I'm new to white metal kits (apart from a Peco Nn3 effort) and have started building the Sir Drefaldwyn kit with Consolidation chassis, all supplied by Langley Models. Now, maybe I'm just thick, but the chassis and body kit seem incompatible. First off, there's a big PCB in the tender for DCC. The chassis doesn't run with the PCB disconnected but I realise that a capping plug is available, so that's on order. However, I suspect that there have been quite a few changes in the Bachmann loco even since the Langley instructions addendum was written. For example, there's no fixing screw down the chimney and the chassis seems far too big too big to pass into the lower parts of the body. Has anyone successfully completed this kit without extensive butchering of the lower boiler half? If so, I'd appreciate a few hints! I don't mind a bit of cutting to the kit but don't want to ruin an otherwise excellent donor loco.
The problem that you have is that the Langley kit was designed to fit the older "White Box" type of Bachmann chassis. This could run separately from the tender and has a detachable ballast weight, whereas I think the newer versions of the Bachmann loco have this weight molded as part of the chassis block (it can't be removed without major surgery to the chassis), and the PCB you describe suggests that the newer versions have been updated again to account for fitting DCC chips (one may even be fitted at the factory).
As you suggest the way forward would be to modify the kit's boiler to allow the Bachmann weight into the Langley body rather than trying to cut bits off the chassis block (which may be live to one rail), but it's not something I have done myself. I have a feeling that the earlier version of the loco you have (the one that immidately superseeded the White Box ones) did not have the PCB but I can't recall if they would run without the tender (and it's pick ups) attached, but it should be possible to bypass the PCB or move the board into the loco (there should be some room as Sir Drefaldwyn isn't a small loco).
I am very disappointed and a little annoyed that Langley are selling this later chassis on their web site to unsuspecting modellers new to 009 when the kit was designed for the early
Many thanks for the prompt responses. I'm pleased that it's not me who is going mad! Now the donor loco is in bits, I'm going to press on with major surgery. I've downloaded every photo I can find of the real loco so I can figure out where the chassis should sit relative to the body. Attaching one to the other could be challenging.
Quote from: B.Meldon on November 17, 2016, 15:44
I would say the chances of getting one in a reasonable time scale in good working order is next to zero.
I wouldn't bother as it was a rubbish chassis anyway... The Chivers Engarth has the same issue as that was designed for that chassis as well... However it should be possible, with care, to fit the new chassis to the Langley kit just as it is to fit it to the Engarth and I feel it would be well worth it as the new chassis is a far better runner.
I feel that a clear warning should be made before purchase, though.
Just out of interest and to show how different they are this is what the
This is the new version of the chassis. Sorry about the resolution but anything better was rejected by the forum software.