Build Your Own Instanter and Three Link Couplings

Here’s how I set about construction of my own accurate couplings from some photo-etched brass parts and a length of brass rod with the aid of a home-made tool.

BR Diagram 1/115 24.5-ton Mineral Wagon: Part 4 – Getting the Underframe Rolling

With the basic structure in place, the next step is to add springing to the underframe so that it can roll along smoothly on its wheels.

BR Diagram 1/115 24.5-ton Mineral Wagon: Part 3 – Beginning the Underframe

Now I switch from a mainly plastic body to a mainly photo-etched brass underframe as a upgrade on the one included in the Peco Parkside kit.

BR Diagram 1/107 21-ton Mineral Wagon: Part 10 – Time For Solebars

It’s starting to look like a real underframe now that we’ve got the stage of adding the solebars and related acoutrements.

BR Diagram 1/107 21-ton Mineral Wagon: Part 9 – Finishing The Axleguard Assembly

Just a short session to finish off the spring carriers and tiebars so that I can test fit the wheels while it’s easy to make adjustments.

BR Diagram 1/107 21-ton Mineral Wagon: Part 8 – Axleguard Assembly

The next few steps with the underframe get us moving into the world of soldering techniques where we can learn from other branches of modelling.

BR Diagram 1/107 21-ton Mineral Wagon: Part 7 – Starting The Underframe

Now my attention turns to construction of the underframe and that calls for a switch of material from plastic to brass.

BR Diagram 1/107 21-ton Mineral Wagon: Part 2 – Preparation For Modelling

Now I’ve collected sufficient information about the prototype, it’s time to consider the options and plan the build.