commsbloke

Would the Small Englands pull a train backwards or did they have to be turned?

A little better?

Mine was hanging loose but the instructions show it attaches to a bracket that hangs down from the buffer beam between the coupling hook and the buffer. I think that this bracket is one of the cast parts.

Sorry, one last question, I see on the Howes site that they sell aerosol nozzles separately. Is this because the rattle cans don't come with them included?

That's intersting I didn't know that Railmatch did weathering colours in spray cans. That will save on an airbrush and compressor for now.

That looks very nice. I see that I am going to need an airbrush.

Thanks Mark I have no requirement to couple/uncouple on the points just push/pull wagons through them. Nick

Do they work through Peco setrack points?

At last I believe that I have a useful tip. they are much easier to assemble on the sprue. (That one on the top right may need some fettling)

These tie down rings and lugs are a little fiddly to assemble. Just about doable with two pairs of reading glasses and my finest tweezers. I'm glad this is 7mm. Only 11 more to do.

A fine day for rattle-can priming in the garden. Halfords grey primer for the underside and Tamiya oxide red fine surface primer for the body parts. Masking tape was used where the body meets the chassis. Body ends attached Body sides attached Now as my old dad would say "We're all there bar the shouting"

I am afraid that I don't have a layout yet, I am just building the stock at the moment. Also I have not made any couplings up yet but I will soon as the chemical blackener has arrived.

I had some delivered a couple of weeks ago.

I'm not quite on to the top part yet John. Today solebar brackets, brake handle guide, brake handle and linkages. I am not sure it was worth the effort to make this joint workable, Especially the half hour spent rescuing this tiny washer from the carpet monster. Other side to to tomorrow.

Pull rod ends shortened on one-side Fitted and soldered to the levers.

That is a very nice of you Julian to describe Rookie Workbench as a guide. Its lately more documentation of all the wrong moves that I have made so others don't do the same.

I believe that Dapol have one on the way.

Moving along nicely Vacuum feed fitted Brake linkages soldered up, pins clipped, and soldering tidied up Wrong way round W iron removed and refitted. Vacuum side W irons fitted Wheels and bearings fitted, Springs and axle boxes fitted Brake shoes fitted I know it is usual to fit the brake pull-rods before this time but I will shorten the locating pins and fit them next. Oh forgot to mention that the holes were drilled in the W irons. Thanks Mike Great reference photo here https://flic.kr/p/REjzDV

Did anyone spot one of the W irons was on the wrong way round? I don't know how I did that all the W irons on the Vanwide look good This is definitely a learning experience.

I am not sure that I would do it again, it was probably not worth the effort. Now it may be me, and judging by my recent posts most likely is me, but I found that the long brake rod and lever fret did not perfectly match the positions of the brackets. I would be interested to hear other's opinions. What I definitely know now is start with the outside brackets as these positively locate against the chassis cross members. Starting with the middle bracket can easily lead to a world of pain.

Sorted Vacuum pipe version 3 now runs next to the cylinder.

Thanks, but i have run the brake line down the frame member away from the cylinder.

Moving along nicely now. This is a dry run, all held together with pins from brass rod at the moment. On to soldering tomorrow. I am not happy with version two of the brake pipe though. Version 1 was too thin and the diagonal section between the frame members was in the way of the V hangers and brake bracket Version 2 is great for diameter however its a long way from the cylinder and I need to get the vacuum to it. Any thoughts?

Tonight two little steps forward and then four back. Remember this picture Tonight I continued with the brake gear brackets. Many of the rods and levers are etched in a single piece. I fitted this etch into the bracket circled in red an temporarily pinned with some brass rod. Next I worked on two brackets to the left of the red circled one. Each one was pinned temporarily as before. It was soon obvious that the bracket in red was in the wrong place. I believe that the last two levers at each end of the etch should be in-line or at least symmetrical with the pips (circled yellow). The red bracket needs to move to the right. Luckily this time I did not need the big hammer but the big pliers sufficed. Finally the vacuum pipe will be in the way of this bracket so that had to be removed too.

Thanks Mike, that looks like it is going to be useful when I get that far. As for couplings, I think that I will be going Dingham. I am just waiting for the chemical blackener to arrive before I make a start with them.