JimmyB
Now retired - trains and fishing
This my thread on building the IP Engineering "L & B 3 Compartment Coach Kit". The kit is relatively straight forward, so it will not be a "blow by blow" account.
The first question is why this model and this kit: I have a Bachmann "Lyn", fitted with Accucraft couplings, and 3 Accucraft IoM single coaches, I know the purists probably won't like it, but these coaches suit the loco (IMHO), and rule 8. But I enjoy model making and though I should build some coaches. The kit looks quite similar to the IoM singles, and the Lyn is an L & B loco.
Comments on the kit: The kit arrived in a polythene bag, and the 45mm gauge wheels in a separate bag, no box for protection
Inside the bag was seven frets of laser cut wood, a roof section, three bags of white metal components, wire, acrylic for the windows, wheel bearings, and four A4 sides of instructions. There was no parts list, and no identification for the frets, though as a simple kit, this should not present an issue.
The instructions recommend superglue for the main construction and epoxy for the smaller parts. I have always used "PVA" type glue on wooden kits, but though I would try superglue.
Construction: There are no "tab and slots" most parts just butting up to each other. Following the instructions, I assembled the sides and ends to the floor, the pros of superglue are mainly almost instant adhesion, no holding parts in position waiting for the glue to dry, the cons are almost instant adhesion, which means trying to line up the parts when they touch. This was managed but I did not find it easy, also the joints are brittle, and where the ends meet the sides is thin ply, and two joints cracked, my solution was to brush PVA into the joints.
The next stage is to add the raised wood work, I will be using PVA for this, which will give me working time to make adjustments.
More to follow......................
The first question is why this model and this kit: I have a Bachmann "Lyn", fitted with Accucraft couplings, and 3 Accucraft IoM single coaches, I know the purists probably won't like it, but these coaches suit the loco (IMHO), and rule 8. But I enjoy model making and though I should build some coaches. The kit looks quite similar to the IoM singles, and the Lyn is an L & B loco.
Comments on the kit: The kit arrived in a polythene bag, and the 45mm gauge wheels in a separate bag, no box for protection
Inside the bag was seven frets of laser cut wood, a roof section, three bags of white metal components, wire, acrylic for the windows, wheel bearings, and four A4 sides of instructions. There was no parts list, and no identification for the frets, though as a simple kit, this should not present an issue.
The instructions recommend superglue for the main construction and epoxy for the smaller parts. I have always used "PVA" type glue on wooden kits, but though I would try superglue.
Construction: There are no "tab and slots" most parts just butting up to each other. Following the instructions, I assembled the sides and ends to the floor, the pros of superglue are mainly almost instant adhesion, no holding parts in position waiting for the glue to dry, the cons are almost instant adhesion, which means trying to line up the parts when they touch. This was managed but I did not find it easy, also the joints are brittle, and where the ends meet the sides is thin ply, and two joints cracked, my solution was to brush PVA into the joints.
The next stage is to add the raised wood work, I will be using PVA for this, which will give me working time to make adjustments.
More to follow......................