SECTION 8


 AUSTRALIAN MODEL RAILWAY BUILDINGS, STRUCTURES and ACCESSORIES

KC Wagon


The kit consists of the chassis, decals and two brass etch panels. The modeller is required to supply their own undercarriage kit from Steam Era Models, their own coupling and other under carriage detail parts.


There are photographs on my facebook page (section 8 model railway) that can assist the modeller in the assembly of this model. You do not have to be a subscriber to facebook to use this service.


From the SEM kit prepare the sideframes for use. Remove the lugs from the rear of the sideframes. Insert the derin bearings into their cavity. Place the chassis on a flat surface so the under detail is facing up. Place beside the chassis the sideframes and keeping square and flush with the end - glue. For this gluing I use Tetra. Repeat for the other sideframe. Once dry and secure prepare the etch for use. Carefully remove the deck from the tags. Tidy up the remaining tags by sanding or filing. Inspect the etch deck and identify the headstock ends. These ends have a rebated section to cater for the coupling and buffer holes there is also a rut across the deck to indicate the fold line. This fold line must be hidden from view so fold the headstock portion of the etch in a 90 degree fashion making sure the fold line is on the inside of the fold. Repeat on the other end. This has formed the headstock ends of the etched deck.


Glue the etch deck to the chassis keeping it square and centred. A small amount of sanding or filing of the chassis assembly may be required for a nice fit of the etch deck. Once satisfyed glue into position on the chassis. I've used double sided tape without any issues.


On the deck of the etch there should be some rebated sections for the container locks and keepers. On the second etch panel there are the container corner locks, dividing locks and keepers. All have folding lines. Remove from the tags and tidy up the remaining tag. Identify the container corner locks. These have three square shapes all joined. Study them closely and one of the squares has a minute bevelled corner. This is the part that is glued to the deck rebated section. The corresponding shape can be found on the deck at each corner. Fold the corner locks into position. All folds are to be at 90 degrees. Using super glue then glue into position on the deck. Identify the keepers and where their corresponding positions are. Fold and glue into position.


Lastly there are four (4) dividing locks. These are identified by the pair of legs on each. The keeper part of the lock is straight forward and the folding line is the same as previously explained. The legs however are a little tricky.  Identify two fold lines on each leg. These are on the opposite side to the fold line of the keeper part of the lock. The first fold line is at the main body of the lock and the second is about half way along the leg. Once the fold of the lock is effected the legs are then folded 180 degrees at the first fold line. This will leave the leg hanging over the sideframe if it were in position. The leg is then folded again at the second fold line at 45 degrees so it eventually sits adjacent to the bottom flange of the C channel of the sideframe. This leg will require trimming. It is deliberately  over length to cater for the positioning of the etch deck onto the chassis. Work on one lock at a time, fold as required and trim the legs sparingly. Continue placing the lock into position until satisfyed with the length then glue into position. It is intended these legs of the lock will appear to be the bracing of the lock. Studying some of the photographs on line will enlighten the modeller as to the desired effect. Once glued into position there are gussets that fit into the run on the inside of the lock. These gussets separate the 7 foot containers from one another. If the modeller wishes to use larger containers on the wagon then these gussets will not be used. fixing the gussets into position is easy. Removed the gusset from its tag and tidy up the remaining tag as previously discussed. The gussets simply sits in the rut inside the lock. Dry fit to test first then when satisfyed glue into position.

Retrieve brake posts from the SEM kit and glue into the holes underneath the chassis in the holes provided.

Utilise the available on line photographs for reference in relation to applying the decals.

Finished. Detail the undercarriage as you see fit.