WEll, the baseboards are now complete (including removing about 25mm off each end). I've taken the opportunity to make the 'end boards' high enough to take the scenic work. However, most of the last three days have been spent 'EM'-ing a Bachmann '08', using the 'Gibson' conversion kit and the instructions form the EMGS sheets. *Not* as straightforward as it seems.

The 'EM' instruction sheet is written for an earlier conversion lit (based - I think - round 'Ultrtascale' wheels.) Re-wheeling is quite straightforward - press-fit the wheels on the plain axles to the 'back-to-back, not forgetting to fit the Bachmann gearwheel on the driven axle and spacing wahsers on all! I used two washers on the driven axle, positioning them inside adjacent to the gearwheel. i poitioned one washer each side of the centre (sprung) axle and two each side on the front axle. Within half an hour the loco was progressing nicely up and down the test track. Sans coupling rods...

Here was where the problems started. The use of Gibson crankpins is barely discussed in the instructions, and the original extension cranks do not fit the 3mm axles provided. However. the kit included a Gibson variant. First job - remove the original extension/crankpin unit. Next problem - the 'Gibson' crankpin bushes are too small in diameter for the holes in the conn rods... Answer - bush them out with the brass bushes provided - except they were too *big* in diameter! Ream out the conn rods to match, and I soldered the bushes in position (I think they're designed for 'Gibson' conn rods, as they are slightly thinner than the Bachmann conn rods. Screw the crankpin from the back of the crank extension (not forgetting to countersink the back first)then assemble the extenssion/crankpin/crankpin bush/conn rod/securing nut (in that order.

The crank extensions are plastic and push-fit over the axle ends. I fitted the front and centre units first, working on the principle it's easier to quarter an 0-4-0 then add the other two! Which I did next. Quatering initially wasn't an issue - the loco ran well first time out. The the driven axle crank slipped...

The solution I used was to 'pin' the two cranks by drilling a '76' hole through both, then epoxy-ing a small length of wire as a cotter pin. I also took the opportunity to wipe the crankpin ends with epoxy to retain the nuts. An impatient six hours later and the loco was off up the test track at it's renowned slow speed!

Unlikely to get much done over the next 5 days due to work - so the next update will probably be in a weeks time. Any spare time will be spent point-making. Four left to build!