Saltford Models 'Audley' class.

Here's a rarity. I recently obtained this loco from a member of the NGRM-online forum;

The photos show the loco as I aquired it. The cab rear obviously needs re-attaching, a new roof needs making and the rear bufferbeam is damaged. Here it is with the cab rear blu-tacked in place;

This is a Saltford Models loco built by Brian Clarke, and finding out exactly what it is took a little digging. A while back I started a thread on the forum about Saltford Models locos, which a lot of modellers still find interesting to this day (the 009 range disappeared many years ago). In that thread my friend David posted some adverts scanned from old copies of 009 News, and from one of those, dated September 1983, I found my loco. It is an 'Audley' class, which were available ready to run either painted blue or unpainted. Prices were £29-75 unpainted or £36-70 painted. They were described thus: 'Pretty maid of all work. Hand built with brass cab, boiler and frames. Nickel silver wheels. Split frame power collection. Available unpainted from stock.' There wasn't a photograph, just line drawings of the side front and rear.

So, it seems that I have an unpainted example that is about 34 years old. But I do wonder if it is still as Brian built it, or whether it has been rebuilt at some stage? The drawing in the advert shows buffer/couplers, which were probably turned brass as the same advert lists turned examples which are the same as, or very close, to the ones in the drawing.

It is a very curious loco, and one which is in all probability freelance and built from odds. Note the etched brass frames;

They are a good match for a Waril class Hunslet, being the same length and having the same drop at the rear but with the wheelbase stretched. Saltford did offer a Waril later, in fact two versions, one scale model with etched frames and cab as well as proper coupling and connecting rods which could be had in either 9mm or 6.5mm gauges, and one simplified version with drilled strip frames, a plasticard cab (which you had to make yourself), only a basic con. rod, no connecting rods and axles coupled by a gear train.

Note also that the frames sit on strips of styrene, presumably to give more clearance between the wheels and the footplate.

The cab is also etched, and the front and sides are also a good match for a Waril. However, the rear is slightly different as it has a full backsheet rather than a half height Waril style backsheet;

The spectacle plates are seperate etches, soldered in from behind.

The motion is of interest as well. It is of course much simplified, comprising of only a flycrank and con. rod. The 'piston' rod is fixed into the cylinder, but offset to allow more clearance between motion and frames without the cylinders sticking out too far. This is actually quite an effective way of gaining extra clearance, and not really noticable.

The boiler is a solid brass turning, and the chimney is nicely finished in a typical Hunslet style (although Hunslet liked to alter the design of their chimney caps every time the wind changed direction!).

So, those are my thoughts on this unusual loco. I could of course be wrong in my deductions, and if I am please feel free to put me right! I'm also aware that the model may have been rebuilt at some stage in its life.

Now, what to do with it? It runs well considering its age and the cheap motor fitted. I do need to replace the rear buffer beam, refit the cab rear and roll up a new roof from brass. I could turn up some buffer/couplers quite easily, or fit a spare pair of Saltford whitemetal castings that I have knocking about which would suit the loco well. But after that I am very tempted to leave it unpainted and just enjoy it as it is. After all it has survived 34ish years without paint, and it could be argued that the loco has some historical signifigance being an early RTR offering. I'm very tempted to make a copy, I like the design and I have the ability to turn the wheels, boiler etc and the rest should be easily made. This means the original can be left as it is, and I can build a loco with the same dimensions etc. but with both axles driven and a more modern motor.

However, the big question is still: why 'Audley'?

Paul.