Jazz 7mm Workbench

[jazz]

Hi. Back on the bench today and made some progress on the chassis. Took a while to get the crossheads running freely with much use of files.

 

Onwards tomorrow.

 

[jazz]

Hi. Not a great deal done today.  Took quite a while with the valve gear and making the coupling/connecting rods. Now all moving smoothly.

 

Just prepped the bogie ready for tomorrow.

 

[jazz]

Bogie truck went together extremely well and the body started.  A lot of rivets to punch out and remove the etched from the fret. Only started soldering well after lunch. Hopefully tomorrow I will get the firebox/boiler/smokebox assembled.  I do have some other stuff to done so that may not happen planned.

 

 

[jazz]

Hi. Yesterday did not go to plan (surprise, surprise), Decided to do the hedges and some gardening, then off to the cinema after lunch.

 

Anyway, the smokebox/boiler/firebox all done today, bolted together and fitted in place. Again, I needed to anneal the firebox, too much to shape up without doing that.

 

No predictions for tomorrow, will see how we go.

 

Edited July 10, 2018 by jazz

[jazz]

Hi. Had an enforced and very annoying delay. The almost new Antex failed.  It transpired that the electrical wire broke inside the sleeve near the handle in two places.

 

That's three Antex irons failed in a 12 year period. I have repaired it and not at all impressed with Antex. Next failure it will be in the bin an a better brand purchased.

 

Moan over, a little progress finally made today.

 

[jazz]

Hi.  Almost there now.  A few small details to add and do the backhead.  All told not been a bad kit to build with very little fettling to do. Mainly on the boiler, having to trim the seam along the joint and file off some of the rear to get it vertical to connect to the firebox front. 

 

[N15class]

Great work. All I've done on the loco of mine is soldered, the valve gear together, and made the bogie

[jazz]

Hi. A beautiful day today, so spent time on my layout and started wiring up the lights. I'm using copper self adhesive strip tape which is very very good and invisible when repainted over on the base board tops.  Far better than fiddling around under the baseboards with wire.

 

Only got two wired up after playing trains.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 14, 2018 by jazz

[jazz]

Great work. All I've done on the loco of mine is soldered, the valve gear together, and made the bogie

 

Thanks Peter. Well, that's a start

[Simond]

I like the copper tape, it’s easy to install, and to hide.

 

However, on the old “Greater Windowledge Railway” I made the mistake of using it for track feeds, and whilst it works, the voltage drop at even modest loads is unacceptable. I’d certainly use it again within a vehicle or building, and maybe over longer distances on the baseboards, but only for lighting.

 

Best

Simon

[jazz]

Hi Simon.  It's definitely not for track feed, maximum amps 0.4. It's only meant for lighting. I run the lighting in parallel, both LED"s and mini GOW on the same circuit. All controlled through a dimmer via a mini lighting transformer.   Works very well. I had over 30 GOW running off this on my HO layout with excellent results.

[Sandy Harper]

Used it as a bus bar on an 8ft DCC layout with no ill effects. 2 small locos operated at the same time.

Sandy

[jazz]

Used it as a bus bar on an 8ft DCC layout with no ill effects. 2 small locos operated at the same time.

Sandy

 

Hi Sandy. Must admit, I've not tried it on DCC.  I was going by the spec from the tape supplier as I am using analogue control.

[Simond]

Well, Sandy, the GWR was only about 10’ long, but the problem was sufficient that the Lenz booster didn’t trip when “coin tested”. I put this down to the low cross section of the tape, and thus high voltage drop. The joints were well soldered, so that wasn’t an issue, but something was.

 

My conclusion has been to use 2.5 mm2 as the main feed, and much thinner (but very short) droppers from every rail, which has fixed the issue on Porth Dinllaen Loco.

 

Best

Simon

[Guest Isambarduk]

... the Lenz booster didn’t trip when “coin tested”.

 

So you could say, Simon, that the tape feed wires acted as current-limiting resistors, so all would be well?   David

[Sandy Harper]

So you could say, Simon, that the tape feed wires acted as current-limiting resistors, so all would be well?   David

The tape I used was about 3/4" wide

Sandy

[Simond]

Ah, thanks Sandy, mine was much less, maybe 1/4”.

 

In which case, David, yes, that would be my conclusion. And nothing caught fire...

 

I was not aware of it being available in 3/4” width.

 

Best

Simon

Edited July 16, 2018 by Simond

[jazz]

Hi. I've been very busy of late hence the silence. I have spent the past few days assembling a couple of these LNWR Special Cattle wagons. Interesting vehicles used for farmers/breeders to take to shows around the country. The drover has a compartment to keep the show animal in top shape for the journey. 

 

 

[jwealleans]

Resin, eh? Whose kits are they, Ken and have those large castings stayed straight?

 

Is it an assembly, or a one piece body casting? I can't see seams, but that doesn't mean you haven't managed to hide them.

[jazz]

Resin, eh? Whose kits are they, Ken and have those large castings stayed straight?

 

Is it an assembly, or a one piece body casting? I can't see seams, but that doesn't mean you haven't managed to hide them.

 

Hi. It's a Javelin kit designed by Peter Dodson.  It's not a one piece body and the castings have stayed straight. I have made a thick plastikard cross spacer to make sure they stay that way.

 

The internal extra bracing.

 

Edited July 23, 2018 by jazz

[3 link]

Hi Ken,

 

With ref to Antex, my original iron was a solder station which lasted 27yrs, the next one less than two years. On further research I found out their irons are now manufactured in China, whereas they use to be made over here, just saying.

 

Martyn.

Edited July 24, 2018 by 3 link

[jazz]

Hi Martin.  This seems to be happening with a lot of trusted brands. All in the name of increased profits it appears. Three replacements due to failures in 12 years is a pretty poor record to me.

 

It will be interesting to see how long my home repair will last on the latest one.

[Simond]

As a small specialist UK manufacturer, I'd say it might not be "increased profits" that they are seeking by going to China - it might be "sufficient profits to survive" in the face of cheap imports.

 

The business climate is a bit uncomfortable, as usual, at the moment, but I fear it getting a lot more challenging in 8 months' time.  Still, the cheap imports will be cheaper...

 

best

Simon

[jazz]

Hi Simon, you have a valid point there. My own view is I would sooner pay more for a quality product not made in China to keep costs down and have to suffer with lesser quality. ( That probably is not going to happen though)

 

I can see why manufactures are forced to do that. I perhaps should have not said increased "profits" but instead said increased "sales" to stay afloat.

[Simond]

Me too, but the trouble is, Ken, that there is a signficant majority for whom the purchase price is the first, and possibly only, criterion by which they make a buying decision.

 

Look at local model shops.  They've gone, by and large, because people want cheap - they are happy with mail order, and getting it next day - so the bloke down the high street that knows how to fix your whatever isn't there any more.  Indeed, the whole high street went the same way, which is why they're full of coffee shops and charity shops. 

 

To be fair to the Chinese, they are capable of, and willing to, produce excellent quality, but it you buy cheap, you'll get cheap.

 

best

Simon