Chassis jigs in 7mm - opinions?

[Dog Star]

WTers... there are several chassis jigs available for 7mm use and in the past we have used the Hobby Holidays product (now returned to its owner, thank you Paul (@Locomodels ) ). The time has come when we are considering buying our own chassis jig and the Avonside Chassis range is attractive.

Anyone used the Avonside product for 7mm engines and prepared to offer an opinion on matters such as accuracy of result... usability... limitations... ?

And of course - can the Avonside 7mm jig work with S7 frames?

thank you, Graham

 

[Ian@StEnochs]

I have used the Hobby Holidays one for years now and it has coped with metre gauge, fine standard, scale seven and GWR broad gauge. I must have assembled upwards of 50 loco frames on it. Cannot recommend it enough.

Ian.

 

[Steph Dale]

And, for a counter view, I don't see the point of them at all.
I assemble the hornblocks and bearings into each frame using my set of ancient Meteor alignment jigs and then erect the frames using 12" lengths of 3/16" silver steel.
I've used a similar technique for years, swapping the sizes around to suit whatever wheelsets and bearings are in use at the time.
Steph

 

[Ian@StEnochs]

And, for a counter view, I don't see the point of them at all.
I assemble the hornblocks and bearings into each frame using my set of ancient Meteor alignment jigs and then erect the frames using 12" lengths of 3/16" silver steel.
I've used a similar technique for years, swapping the sizes around to suit whatever wheelsets and bearings are in use at the time.
Steph

Hi,

I used alignment axles until I got the HH jig. They work fine but a lot more care is needed with them to get the axles square to the chassis and properly spaced. Using long lengths of steel rod to erect the frames is not exactly easy. The beauty of the HH jig, and the probably the Avonside one too, is that it does the squaring automatically and you don't need 3 hands to do it.

If you only intend building one or two locos the simple alignment axle method will do and won't break the bank. However if you build a fair number of locos a jig is a good investment.

Ian.

 

[oldravendale]

Another for the Hobby Holidays jig. I've not used it as much as Ian but it's certainly reliable and reproducible.

Brian

 

[Len Cattley]

I've had the Avonside chassis jig for a number of years now, I've used them for finescale, S7 and P4. You can watch how to use it on YouTube as well if you chose.

Len

 

[markjj]

I have the Hobby Holidays one with options for F7 an S7 it works very well and well worth while as an investment. It doubles up as a rolling road where you can test each axle for pickup etc so it's brilliant for electrical testing as well as alignment.

 

[SimonT]

, I don't see the point of them at all.

That explains the build standard of all those jets. De Haviland built the Comets in jigs made from scaffolding which explains why the recycled fuselages, after use as Comets and Nimrod MR2, wouldn't fit the jig built wings when our premier military aircraft supplier tried to build the Nimrod MR4.
I vote for the Avonside jig. I used it yesterday to built the prototype 94XX chassis which went together in a flash. The final test built will go the Dale, S to see if the 3/16" rods, graph paper and a fag packet method build a working chassis!

 

[Stoke5D]

Being a gadget freak (usually the more expensive the better...) in all my interests I do like the Hobby Holidays version, which I have borrowed and used successfully.

However, and most unlike me, and since I already have a rolling road, I have bought a couple of these in different sizes: http://www.poppyswoodtech.co.uk/ Look under Tools/Loco Builder's Box.

Low tech on the face of it but surprisingly versatile. Easy to get the alignment right and, most usefully I find; a great stand to build a loco. on. Which means they offer more to the construction process than being only a frame assembly jig. I do use Steph's longer axle rods approach with them also as a check but probably don't need to. Given the cost, they are worth a try I think.


Andrew

 

[InvernessTMD]

Nice good flat glass chopping board and a hold and fold does me. I built my Judith Edge Hunslet 67T on one and the chassis is as square as, well, a square!
I do know of someone who built a JE kit for one of the Hunslet LMS shunters using a chassis jig and somehow the axles weren't at 90 deg to the frames...