Ivan, you're quite right. The lack of diagrams in this kit does make it more difficult to assemble. The written instructions are very comprehensive and there are a couple of sketches, including the dreaded valve gear frame, but there have been a couple of areas where I haven't been sure which way round bits fit and I haven't got on to the small details yet. Assembly drawings, as included in the Black 5 and Jubilee kits, would be a great help. Perhaps I'm fortunate that I've already built several Brassmasters LMS 4-6-0 kits and I also have a good understanding of, and good information about, the prototype locos.
The inside valve gear has now been fitted.
A bit of dressing of the crosshead was required to get a smooth action in the slide bars over the whole stroke. I also discovered that the eccentric could not be located without removing the crank axle from the frames. I can see this being required more frequently than the other axles, so I decided to split the one-piece keeper plate between the leading and middle axle so, in future, the crank axle can be removed without disturbing the others.
After some filing back the lower rear edge of the reverser inner lifting arm, to clear the crank bob weight on full compression of the suspension, I'm pleased to sat it all turns smoothly with no detectable tight spots.
Here's the inside connecting rod and combination lever fitted to the frames, seen from above and below.
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Then the full gear assembled. There's not much clearance between the front corners of the expansion link and the motion plate and new cross stay for the outside support frame. Still, a miss is as good as a mile, as they say.
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Dave.
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