7mm Mickoo's Commercial Workbench

mickoo

mickoo

Western Thunderer
Higher mammal 1, soldering iron 0 :rant:

I run a ERSA RDS80, pretty much bullet proof and the previous base unit ran almost daily for five years (rough guess 10,000 hrs) so no issues there.

However, the wands are a different story, all of mine have failed (six or seven times) where the cable enters the strain relief boots or in most cases, inside the boot.

It's not hard to cut back, solder and cover with heat shrink and yesterday that's what happened (broken cable), it'd already broken two times in the past. I have a spare wand just in case and tried to take the tip off the broken one to fit to the spare to repair this one. It didn't go well as can be seen.

Upshot, ordered a whole new system and put the old one in the shed for soldering on the train set. Ordered last evening (RS Components) around 17:00, arrived today before 10:00 and we're back in business with a working spare in the shed :thumbs:
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Heather Kay

Heather Kay

Western Thunderer
My RDS80 is still going strong, though it never saw the through-put of yours I’m sure. One flaw has been the tip has welded itself on and won’t be budged.

I've been wondering about a replacement hot end, but I don’t think it’ll be worth the expense as I stop commercial building soon.
 
simond

simond

Western Thunderer
My RDS80 failed same as Mick’s. I think I’m on #3 now, one was replaced FOC by RS. Couldnt find the receipt for that or I reckon I’d have had #3 for free too.
 
Rob Pulham

Rob Pulham

Western Thunderer
I must have been lucky with mine, accepted I don't use it all day every day like Mick but I've had mine since 2011(ish) and still on the same wand/tip. I rather suspect that like Heather my tip has welded itself on...
 
mickoo

mickoo

Western Thunderer
Heather Kay said:
My RDS80 is still going strong, though it never saw the through-put of yours I’m sure. One flaw has been the tip has welded itself on and won’t be budged.

I've been wondering about a replacement hot end, but I don’t think it’ll be worth the expense as I stop commercial building soon.
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Soak the end in WD40 for a few days and it might loosen off.
 
mickoo

mickoo

Western Thunderer
Stage point on the DA 8F, a few more nick nacks to go onto the chassis then upper works. There are some castings missing so I need to obtain those before finally signing off the chassis, but they won;t hold up overall progress.

Normally I'd press on for the rest of the week, but I need to tackle the Gladiator S15 test etch build before Wigan and get as much of that done so David can look it over and give his input for the final stint.

Next week a slightly delayed start (real life woes) to a JLTRT Star to mix into the pot.

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G

Genghis

Western Thunderer
Next the fun bit: clearances around the valve gear on the Gladiator model are tight. It will be interesting to see how DA addressed the issues.

Dave
 
mickoo

mickoo

Western Thunderer
The chunky balance weights are not going to help either as that'll push the coupling rod boss out a bit; but, there's zero side play on the lead driver so it should all be manageable ;)
 
mickoo

mickoo

Western Thunderer
What I thought would be a little intermission turned out not to be, I've no idea why when the client asked for the GER version that I'd expect all the GER bits to be in the box, despite it saying they were not :rolleyes:

Still, it is what it is and the crayons and scissors have been out to make the missing pieces, mainly a new cab (extended bunkers to be done as yet pending decision on number of coal rails etc) and brake gear. The boxed section over the firebox is a place holder for coal which will be stacked up Stratford style and the cab removable to aid painting and fitting out after paint.

There's also a few other nick nacks to complete so a few days work still left to go, which of course pushes back all the other planned work schedules :oops:
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spikey faz

spikey faz

Western Thunderer
mickoo said:
What I thought would be a little intermission turned out not to be, I've no idea why when the client asked for the GER version that I'd expect all the GER bits to be in the box, despite it saying they were not :rolleyes:

Still, it is what it is and the crayons and scissors have been out to make the missing pieces, mainly a new cab (extended bunkers to be done as yet pending decision on number of coal rails etc) and brake gear. The boxed section over the firebox is a place holder for coal which will be stacked up Stratford style and the cab removable to aid painting and fitting out after paint.

There's also a few other nick nacks to complete so a few days work still left to go, which of course pushes back all the other planned work schedules :oops:
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Mick, thats a lovely looking locomotive. Is it based on the Springside kit?

I wonder if you might do me small favour. Please could you let me know what the principal dimensions are? I'm particularly interested in the dimensions of the water tank (height, length & top and bottom width). I have a vague idea for a project (that doesn't involve plonking a crane on it!).

Your work with the crayons and scissors is great!:cool:

All the best
Mike
 
mickoo

mickoo

Western Thunderer
Rob R said:
Doesn't Ragstone do one in brass etc?
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This is Ragstones kit, the tank is white metal.
spikey faz said:
Mick, thats a lovely looking locomotive. Is it based on the Springside kit?

I wonder if you might do me small favour. Please could you let me know what the principal dimensions are? I'm particularly interested in the dimensions of the water tank (height, length & top and bottom width). I have a vague idea for a project (that doesn't involve plonking a crane on it!).

Your work with the crayons and scissors is great!:cool:

All the best
Mike
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Let me get it finished, it's going for paint this afternoon and I need to finish some bits off, if I get time I'll draw it up, if not I'll do it when it comes back in a few months.

I'd rather the bits were in the kit, it's added another 25-30 hrs to the build and budget sadly.
 
spikey faz

spikey faz

Western Thunderer
mickoo said:
This is Ragstones kit, the tank is white metal.

Let me get it finished, it's going for paint this afternoon and I need to finish some bits off, if I get time I'll draw it up, if not I'll do it when it comes back in a few months.

I'd rather the bits were in the kit, it's added another 25-30 hrs to the build and budget sadly.
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Thank you Mick. :thumbs:

I didn't know Ragstone did a kit of this particular locomotive. I'll check it out.

Your point about the additional parts and associated costs is noted.

Cheers
Mike
 
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