How is Walschearts valve gear pinned together in kits?

[geoff_nicholls]

I'd like to try scratch building a loco with Walschearts valve gear. I can have all the parts etched, but how should I pin them all together so they move freely, but aren't sloppy? All the kits I've built have had inside valve gear, so I've no experience at all.
This is in gauge 3, but as it's a J70 steam tram, gauge 1 or even 7mm advice would be appropriate.

 

[Heather Kay]

I would say at your scale, nuts and bolts of suitable dimensions. Brass nuts can be secured with a dab of solder, or Loctite.

 

[Eastsidepilot]

In 7mm scale I have usually used Gibson's steel rivets, chemically blackening the knuckles on rods and linkages stops it all going solid with just a little solder on the back of the rod that the end of the rivet is fitted to.

If the prototype had a nut showing on the outside then I try to replicate it with appropriate size nuts and bolts ( 16 and 14 B.A.) which also helps if you wish to dismantle it, as Heather says in gauge 3 it should not be a problem.

Col.