LBSC "Simple" LMS 4F - Free Metric Plans for download

[IanT]

The latest design on the Model Engineering website by Julius de Waal - is a metric version of LBSC's " A Six Year Old's 4F " - which originally appeared as a single five page article in Model Engineer in December 1944. I believe this design was (at least in part) the inspiration of the very successful G1MRA 'Project' locomotive - so in many ways this is the original G3 'Project' and it was available for many years before the G1MRA engine ever saw the light of day but as mentioned recently - all the real 2.5" focus back then, was on passenger hauling. LBSC clearly saw this engine purely as a childs toy.  :-(

Part 1 (of 2) appears here and the design can be downloaded (for free) as PDF files.  it's titled "Curly's Simple LMS Class 4F Loco" - no mention of the fact it's a G3 engine I'm afraid (albeit not a very close to scale one).

https://modelengineeringwebsite.com/Simple_4F.html

Our friends at the National 2.5" Association also have a page on their website that gives a bit more background to this relatively simple engine here:

http://www.n25ga.org/Designs/Toy%20Designs/6%20Yr%20Olds%204F/Six%20Year%20Old%27s%204F%20by%20LBSC.htm

So - LBSC designed this loco to be built quickly for someone else's six year old son. I'm sure it could be made nearer to scale and might be a nice G3 starter project for anyone looking for one.

Regards,

IanT 

[Andy B]

(albeit not a very close to scale one).

Ian,
Thanks for highlighting another resource.
At least the wheelbase and therefore basic motion is very close to the standard 6-coupled wheelbase of later Midland and then LMS locos.
8'-0" + 8'-6" => 107.8 + 114.5 in G3. The model is 107 + 114mm.
Should be relatively easy to tweak the frame length and profile of the top works to make it less 'toy'-like.

Andy

[IanT]

That's good to hear Andy.

The G1MRA Project has appeared in many guises, so I suspect this could do so too if wanted.

I looked up the original LBSC article last night and it was fairly brief by his standards - greatly relying on his readers being already familiar with his constructional methods ( "Words & Music" ) from earlier writings. There was actually a second article a week or so later, that described a tender for the engine.  It had no practical functions in his scheme of things - just being a 'box on wheels' to complete the image - but it could be used for water or to carry R/C equipment these days of course.

Regards,

IanT

[Jon_C]

Andy B, do you know of any plans for the 4F that show the correct outline and profiles, to have a look at tweeking the 4F. Such a small difference in axle centres should be easy to adjust, so long as the centre driver isn't moved from its location as to effect the linkage and valve movement. even then so long as the eccentric and crank throw remains the same then shorter connecting rods are possible if the cylinders need to be moved slightly.

The 4F is one id looked at once before, and is a nice simple engine. 

[Andy B]

Jon,
I suggest you get yourself a copy of "LMS Loco Profiles No.10 Standard Class 4 Goods 0-6-0s"
https://www.titfield.co.uk/Book-shelves/Books-C3-det.htm

Andy

[Jon_C]

Thank you Andy, Duly noted!

[Jon_C]

I was going to edit my post above and add this in, but I don't know how to?

Here is a full set of metric plans for the 4F and a lovely rendering too. Caution to be used for the plans as with other of Julius's designs the conversion from imperial to metric is rounded up and down, so measurements would have to be taken from the job, but shows a lot more detail to Curly's original brief description.

Click the link will take you to a PDF webpage viewer.

http://www.vapeuretmodelesavapeur.com/telechargements5/a-simplified-fired-spirit-fired-locomotive.pdf

[Jon_C]

I knew if I looked hard enough I'd find them.

The original article with LBSC's "words and music". Including the article for the tender.
https://modelengineeringwebsite.com/4F_toy_by_Curly.html