28-May-2008 09:40
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Manufactured by Connoisseur Models 33 Grampian Road, STOURBRIDGE, DY8 4UE Tel: 01384 371 418 http://www.jimmcgeown.com/ |
| Built by Raymond Walley © Raymond Walley - All rights reserved |
Contact me here.
This
is a new kit recently released by Jim so I was happy when a customer asked me to
build one.
It comes in the usual flat pack along with excellent
instructions, drawings, pictures, exploded diagrams and historical details.
I started by pressing out all the rivet and bolt heads, adding detail
parts to the sides, ends and sole bars while they were "in the flat" and then
bending the sides, sole bars and corner plates as shewn here.
A standard procedure when dealing with two ends and sides is to fit each pair
of one end to one side, check for square and then join the two halves together
as here. All the parts fit very well so that it is necessary to file all
the cusps off.
All the parts are etched to tight tolerances and so the sole bars fit in
perfectly. The next job was to fit the lashing rings. These are tiny
etches
that fit into etched holes in the sole bar and on the ends. Very
neat indeed and beats making up rings from wire and fitting them with split
pins.
This kit comes with the option of sprung wheels and provides a neat method of springing behind the W irons using piano wire. Naturally, I decided to try it out. Here are the springing units in various stages of completion.
I have changed things a little by using lighter gauge piano wire since I considered that the wire supplied to be too stiff. However, my choice will be tested when the wagon is complete.
The remainder of the wagon went together with remarkable ease, so much so
that I forgot to take any pictures but Jim's instructions are excellent.
The suspension needed more weight to get the wagon to ride properly so two lumps of lead were Araldited inside.
Not a difficult kit for someone with a little experience but not recommended for a beginner.
The completed wagon in my private siding awaiting a trip to Ian's paint shop.
