28-May-2008 08:14

This is as far as I have got with Peter Kay's River class.  It has not been an easy build but it has been interesting (somewhat like the Chinese curse at times!).  I am reminded of Bill Parker's exhortation in his wagon kit instructions, that it is really scratch building where someone has cut out the part for one.  Certainly the case here.

He suggests filing off the boiler bands.  Why they were etched in first place baffles me, far too thick and out of keeping with the general excellence of the etches.  However, not all the etching was great.  Those for the sandboxes were scrapped and the boxes scratched up from solid brass.  I think the paint will hide the joints.

The chassis had severely to be modified because it came with S7 spacers so I had to make new ones (The manufacturer has no idea of what the words "customer service" mean).  The AGH wheels turned up well and a coat of paint will hide the cut marks where I insulated them with trusty, old fashioned Araldite in the oven.  All wheels are sprung, which is why it sits so high at present

The major reason it is so long in the building (aside from lack of time) is due to the method recommended to produce the outside axle boxes.  They are a fold up item that makes a hollow box with a tiny hole that then needs to be opened out to the axle size.  I shall make some new ones in solid nickel silver instead.

The tender is a nice model with some very nice ideas, for instance the etched jigs to get the coal rails even and level.  It is made to bear down on the engine's drag bar to add weight.  I shall to do this but have also sprung the front two axles rather than let them just bounce along for the ride.

I used Slater's wheels for the tender chassis (in need of a good clean too) and the black stuff shewing above the wheels is liquid lead to add more weight when it is bearing down on the back of the engine.  It too rides too high at present due to the springs.

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