My "Fell Diesel" build....maybe a 'build too far?"

Well, it's been a long slog, but finally got around to completing this build, although it's not been easy. Pickups were a faff, and space only permits the outer drive pairs so fitted, but it runs, though it doesn't like curves as there is not sufficient clearance between the chassis and the bogie wheels, so it sometimes shorts and trips my Lenz unit. I can't see a way around this, cutting the chassis to increase clearance isn't an option as there's very little chassis depth at this point anyway, and as I use Kadee's exclusively on my layout, squeezing a set in has been difficult. In the end, I fitted superglued in NEM pockets and Kadee No 17's (the shortest option) but they still look oversized and clumsy in my opinion. All in all, it's not a model I'd recommend, at least to build it as the later 4-4-4-4 version, though it may be easier as the earlier 4-8-4 as the dual drive gearbox would not then be needed so more space underneath, but coupling choice could well still be an issue. This is the underside, and as can be seen, there's not much space to fit pickups.

 

The completed loco. It's been one hell of a lot of work to build the version I chose, not least due to lack of information in the instructions for this later version, much a case of "Suck-it-and-see" as I've gone along. I reckon this loco will spend it's time on my layout parked up (like the real one did eventually!), it's an expensive bit of scenery, but as I often go for the 'Oddballs and Prototype' loco's, it's never likely to appear in RTR! Oh well, I guess you can't have everything.



On to the next kit I suppose! This is almost an 'Antique' I reckon, it's a 'Keyser' "Lord Nelson" kit complete with wheels, gearbox(!) and motor, 4 shrink wrapped cards, so all complete, though I've heard that Keyser wheels weren't up to much and may need replacing, and I'm unlikely to build it using the supplied open frame motor as I don't like cabs full of motor! Anyway, time for a change, building a 'Kettle'.

Keith.

 

Hi Pete.
I've been giving it some though (well, several thoughts actually!), including smaller bogie wheels, but that would make it look out of proportion, Plastic wheels (YUK!) but no to that, and finally I'm considering taking my Dremel clone to it with a grinding wheel and attempting to rework the chassis shape to give a bit more clearance for the bogie wheels. Only snag is that the clearance between wheels and chassis at that point is tight (hence the shorting on occasion) and there's only about 3mm of chassis depth at the wheels anyway, so it's a risk.
Keith.

 

Pretty much my thoughts too Paul.

Keith.

 

Or maybe "Esteemed Modellers" to quote Big Jim!

Keith.