Attached is a not very good photo of my C57 I found the kit to be excellent with all parts fitting well, Quality good, I will not show a blow by blow account as this has been well covered in other posts but will highlight points where I have had problems. Many have been covered in other builds but I seem to have collected them all!!
The bottom step is very vulnerable and best left to the end. The air hose is also best left to the end. I have noticed that several items are made as separate parts and then glued together before packing. This air hose is one and the sand spreader cocks are also. The glue does not appear to be very strong and they separate easily. A touch of superglue would help.
Make sure that the springs and equalising bars are firmly fastened. It is rather irritating to have to pull things apart when they shake loose - loctite or superglue.
Builders may like to replace the headlamp LED with a brighter one as the one provided is rather dim
I found the spreader tubes rather tricky. This was not helped with a couple of the cocks falling apart I wish I had read thr instructions better!. The tubes need to line up with the slots in the centre running boards.
The cab floor (B)is very thin and is sure to get bent during assembly. A strip of 0.7 brass underneath prevents this - incidently where is all the brass that the advert talks about - most of the plates are alluminium.
I found the silicon tube connecting the motor to the gearbox to be too flexible and twisted itself into knots nefore breaking. I used a solid coupling by drilling out an electric cable connector with a 1/8" drill. I did have problems getting smooth running and ended up making smaller bushes for the coupled wheels
I have difficulty getting the tender wheels free however its a static model!
Reiterating an excellent Kit
Perhaps I should say that I am not a newcomer to model locos having designed, built and published six gauge 1 live steam locos However old father time means that instead of standing before a hot lathe sitting at the kitchen table with a screwdriver is now more appropriate!
US
