AKA "the tasty stuff". Perfectly safe and healthy by the way, contrary to some unscientific FUD. Like the vaccines, GMO and the condensation trials left by aeroplanes.

But I digress... Nice work on the loco. I'm three months behind with my build, too much plastic recently - have to get back on the train.

Phase 16 - Cylinder walls



Salmon with lentils and potatoes

We receive the outer walls for the cylinders and some decorative items to fit onto them. It's pretty straightforward thanks to most decorative elements being glued from behind via rod and slot.



Parts count: 94 parts, 112 fasteners

Looking good, very nice work.....

Regards

Alan

Stage 17 - The crossheads

Steak and Fries and a Coca cola. I've been sick all week and this is the best kind of health food



With this stage we finally start on some of the moving parts, specifically the crossheads. I have no idea yet what these do, but they sure look nice.

Installation of the parts is again pretty straightforward, even though 2,2 mm nut drivers do not seem to exist in Germany or are prohibitively expensive. The tiny toy wrench did the job just fine though, albeit a bit scratchy.



Parts count: 100 parts (yay!), 124 fasteners

Interesting side note. The forum filters that other word for coca cola into coconuts. This amuses me.

Stage 18 - Rear frame extension

Venison goulash with spätzle noodles, peach and cranberries



We receive two extension bars for the rear of the frame, about 40 of those teensy tiny little bolts we already love and a themed little tray. Yes, a tray.

Apparently the tray carries a veeeeery tiny magnetic charge, enough to get the bolts magnetized up which makes installation of them infinitely easier. Instead of having to try a grab a bolt with pliers and see them fly all through the room, I can just hold the plier to a bolt, let the head attach, then dangle the bolt over its hole and drop it in place.

The whole 38 bolts are thus done in 10 minutes. Last time I managed to wriggle in 3 in the same time.



Parts Count: 102 parts, 162 fasteners

Hi looking superb there greyhawk. Looks a very good quality kit.and one I'm tempted on.hope it still avaliable.when present subscriptions end.cheers mick.

Coming along nicely, look forward to your next update....

Regards

Alan

Looking good Greyhawk I love how you are still doing this in your lunch break

Chassis should be stiffening up nicely now,top work

Stage 21 - The motion frame continued

Skewered meat balls with fried potatoes and Lecsó



So I lied, the complex part doesn't actually start until the next phase. We still get a breather phase.

We receive 2 motion plates, the reverse shaft and reverse links.

The plates are simply screwed to the motion frame and motion bars, but don't forget to slip on the crossheads beforehand if you took them off. That would be bad if you forgot. Just saying.

If one of your motion bars felt jiggly up till now it will now finally be secure which is a huge load of your mind if you were worrying about that for the last few weeks. If you are someone who worries about things like that. I wouldn't know, I never worry about a thing. True story.

Between plate one and plate two the reverse shaft is installed and it is kinda somewhat easy to get confused on the orientation and the photos aren't really all that good, so just remember "HOLES ARE IN THE BACK!" and "CURVY THING POINTS DOWN!" and all will be fine.

Afterwards the reverse links are mounted with grub screws and it can be a little bit difficult to align them properly with the HOLES IN THE BACK. The best way I found to do this is to just ignore the alignment completely and just tighten the grub screws until you hit resistance and then turn the whole link on the shaft until it "clicks" into place and the grub screw can be tightened some more.



Parts counter: 115 parts, 224 fasteners