British Railways Standard 20 Ton Brake Van in O Gauge

A good idea and simple as well. Well worth the effort.

Cheers

Toto

 

Now ..... all the ironmongery is on the second sole bar .... Can't say I'm sorry about that.
here is a few pictures as usual.......


not looking to bad at all .......


well scrubbed and cleaned ........


the long shot ........... and one more showing the end detail ......


I'll check it over again tomorrow as my eyes are getting tired now but hit my target for the day and quite pleased with the outcome...
cheers
toto

 

I seemed to have got over part of the " block " now and not quite so wary of it. It's a start.

Only a couple of hours tomorrow as I have a family get together later on in the afternoon.

Cheers

Toto

 

Hi Gary,

I'm pleased with the improvement. Gives you a little boost to get it completed.

There are a good few kits on the go at the moment so always someone coming up with something interesting and highlighting techniques and issue solving along the way.

Toto

 

Hi Pete ..... Happy new year.

Once you start to get the hang of it, it opens your horizons a bit. Some of Jims kits start to become more appetising. I think his kits, whilst be very good, are ideal for me as they do fit well and there are a lot of small etch guidelines etc to take the unknown out of the build as far as where things are meant to go . That lets the builder consentrate on the build itself.

I'm very happy with it so far.

The new soldering iron ( Duratool ) has been the biggest change especially with the small tip. Easier to see the parts and observe the flux's behaviour. First class.

Cheers

Toto

 

you crack me up ....... ahhhhhh .... lessons ...... You are funny.
The next bit is fixing the sole bars to the underside of the main body. Not a risky business as Jim has very cleverly provided tabs to aid in lining this up. Also the construction of the buffer beam assemblies. Some nice big pieces to work with which gives a welcome break from the smaller bits for the moment.
Just back from the Dragon in laws and a nice meal but to late to hit the shed tonight. I'll catch up tomorrow night for a coup,e of hours after read and walking the mutt.
Looking forward to it.
Cheers
Toto

 

Well,
that was a marathon ....... what I thought would be one of the easier bits but never mind its done now ..... One sole bar soldered on ......


needs a bit tidying up ......


The kit is taking a bit punishment. I think you really need to try and improve the soldering in order to reduce the handling ......


Some of the solder needs sanded back on the underside or it will throw the axle guards out when installed.
Anyway, thats all I got done tonight ....... and that took about 2 hours ...... the other side tomorrow night.
cheers for now
Toto

 

It takes quite a bit of time. Even a couple of hours can yield little as I am constantly cleaning up as I go.

I don't think it will be the best finish but at least this one will actually get finished. Very much a practice piece but I like to think I have learned a bit along the way.

Toto

 

Thanks chaps,

I should be back on the case tomorrow evening. Another marathon.

 

Hi Chris,

Thanks. I have learned a lot fom this. One major thing, and it's not a critisism of Jims instructions, is that I would most definately change the order of construction.

I would start with the sole plates and then once completed, solder them to the floor etch. I'd add all the little etches to the sides, front and rear prior to assembling the main body as I think that the main body has suffered a little fatigue due to over handling during construction.

It's a great kit and I have two others to do. I guarantee that the second will be a vast improvement due to, one , the experience of having built the first, two, the change in construction order and lastly the use of the new soldering iron half way through the build which has a far more accurate tip in terms of being able to place solder exactly where you want it.

So, this model may not quite take pride of place but I think it will run and has served more of a purpose In terms of learning curve than anything else. I am happy.

Cheers

Toto