Perseverance

It has been over two months since some model making was featured on this blog. After a lengthy break over Christmas and early January, my modelling mojo has steadily returned.

Working on the Wrightlines Tattoo kit has meant rediscovering a number of modelling skills that I’d not used for quite some time, very different to the 3D printed bodies on rtr chassis that I’ve been used to of late.

As we waded through January, I found that the time and inclination to tackle the chassis coinciding in increasing amounts.

This is the first chassis with outside valve gear that I’ve ever built, so slow and steady has been the order of the day. With design of the modified Hackworth valve gear in the kit is ingenious and my approach was one of doing a bit and then checking it worked before moving on.

This approach was rewarded when, having completed the motion and connected up the wiring, the loco ran on the rolling road at the first attempt.

That isn’t to say that the build hasn’t been without challenges, a few swear words and the occasional temptation to throw it back in the box and do something simpler.

But perseverance has been rewarded. There was one major (for me) hurdle to overcome when through my own clumsiness I inadvertently snapped one of the brass casting return cranks having got solder places it shouldn’t have. After an overnight cooling off, I managed to unsolder the offending parts, filed off the damaged part, drilled, tapped and countersunk a hole for a 14BA bolt to be inserted and soldered in and all was sorted. Quite pleased at fixing that one without giving up!

The next phase is to finish detailing and painting the chassis. Followed by adding all the detail to the body. Then this will be painted and once all the painting is completed, I shall then oil the motion up and get it run in on the rolling road. I’m reluctant to oil up the chassis until all the painting has been completed as it has a habit of getting where you don’t need it to be.

This has been the most challenging model making I’ve done in years. Whilst it hasn’t always been the most enjoyable as I definitely needed to be in the right mood to tackle it. Building a first chassis with working outside motion has been a most satisfying achievement. Whilst there will still remain a place for easier modelling on my work bench, this build is giving me the confidence to tackle some of the other more difficult builds lurking in the cupboard.