GWR Gas Cordon part 2
Entry posted by wenlock
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Now the Christmas festivities are long gone and life is settling back down into some kind of normality, I've managed to find some time to do a bit more work on the Cordon. With the cylinders, supports and decking completed the next step was to make a start on the chassis and underframe. The underframe and W irons are formed from one piece of brass sheet that has half etched lines to assist folding accurately
Underframe and W irons
The component was folded up and solder was used to strengthen the joints by running a miniflame along each fold.
Formed underframe
The decking boards and cylinder supports were then soldered on top of the underframe, which stiffens the chassis considerably.
Decking boards and supports in situ
The brake shoes and hangers were built up from a number of layers of small brass components, fiddly to assemble, but surprisingly strong once finished.
The compensation units were then folded up and reinforced with a fillet of solder in the 90 degree folds. Slater's wheels and axles were then fitted onto the compensation units.
Brakes and wheels
These components along with the leaf springs were then fitted to the chassis.
Brake hangers, wheels and springs fitted
Up until now, apart from my faux pas with the cylinders, the assembly of the kit had proceeded fairly smoothly. Unfortunately the components for the brake rigging had been over etched and rather than having a nice hole at the end of each component, they just had a partial circle. Normally I would just thread brass wire through the holes in the components to locate them together prior to soldering, the over etching made this impossible.
Over etched components
Despite the lack of locating holes, with the use of clamps, tweezers and a few well chosen expetives I eventually managed to get all the brake components attached to each other.
Brake components in situ
Wagon with completed brake gear
There are lots of detail parts and some pipe work that I still need to add to the wagon, but the bulk of the construction has been completed.
I can't resist finishing this post with a picture of the wagon with the gas cylinders in situ:-)
Hopefully the next post should see the wagon finished and ready for painting. If I've made any cock ups with the brake rigging, please let me know!
Best wishes
Dave
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