Royal Scot
By Malcolm Carlsson
Base model
Rivarossi "Royal Scot" (catalogue number 1348).
Body shells
Original. Material has been removed from the underside of the boiler to let it sit lower. Smoke deflectors made of plastic sheet have been added to the front of the locomotive.
Chassis
Original. Approximately 1.5mm has been removed from the top of the locomotive frame to let the body sit lower. On the locomotive, the slots for the driver wheel bearings have been extended upwards to let the body and chassis sit lower. On the tender, the slots for the wheel axles have been extended upwards to allow the tender to sit lower.
Motor, drive train, wheels
The motor is an original Rivarossi. All the wheels are original Rivarossi (all 1:87 scale). The cylinders have been removed, slimmed, and refitted.
The gearshaft cover on the locomotive chassis was removed and replaced with a piece of thin plastic sheet covering only the rearmost bearing. More recently, the gearshaft cover has been refitted (without the sand box mouldings) and more material has been removed from the underside of the boiler to achieve the same riding height.
Glazing
Clear plastic sheet has been used to fill the cab side windows.
Couplers
Rivarossi-specific coupler mount, fitted on the rear only. Originally with a Rivarossi knuckle coupler, more recently with a Brawa item 0999 pivoting NEM coupler box.
Electrics
The original system of electrical pickup has been retained: from the locomotive wheels on the right, and from the tender wheels on the left. The bulb for the front lamps has been removed, its holder cut down, and the light channel removed, leaving the front lamps non-operational.