Postby Crepello » Sun Jun 26, 2022 10:12 pm
I've not checked mine out much, as I've been in a race against a failing hard drive. Unpacking revealed several loose fittings beneath the model, a couple of handbrake chains were detached, and a corner footstep departed during the process. These could usefully have been packed with the user-fitted buffer beam details.
The toolmaking seems to be of a high standard, minimal parting lines, and crisp detail. The removable exhaust roof section is commendably close fitting, when you consider factors like draft angles.
So far, I've only checked one dimension, and found that somehow they've lost a scale 3 inches between the cab doors. This should be an exact scale 40ft. Maybe I'll fire up the vernier this week. Mine's an early 'as-delivered' version, but has the late tank balance pipe arrangement for extra train heating water capacity.
Those bemoaning the under-scale wheels would be more understanding if they'd got their hands grubby under the real thing, and seen the contortions the EE designers had to put the underframe members through to thread them between the wheelsets and bolster at maximum yaw. There were attached wood blocks where the backs of the flanges were at risk of contacting the central girders. To the outside, the vacuum and steam pipes had to be tucked locally into the channel of the sidesills. All this to get the loco round a 4.5 chain curve. So you'd be looking at a 4ft minimum radius with accurate P4 wheelsets.