Kit 1 - Front Wheels

ModelWorks 4 inch Scale Burrell Agricultural Traction Engine
Kit 1 arrived at the beginning of November 2003
 

Could you Build the Burrell?

 
Monday: I only had time to unpack and check the kit.  I am impressed, if ModelWorks keep this standard up the Burrell is going be a fine model.  The rims would appear to be turned from solid and have an impressive finish, probably too good.  The spokes are laser cut and will 'just' require cleaning up.

The contents of Kit 1

Tuesday: Instead of standard rivets the Burrell uses rivet nuts & bolts.  These save time and a lot of noise.  The spokes are laser cut and following MW recommendation I cleaned them up using a flap wheel.  This is not a fast job and today I have cleaned up and fitted 5.

The fitted rivet bolts have a nice side on the outside and a bolt on the inside.  I expect the bolt will not notice once the wheel is painted.

Unlike normal model engineering practice, the MW wheels are not constructed on a jig.  A jig is not necessary because of the high accuracy with which the parts can be made using CNC machines.

Wednesday: The first wheel nearly complete showing araldite oozing out prior to trimming.  I foolishly did this relatively late at night and I now am now waiting for this to go plastic so that it can be trimmed before it sets hard.  I should of allowed at least 8 hours for this step, it took ages for the araldite to go plastic.

Construction was straight forward however I found it necessary to face (in lathe) a 10mm socket so that it could grip the rivet nuts.   The lip on the socket was preventing it getting a good hold on the hexagonal part at the bottom of the rivet nut.  Since the rivet bolt does not have a head in the conventional sense it is wise not to be too enthusiastic cleaning up the laser cut holes in the spokes.  By leaving these slight undersize and driving the rivet bolt in using the dolly supplied, the bolt is gripped preventing it from spinning when the nut is tightened.

Friday, Saturday, Sunday: The second wheel was a repeat of the first, though I did manage to fit the first five spokes incorrectly.  Luckily I spotted this and was able to drive the bolts out with a drift and start again.  The araldite  took 6 11/2 hours to go plastic and another hour to trim.  A tip I have received from Allan is that Acetone can be used to clean up any excess araldite before it goes off.

Not bad for less than a weeks work!  Building wheels the Modelworks way certainly speeds up the job.   Comparing the MW wheels against the drawings for LSM Burrell wheels reveals some differences, principally the way the spokes are fitted.  MW use blind slots into the hub, and modern metric screws with Alan key heads and of course the rivet bolts.  On reflection I prefer the ModelWorks wheels.

I shall be painting the wheels but not until the tires are fitted.  I understand this is going to be very messy and will spoil any paint job.