Avonside 7mm Chassis Jig

Discussion in 'Tools' started by Toto, Jan 17, 2018.

  1. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    Decided to bite the bullet and buy one of these. It can only help. Having a few 7mm kits and the potential for more in the future, I thought I'd better give myself every assistance I can. It will float between my place and Pauls.

    I'll post up pictures when it arrives.

    Cheers

    Toto
     
  2. Rob Pulham

    Rob Pulham Happily making models Staff Member Administrator Feature Contributor

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    Is the Avonside the one done by Eileens Emporium?
    I haven't used one but they seem to be top of the league alongside the Hobby Holidays version which I have). they are really useful in getting the chassis nice and square.
    Which is the foundation stone for getting a good loco.
     
  3. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    Hi Rob,

    Yes it is. I looked at them before but could not justify the cost. Now that I have so many kits, things are different.

    Cheers

    Toto
     
  4. paul_l

    paul_l Staff Member Administrator

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    There's no stopping him now - apart from reading the manual :avatar:
     
  5. ianvolvo46

    ianvolvo46 Staff Member Moderator

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    Of they do an adjustable hammer you've got it nailed :facepalm:

    Ian vt
     
  6. Rob Pulham

    Rob Pulham Happily making models Staff Member Administrator Feature Contributor

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    Toto wrote:
    Hi Toto,

    That's pretty much how I did it. I did a couple of 7mm builds and then when I got the 8F/06 I thought it was about time I invested in a jig.

    As it happens the one loco that I could have got away with any jig is the MOK kit. The way that they are tabbed/slotted together so accurately makes it almost impossible to get them out of square.
     
  7. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    I am assuming that the whole chassis can be built as a complete unit on the jig and that it is not restricted to just building individual sides one at a time.

    They look really good for hor blocks and axle bearings etc. Keeps things perfectly aligned. :thumbs:
     
  8. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    There's a point Rob,

    Maybe you can explain how two sides of a chassis are placed in the jig to give access for soldering them together into a complete unit.

    Toto
     
  9. Rob Pulham

    Rob Pulham Happily making models Staff Member Administrator Feature Contributor

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    Toto wrote:

    Hi Toto,


    First you need to solder up the coupling rods so that you can use them to set the spacing of the pins then you can ether solder frame spacers to alternate sides of the chassis, pop the bearings in the holes in the frames slide them on to the jig and then finally add the coupling rods again to ensure that the pins are still aligned and then solder the rest of the joints and the bearings in place while they are in the jig.

    This ensures a square chassis and that the axle holes in the bearings align with the coupling rods which should eliminate any binding.
    Alternately you can solder all the frame spacers to one of the frames while it's flat on the bench and then repeat the above.

    It's a little more tricky if you are using hornblocks for a sprung or compensated chassis. I will be doing the chassis for the J6 using hornblocks in the near future so I will do a step by step for you.
     
  10. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    :scratchchin: the jig arrived today.

    I opened it up and my first impression was that it looked used. Loads of small scratches along some of the edges and the finish looks a bit scratched where some of the adjustable moving parts are.

    I maybe wrong. Maybe from the manufacturing process .... Not sure. Handy to know how anybody else received theirs.

    I'll try and get a couple of photos up later.

    Toto
     
  11. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    And here are the photos ........ feel free to tell me if I am just whinging .......
    [​IMG]

    lovely red storage case ......
    [​IMG]

    and the contents including axles and mini jigs and guides as well a a CD destruction manual ......
    [​IMG]

    :scratchchin: does not look pristine to me somehow ......

    [​IMG]

    and another ........
    [​IMG]

    something has been run along that to take the finish off and leave a line ......same other side....
    [​IMG]

    and the underside. It sure looks like use to me ........
    Dont get me wrong ...... I don't think it will effect its performance in any way. Its the principle. I paid for a new product and unless I am mistaken ....... I have a used product ...... especially at the price.
    How did yours look on receipt Rob ?
    cheers
    toto
     
  12. Rob Pulham

    Rob Pulham Happily making models Staff Member Administrator Feature Contributor

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    Hi Toto,
    Mine was brand new but, it isn't an Avonside. Mine's from Hobby Holidays. I wonder if they test them before they send them out?
    I would drop them a line to ask.
     
  13. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    I popped an email away to Eilleens Imporium but unfortunately they do ot give the facility to post up pictures. I will wait and see what they come back with.
    toto
     
  14. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    Hi Rob,
    even if testing, it feels manky as if there has been flux on it or something. may explain the slightly green tinge in places. I would doubt that testing involves actually building a model on it and partially defacing it.
    Maybe try the guides for fit and movement etc but even that would not leave these marks after an initial test. Its really the principle. It will get dirty and scraped over time anyway.
    cheers
    toto
     
  15. Rob Pulham

    Rob Pulham Happily making models Staff Member Administrator Feature Contributor

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    I agree, it will but if it's been used then you shouldn't be paying full price for it. - assuming that you have bought it new from Eileens?
     
  16. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    I dont recall anything describing it as anything else.
    toto
     
  17. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    just checked and I paid full price and there was nothing at the order stage to say that the product was used.
    toto
     
  18. Rob H

    Rob H Full Member

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    If its any comfort Toto the one I bought new just before Christmas (same as yours) and the original Avonside jig I had and regretted selling previously, both arrived in much the same condition. There was a leaflet included with the original jig stating that any marks evident were due to the manufacturing process but I never found any evidence of previous use?
     
  19. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    Thanks for that Rob,
    It may well be the manufacturing process. It just looked a bit grotty. You can understand the areas where slides move back and forth but it looks like engrained dirt on some of the fascia panels. At the end of the day ...... as long as it works and isn' shortening the life of the product. It just annoys me to think that it' possible that a second hand product has been passed of as new. Maybe not.

    Cheers
    Toto
     
  20. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    I had started ( in the very loosest terms ) my Connossieurs Models Polly loco some time ago. I started from the footplate up. My question is, can you use this chassis jig on a fold up chassis?

    I think you could do the folds to get the main chassis component built then set up in the axle thingmy to complete the rest of it. Am I right ?

    If you get the folds 100% square, then you are really just using the jig to hold the main piece to complete the chassis. .... I think.

    Just thought it may be worth trying to use it in order to get used to how it all goes together and how it works.

    Toto
     

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