Compensate an 00 tender or not?

[97xx]

Would anyone recommend that I put the effort in to compensate an 00 tender?

 

If so, does it matter whether I fix the front or rear axle?

 

Or shall I simply make sure I build it dead square and provide a small amount of float on the middle axle?

 

FWIW, I do intend adding pickups to the front and rear wheels.

 

The etch chassis I have (usual U-folded) is designed & supplied for 2mm axles straight through the etch. The engineer in me would prefer to put bearings in, but again is this overkill?

 

If i did compensate it, would it be considered unacceptably sloppy to slot the axle holes rather than install horn blocks? (...ducks...)

 

Sorry - lots of Q's but an engineer trying his hand at building small things!

[Michael Edge]

I don't really think it's worth bothering but if one axle is fixed it should be the trailing one. I usually allow some up and down movement in the centre axle of a 6 wheel tender and only put pickups on leading and trailing axles. I don't bother with axle bushes unless it's a kit with oversize holes - I haven't seen any unbushed ones wear out yet.

[97xx]

18 minutes ago, Michael Edge said:

I haven't seen any unbushed ones wear out yet.

 

Yes that was my immediate thought - although my Dublo/Wrenn ones are a bit thicker!

[Captain Kernow]

I agree with Mike, I would never compensate an OO tender. A loco is a different matter, though, as the compensation does improve pick up.