Fred Astaire
Member
After a few years N gauge I wanted to try our clubs O gauge layout. On looking to dip my toes in the water with a starter Loco, I sort of fell in headfirst to the deep end. I was offered a part started ACME kit which of course is the College Kit originally, it dates to 2001 and has the tender 80% built, thats all. The kit is complete with Slaters wheelsets and motor / gearbox.
Ive now bought the Metalworks rivetter (made my own 0 gauge punch and die for it), and bought a 10 inch mini roller, both tools new unused bought at auction. Ive already made a bending jig / clamplate and have bought books on EtchBrass Loco building.
Im well used to large scale modelling as I restore Austin Pedal cars, have my own Myford Super 7 and make my own tooling for home pressworks and welding jigs. So whilst i'm sort of capable on engineering and modelmaking this is a new avenue...
I'm to model it on Ivatt 46521 from Loughboro for which ive taken a compendium of reference photos.
So background given, i'm starting the Loco chassis, ive bought Slaters sprung hornblocks and now trying to figure out their precise fittment, at the moment i'm planning to use my lathe vertical toolpost and the crosslide to drill a thick steel sheet at axle centres, using the crosslide to index across for the 3 axle centres, make some dowel pins so as to make a setting jig for the chassis sides / connecting rods, (flip it over for the second side).
Basically i'm wondering if anybody on the forum has built or is building one of these College Kits who might generally steer me in correct chassis build. The instructions leave items somewhat imprecise, next tech point is the cylinders rear left-right 'bulkhead', there is a massive vertical cut-out length in the slots compared to the chassis lugs, if just soldered as per instructions the piston rod CL will never point at the middle driver axle centre. I wondering if i'm better to construct the cylinders on a separate jig as an assembly so as to get the correct inclination angle relative to the footplate.
Ive searched using google and all I can locate is negative comments toward College Kits
So............can anybody help point me in the right directions on build?
Ive now bought the Metalworks rivetter (made my own 0 gauge punch and die for it), and bought a 10 inch mini roller, both tools new unused bought at auction. Ive already made a bending jig / clamplate and have bought books on EtchBrass Loco building.
Im well used to large scale modelling as I restore Austin Pedal cars, have my own Myford Super 7 and make my own tooling for home pressworks and welding jigs. So whilst i'm sort of capable on engineering and modelmaking this is a new avenue...
I'm to model it on Ivatt 46521 from Loughboro for which ive taken a compendium of reference photos.
So background given, i'm starting the Loco chassis, ive bought Slaters sprung hornblocks and now trying to figure out their precise fittment, at the moment i'm planning to use my lathe vertical toolpost and the crosslide to drill a thick steel sheet at axle centres, using the crosslide to index across for the 3 axle centres, make some dowel pins so as to make a setting jig for the chassis sides / connecting rods, (flip it over for the second side).
Basically i'm wondering if anybody on the forum has built or is building one of these College Kits who might generally steer me in correct chassis build. The instructions leave items somewhat imprecise, next tech point is the cylinders rear left-right 'bulkhead', there is a massive vertical cut-out length in the slots compared to the chassis lugs, if just soldered as per instructions the piston rod CL will never point at the middle driver axle centre. I wondering if i'm better to construct the cylinders on a separate jig as an assembly so as to get the correct inclination angle relative to the footplate.
Ive searched using google and all I can locate is negative comments toward College Kits
So............can anybody help point me in the right directions on build?