Wrack and Ruin

A mid-life crisis in narrow gauge

Triumph!

Eureka, as the man said! It works!! Still the roof to go, and the couplings, but these are minor details, surely? The motor spins and the wheels turn, albeit very noisily and not entirely square to the body. But these are the little quirks that make up a narrow gauge loco.

Where are my navvies?! TRACK, DAMMIT! I must have a track to run on!! Faster! (whipcrack) Oh wait, that’s me.

A tip on fitting the wheels: mark a line down the centre of the base (preferably before assembly), and other one in the centre of the 32/45mm gauging tool. Align the two lines when fitting the wheels and they should be centred with respect to the body.

I think the growling noise comes from the axle gear rubbing against the motor housing; in that case, I’d suggest having less than the recommended 5mm protruding from the underside of the body. (Incidentally, I had to file the motor hole just to make it fit.) Unfortunately, I’ve used way too much superglue on this so I doubt I can refit it now.