Low Mac wagon kit

Hi Chris,
just and no more . I used a little emery board on the rough solder and its much neater now.
cheers
toto

 

First set of bushes soldered and wheels centred and fitted.


and a close up ...


I need to clean off the bearing a bit but they appear ok.
back later with more.
cheers for now
toto

 

Hi Pete,
I am trying to clean as I go. If there is a lot of solder, I reheat and take the most of it off with the iron before going over with emery cloth / fibre glass pen. Still a bit to come off but when I stop for tonight, I'll try and take it back as far as I can.
Meanwhile, axle number two goes on.......


A little easier this time although a wee bit tricky to try and hold the axles centre whilst you solder. I think I have achieved it though.


and another ......


and the last one for the moment .......


It does sit nice and square on the track and runs very smoothly. It goes over points and an expansion gap in the rail without faltering.
Quite pleased with it so far for my first attempt. It is a slow build but I'd rather do that and give it half a chance.
I am now moving on to another tricky part. The curb rails need to go on next. Long this parts which are difficult to get exactly in place but I think the plan of action is to tack at each end as I did the first set of chassis sides.
First though ..... its a coffee and then give the soldering iron a good overhaul.
cheers for now ....... back later
toto

 

Thanks Pete,
Its been a long time coming. I have a few kits both plastic and brass and it was about time that I done something. I'm hoping this will spur me on with the confidence to jump into some of the other builds I have to do. The coal drop and associated buildings needs a major push. I think that might be next again with the odd break for another wagon or my wee Nelly shunter.
Meanwhile ...... its time to crack on ...... coffee has been made.
cheers for now.
toto

 

Well,
here is the next update. I have soldered on the outer curb rail. I started off by giving them a wee scrub with the fibre pen paying attention to the edge receiving the solder. Then I applied some flux along its length and tinned it all the way along.
I also applied flux to the edge of the wagon floor which would receive the curb rail. I laid the curb rail on the work bench and offered the wagon up to it. Found the finished position and applied some heat and a little extra solder to get things moving. ........ and move they did.

hazzarrrrrr .......... it actually took. Both sides now done.

and another.

I tidied up the solder a bit to clean up the unwanted stuff. There is becoming less and less of that now although I wont speak too soon.

and the last one for now.......

Now ...... a wee break and then its on with the supporting brackets of which there is four along each side. Its a two piece build for each one. One piece requires a right angle bend but its quite easy. the second piece is a small footery bit which may be a little awkward to get the iron onto but it shall be done.
I'll be back with more later.
cheers
toto

 

Hi Chris ...... Maybe more good luck than good judgement. it's been an enjoyable build so far. It's been a bit intense just trying to focus on getting it right. It ain't perfect but I think it passes as reasonable. I'm happy with that for my first attempt.

I have another one so it will be interesting to see if I improve on this attempt when I get around to doing the second one.

I have a few coaches as well. One is a full brake which I intend turning into a maintenance vehicle ....... That could be the next victim.

Cheers for now ..... Just had my dinner and it's time to hit the shed again shortly.

Cheers

Toto

 

OK,
The next exercise was the strengthening plates for the loading decks, not the side supports as I thought it was going to be .... they are next.
anyway ...... here we go.


The plates were first bent to shape, then cleaned with the fibre glass pencil before fluxing and tinning.


again, a bit cleaning up to do but I'll do that before I start tomorrows shift.


and another ......


and one last shot for now ......


and there we have it ....... now ........ the side strengtheners are to be bent and soldered into place. Four down each side.
cheers for now
toto

 

Well,
this is the last for today. My eyes are beyond it now and the next parts are really small fiddly parts. So ...... here we are with the floor supports going in.
here they are on the sprue first ........


there are eight in total, four for each side.


the second support in from the left hand side is not all the way home so I'll need to sort that first thing tomorrow.


The other side.........


and above, the last shot for today.
Most of the parts left are small apart from the brake handle and keeper. There are the axle boxes and buffers which are white metal and the towing hooks which are brass. Some chain was supplied with the kit as well.
The lions share is done so I'm pleased with the way its going even if it is a bit rough.
cheers for now
toto

 

Too many. In brass ..... Probably another 10 or so wagons and coaches. In plastic ....... Maybe a dozen, could be more....... Then there is the loco's. maybe half a dozen or there about. So, could be busy for a while.

Not any time soon though. My scenics await. I'll probably do another kit when I get scunnered with the scenics. break the manotony.

I could always pass a couple up. These beggars with the frustratingly difficult brake arrangements of course.

There again ..... Viccie Road beckons. cheers fr now ........ Toto

 

The shed beckons.

I'll be back there shortly and hopefully today should see the lowmac finished.

A couple of points. First, I will be soldering some very small rivet plate pieces up against the angled floor supports. They are small pieces and I am hoping to be able to use my 25 watt soldering iron for these. The reason being is it delivers less heat than tha 40 watt iron and it may prevent melting the solder from the floor supports. ..........,, comments. ?.....

Second, white metal parts. I'm at odds as whether to attempt to solder these or use superglue. Again ..... It's a temperature thing. I have a solder station which can be adjusted to a lower temperature but a bit unsure about blundering in with that.

Another possibility for the small brass rivet plates is the use of 70 degree solder.

Thought comments.

 

Ok,
I'm in the shed after giving the Lowmac a good clean in Asda'a finest cream cleaner. Glad I did as I can now see the area's that I want to do remedial work on before going any further.
I have a slack floor support which requires a little more solder and a rough looking solder join which is on the " show side ".


I am not too worried about the soldering underneath. it wont be seen and it is one of the area's to improve on when I come to doing the second build.


The sides are not bad with any excess solder now having been either removed altogether or sufficiently sanded down to a point where it blends in with the surface and which will be hidden either by the axle boxes or a coat of paint.


You can see to the top left of the wagon edge where the solder is still rough. I will take some of this away and sand down the transition between the remaining film of solder and the brass. The solder that you can see elsewhere isn't really as bad as it looks when seen in the flesh. It is just a slight smear.
I'll go do this now before proceeding with the remainder of the build.
cheers for now
Toto

 

Hi Ron,
once you get a little confidence in what you are doing, it isn't so bad. Normally I'd be in a hurry to see the finished item but I'm taking my time and going back over any little rough bits. i like the kit. Good choice as a first build. Possibly why Jim McGeown calls them " Skill builder kits ".
cheers
toto.

 

Ok,
The build has slowed right down now ( as if it wasn't slow before ) I am having issues with some of the smaller oieces and keep having to walk away every now and then. I have started on the load securing points which are going ok but a little awkward for someone as ham fisted as me.


You can just see three of the little blighters along the top edge to the left as you look at it. They will go no worries but I'm just taking my time with them. I have also cleaned the whole model up a bit to prevent the accumulation of solder which would be a lot harder to get off at the end of the build. get it whilst its still soft ......... thats what I say.


shinning like a gold bar.
I'll get the rest of the loading points done and then its a couple of little manufacturers plates and the coupling.
The white metal is last. Axle boxes and buffers. I'll post up any further progress as it happens.
cheers for now
toto