lesstoneuk
Part of the e-furniture
Retired Omnibus navigation & velocity adjustment technician
Posts: 373
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Post by lesstoneuk on Sept 28, 2022 11:44:13 GMT
I took delivery of a Maxitrak Power Chassis today, hopefully, in a couple of weeks, I'll have a Sentinel. I'm going for GWR No12, simple body, biggest plus is its green... Lol. I'm waiting for the first person to say "you're driving it backwards". On these, Cab first was forwards. ibb.co/vkFkfTXibb.co/HVQd5BRThe box wasn't as large as I thought but everything was packed extremely well. Loads of bubble wrap. I'll save that and pop it in the corner somewhere.
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lesstoneuk
Part of the e-furniture
Retired Omnibus navigation & velocity adjustment technician
Posts: 373
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Post by lesstoneuk on Sept 30, 2022 0:04:41 GMT
First lot of spray paint arrived this evening. Etch primer, satin black, vauxhall red, filling primer for the body. All from the same supplier. Looking for Ford Laurel Green now
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lesstoneuk
Part of the e-furniture
Retired Omnibus navigation & velocity adjustment technician
Posts: 373
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Post by lesstoneuk on Oct 2, 2022 12:23:17 GMT
Yesterday was nice-ish, light showers in the afternoon. I took the opportunity to wipe all the parts to be painted down with alcohol. I strung them up, temporary, down the bottom of the garden.... Instructions from higher up was no spraying indoors or near the patio table. I sprayed with etch primer, giving a light covering all over. As all the paint is from the same manufacturer, respray is allowed after 15minutes. I gave it 30. Bufferbeams next, went on a treat. I hung those up in the greenhouse... Tomatoes are finished so are the cucumbers so no toxins in the food chain. Both frames and the coupler pockets and plates got their coating. This time after 20 minutes they got another spray. Everything was hung to dry and harden overnight. My left hand looked very nice with grey, red and black overspray. Today, I ran a 4mm drill through the coupler bolt holes and began assembly. The screws supplied are slotted 4mm x 40,I've got 4mm x 40 stainless button socket screws in the post. The frames and buffer beams went together like a glove, no binding, no tapping with a hammer... Easy-peezee. Last thing was to mount the motors. ibb.co/f8R4XPqibb.co/9pQFbPVibb.co/YDndZHg
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lesstoneuk
Part of the e-furniture
Retired Omnibus navigation & velocity adjustment technician
Posts: 373
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Post by lesstoneuk on Oct 3, 2022 9:57:42 GMT
This morning, put the percolator on, poured myself a fresh coffee. Time to tighten up all the mounting screws and set the suspension. ibb.co/K6Nmgh3As everything is there in front of me I'll do the motor loom next.
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Post by andyhigham on Oct 3, 2022 12:58:31 GMT
Are the three loose bolts the only thing locating the bogie assemblies front to back, right to left?
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lesstoneuk
Part of the e-furniture
Retired Omnibus navigation & velocity adjustment technician
Posts: 373
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Post by lesstoneuk on Oct 3, 2022 22:51:06 GMT
Yes, each motor assembly locates on three 5mm bolts. The single leading one has a rubber buffer on it, the two trailing have a spring. They are set to a specific ride height using a nyloc nut.
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JonL
Elder Statesman
WWSME (Wiltshire)
Posts: 2,907
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Post by JonL on Oct 4, 2022 20:44:13 GMT
Following with interest.
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lesstoneuk
Part of the e-furniture
Retired Omnibus navigation & velocity adjustment technician
Posts: 373
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Post by lesstoneuk on Oct 5, 2022 0:16:47 GMT
Now that I have the exact measurement between buffer beam, I can begin the bodywork. It'll be scale-ish, artistic licence to get a battery in and a separate bay for the electronics. I'm not going to install a lead, I'll mount the throttle, direction switch and brake switch on the water tank.
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lesstoneuk
Part of the e-furniture
Retired Omnibus navigation & velocity adjustment technician
Posts: 373
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Post by lesstoneuk on Oct 10, 2022 10:20:28 GMT
Swapped out the 4mm Cross slot screws for 4mm button socket screws in the coupling blocks. I'm not a lover of slotted screws in engineering situations, I don't think they can be tightened enough. It's me... Ok Likewise, I've installed 6mm button socket screws in the 4 frame plate joining points, they're long enough to hold down the wooden ply body base. This morning, the motors were loomed up. I think that's the underneath pretty much done. ibb.co/Prh6fpn
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JonL
Elder Statesman
WWSME (Wiltshire)
Posts: 2,907
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Post by JonL on Oct 11, 2022 16:03:41 GMT
I agree on slotted screws, only time I use them is for Dzus fastners unless they are being used for cosmetic reasons.
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Post by andyhigham on Oct 11, 2022 17:58:47 GMT
Slotted screws in something painted or polished are a recipe for disaster and a few bum twitchy moments
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smallbrother
Elder Statesman
Errors aplenty, progress slow, but progress nonetheless!
Posts: 2,269
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Post by smallbrother on Oct 12, 2022 7:53:42 GMT
I was very dubious about the slotted screws holding Mona's inner dome. Trouble is they are right up against the outside of the dome so not an easy fix. I was very pleasantly surprised to get it to seal. A new gasket and red sealant seems to have helped. I see there are cheap stainless steel metric cap heads on ebay. If I run into future trouble I'll work out a way to use these next time.
Pete.
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Post by steamer5 on Oct 12, 2022 8:07:18 GMT
Hi Pete, I hope the sloted screws are stainless? If not change them now, it will save a bunch of grief done the track! I had to change out the steel studs in the regulator backhead after they rusted & broke when I went to pull the regulator out. Not much fun!
Cheers Kerrin
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smallbrother
Elder Statesman
Errors aplenty, progress slow, but progress nonetheless!
Posts: 2,269
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Post by smallbrother on Oct 12, 2022 8:15:14 GMT
Hi Pete, I hope the sloted screws are stainless? If not change them now, it will save a bunch of grief done the track! I had to change out the steel studs in the regulator backhead after they rusted & broke when I went to pull the regulator out. Not much fun! Cheers Kerrin If things go wrong with them I will alter the dome itself and the hole positions so I will go for metric cap head at that point. Pete.
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lesstoneuk
Part of the e-furniture
Retired Omnibus navigation & velocity adjustment technician
Posts: 373
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Post by lesstoneuk on Oct 15, 2022 8:49:21 GMT
Yesterday I cut out the roof support beams. For once my cutting didn't wander around like a drunk walking home. I'd got spiral blades for my saw and they cut true. To sand to the line, I dug out my Chinese mini belt sander. Worth every penny, so easy to trim to the line. I also used it on the cab ends. I'd cut these 1mm outside the line and within 15 minutes the ends and the supports were done. Today, the body is being glued up. Hopefully this project will be finished by my birthday next month. Time to source the numberplate.
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lesstoneuk
Part of the e-furniture
Retired Omnibus navigation & velocity adjustment technician
Posts: 373
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Post by lesstoneuk on Oct 20, 2022 0:21:13 GMT
Today, I finally finished the sanding of the bodywork. Windows are now square and to size. Did some online retail therapy and sourced the raised flat strip and faux rivets. The only numberplates I can source are etched ones. In my eye, these look wrong. I'd much more prefer cast, can anyone recommend where cast ones are available. This evening I began planking the roof.
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JonL
Elder Statesman
WWSME (Wiltshire)
Posts: 2,907
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Post by JonL on Oct 24, 2022 17:51:18 GMT
www.loco-nameplates.co.uk/Diane Carney is pretty much the best there is at the moment in my opinion (for a price!). However there are lots of little up and comers rivalling her by the day with CNC engraving becoming more popular. I have bought some from the Elliot family in the past, the final item was good but in one case I had to request a replacement and every time it took much longer than they estimated, apparently family emergencies each time.
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Post by andyhigham on Oct 24, 2022 18:36:07 GMT
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JonL
Elder Statesman
WWSME (Wiltshire)
Posts: 2,907
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Post by JonL on Oct 24, 2022 18:49:04 GMT
Which engine were those for Andy?
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Post by andyhigham on Oct 24, 2022 18:54:55 GMT
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