Having made the prototype light fitted ballaster, the time has come to fit lights to the other 4 wagons in the rake.

For me the first step was to sort out the wheel sets to allow electrical connectivity (the pick-ups), for these I used the DCC concepts spring

The wheel set on the left is as it comes, and the one on the right is with the insulating coating removed.

I removed it using 600 emery cloth.

The above photo shows the insulating bush, this is between both wheels and the axle.

This shows the wheel removed from the axle to allow the spring to fit.

As above and below to remove the wheel I used two sets of pliers, levering one against the other to carefully remove the wheel, but allowing the snipe nose pliers to slide up the axle avoiding any scratches or damage to the axle or wheel and ensuring the wheel is removed square.

Above, one done 19 to go.

Above all done, still have to complete the electrical pick-up as there is still no connection from the wheel to the axle.

Also there is always one, one of the plastic bushes is loose on the axle, a dab of clear nail polish and a back-to-back gauge check is all that's required then allowed to set. I used a grip to hold the spring away from the glue, as if the spring was to be glued to the axle it wouldn't be free to rotate.

Remember to roll the wheel sets to ensure the flanges are square, if they are not I would replace with new ones as a wobble could cause de-railment.

In part two i'll solder an electrical connection between the axle and the wheel.

Roy