Does anyone have first hand knowledge of this book? I'm wondering just how much info / pictorial reference it contains for the Simplex 40hp 'protected'?
I like narrow gauge putt-putts right enough, but the 40hp would be the jobby I'd want to see quite a lot of if shelling out for a book.
Thanks in advance for any advice, opinions or alternative suggestions.
__________________
"You there on the port!". "S'gin actually, but thanks for noticing [hic]".
Had a quick glance through the Simplex book. You will not find any substantial information that you are not able to find on the web or in the well known 'Light Railway at War' books. You will have to be a industrial narrow gauge fan like me to appreciate the book's history of the Motor Rail company and a tour of all the types of narrow gauge locomotives they produced.
If you like my Flickr-images you might also enjoy my humble blog: http://nystrupgravel.blogspot.dk/ Mostly centered around my little Danish gravel company Nystrup Gravel and its 600 mm. narrow gauge railway.
The Salvage Squad TV program is excellent.I need to have another look through it to get an idea of interior for my models in 1/35 scale. Having said that there are variations. Some photos I have seen show differences. Two notable ones on outside are the extra supporting bars for roof supports, and not every loco appears to have had cast numbers. Suspect repairs in the field to locos also resulted in differences. As for interior, some photos show additional armoured plating(I think) inside, whereas in others radiator is easy to see. There are drawings of the protected version, but surprisingly none of the fully armoured version, odd considering there is at least one doing the rounds of different railways and museums. I did find a drawing in garden railway magazine, and it looked close enough to base my model on. I have been told that counting rivets is pointless as there were differences here as well. The Simplex book is good for some research, but does not give that much info about the WW1 versions. I am interested in building one of the 20hp versions, but can't find any detailed drawings, in particular of the framework, which is obviously visible. I have drawings of the later straight framed versions. Mind you railways seem to be easier than road as there is far more to choose from concerning road vehicles in WW1. The railways were better organised.
EDIT: Knew that would work. Found some drawings for 20hp version on Nigel Lawton's website. Also some more photos showing internal armoured plate. Makes sence as the 40hp locos were usually driven with doors open if possible, so need to protect fuel tank and radiator. Enough justification for me.
-- Edited by rue_d_etropal on Monday 16th of September 2013 11:39:21 PM
__________________
Mainly interested in narrow gauge railways, currently working a number of WW1 projects in 1/35 scale , website http://www.rue-d-etropal.com/