So am I. The kit looks great. Etches are nice and all of the fittings are lost wax brass. Takes away the white metal " mind set ". Slot and tab is extensively used so that can only be of great assistance. The boiler and smoke box do need to be formed but I have a bit experience of that now having done the 4F fire box so I'm not too phased with that. The bending radii on the Q1 are much easier and not as acute. The loco chassis will be the challenge. Loads of internal valve gear and stuff. There are so many tiny lost wax fittings ...... BUT ....... from what I can see, many are not actually soldered. They are threaded onto composite builds that brass rods run through. In my head, you only need to solder the two outer fittings to keep all the others and there spaces assembled on the rod. I may be wrong. I am actually quite confident going into this build and have learned a few skills, techniques ...... and mistakes from the unfinished 4F. One being to ensure the axle bushes are sufficiently cleared / teamed prior to fitting the axles ..... talking too tight = seisures. Horn block for the first time as well so need to get my head around these and the compensated chassis / suspension etc. I'll be doing loads of photos of the build as normal so I hope it's an interesting read. I'll be on the starters block this weekend, hopefully Sarurday. Feel free to comment and add any advice wherever you see fit. Cheers for now Toto
You may find Toto, as you get going, that there may be some alterations/modifications/omissions to the kit that are not shown in the instructions? Failing any advice on here Dave at MOK is always helpful if you get stuck.
Hi Torry, I have spoken to Dave over the phone on numerous occasions and find him super freindly. He always has time for a chat. I think , in the main, the instructions are quite good. There maybe one or two areas that may need a bit of thinking but usually, these things can be more self explanatory when you have the parts in your hands. Cheers Toto
Went back out into the shed tonight for half an hour in order to locate all the required tools etc for an easy start on Saturday. I have a few soldering irons .... as you do , but wanted to check the " spare tip " situation. Also wanted to know if I needed to top up on any specific type of xllder. It's been a while since I've used anything. As I soon found out, no need to worry. I just bought a few MT 10 80 watt tips for my antex iron. I shouldnt gave bothered. Anyway, I'll post up my arsenal pictures shortly as I need to go and pick up SWMBO. Best not upset her. I'll be back Toto
returned from carrying out my domestic duties ..... So for the benefit of those who may be remotely interested in the soldering equipment I have at my disposal, especially those who may be aware of the tools available and used for different soldering purposes ..... prepare to be blinded ..... or baffled by science .... Kicking off with the usual staple diet of standard type soldering irons we have the following ..... and also a 40w variant of the same. and plenty of 60w and 80w spare tips A new weapon rated at 60w that I have had for a while but have never brandished in anger ....... until now..... Dundee Paul swears by this .......literally ...... and of course ......... spare tips ...... D4 tips ....... and C4 tips ..... Now ...... a weapon that Rob Pullham put me onto for these loooooooong solder joints. the Proxxon gas blowtorch. I have used this before to very good effect. And last for now ....... something that I bought a while ago but have not even nearly mastered as of yet ....... The resistance soldering iron. I need to spend some time practicing with this as it is a very good piece of kit for getting a load of heat to a specific area ..... fast. then there are the 3 solders that I currently use which is standard 60 / 40 solder 100 degree solder for white metal ..... more 100 degree and 70 degree which I rarely use. I am currently using Carrs green flux although I have some more environmentally freindly stuff that is used by both Dundee and Rob. ..... I've not tinkered with it much but may give it another go on this build. There are other tools within my arsenal ..... bending jigs, chassis jigs and a load of others but you will probably see these items as the build progresses. any questions ...... ask away and if I cant answer them, we have folks who certainly can. cheers for now toto
I have some solder that I use that works just fine, and I obtained it when I did my GPO Telephones apprenticeship, which I completed in 1969.
I seem to remember a comment on the line of "there's probably more chance of me getting married than completing these loco kits" How's the old sayings go - "careful what you wish for" or "many a word said in jest" He gets hitched the end of next month, so maybe an update on the thread in early December I have solder he can use if his is too old ........... Paul
So really what your trying to say is, there’s no chance of the Q1 adoring the top of the wedding cake
Maybe still in the box.............. I'll print him a photo of yours to printed on the side of the cake. Should have seen/heard him choke, when I reminded him that the top tier is for the christening I have suggested once the fesivities have died down, that he comes upto Dundee, we have a session loco building, with a visit to Frews (Pub not a bakery) in the evening, stay over a bit more work in the morning then send him back over the Tay & Forth to civilisation. You never know the 4F's may even see some progress - maybe that's going a bit too far. Paul
I was broad sided with the wedding. ..... never saw that coming. .... caught in a moment of weakness after 28 years of dodging it. I need to get the bike stored in my mates garage for the winter as I usually do. Creates some space. My timetable is still mad but I would love to get back into doing something. Life has been absolutely depressing just keeping going with all that's been going on. The Q1 kit looks a fantastic kit to build. A very unusual build ..... especially the support system for the boiler element. It looks great. Just a pity the boiler outer skin hides the structural framing element of the build. Just off the phone to Dundee and we are rekindling the idea of me visiting his workshops to at least plan a start to the build ..... you never know. Watch this space .... I'll need to retrieve the kit from the shed. It always gets the juices going when I open the box and see the fantastic parts and frets etc. Cheers for now Toto ..... the condemned man.
Well ..... the wedding two weeks today. followed by a long weekend in Manchester for a function with my present Client ( 9th and 10th December ) then 5 day's in Amsterdam...... 14th to 18th December. Maybe we can squeeze in that visit over the festive period for a day. Where does the time go. Toto
Not sure if I'd be happy taking a blow torch to a precious donut ...... If your starting to get serious, i'd better look at ordering up wheels , motor and gearbox for the 8F - I can see santa gripping his chest in pain Paul
Pressures on now - I've ordered the 8F's wheels and at £176 the motor will need to wait a wee bit, maybe a begging letter to Santa, mind you at the speed we work at a letter to Santa for next year maybe soon enough
What have I started . Never mind, I'm conditioning my mind to go and rake out the kit for a very enjoyable read at the destructions. I need to go and dig out our competition prize anyway and announce the winner. That's for later on today. Just shows how several people can be jolted into action ....... by one reckless comment by another . Cheers chaps. Dont fret about the doughnuts Paul ...... we'll be on cupcakes by a week on Saturday. ..... just dont tell morag until we've all had a chance to grab one . Toto