeting WANA SEE IT? Guess you will have to wait till NNL East Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terror Posted April 6, 2011 Share Posted April 6, 2011 WOW how cool is that?Museum worthy.Did you use real coal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry P. Posted April 6, 2011 Author Share Posted April 6, 2011 WOW how cool is that?Museum worthy.Did you use real coal? No, I used the same ballast that I used on the rail bed. I just painted it black to look like coal.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agent G Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 Oh now that's nice, real nice. G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danno Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 (edited) 'Bout time you got off that Pocher MercyBenzine and got on the right track!! Or, 'It's a stoker not a Pocher!' Nice! Edited April 7, 2011 by Danno Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
george 53 Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 Thanks for posting this Harry. i LOVE this kinda odd-ball stuff. At 1/26th, i don't really think anyone will notice the difference. It looks GREAT! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul alflen Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 HARRY, IS THAT THING A MUSCLE CAR FROM YOUR YOUTH YEARS? LOL SERIOUSLY , QUITE A DIFFERENT MODELING SUBJECT THATS FOR SURE! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highway Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 Bill Borgen eat your heart out!!!! Way to go boss! From the work of Bill Borgen I've had the pleasure to see in person (and judge!), I think he would have made it look more like it would look after years of hard work! By the way, Gregg, I thought you were "Da Boss"! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxer Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 By the way, Gregg, I thought you were "Da Boss"! I think they're a couple .. you know how THAT works! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highway Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 Harry, wonderful work, I like it a lot! Is that a new kit still available or is it an older issue? That would look great sitting next to my old 1/25 scale MPC General steam engine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terror Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 No, I used the same ballast that I used on the rail bed. I just painted it black to look like coal.. The reason I ask is cause,I heat my home with it and it's bout the same size.If you need some let me know.Probly won't send it till X-mas tho. J/K Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry P. Posted April 8, 2011 Author Share Posted April 8, 2011 Harry, wonderful work, I like it a lot! Is that a new kit still available or is it an older issue? That would look great sitting next to my old 1/25 scale MPC General steam engine! I got it at Hobby Lobby a few months ago. It's also available online from a variety of places. Here's just one: http://www.megahobby.com/1829stephensonrocketlocomotivebyminicraft.aspx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highway Posted April 8, 2011 Share Posted April 8, 2011 I got it at Hobby Lobby a few months ago. It's also available online from a variety of places. Here's just one: http://www.megahobby.com/1829stephensonrocketlocomotivebyminicraft.aspx Thanks Harry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Handley Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 Ok, a quick history lesson first... so you guys know what the heck you're looking at. This is Stephenson's "Rocket" locomotive, built in the UK in 1829. It was actually an entry in a contest sponsored by the Liverpool & Manchester Railway Co. to find the best, most competent locomtotive design. The "Rocket" was not the first steam locomotive, but it was the first "modern" steam locomotive design, that is, wheels driven directly by pistons instead of geared cogwheel setups. This is actually the first design. The cylinders, mounted on an angle, were a problem. They gave the locomotive a bumpy, pounding ride as the pistons cycled. A subsequent redesign had the cylinders at only a very slight angle... almost horizontal, the way all steam engines had them ever since then. Since photography was only in its infancy back in the 1820s and still in the experimental stage, no photos of the "Rocket" exist. The current examples in various museums are all replicas created from original engineering drawings. Here is the kit. It's 1/26 scale (), from Minicraft: I made a display base for it. The ballast is from the model RR aisle of Hobby Lobby, glued down with a 50/50 Elmer's glue/water mix. The crossties and rail sections are included in the kit; I just detail-painted them. I added "coal" in the tender; it's the same ballast as I used on the track bed, only painted black. I also added real wood strips to the inside (unpainted) surfaces of the tender. The "brass" straps on the tank are BMF that I first painted by brush with Humbrol "Brass," then cut strips and applied to the model. The rest of the "brass" pieces were made by painting the kit plastic pieces first with Rustoleum "Metallic" brass, then toned down and given a more "aged" (unpolished) look with a wash of the Humbrol brass, thinned down. After painting, I added a little weathering here and there to give it a more realistic, less "showroom shiny" look. You know, I kept looking at those pics and kept thinking that that locomotive looked familiar, then it hit me as to why! One of the clones is on display at The Museum of Science and Industry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
su27rules Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 So nice and so cool to see!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pepperdrumstix Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 I found one of these kits decades ago in a long gone drug store in Cornville AZ. I think I still have it and I always wanted to build a small dio with it and a AMT T truck next to it with tools in the back. Or a nice Monogram early Mack truck. Nice job Harry. Ken Hamilton would be proud. Patrick Mitchell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bsoder Posted April 16, 2011 Share Posted April 16, 2011 Hmmm...didi they really have a Stephenson rocket showroom just looked at your other loco, and those are just really neat!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheCat Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Harry - That's really cool model you've built. Great Job!!! Love IT!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danno Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 That is really coal, Harry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.