Class 24 build... oh no not another Stoke engine.

Actually Toto whilst there are four etch pieces on each fret and two frets for this part of the component build the instructions show two etch pieces per bogie side and these form part of the brake piston assembly. These etch pieces make a frame that sits over each wheel on the top edge of the bogie frame, so it's not that much of a daunting prospect... it just needs careful planning and a production line remembering two bogies are being constructed at the same time.

 

Cheers Ian I think a pin point iron is best for this job as its not unlike soldering electrical joints, I soldered the item from the inner face so when it's put together as a unit with the longitudinal pieces the item is already tinned. I'll do a few more tonight and then move onto the next stage... I think Steve wants the builder to get some of the really fiddly stuff out of the way first.

 

The Markit 19 inch Oleo buffers arrived today... as Steve said they are a bit on the long side but very nice they are in machined brass.

 

Thank you Rob that is a very kind offer indeed, I'll contact you nearer the time .

 

As Toto says get the pain out the way... well I'm not sure how quickly it will go cos my finger tips are well cooked, well not that bad really but I have put together what seems like only a spoon full of tiny bits that took over two evenings work under the mag lamp.Any way this loco build is really aimed at members here who have or are going to get the Steve Beattie Class 24 / 25 kit but hey anyone can join in the fun . So in putting together the bogies Section One deals with the sub assembly pieces, that's where I am at now, I've made the sixteen segment ends for the brake piston frame and now am constructing the bogie head stock units, loosely speaking these are the end head stocks which hold the bogie sides together as a rectangular unit. There are two different shapes, the inner piece is a straight lateral channel but the outer end piece is joggled and also carries brackets for the guard rails, it was forming the support bracket which gave me a bit of a hard time until I saw the easy way forward. Now before I started soldering both pairs of head stocks need to have rivet detailing embossed, it is best to do this with the pieces attached to the main fret, my MRC 7mm embossing press anvil comes in very handy... so here is what I mean.

Now this picture shows the second outer headstock I did this afternoon, I used a lollipop stick to hold the bracket spacer in place for soldering onto the joggled web of the soon to be formed head stock channel. Next to the iron tip can be seen the other spacer and still in the fret are the two brackets which will hold the guard rails... all that comes later in the build according to instructions. Note that the bracket pieces are handed as well.

Finally the upper and lower rib pieces having been bent to shape can now be soldered into position, when this is done the bracket for the guard rail can be soldered as the last job and that then completes this part of the sub assembly. The next job is making the equalizing beams, guard rails and the bolster which I'll make a start on tomorrow.

 

Glad this is of use for you Toto, the way in with this kit is just bite the bullet and go for it having read through instructions and familiarized yourself with all the bits on the frets. To be honest in its principle its not much different than building an etch brass wagon kit really but is a world away from doing a steamer... talking of which I've got one to finish.

 

Here you are Dundee Paul... this is my riveting tool:- http://www.midrailcentre.com/rivet-embossing-tool

I also have the rivet punch and anvils for both 4mm and 7mm, both of which I used on the 4MT loco build. I found the 4mm anvil was just the job for embossing detail like the clamp pins on boiler cladding. I bought another 7mm rivet punch and smoothed the tip of the point away so that I could emboss bigger rivets such as on the buffer beam. I do hope Toto doesn't squirm much because the fun stuff starts tomorrow...

 

I can only do bit size these days Toto, my brain doesn't do multi tasking which is why SWMBO is always on at me... I tell her I can only buy one loco kit at a time.

 

That's quite okay Toto...and thanks for the nice comments. Steve offers us the best advice with these kits ... "take your time and read instructions" ... they really are a pleasure to build but not for a fast result.

 

Nice one Dundee Paul