Kit 15 - SteeringModelWorks
4 inch Scale Burrell Agricultural Traction Engine |
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Thursday 7th October: After a delay caused by the manufacturer of the gears kit 15 is finally here. It was a light box for a change and so when I collected it from Citylink I needed no help to carry it to my car. The instructions contain better news regarding the boiler with the first batch expected November. To fill in till then we will next be getting Kit 24 the governor. The first part of the instructions cover the resolution of the problems with the studs and valve buckle encountered during kit 11. They also give details of two holes missing from one of the spectacle plates supplied in kit 9.  Friday:
There is not much to this kit and my plan of attack is to check
everything fits, paint the few item that need painting and put the
whole lot to one side until after the boiler is delivered.
It did not take long to assemble the steering column. Saturday:
Before starting painting I wanted to check that the parts fitted to the
hornpates. After a brief panic when I could not make out
which holes to use for the top bracket everything went together fine. Saturday 16: Assembly of kit 15 was over before it ever really begun. I shall paint the little of kit 15 that needs painting at the same time a painting the smokebox and wheels. I eventually fitted the steering in July 05.  Tuesday
2 November: I have been busy
elsewhere and have only just got round to drilling the holes
in the spectacle plate.
Drilling a 20mm hole in plate is not easy and I would recommend any constructor who is not confident taking ModelWorks up on their offer and returning the spectacle plate. I was determined to
protect the paint so I covered the whole spectacle plate with gummed
brown paper. I am increasing using this as it is easy to
remove. I formed an initial hole using a slot drill and opened it up to 20mm using a boring head. While I have a 3/4 drill drill (about 20mm) I did not want to use it as it would have probably ended up as a triangular hole. I achieved a perfect hole but despite my efforts the paint around the hole was spoilt. I have now lightly rubbed down the spectacle plate and will be giving it a complete respray. The moral of the story is that it is probably not worth the extra effort of trying to save the paint bearing in mind how easy it will be to respray it. 2/3/05: Additional rework was required on the spectacle plate to prevent it fouling the boiler.
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After
marking out the position of the holes I clamped it to the milling
machine on top of a scrap piece of printed circuit board.