Received the 'Z' Class shunter kit today, pic below showing as supplied. I've cleaned up the flash, filled where needed, drilled out holes for handrail knobs etc. and fitted the cab floor. The floor fixes with one 2mm screw, but I decided to Araldite it into place also for more strength, so now awaiting filler and Araldite setting before I can start sanding down and initial primer coat. The 8f chassis has already been prepared, and slots quite easily into place, and I've downloaded and printed out 5 'Z' Class photo's from the net for detailing purposes, but I'm out all day tomorrow, so no further progress yet. Attached files
Another interesting addition to the fleet, the layouts going to need an extension to cope - or at least some reinforcement for the size of these locos. Paul
The SR Z what a really interesting looking loco with the big loco looks and small angled tanks quite different. Looks like an interesting build
I'll be interested to see how well you can get it to sit on the chassis, Keith, and what procedures you employ. I'm generally pleased with mine, but it always sat a tad high due, I think, to the motor hitting the underside of the boiler/firebox. It runs well and looks good anyway, but if you find a solution for this, I'll be more than happy to copy you.
Sanding down the filler has now been done, and of course, this just shows up the parts needing more filling and sanding, but worth spending a bit more time to get it better. Attached files
So after more filling and sanding, things are looking a little better. Having downloaded several pics of the "Z" class from the internet, I had a better idea of handrail and lamp bracket detail, so set about making these and supergluing in place. There is what may be a sandbox on each side, immediately in front of each side tank, and these are not part of the kit, so I need to fabricate and fit them, by which time it will need another coat of primer, but below is where we are at present. Attached files
This is the front end. Lamp brackets were made with 0.50 brass wire, hammered flat to form the 'bracket', then bent 90 degrees, cut and glued in place. Attached files
This 'side-on' view is mainly for Jeff (SR Man) to compare with his "Z" Class, to see how much more or less mine sits onto the chassis than his does. The body can't go any lower onto the chassis as the motor is in contact with the inside of the boiler/firebox area, and I've ground off as much as I dare in this area to allow it to sit as far down as possible. I'm considering adding a little plasticard to each cylinder and filing it down to create a more 'teardrop' shape in section, as the 8f chassis' cylinders are flat sided, but maybe I'm being a bit 'picky' with this. Attached files
Thanks for the photos, Keith. It looks like you have managed to sit it down an extra millimetre or so. I'll have to have a look at mine again and see if i can grind any more out of the boiler, if, indeed, that is what is stopping mine from going any further. Yours is coming on well. I agree about the cylinders; that was something I looked at too and put into the "too hard; file away for later consideration" basket! http://www.click
I decided to give altering the cylinders a go by basically finding some reasonably soft plastic which was originally some of the panelling from two footbridge kits that I bashed into a triple one. Cut to size, I formed it to the required shape with pliers, then superglued it into place, filing to the required shape as necessary. The pic shows how the cylinders were reshaped. Attached files
The pics I downloaded from the internet were extremely useful from a detailing point of view, giving me positions for handrails, lamp brackets and steps on the tender, handrails and lamp brackets on the loco, plus the extra boxes in front of the side tanks (which I've no idea what they're for!). Anyway, the loco is now completed and running, here's a rear threequarter view. Attached files
.....and a front threequarter view. Another one in the queue for weathering, methinks, as it's far too clean! Attached files
