Low Mac wagon kit

Hi,
here 's a quick photo of the Low Mac wagon as provided by Connoisseur Models. The kits look pretty straight forward to build and are part of their " skill builder " range of kits. Again like their starter Loco kits, many of the constituent parts are relatively easy to locate with the aid of pre made slots and holes etc.


The wheels are purchased from slaters and Connoisseur provide the relevant Slaters part number on their website along with the general details for the wagon itself. Mines have not arrived as yet, a bit disappointing. Slaters seem a bit slow.
Instructions are downloadable from their website whether you buy or not. I think its a great idea as it lets you have a good look at the kit to decide if its suitable for your modeling skills or not.
The proprietor Jim McGowan is a very pleasant and helpful chap.
I'll pop a few pictures of the build onto the forum under this thread when the time comes.
Any questions etc ....... just ask.
Cheers
Toto

 

Wheels arrived for the Low Macs today in with another consignment for my loco.


two sets delivered.
cheers for now.
toto

 

Well,

It's looking like these Lowmacs could be on the cards for this weekend coming. ...... At least one of them. Still need some 70 degree solder for the white metal cast parts but apart from that ...... It could be a goer.

My folding bars have already arrived as well so they should help enormously. ...... I think.

I'm hoping to attack at least one and have it ready for painting etc. I have my Parkside Dundas fruit van waiting in the printshop queue so I reckon if I get these done and maybe another plastic kit, the paint shop could be quite busy.

I'll post up the progress as it happens.

Cheers

Toto

 

Ok one year on ....... up goes another alarm call for the start of this build. Let's see if it happens. This weekend ...... If not before.

I've cleared the workspace and renewed all the tips on my soldering irons. I now have some 60/40 solder, flux so good to go.

It'll either work out reasonably or be a complete disaster. I've been reading the destructions over and over again. There is a lot of tips and suggestions so it's wise to have them by your side as you go.

There are one or two areas, like fitting the buffer stops that could be done easier if done earlier on in the build but Jim doesn't mention it. Access would certainly be easier. The question is, do I stick with the instructions or use my initiative and take the " easier " route ? It could be the road to ruin.

There is not too much in the way of white metal castings in this model which is good as I know you have to take a different approach to that. It's really just the axle boxes etc. I have however picked up a few tips on the method to use when it comes to that. I'll try and document it when I come to do it.

So, there we go. It looks like this victim is about to finally have its day.

Cheers for now

Toto.

 

I remember Pete saying that if I could get decent shots up of the bits, there maybe some suggestion come along.

The instruction on the build are available on Jims site for free download if anyone wants to follow the build.

It's under the wagon section under lowmac starter kit. Scroll to the bottom of the page and you will see a PDF downloadable set of instructions.

Cheers

Toto

 

Well,
made a start on the kit. Looked out a few tools that I thought I might need first of all. ........ Now I suggested to Paul that I may need a hammer. He said I wouldn't.........
Oh yes I do as there is a load of half etched rivots along the main wagon body which needed punched out.


Job done using a pin hammer and a punch. Very light taps is all it needs to get the detail to poke through.
Its recommended to does this whilst the parts are still on the sprue rather than when they are separated or worst still, bent to shape.
Tomorrow night will see the main body being bent to shape using my bending bars and may even see the first of the soldering commencing. I am looking forward to this now. No reason why this shouldn't run from start to finish.
If I get much further tonight, I'll post up ..... if not ...... tomorrow it is.
cheers for now.
toto

 

Looked out the rest of tyhe kit that I will be using in my next session.
we start of course ....... with the instructions ...... where else.


Now ...... to solder, I'll need some weapons ...... and here they are, a selection in fact.


We have a 25 watt for finer stuff and maybe white metal, a 40 watt which will probably be my main stay and an 80 watt in case it I need that bit more extra muscle. I also have a solder station which I doubt I'll be using as that would be another learning curve to add to the mix and I think I am taking on enough for now.
next up ..........

bending bars ..... two sets, one smallish ( 7 inches ) and the other larger ( 11 inches ).
Then of course .........
a mixture of miscellaneous stuff. Files, pin drill, reamer, calipers, scalpel pegs and clips, tweezers and I am awaiting a fibre glass pen being delivered if it come in time. If not, files and emery paper.
I am also awaiting some rosin flux which if it arrives in time, I shall use rather than the more aggressive Carr's red or green which I also have. If not then the Carrs will do but neutralising washes will be required more in order to minimise the potential oxidisation that the Carr's will bring.


I will probably use one or two other tools as the build progresses and as I realise what I'm actually doing. That'll be a first.
anyway,
there we are, all looked out and ready to go. Now I will go and read the first couple of stages of the destructions AGAIN.

cheers for now
Toto

 

Tonight's the night ...... Steady hand required and ....... Hold the nerve.

Going to pop into maplins on the way home for a fibre glass pen as its not looking like the ones I ordered are going to be here in time. They are better than emery paper as they get right into the folds and corners etc. May even buy a soldering mat.

Wish me luck.

 

Hi Pete,

Thanks for the tips X and words of advice. I'll try and keep on top of the fibre glass brush residues. A certain family member will be banned from the shed as usual. I'll sweep any debri straight into my big bucket.

I'll post up my progress as I go. It will be in photograph format as usual but as I see it being a slow steady build, it should be well enough documented.

Cheers

Toto

 

Well brought the kits into the house tonight as SWMBO is ut with some friends from her work.

The main floor area is cut free from the sprue and the necessary bends have been made to form the correct floor profile. The buffer beams at both ends have also been bent to their correct profile.

The two curb rails ( one either side ) have been cut from their sprue and the 90 degree bend along the bottom section has been formed. Thus was quite hard as the section being dent is only about 2mm in depth along a 5 inch length. You can't get either your fingers or a long level plane along it with which to get the required purchase to start the bend.

However, I have a special tool that done the job perfectly with a little care taken. It is spot on.

Now, I am st the stage where the curb rails need to be soldered in place. That will need to wait until I've been de lulu'd. I'm not bringing a hot iron, flux etc into the house whilst she is prancing around.

I have photo's of the above and I will post them up later tonight. I need to get the laptop in from the shed as I'm on my IPad at the moment.

I am quite happy with the progress at the moment. No mishaps as yet.

I'll post again as soon as I get more to show.

Cheers

Toto

 

As promised,
I made a dash for the shed in the rain and picked up the laptop.
First up, I cut the floor from the sprue.


got to work with the bending bars in order to form the floor profile .....


Job done ........


then I started with what Jim calls the curb bars ......


apologies for the blurred shot but you should just about to be able to see the 90 degree bend that has to be formed on the bottom of the curb bar.


a slightly better shot of the same .....


and above, a shot of the curb bar clamped in the folding bars with the bottom end protruding by about 2 mm ready for the 90 degree bend to be formed ( with a pin hammer )


all three parts formed, bent with rivet detail punched out.


This is where I start tomorrow. the above is a rather dark shot of the curb bar being positioned in place along the guide lines etched on the under side of the floor piece.
Its very awkward trying to hold it in place but there are two small etches in the buffer beam face which just hold the ends of the curb bar and no more. The secret will be to hold in place at one end and tack solder in place then repeat at the other. If I'm happy with the general alignment once tacked, continue along its length and solder in place.
lots of flux, little bits of solder laid along the join, then apply heat and hopefully watch the solder form a nice thin, clean long fillet of solder as I work my way along the piece with the heat.
That is the plan and confidence is high ......... bring it on. I'll update tomorrow when I get started.
cheers for now.
toto

 

Its all in hand ....... worry not ....... I feel a blinder coming on.
cheers toto

 

No excitement allowed until I make my first successfully neat solder join. You'll hear me in Dundee.

 

The day of reckoning has arrived, one trip to the post office to pick up a parcel, followed by a visit to the Vet for lulu's final checkup ( hopefully ) then it's the shed and up to my ears in solder and flux and burnt fingers.

I'll post up regular updates of my soldering progress.

Back soon

Toto

 

Rosin core flux arrived this morning.

 

Well,
progress on the soldering front. Not the prettiest but it is going together ......... sort of. Anyway ...... a catch up. First of all the rosin flux appeared as did my fibre glass pens.


and the pens.


then I set about doing what I had been putting off for ages ......... soldering.


a quick burnish of the parts to be soldered .......


apply some rosin flux.......
and away we go.


first side on. I need a soldering wick ..... desolderer thingy to get some of my very rough excess solder of the front.


side two ......... a lot neater without the overflow this time.
showing the mess to the outside of the first soldered joint. It should clean up. There is also a valance that will actually hide it but i'd rather get as much off as possible.

I'll get back to it now. Hopefully the soldering will improve the further the kit progresses.
I'll come back with more later.
cheers
toto