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Building a ModelWorks 5700 Pannier Tank Engine in 5" Gauge Kit 6:
Assembly of the Smokebox is relatively easy, with aligning the Door being a little fiddly. The Chimney was wobbly when test fitted. This was easy to solve by using a small amount of plastic (car type) filler between the chimney and the Smokebox Wrapper. I had no problems or issues assembling the Reversing Lever or Brake Column. However if you now want to work on the underside of the model you have to be very careful. I have therefore made a simple wooden Stand/Jig, to allow me to turn the loco upside down and work on the underside. I intend to modify this later to make allowance for the body work. Inspection Pits at 5” gauge are a bit on the small size. Kit 6 apart from painting the Smokebox was completed on the 21st November, three months to the day from starting Kit1, an average of one Kit every two weeks!
Kit 6: Debbie made me very welcome and fitted the air line on whilst standing the loco on one of ModelWorks Rolling Roads (I will get one of these – there great!). After a little nudge (she was a little stiff), she sprang into life. Ian had to disappoint Debbie because the valve timing did not need to be adjusted, it appears Debbie likes to play, I can understand that. Setting the valve timing to the book and then not needing to adjust says a lot for the good engineering tolerances ModelWorks achieve. However, remember that Crank Pin that I could not grind, back in Kit 5! Under power that Crank Pin was causing a slight knocking because it was just touching the Axle Box. Whilst I felt that this would bed in, Ian put his “Professional” head on, insisting that the Wheel had to come off! He wanted to dismantle my Baby! As it turns out it is not as difficult as it sounds when you (Ian) knows what to do. I am also glad to have seen and experienced this because I now know it can be done.
Ian used a puller to pre-tension the wheel, and then heated the end of the Axle/Centre of the Wheel using a Blow Lamp with a smallish flame. After hearing the Loctite “give”, the puller easily pulled the wheel off. Pin ground and Wheel re-assembled, air re-applied, all was well. Many thanks to Debbie and Ian, I now have a working chassis, and can continue with a level of confidence.
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