British Railways Standard 20 Ton Brake Van in O Gauge

Hi Rob,

I bought some brass sheet a while back. It was intended for my coal drop hoppers but I think it will be getting kidnapped and put into the wagon builds under floors, roofs and miscellaneous.

Of course, I put it somewhere safe. ..... Ahem ...... So, I'll need to dig it out first.

Cheers

Toto

 

Rather you than me but I must admit, I do intend filing away any kit instructions etc into a folder for future reference and in case anyone find themselves minus a copy. At my rate, that won't be too big a task.

I am currently awaiting SWMBO to return to let me escape to the shed. I am currently doggie sitting and have just made a big pot of " mixed up Tony " soup. My take on minestrone.

I'll head to the shed, complete these tiny little finicky rivet bar details then start hunting out the sheet brass. That will give my eyes a well earned rest before starting on the foot boards etc.

Cheers

Toto

 

Well,
here is where I have got to so far. I have four angled support brackets to go and that is this side finished ........


still a little cleaning up to do. A bit of a scrape with a blade to clear some of the surplu solder ......


and also a little bit of work to straighten the sole bar itself as it does contort with both the heat and the continuous handling.......


but its getting there slowly. I'm getting a little faster with these smaller bits but as well as soldering, they need trimming and tidying a bit.
back later with hopefully the finished solebar.
cheers
toto.

 

Sole bar one to all intents and purposes is complete all bar a final clean up and a bit straightening but that will be done when number two is done and ready to be soldered onto the main body.


The photo above is not the sharpest and it actually looks worse than it is.


still a bit blurry but it does look passable and will be cleaner still after the second is done ......


and the last one for now ..........
Now ..... on to number two ........
cheers
toto

 

I've stopped for today. I'll continue with the second sole plate tomorrow and hopefully get that finished. Believe it or not, I am actually picking up pace ..... Hard to believe ain't it but it's true. It's all the fiddly bits that grind you down.

Anyway after that I can move on to the foot boards. There is not as much too them thank heavens. The false roofs and internals are on hold until I find my brass sheets. I have found a couple of sheets of copper but not the brass.

If needs be I can buy some in as I would like to do the elements discussed. No worries for now though as they don't hold up the build of the kit as it was originally intended.

It's not the best build by any means but I think it's a good warts an all thread. There will be more ....... Trust me.

Cheers for now

Toto

 

I've ordered up some 100 degree solder and some 145. Some 100 x 300 brass sheet. 0.5mm thick. I am sure I ordered brass sheet up before. I bet I find a load of it later.
Never mind.
Cheers Toto

 

Your time will come Gary. Nobody escapes it.

 

I think you will be soldering kits before you know it and in OO scale.

 

Heading for the shed shortly.

More torment required. I'll post up as I go.

Cheers

Toto

 

Well,
finally got there.
I've started on side two. Now ..... one thing worth pointing out is the fact is that I am using the very same tools as what I have been using from the start ......... except one major change ........ more for Ian tinto's benefit ....... yes ..... I have ran out of brandy, but me being so versatile ........ I've replaced this with whisky ..... so ....... disaster averted. now ..... on with the build and to kick off , cleanliness is next to godliness so I started by cleaning the main sole bar as this had become a bit grubby after lying exposed to thy elements.

shining like a new pin after a quick going over with a fibre glass pen and a wipe over with a damp cloth. Next was to form the bends t6op and bottom.
so ........

firmly gripped in the bending bars and lined up just along the edge of the etch to allow the piece to bend just on the etched line .........

walla ...... the first bend has been made ..... onto the second .........

now ..... we can see where the brown stuff is about to hit the blades .........

who put that there ....... there is a special clampy, jiggy thing that you can get which was made for this task ...... on order.

but with my new found expertise ....... I wont let a little thing like that get in the way ....... where's the hammer ..... only joking ...... pliers actually. Now .... you will see that the end nearest the camera needs a little more of the bend formed .... it has since been done and can always be altered more as required as we go ...... So, thats it so far ....... its time to threaten it with my soldering iron.....
be back later with further progress.
cheers
toto.

 

Progressing nicely. I'm even happy with it ..... There.
started off soldering the little riveted straps on ...... before that though ..... a good clean up of the etch on both sides ........ here is one ....


you can see the menacing strappy doofer things just teasing me ..... C'mon toto ...... I dare you.
well I did ........

not bad either ..... yesterdays session has obviously taught me something .......

my god ..... it wasn't just luck either ..... clean surface .... a little flux .... tin the underside of the part thats to be fitted ...... and just the tiniest amount of solder on a well cleaned tip to tease things along on contact.........

maybe just a small bit of cleaning to go but nothing to yesterday.
and there we have it .......

the finished article ..... well still the triangular supports and two square end brackets to go but the smallest pieces are on and looking good even if I do say it myself....... Talking of yesterdays ......

what a difference.
I'll do the other bits mentioned later tonight as its just about tea time.
one very happy toto

 

Hi Rob,

That's the thing. These parts that I have done to date do not require too much accuracy when placing. You do have to make sure that you have cleared the small slots to the bottom angle of the so,e bar to take the footboard hangers but that it. The brakes on the other hand need to be more precisely in order to get the distance between the shoe and the wheel. So ..... You have the soldering and the accuracy to worry about. That just adds another dimension to what I have been dealing with ( as a beginner ) in the first couple of sessions.

However, for any other novices watching, it is amazing how quickly you can pick these skills up ..... A step at a time. Also ...... Use the correct kit. I have found the use of a smaller tip invaluable in keeping unwanted solder off the etch in general. It still takes a bit of practice though.

I'll master the other challenges one at a time and have no doubt I will see highs and lows in my soldering results as the kit continues but I must admit, I am feeling a lot more confident just being able to prove to myself that a reasonable job is possible from a complete rookie.

Bring it on..... Eh ..... Until my next major challenge arrives ...... The White metal.

Toto