I've Finished Building.... Ivor the Engine form a kit by PH Designs

In this episode we are looking at an OO Gauge model of Ivor the Engine which I've built from a kit by PH Designs. You can find more details about the kit at their website: www.phd-design-...
As discussed in the video I designed the wheels to match as close I could the drawings in my childhood book (I've talked about the book before: • Books and Their Storie... ), had them printed in brass by ‪@Shapeways‬, before finally turning the flange on my lathe.
If you want more details about the build than are in the video then you can find lots more on my blog caffeine-train...
Ivor the Engine is far and away the best cartoon locomotive (sorry fans of Thomas the Tank Engine but you know deep down I'm right) and while there may have been issues and frustrations with the kit, I am unbelievably happy with the final result.

[@ProfPtarmigan]

Well done for persevering. You have made a good job of it.

[@iainrobinson6566]

That really is a gorgeous thing! A surprising amount of work entailed, but definitely worth it. I'll have to watch a couple of my favourite episodes now...

[@encoffeedrinker]

Thanks Iain. Of all the locos I've finished recently this is my favourite and I had a feeling it would probably be yours too. Building it was a very good excuse to watch some episodes with my sons and to read them the book, over and over again!

[@eddierools]

I couldn't even hope to put together a kit like this myself, it's why i'm thrilled that Rapido have announced a ready to run model of Ivor plus a number of wagons from the show! Can't wait to get the packs, already put in my pre-order for them!

[@encoffeedrinker]

Yes, the Rapido announcement looks really great. The kit was a pain in places but really satisfying when I eventually finished it. Unfortunately given the "scale" of the kit I don't think it will go with the Rapido wagons very well otherwise I might have bought the wagon pack myself.

[@michaelquinones-lx6ks]

I can imagine ''Ivor'' pulling a string of modern British rail coaches or freight cars.

[@waylander1697]

glad to see that it's finally finished, keep em comin, mark!

[@encoffeedrinker]

Thanks, and glad you enjoyed the journey!

[@overpoweredsteamproduction513]

i absolutely love it. even if it is abit out of scale

[@encoffeedrinker]

Thanks! As I say in the video it was more than a bit of a challenge to get it finished but I'm really happy with how it turned out, but it's nice to know I'm not deluding myself and that others thing it's pretty good too.

[@overpoweredsteamproduction513]

@@encoffeedrinker seriously, this is the first model of Ivor the engine in this scale that actually looks like Ivor. and it’s gorgeous

[@viriconiustheengineer8354]

What makes you think Ivor is standard gauge? Think they’ve scaled a 3’ coal line/upgraded horse tramway to fit OO track? And repeating the EM/16.5 debacle 😆

[@encoffeedrinker]

I did wonder about this myself, especially given the number of narrow gauge lines in Wales. Fortunately my childhood book gives a definitive answer. In the "First Story", when Ivor is sad at not being in the choir, he travels along the main line to the locomotive works at Pontypool Roads. Assuming the main line is standard gauge then Ivor must also be standard gauge.

[@viriconiustheengineer8354]

@@encoffeedrinker But to an engine at Oakleys or Votty, the Festiniog was the mainline… ok, I can’t think of a south wales example at the moment.

[@encoffeedrinker]

@@viriconiustheengineer8354 that's a good point. Hadn't thought of another NG line, being considered the main line. I like it!

[@mattsmocs3281]

In the show version there is a almost look of a BR Type 5 and some GWR locos at the works on the main line. That screams standard gauge to me