Dad-1's Blog

Not really a comment, but an extension of the Dogfish build.

I didn't get much done last evening, just adding the buffers and then fixing the hopper and chute in place.

The hopper didn't seem to fit too well and I spent some time with many dry fit tests after trimming some

of the hopper reinforcing ribs. Even then with the supporting framework in line with the chassis it wasn't

sitting centrally in the chassis. It's also essential that no stress is brought into the build at this juncture as

it would then distort your square running chassis !!

Partially my fault I found that the chute was slightly distorted, again this has to be attached without adding

any twist pressures to the chassis. After the time spend getting what I wanted I stopped for the evening.

 

Today I rolled the wire provided to remove a bend where it was attached to the packaging. Trusting (partially)

measurements for control wheel shafts I cut the three lengths, adding between 0.5 & 1.0 mm as you can always

trim a little off, but not stick any more on !! While working the wire I decided to cut and bend the safety rails as

required for crew safety. I noticed that footplate the holes were not in the same place as my Catfish builds, yet

used the same chassis ? In my opinion the access gap using the Dogfish mounting was far too narrow. I decided

to drill replacements using my Catfish model as a guide.

 

 

 

Now bent as required to match. Strange as the Catfish chassis is the same ? yet certainly had the mounting hole the other side

of a mounting plate moulded on the original chassis. Why do I think it should be the same chassis ? There are unequal end supports

required for the Dogfish, with the catfish soulbars you get the same with instructions to cut the taller end down to match the other end.

 

I now have to undertake a drag of a fix. The brake alignment on the kits is suitable for P4. If you fix your brake hangers to the moulded

on spigots they will be waving in the wind between the wheel and W irons. I trimmed the spigots off before starting the build and now

will add an extension to each brake hanger to move the brakes to be in line with the tyres

 

An early example before a little tidy up from when I was making the 'Shark' brake van. On that I didn't cut the spigots off completely

I'm trying a slightly different approach this time.

 

 

Not a long way to go, but I have some baking to do - nice fresh cake, what's not to like about that !!!!

 

Geoff T.

 

Nicely done. These are not easy kits to complete to a good standard. My first one is basically a tricycle!! 

Hi westernviscount,

 

Cambrian kits can be difficult, nearly every one throws up quirky requirement. All except the Sleeper Wagon which

was easy.

Anyway the Dogfish is now all together, less couplings as I've run out of my Bachmann standard. I'll probably pinch

the NEM pockets and couplings off another wagon, pending Bachmann ever returning them to the market place !!

 

 

 

The chassis is  still flat, no diagonal rock so should be a reliable runner particularly as it's fitted with Hornby

wheel sets and their deeper flanges. At 18.5 grams it's a bit on the light side, but being an engineers wagon

it wouldn't be running in a long freight

 

Photographed alongside one of my Catfish ballast wagons I used as a reference due to the basic chassis being the same.

 

Geoff T.