top of page

General A0 range overview.  Product descriptions below this...

The A0 is a 'what if' 4-6-2 Pacific locomotive design that was as far as we know drawn by Sir Nigel Gresley in 1915 and a couple of known redrafts in the early 20's afterwards.  A0 is not a real designation but for identification I coined it years ago when helping with the formation of two essays on the A0 and the possible development of it into other rebuild combinations.  I personally believe along with others that it may also form the basis of certain Railway Series characters from Wilbert Awdry, specifically Henry & Gordon.

For a more in depth explanation of what the A0 is with photographs please check out the following link

 

Not every combination of the A0's both real and fictional are offered here as full body shells, a lot are yet for the other combinations please see the shapeways offerings HERE and they can be mixed & matched with various detaisl such als running plates, cabs, boiler types etc.

 

These purchases include the locomotive bodies and their details such as smokebox door, buffers, etc.  Product photographs show them mostly in completed states, either built here or by customers to give an idea of their potential, some pictures may show a render of the main body instead.  It isn't yet possible to assign a picture to each variant as there is a limit on the editing tools, for this reason it may default to the version on the entry page yet the 4mm versions will all have a picture that can be used as visual reference regardless of the chosen scale.


The wheelbase of the A0 1915 drawing is...
6'3" + 5' 3" + 7' 0" + 7' 0" + 8' 0" 

 

However the Gresley A1 is...
6'3" + 5' 6" + 7' 3" + 7' 3" + 9' 6"

For this reason the SCC A0 range has been designed instead to fit the A1 wheelbase so they can still fit  RTR and kit chassis.'

The SCC A0's have been designed around three different Hornby Gresley A1's (bodies & chassis) to ensure as much compatability as possible between them.

What is offered here is full locomotive body shells, yet on Shapeways there are also other options as the shells are split down into kit components so you can combine them into various combinations yourself, even more combinations than the full shell options will be possible this way.

For the kit route the parts will be easier to prepare and clean the surfaces for painting, also if you order just a running plate for example then you could use your own A1 body and cut out the relavant bits to fit the plates, used this way the items can be used for kit bashing purposes.

Certain configurations will require you changing cylinders and valve gear, or at least modifying them in various ways.

 

One of Gresley's redrafts removed the originally proposed parallel boiler (A0 - 1915 drawings) and replaced it with the Gresley tapered boiler like on the A1's, further more this drawing also showed angular cylinder covers at the front of the running plate (A0 - 1920's drawings, 2 types known and one modelled so far). 

 

The apparent 'Final' draft saw the angular covers replaced with elegent swooping curves such as on Gresley's Prototype 02 locomotive and also likely was the inspiration for the curves seen on the Railway Series Characters Henry & Gordon.  This version also has the Gresley cab in place instead of the drawn Ivatt one (A0 - G1 LOW)

 

There is also based upon the fictional 1939 rebuild of Gordon the A0 - G2 MID &

A0 - G2 HIGH. 

 

LOW, MID & HIGH is the height of the majority of the running plate.  A real Gresley A1/3 has the majority of the plate in a HIGH position then it swoops down to a low position where the steam pipes rest upon.  The MID is between the two extreems.

 

Suggestions or the A0 1915 & A0 G1 LOW & A0 H1 types

If using Gresley A1 cylinders and valve gear then the area above the Radius Rod and Expansion Link will need remodelling slightly to account for the fact the running plate in this area is lower than on a standard Gresley A1.  The best way to explain the modification is thus:  If you imagine looking at the locomotive head on, then for Hornby valve gear, from the edge of the chassis block the bracket usually comes out roughly 1cm and then goes down to the valve gear; you need to tweak it so that it goes down immidiately from the chassis block edge and then goes out to the valve gear instead, being careful not to foul the wheels.  

 

Under the running plate you will have to locate where the screw goes to fix the chassis if using a Hornby A1/3, just position the chassis and mark it then drill a thin hole, the material will self tap. Originally the holes were designed in yet the positions of the various Hornby versions moved slightly making it too difficult to ensure they will work with every version.

 

(The steam chest cover on my photograph of the non-3D print A0 G1 LOW is angular, the 3D print comes with this and also a curved one to match the outer running plate as a glue-in option.)

 

Suggestions for the A0 MID & HIGH types

For the HIGH version it is recomended you use Hornby Brittania Cylinders, reshaped slightly to fit.  Also Black 5 Valve gear will work well with this too.   When bashing this conversion from RTR locomotives a while back this is the combination I used.

If you want to use slightly smaller modern tooling Black 5 cylinders instead the MID height G2 would be better.   If you want to use the older over scale Black 5 cylinders then they will fit a HIGH plate better than a MID.

 

I appreciate the above is likely rather confusing without visual reference, If you need anything please look at the Catalogue Price List's pictures or send an email.

 

Picture credits used with permission - model followed by visual description followed by one of their names or handles:

 

A0 - G1 - LOW - Blue painted as Gordon - Sparkshot ((Original model the 3D prints were based on) The steam chest cover on mine is angular, the 3D print comes with this and also a curved one to match the outer running plate as a glue-in option.)

 

A0 - G2 - HIGH - Blue painted as Gordon - Sparkshot (Original model the 3D prints were based on)

 

A0 G2 - MID - Blue painted as Gordon (Yellow stripe on cab) - Andrew Postlethwaite

 

A0 G2 - MID - Blue painted as Gordon - Somethingtrainlover

 

A0 H1 - Firebox B - Green painted as Henry - Rians Railway (Made from Shapeways components)

 

 

 

A0 - Prototype Gresley Pacifics (All Variations & Scales)

£64.00Price
    No Reviews YetShare your thoughts. Be the first to leave a review.
    bottom of page