I've been looking over the posts about this little shunter with interest as putting together a Judith Edge kit is a long term aspiration of mine. Can I ask a dumb question? What sort of equipment do you need? What kind of iron, iron tips? solder? flux? etc etc. Give me some ideas so I can start to accumulate the right gear!

Progress looks lovely to date

Hi James,

Not a dumb question at all.

I use an Antex XS25 soldering iron with the tip that it came with, which is only used for brass work. (I have a spare tip for electrical solder, best not to mix the different solder types up). Solder is Carrs 145 'Detailing Solder' and flux is Carrs Green Label. I also use a couple of Hold + Folds, a 2" Bug and a 5.5". The 2" one is the most used. I work on a flat piece of MDF with a strip of wod glued onto one edge to provide a right angle, usefull for holding buffer beams and cab sides/end square whilst tacking together (seen in my photos). Parts are cut off the fret with a snap-off blade type knife, works for me (mostly...) but some use tin snips or a small chisel. For rivetting I use a gravity type tool, seen in the Hunslet bonnet photo.

Thats what works for me, but I'm sure that if you asked another ten people you'd get ten different answers!

I should also point out that I'm still very new to etched kits, this being my 4th attempt.

Paul.

Nearly forgot, self gripping tweezers are a must for holding small parts together for laminating (i.e. the footsteps and coupling rods).

Paul.

Hi Paul,

I've just caught up with this one - nice progress and looking nice and clean.

A small bit of advice if you will accept it on the fuel cap and ant other tiny little bits that are put on early (sometimes too early) in the build. Use a higher melt solder. I use a range of solders 138/145/179/212/ and an old one that must be well above 250 - if you plan their use it can be much easier to avoid the detailing bits sliding off when you heat something nearby.

Though in this case it sounds like the join was not a good one in the first place if it was broken by the action of a toothbrush in cleaning.

Good to see another JE kit going together.

Thanks Kenton, I've never thought of using different solders, makes a lot of sense. Although on my A1 Models 48DS I soldered the footsteps on with 70 degree whitemetal solder before finding out that you shoudn't, the're still attached though!

Thanks Paul - that's really useful information

I think I'll splash out on one of the 230hp Sentinels and give it a go!

Go for it James! The Steelman is, I think, a very well designed kit which makes me want to build more JE stuff.