Flyash Presflo - MKD BR 21.5T brass etched kit build.

Hopper body cleaned up and ready to fit to chassis.

starting to look like a Presflo now

Kim

 

But before soldering the two units together there’s a white metal vacuum pipe to be cut positioned and soldered to the chassis frame.

then refit body to check it all fits together.

Next job is to fold up the side strap supports and solder then to the remaining vertical ribs.

Over this rib and brackets there’s is a strap that’s needs to be preformed to curve in at the top and bottom

tinned both the rib and the strap, then run the soldering iron up the strap to make the join.

Trim the ends of the strapping and a quick clean up.

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chassis then soldered to the body at the tab points, add two secure load fittings plus the makers data plates each side and then the final clean up for today’s session.

Kim

 

Cheers Rob.
I have a 13T Hybar open, 12T vanwide and a conflation A wagon still to build in their range, so I hope they’re ok.
What was ‘ is the issue with the pipe wagon?

Kim

 

First job today, “Walkways” and ladder.

Walkway is made up from 5 very fine detailed etches.

there’s a tab at each join on the underside, so again both pieces tinned and then a straight forward sweating of the join together.

Ladders. Instruction give you a simple way to form them up using a block of wood as a jig and spacer. I’ve gone a slightly different way as I have some 6mm spacers in metal, so cutting the rings are simply cut just above the metal gauge and then the ladder assembled and soldered up.

Next fun job.....walkway supports, three different types, four corner ones need bending up, these are handed so a dry run first. Then there’s 18 inner small supports and 14 outer large supports all with angles to follow the roof line.

small, fiddly items to solder up to a very large heat sink of a roof, so not the easiest of things to do without making a mess.

cleaned up improves the look a little. I’ve then added the 2 large fillers and the top pipe casting down the side.

walkway not fixed yet but it’s starting to look like a Flyash wagon.

Kim

 

Thanks Toto.
Looking on the net it seems M&M models are no more, but First Class kits seems to have the model in their range so I’m assuming they bought the kits. The kit is now £80 which is a lot more than I paid a few years back for this one, but looking at the new version it looks like you get brass buffers and better couplings (this kit has white metal ones which I don’t like) plus wheels so not a bad buy.
Kim

 

yes I would agree re the couplings, don’t like them at all, so I will be replacing them.
Kim

 

Ladder was the next item to fit

then the next job was to glue the white metal wheel insert castings into the face of one wheel face on each set of wheels. These will be on the discharge side of the model.

foot steps at the ladder end fitted, axle box’s fitted and the clasp posts and brakes fitted on the discharge side of the wagon.

I’ve also tried to give some degree of movement in one set of wheels by using a set of Bill Bedfords open axle guards with a wire suspension

https://eileensemporium.com/index.p...xleguard-7mm&Itemid=189&category_pathway=1289

I’ve used these before on long wheel based wagons and they do help with running on in even trackwork.
Lots of fettling to get them to fit in behind the castings but I got there in the end.

you can just make out one end of the bracket with the piano wire.

So coffee break, then onto the brakes, hand brake lever and finish off the pipework........

Kim

 

That’s me done for tonight ! Final clean up tomorrow ready for some etching primer. As I said above I will need to source some replacement couplings as the white metal coupling hooks and over scale copper links are horrid. Buffers have been glued in, again if I can find a brass replacement then I will change them.
I also need to order up some decals if I can find out who does them.

Kim

 

Realised late last night, whilst looking at reference pictures that I had completely forgotten to add the hand rails to the ladder
Out with some .7 brass first thing today to rectify the error. Tricky bend, but with a bit of fettling it went in as close to prototype as I can get them along with the rail supports.

I also found a few details not included in this kit (no surprise there, as all kits are a compromise)

Bottom pipe cap had no handles or a retaining chain for when it is removed, so out with some very fine brass rod and some very fine chain.

The roof pipe which runs down the hopper has 2 prominent brackets, so these were made from scrap brass and soldered in. Plus there’s a rectangle doofer !??? to the right of the gauge , so a small piece of styrene sorted that out

and again a small piece added on the ladder end above the axles

And finally after another clean, a blow over with etching primer.

primer has shown up a couple of areas that need attention, but I’m very pleased with my efforts over the last 7 days working on this unusual wagon.

Kim

 

Thanks Toto,
The issues are a couple of corner seams that were soldered up ok originally but I’m guessing as the ribbing got soldered on, “cracked” slightly as heat was applied to the model in that area, which leaves a line, nothing to difficult to sort out, just a smear of filler at this stage as the joint is strong, so just cosmetic.
I know I’m not the cleanest of workers with soldering, I look at Rob’s builds and others on the net, in awe, but you just keep trying to improve with every build.
I’m glad I moved this one to the top of the pile as I feel I’m ready to attack the DJH 8F kit that I promised myself I would build in 2019.

The 3 4F builds the three of you are doing, are all looking excellent and I’m sure you’ll all have great models in a few weeks time (no pressure)

Kim

 

Thanks Paul, it’s been a nice challenge to build, lots of tricky soldering to do.
Not sure I’d like to build a rake of them.....fingers crossed, Ellis might just do a follow up

Kim

 

Cheers Rob.