While scratch building the stock a need to have something running quickly for layout testing meant the assembly of some current kits. Having the Slaters kit of the MOD D class bogie wagon in stock for some time we spent a pleasant few hour assembling the kit.
As the kit goes it’s very well detailed, mostly injection moulded plastic with a few brass castings.
The bogies went together well with only three areas that needed a little work, firstly the bogie sides need the top edge squaring off to enable then to sit in the inner frame work at 90 degrees, secondly the wheel bearings need not be pushed completely in the housing as this gives far too much side play on the wheels, lastly the the brass hand brake column has only a small contact area between the plastic upright, so with a small brass angle soldered to the underside of the hand wheel this strengthens the joint.
Before …
After, not the best photo, but the top edge squared off …
Brake handle modification
We have not used the coupling supplied in the kit because we have developed a coupling that is the same as used on the Bredgar railway, and as this wagon will initially be used to test the new layout before correct stock is built. These fit in the same housing without any modifications.
The body goes together without any problems, but needs care ensuring the fit is good with the sides to the ends. The photo shows the body weighted down while the glue sets, this keeps the body flat as the two body sides have only a small contact area between the joint in the middle of the sides.
Once set this is adequate and no movement is evident on the sides.
Next is some cleaning up and adding a few additional details such as chains that run between the bogies and the underside of the body, other than that just a coat of paint.
