High Level 03 Chassis Build

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garethevans1986
Posts: 91
Joined: Mon Sep 19, 2016 9:18 am

Re: High Level 03 Chassis Build

Postby garethevans1986 » Thu Aug 02, 2018 10:18 am

Interesting project.

Roughly how long has it taken you to build the chassis? Are the wheels sprung too?

Thank you
Gareth
Gareth O. Evans
IT Consultant/Director of Web46 IT Solutions
Croes Newydd Yard

Diesel Crank

Blue & Yellow
Posts: 20
Joined: Thu Apr 05, 2018 5:28 pm

Re: High Level 03 Chassis Build

Postby Blue & Yellow » Fri Aug 03, 2018 12:07 am

I've made the decision to replace all the wheels with a brand new set as I originally fitted the AG wheels without using the GW wheel press, which I didn't have at the time but have one now. This is more than likely where the damage to centres has arisen. So after practicing with the press and picking up plenty of tips on here (thanks guys) and other sites to I'm ready for another bash at them with quite a bit more knowledge about fitting them correctly. The plunger pickups can go to, I'm not happy with them either. :D

Cheers, Graham.

Blue & Yellow
Posts: 20
Joined: Thu Apr 05, 2018 5:28 pm

Re: High Level 03 Chassis Build

Postby Blue & Yellow » Fri Aug 03, 2018 12:16 am

garethevans1986 wrote:Interesting project.

Roughly how long has it taken you to build the chassis? Are the wheels sprung too?

Thank you
Gareth


Been building it for around 3 and a bit months up to now, mybee 3 or 4, 2 hour evening sessions a week. The front 2 axels are compensated and the rear axle is fixed.

It would look good on 'Mostyn' when it's finished ;)


Cheers, Graham

High Level Kits
Posts: 54
Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2012 8:37 am

Re: High Level 03 Chassis Build

Postby High Level Kits » Fri Aug 03, 2018 12:49 pm

I think the design of that particular wheel makes it more difficult to get concentric. The centre is a tight fit in the tyre as well as on the axle, so the plastic is forced outwards from the bore and inwards from the circumference. The thinner spokes give more than the balance weights, so the centre moves.

Blue & Yellow
Posts: 20
Joined: Thu Apr 05, 2018 5:28 pm

Re: High Level 03 Chassis Build

Postby Blue & Yellow » Mon Aug 06, 2018 5:51 pm

High Level Kits wrote:I think the design of that particular wheel makes it more difficult to get concentric. The centre is a tight fit in the tyre as well as on the axle, so the plastic is forced outwards from the bore and inwards from the circumference. The thinner spokes give more than the balance weights, so the centre moves.



Thanks for all the help with this, much appreciated. Graham.

garethevans1986
Posts: 91
Joined: Mon Sep 19, 2016 9:18 am

Re: High Level 03 Chassis Build

Postby garethevans1986 » Tue Aug 14, 2018 10:10 am

Blue & Yellow wrote:
garethevans1986 wrote:Interesting project.

Roughly how long has it taken you to build the chassis? Are the wheels sprung too?

Thank you
Gareth


Been building it for around 3 and a bit months up to now, mybee 3 or 4, 2 hour evening sessions a week. The front 2 axels are compensated and the rear axle is fixed.

It would look good on 'Mostyn' when it's finished ;)


Cheers, Graham


You never know, it could be something we can arrange when the layout is up in the clubrooms or something.

Gareth
Gareth O. Evans
IT Consultant/Director of Web46 IT Solutions
Croes Newydd Yard

Diesel Crank

Blue & Yellow
Posts: 20
Joined: Thu Apr 05, 2018 5:28 pm

Re: High Level 03 Chassis Build

Postby Blue & Yellow » Wed Mar 27, 2019 6:37 pm

Well after a just a few hours ;) of enjoyment and frustration the 03 now looks like a new out of the box Bachmann model. The chassis is now running very nicely at very slow speeds and is more or less complete except for weathering. Now it's time to start on the body.
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DougN
Posts: 1250
Joined: Wed Sep 01, 2010 9:57 am

Re: High Level 03 Chassis Build

Postby DougN » Thu Mar 28, 2019 2:08 am

Blue and Yellow that looks fantastic. :thumb

The photos appear that this has been made in a factory!
Doug
Still not doing enough modelling

Blue & Yellow
Posts: 20
Joined: Thu Apr 05, 2018 5:28 pm

Re: High Level 03 Chassis Build

Postby Blue & Yellow » Tue Jul 23, 2019 5:11 pm

Well the 03 is finally complete and runs Perfectly. Thanks for the help & advance given during the build 8-)
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RAO
Posts: 95
Joined: Sun Dec 17, 2017 8:49 pm

Re: High Level 03 Chassis Build

Postby RAO » Mon Nov 25, 2019 3:40 pm

I am also wanting to build a Class 03 shunter [D2133 in Green Livery].
High Level chassis is a must.
But what of the body? Three choices exist.
1, Airfix/Rosebud kit, however this has the wrong style of chimney. Also I doubt my skills of painting the black & yellow chevrons.
2, Mainline what is this model like? Can I get away with just buying a body?
3, Bachmann same again what is this like and can I get away with just a body?
For wheels I was going for Alan Gibson, as Ultrascale are good but expensive plus delivery is currently 4 months.
For the High Level chassis any in put as to what type of motor?
Thanks for your input.

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Noel
Posts: 1972
Joined: Wed Jun 23, 2010 1:04 pm

Re: High Level 03 Chassis Build

Postby Noel » Mon Nov 25, 2019 5:17 pm

RAO wrote:I am also wanting to build a Class 03 shunter [D2133 in Green Livery]. ...
1, Airfix/Rosebud kit, however this has the wrong style of chimney. Also I doubt my skills of painting the black & yellow chevrons. ...


It isn't just the chimney. This kit is for a Drewry 04, it doesn't have the raised section of bonnet next to the cab, nor does it have external bonnet hinges, and the cab profile is very different. Converting it would mean a lot of work...
Regards
Noel

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jim s-w
Posts: 2185
Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2008 5:56 pm

Re: High Level 03 Chassis Build

Postby jim s-w » Mon Nov 25, 2019 6:06 pm

RAO wrote:I am also wanting to build a Class 03 shunter [D2133 in Green Livery].
High Level chassis is a must.
But what of the body? Three choices exist.
1, Airfix/Rosebud kit, however this has the wrong style of chimney. Also I doubt my skills of painting the black & yellow chevrons.
2, Mainline what is this model like? Can I get away with just buying a body?
3, Bachmann same again what is this like and can I get away with just a body?
For wheels I was going for Alan Gibson, as Ultrascale are good but expensive plus delivery is currently 4 months.
For the High Level chassis any in put as to what type of motor?
Thanks for your input.


As Noel has said the Airfix kit is a class 04 not 03
The mainline body has crude handrails compared to the Bachmann one but the radiator is better on the mainline one
Gibson wheels have the balance weights on them. These are not included in the high level kit.

Hope this helps

Jim
Jim Smith-Wright

http://www.p4newstreet.com

Over thinking often leads to under doing!

RAO
Posts: 95
Joined: Sun Dec 17, 2017 8:49 pm

Re: High Level 03 Chassis Build

Postby RAO » Tue Nov 26, 2019 11:00 am

Thank you both for your input.
If the radiator is better on the Mainline body how difficult would it be to change the poor handrails?

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Simon_S
Posts: 134
Joined: Wed Aug 06, 2008 7:32 am

Re: High Level 03 Chassis Build

Postby Simon_S » Tue Nov 26, 2019 5:01 pm

Very easy, the only slight difficulty is fabricating the three legged ones; suggest making drilling and bending jigs as there are several to do.
Last edited by Simon_S on Wed Nov 27, 2019 8:52 am, edited 1 time in total.

RAO
Posts: 95
Joined: Sun Dec 17, 2017 8:49 pm

Re: High Level 03 Chassis Build

Postby RAO » Tue Nov 26, 2019 7:50 pm

Thanks I'll give is a try.

RAO
Posts: 95
Joined: Sun Dec 17, 2017 8:49 pm

Re: High Level 03 Chassis Build

Postby RAO » Sat Feb 15, 2020 3:13 pm

Chassis has been constructed and now being painted prior to final building.
However High Level provide some excellent footplate overlays, has any one tackled these?
If so what did you bond them on with?
I was considering 3M spraymount?

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Guy Rixon
Posts: 909
Joined: Sun Mar 27, 2011 6:40 pm

Re: High Level 03 Chassis Build

Postby Guy Rixon » Sun Feb 16, 2020 9:16 am

RAO wrote:Chassis has been constructed and now being painted prior to final building.
However High Level provide some excellent footplate overlays, has any one tackled these?
If so what did you bond them on with?
I was considering 3M spraymount?

An aeromodeller I follow recently identified a Loctite gel-glue that bonds like cyanoacrylate but takes about a minute to set. He says that it's very good for photo-etched overlays. Haven't had time to try it myself, but will be getting some when I can.

John Palmer
Posts: 825
Joined: Fri Jul 15, 2011 11:09 pm

Re: High Level 03 Chassis Build

Postby John Palmer » Sun Feb 16, 2020 3:21 pm

Guy Rixon wrote:very good for photo-etched overlays.
I'd very much like to know exactly which Loctite product this is, there being so many in the Loctite range. Sounds like it might be just what I need for bonding etched window frames to clear glazing material - in my case the Slaters variety: .010" and .040" Plastiglaz.

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steve howe
Posts: 911
Joined: Sun Feb 01, 2009 10:16 pm

Re: High Level 03 Chassis Build

Postby steve howe » Tue Feb 18, 2020 12:18 pm

Blue & Yellow wrote:I've made the decision to replace all the wheels with a brand new set as I originally fitted the AG wheels without using the GW wheel press, which I didn't have at the time but have one now. This is more than likely where the damage to centres has arisen. So after practicing with the press and picking up plenty of tips on here (thanks guys) and other sites to I'm ready for another bash at them with quite a bit more knowledge about fitting them correctly.

Cheers, Graham.


I got a GW wheel press some years ago and its been a godsend when assembling wheelsets. My trick, learned recently, with AG wheels is to put the wheels into the press getting them as flat as possible (the sprung axle locators will tend to push them up) and bring the press together so that the wheel backs meet, and squeeze gently in the vice. Then separate and insert the axle and re-press. Obviously this doesn't work with wheels that have a raised boss on the rear, but for flat-backed wheels it does seem to square everything up before the axle goes in. The foregoing comments about lightly countersinking the rear of the axle-hole and lightly chamfering the axle end, are also de rigueur to all help guide things in straight.

bécasse
Posts: 374
Joined: Sun Jun 17, 2018 8:26 am

Re: High Level 03 Chassis Build

Postby bécasse » Tue Feb 18, 2020 9:25 pm

steve howe wrote:I got a GW wheel press some years ago and its been a godsend when assembling wheelsets. My trick, learned recently, with AG wheels is to put the wheels into the press getting them as flat as possible (the sprung axle locators will tend to push them up) and bring the press together so that the wheel backs meet, and squeeze gently in the vice. Then separate and insert the axle and re-press. Obviously this doesn't work with wheels that have a raised boss on the rear, but for flat-backed wheels it does seem to square everything up before the axle goes in. The foregoing comments about lightly countersinking the rear of the axle-hole and lightly chamfering the axle end, are also de rigueur to all help guide things in straight.


That is an extremely useful, and seemingly quick to do, technique. Can I suggest that, where wheels do have a boss on the back, a "mask", a little greater in size than the wheels and with a central hole to take the boss, could be placed between the two wheel-backs. It would obviously have to be at least as thick as the extent to which two bosses protrude, but seemingly could be a little thicker, and presumably could be simply made from plasticard.


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