IANATEXTON wrote:Mike,
Can I add to those saying "yes please" to your suggestion of a blow by blow account of loco building.
It is always interesting to learn from others, particularly when your models are so clean, and your output is impressive in terms of numbers. Have you an estimate of how many hours it takes you to build a loco?
Ian
Ian,
Many thanks for the comments. As regards the cleanliness of the builds, there are some 'cardinal rules' which were passed on to me :-
a) Wherever possible, solder from the underside or inside. So on this B16/1 the valances are soldered from the back; the splashers soldered from their insides, etc.
b) Check the fit of every part, before soldering and adjust the fit where necessary and then .......
c) Wherever possible, avoid using solder to fill gaps; this by not leaving gaps to fill. Sounds silly but it's true.
d) Where solder is present on the outside, scrape it off and clean up as you go, rather than a big clean up at the completion of the model. The final clean up should be just to allow the primer to 'stick' to the brass.
e) I actually stick quite a lot of things with superglue or Araldite. White metal castings I do not try and solder. Anything which must be adjusted I do not solder i.e handrail knobs, Ross pop valves, whistles, because they are very difficult to adjust once soldered whereas they can be adjusted as the glue sets.They can even be removed and done again by heating and melting the glue.
f) My best tools are my fingers; though most of my fingers have lost virtually all 'sense of feel'; this through holding and handling pieces which got hot. They all look normal (no burns or callouses) and they seem to function reasonably well but I cannot tell hot from cold with them, though I can discern very hot 'blo-dy he-l, that's warm' as I swiftly let go.
As regards time to complete, the longest build was the B16/1 at around 200 hours, spread over about six months. This because I changed quite a lot and because this kit had not been built (as far as I know) in its 4mm version. There was also quite a lot of waiting time in that six months; mostly for castings but also for motor/gearbox, etc. I couldn't identify what would fit, until I had built something to measure to fit it into.
The A6 tanks each took around 70 - 80 hours to build and around 15 hours to paint, add markings, line and then weather. The 0-6-0 tanks are probably 40 - 50 hours to build and perhaps 5 - 10 hours to paint, add markings and weather.
My first efforts took quite a lot longer than that; the T1 was built over an eight month period though then I worked full time so was not able to devote the time which I now can. And, on the T1 I had to learn many techniques which were, then, completely new to me. Techniques which I now take for granted.
But then I'm still learning and will be until I am 'withdrawn'.
Cheers
Mike