Apologies for the lack of technical description, but yesterday whilst putting my LGB Heidi on track, I noticed a dog-leg/L-shaped grey plastic item about an inch long lying on the grass. I realised it was part of the dummy valve gear/connecting-rod system but on comparing left and right sides of the loco, discovered it was missing from both sides. Eventually I worked out where it fitted on the left hand side between the horizontal link and up into the D-shaped cut-out at the bottom of the side tank. Whilst the missing part is not noticeable if I run anti-clockwise around the Black Squirrel Railway, I would prefer to be able to run in both directions without seeing the offending gap! So, without much expectation of success, does anyone have any suggestions as to where I might be able to buy a replacement link for the right-hand side?
Brian, I know nothing about Heidi, but is your layout named after the local delicacy?
ebay mike
Retired, but still hoarding. (GOF)
Loads of spare parts for Heidi listed at www.modell-land.de. I've got a Heidi but not quite sure which bit you've lost. Any chance of a piccy of the one you haven't lost? Could you make a replacement as shipping from Germany tends to be relatively expensive for small orders?
Mike.
Mike.
We don't eat them but there are several regular visitors to our garden, along with the greys and they provide much free entertainment.
Presumably you hail from Letchworth?
I tried to post a photo but failed as the process is totally different from other fora (?) that I use. Basically, it's the piece that goes up through the floor into the tank area. Will try later using a link to my Photobucket albums. The part is 'handed' so not easy to replicate from the one I have other than with a 3-D printer perhaps.
Stotfold - approx 2-3 miles from Norton Common, Letchworth. BSR is also known as the Letchworth Garden & Baldock Railway due to the LGB markings on most of the rolling stock. Currently awaiting delivery of our first live steam loco, Katie, being built at the moment at Roundhouse. No stupid plastic rods on that!
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There certainly won't be. Not too far from me, I'm in Royston
Many thanks for all the helpful suggestions so far. I have just found this which might well be the RHS one that I need. It is slightly different from the one I have as you will see when I post my photos later. I don't understand why the Modell-Land website only lists one part as I would prefer to order a pair to ensure both sides match (or am I suffering from OCD?). Looks like they may have a few parts that are missing or broken on some of my other locos so if other possible sources fail, then I will order from them.
Since I can't work out how to post photos directly on this forum, perhaps these links to Photobucket will work:
Note that the link shown in the photo below found on the web is the same type as the one available from Modell-Land so you can see the minor difference from mine at the top of the link. I don't think mine has been cut or accidentally shortened as the moulding mark is clearly present on the top surface.
Note that the link shown in the photo below found on the web is the same type as the one available from Modell-Land so you can see the minor difference from mine at the top of the link. I don't think mine has been cut or accidentally shortened as the moulding mark is clearly present on the top surface.
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Neil Robinson
Registered
That's right.
On the real thing there's a rod running underneath the boiler with one lifting link each end i.e. each side of the loco, to lift the valve gear rod on the appropriate side. In addition on one side of the loco (the driver's) there's an addition link connecting the entire assembly to the reversing lever in the cab.
That's encouraging Neil. I have just looked at some photos that I took when I first acquired Heidi (http://s482.photobucket.com/user/br.../2009-11-07-1502-14 Heidi Debut?sort=3&page=1). Not the best quality but I think I can just see the difference between right (driver's side) left, so it looks as though I may be lucky and the one available from Modell-Land is the one I need.
Neil Robinson
Registered
Well if you don't have a choice get the drivers side one with the additional upper arm and cut this arm off if you need the link for the fireman's side.
Edit, sorry that won't work on the model as a bearing is part of the molding so it's not reversible.
That won't work because they are 'handed', so the fireman's side link would not fit the driver's side (or vice versa). See first photo and visualise the reverse (mirror) image.
ebay mike
Retired, but still hoarding. (GOF)
Brian. Just an observation but -
I thought I'd take the offending piece off my Heidi. It popped off the footplate/baseplate easily enough but didn't want to come out through the D shaped cut-out. Then it flicked out of view altogether inside the side tank. I loosened off the tank/boiler unit and managed to extract the part with a pair of tweezers. As an experiment I tried to put it back with the loco fully assembled and it appeared nigh on impossible. It would not surprise me if you haven't lost this bit at all and it's been lurking inside the body since it came loose.
Anyway if I can find my lump of Plasticene over the next few days I'll have a go at casting a replacement if that's any use. It doesn't look too complicated to manufacture one from carved layered plasticard as an option if the casting fails.
Mike.
I thought I'd take the offending piece off my Heidi. It popped off the footplate/baseplate easily enough but didn't want to come out through the D shaped cut-out. Then it flicked out of view altogether inside the side tank. I loosened off the tank/boiler unit and managed to extract the part with a pair of tweezers. As an experiment I tried to put it back with the loco fully assembled and it appeared nigh on impossible. It would not surprise me if you haven't lost this bit at all and it's been lurking inside the body since it came loose.
Anyway if I can find my lump of Plasticene over the next few days I'll have a go at casting a replacement if that's any use. It doesn't look too complicated to manufacture one from carved layered plasticard as an option if the casting fails.
Mike.
I have given Heidi a good shaking but no rattles suggesting the missing piece is inside. I suspect that like the latest one it fell out on track a long time ago and got washed away in the flood water.
I have had a look at this site (https://www.champex-linden.de/cl_pr_lgb.htm) but so far cannot find any LGB parts. I must improve my German language skills!
ebay mike
Retired, but still hoarding. (GOF)
Update Brian. I've found the plasticene, mixed some P45 and done a couple of test castings. I will let it cure properly overnight and when I get home from work tomorrow evening we'll check out the results. Obviously they will need cleaning up filing down to the right thickness.
Mike.
Mike.