How do I fit removable brake gear to an 0-6-0T?

[geoff_nicholls]

I need advice on how to fit brake gear to my new loco.
A while back I started a thread showing my first attempt at scratch building a GER 0-6-0 tank engine underframe. At the time my priority was getting the thing to run. it runs very nicely, so now I'm trying to finish everything up to and including the footplate.I am doing the CAD for the parts for the brake gear, which is pretty straightforward.
However, once the brake gear is fitted, how do I get the wheels out for painting, and future maintenance? At present the axles can be dropped out of the frames by unscrewing keeper plates, but the brakes, with the outside pull rods would prevent this.
How have others dealt with this? this loco is gauge 3, but I'm sure the same problem occurs in gauge 1 and O gauge.

 

[Heather Kay]

I would be thinking in terms of nuts and bolts.

I'd consider bolts to act as the hangers from the frames, with spacers and nuts to hold the shoes on. Loosening the nuts would let the shoes swing away from the wheels. Using a similar approach with the pull rods would let you disassemble the rigging, although it might be fiddly.

I did use a similar approach on the O gauge 5700 I built earlier this year. I used bolts for the hangers, and pins for the pull rods, with cross shafts made of brass tube. It was fiddly, but did let me take the rigging off if I needed to work on the wheels.