Accucraft Lew Exposed!

C

Chris Bird

Steam,gardening, photography
Hi folks
It has been commented that there has been little discussion on the groups about the new Accucraft Lew. Well my manual one arrived on Thursday and as this coincided with my good lady being away on grandson sitting duties, I commandeered the kitchen to make some films. And even better, it wasn't raining so I could film outside as well!

These films are in my "Beginners' Guides" series, so so they are a bit epic - and might be a good cure for insomnia ;-)

The first film introducesthe loco and shows gauge changing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tr3Go92JIJM

The second film shows the first steam up indoors and ten out on the railway - this is just as it happened - within hours of the loco arriving.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBjMpJZDLEY

The third film shows me fitting a Chuffer and then briefly demonstrating it out on the track.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rc-UJdy-f5A

I think it is fair to say that I am very well pleased with the loco - it is a fine model indeed. Reading the instructions is essential though - especially for the smokebox dart - and the track needs meticulous clearing of stones as the cow-catcher is also a stone-finder!

And here is a photo for those who don't like videos.
Cheers
Chris
 
She looks like a large loco for your line Chris? Will you be doing any further mods, (whistle, drain cocks) ?
 
Elmtree Line said:
She looks like a large loco for your line Chris? Will you be doing any further mods, (whistle, drain cocks) ?
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Hi Keith
Well yes, she is a large loco, but I do already have a Roundhouse Yeo and Argyll, both of which cope well. Lew handles the curves (4' is the absolute minimum at one point) very well, but does find twigs and stones so care is needed to clear the track.

Radio control is next, though she is very docile. I hadn't thought of a whistle, but there is room between the frames.

Automatic drain cocks would be important if a Chuffer is not fitted - but of course it is fitted on mine and does the same job of diecting the condensate down - so no need to fit them.

I plan to matt the smokebox and it would be nice to get rid of some of the shine elsewhere....we shall see......
Cheers
Chris
 
I guess you could white rim the wheels to give it a classy preserved look :bigsmile:
 
Elmtree Line said:
I guess you could white rim the wheels to give it a classy preserved look :bigsmile:
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Oh shock horror Mr Greenwood - perish the thought :D
You have made me think that maybe I should blacken them though........
Cheers
Chris
 
What a superb informative video. I will probably never buy a L&B loco for my line as I model East Germany. However that does not stop me from appreciating these superb beasts. Your line does a very good job of emulation the L&B, maybe not on purpose but it does. What you really need to get her Chuffer Chuffing is 4 L&B Coaches for her. Then we will see what we can expect for the future in Devon.

Many thanks,
JonD
 
Shawn said:
It looks great Chris. You better hope the wife doesnt see the video with the engine on her table. That could become evidence if it gets in the wrong hands :(
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Thanks Shawn - and I think I am safe, as although my wife Liz is a wonderful person, the chances of her EVER watching one of these videos is NIL :D I did have to run the extractor for rather a long time to get rid of the smell though.......
Cheers
Chris
 
dunnyrail said:
What you really need to get her Chuffer Chuffing is 4 L&B Coaches for her. Then we will see what we can expect for the future in Devon.
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Thanks Jon - and luckily I do have a friend with four of the Accucraft coaches. Hopefully we can meet up at Roy Wood's and exercise them when the weather allows :)
Cheers
Chris
 
Oh the temptation :D
Excellent films Chris as usual, to see her running with a rake of those superb Accucraft coaches would be a treat for the eye indeed.
 
And thanks for the plug Chris! I'm glad you confirmed it's 'Superior'. :thumbup:
Steve
1d7be63065eb40dc83b01591bcf97788.jpg
 
400Parker said:
And thanks for the plug Chris! I'm glad you confirmed it's 'Superior'. :thumbup:
Steve
images
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My pleasure Steve - I speak as I find!
Incidentally, I do like that photo - very arty :)
Cheers
Chris
 
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