Connoisseur Four Wheeled Third Class Coach

OK ..... here is the four wheeled third class coach from Connoisseur models.

This will be my victim in the three way coach build with Pete ( jakesdad13 ) and Dundee ( Paul l ).

Initially I was building a third class brake with modifications but have decide to do an out the box build on this instead.

The conversion build will still go ahead but due to the amount of additional work required to the internal part of it, thought that it would be better to do this so that hopefully we should all progress at the same pace ( or there abouts ).

I have been begining to prepare for the build and needed a former with which to make the tumblehomes ...... so ......

here we are ..... a length of broom handle ......

here is what is left ..... do you think SWMBO will notice ..... a bit of a stoop possibly.

Anyway ..... I have not started this yet as we will be having a pre-start chat to agree the starting point.

The three of us will start a new separate thread for the build ( this one being mine )

more when we decide the start date.

cheers

toto

 

Still no show ........ maybe tomorrow ....... raring to go. Solder and flux at the ready.

 

Jakesdad is ready to go ...... no word on his nib's delivery from Jim yet. I may start looking at these dreaded tumblehomes. I have Barry the broom handle ready to come out of furlough for this very task.

Cant wait to get going...... wetting myself nearly.

Toto

 

Well,

i'm afraid that I will have to dispell any fear of the tumblehome, 1st one done and it took all of a couple of minutes. very slight pressure over the bend is all it needs. Also relatively easy to slightly tweak if need be with gentle working with the fingers. maybe I was lucky that I made itn just about bang on with the first attempt.

Not going any further as I am waiting for his nibs. I just had to try forming my first tumblehome as it was playing on my mind.

can relax now.

toto

 

Here are some photos. Not the best I'm afraid as the tumblehome bend is only slight ....

you can at least see that the side ain't lying flat on the work bench ........ So I've done something to it ....

and another .......

maybe you can just make it out ......

and the last one ......

Thats all until his nibs has taken delivery. hopefully tomorrow

cheers

toto

 

Still no sign ....... must have paid with monopoly money ...... I've warned him about that before ..... folk have caught on to it .....

 

They are not too bad. Just off thecetch they could be relatively easy to damage if careless but its amazing how the strength of the overall build turns these into a very strong shell.


Toto

 

Well,

His nibs's coach arrived today so ......... let the build commence. Gentlemen ....... start up your soldering irons .....

And we're off.

Have fun.

Toto

 

Well,

I'm off ....... made a start by soldering the steps into the end wall ......

the coupling hook plate was soldered in too.

then it was on to the alarm pipe fixings .......

and that bis where the controversy begins. they are a fold up affair which are fed through little pre made slots ....... couldn't be easier ..... right.

wrong ..... i folded one for the first time and ...... it snapped in two. no force or undue stress, it is just a very fragile piece. i then proceeded to drop the other one ..... which is still running free somewhere yet. So ..... I decided to just fabricate another two myself from a bit etch .....

and there they are. Still to have holes bored in them and shaped into a curve at the ends. I'll concentrate on that before I solder up the ends to the sides. They may take a little knocking yet so I'll hang fire until they are ready to be part of the overall frame as they will be easier to replace / fettle prior to overall installation.

Now the other end .......

cheers

toto

 

Ok ,

the second end was simple enough as there is only the coupling plate to go on.

and the two ends together .....

the buffer beam has a two way fold at either end of it but again, trying to reduce any potential stress on the kit until absolutely necessary, i'll do them once i have the tumblehomes finally aligned and ready to join the ends to the sides.

thats me for now ...... more later.

toto

 

and on we go to install the window drop lights ....

soldered in from behind the door windows only ..... five on each side.

and from the front ......

repeat five times .....

one side down ... one more to go but before I do I will be soldering in the door ventilator hoods. again, five on each side ..... thats next ...

cheers for now.

toto

 

A question going out to anybody that has built one of these before.

The door ventilator hoods ..... how exactly are they meant to be fitted ? I note that they have a half etched line that I presume you have to bend at an angle. Are they then simply soldered above the etched line on the top of the door vent rebate ?

Not sure.

toto

 

Nothing done today,

Still not happy with these door ventilator hood installation.

A call to Jim tomorrow for some advice.

More tomorrow

Toto

 

Hi Yorkie,

That is what is at the back of my mind. The etch that you solder to the side has a half etched line ..... say 1/3 rd of the way down. I dont thi k Jim would put that there for nothing. It doesn't make sense. I think it is meant to go at an angle to protrude out from the main etch to give the appearance of a slight opening to allow air flow in.

Paul thinks it something to do with solder flowing when you sweat it on but that's not something that I would thi k is necessary.

I'll post some pictures up tomorrow as the sheds locked up for now and you can have a stab at what you think the purpose is for. Failing that ..... I'll ask the man m
Himself. I do not want to solder these in flat as I am convinced that's not correct and it will just gunk the thing up when removing.

I've called a halt meanwhile but thi k it will soon be resolved one way or the other.

Cheers

Toto

 

One other point about this.

The main etch has a slight horizontal protrusion along where the smaller etch fits. It may fall just where the half etched line of the smaller etch is. Jim talks of pushing down with a scalpel blade at this point when you offer the two together. This apparently ( naturally ) encourages the etch to push out. These may not be his exact words ( instructions in the shed ) but this may give the effect of a slightly open vent.

I'll check the instructions via his website.

maybe starting to make sense now.

Cheers

Toto