The old incompetance is back.
Deciding it was time to move back to the DJH O16.5 kit that last appeared here in November, I started by fitting to the chassis to the body. And as you can see, it doesn't fit.
After a bit of investigation, it seems that when I made up the backhead, I didn't check the motor would fit inside it. It doesn't, by the thickness of the whitemetal firebox back. Enough to stop the body fitting.
Cockups like this have always plagued me. At the time I did the work, I could have easily checked and rectified the problem. But I forgot to do it.
Which leaves me a decision to make. As I see it, the options are:
- Dismantle the cab and backhead, make a new brass wrapper and then put it all back together. A lot of not very satisfying work.
- Grind out the rear of the backhead with a dental bur, trying not to burst through the front.
- Put the model back in its box and shove it in the cupboard.
- Extract the wheels and motor, then throw the rest in the bin. This was supposed to be a quick(ish) and fun project. Let's face it, the finished model wasn't going to be particually realistic!
- See if I can flog what I've done for no money, and let someone else take on option 1.
I really don't know. Right at the moment, I don't have much enthusiasm for any of my projects. Work is work, that's fine and I'm pottering along with it, but there are also hundreds of kits and plans in my stash. Each one was aquired with a fit of enthusiasm, something that has evapourated now I come to look at them. I know if I visited a show, I'd come away with another addition to the pile, again convinced that I would jump into it and finish the model quickly.
What I want is to pull something out of the pile, really fired up to build it. This would be good for me, but it's not happening. Yes, there are dream kits in there, but I don't have the space for the build right now as there is a layout in the worktop. Others will, I know, suffer project creep once I open the box and go from a quick sticking together job, to a more detailed build I just don't have the energy for.
Regular readers will know this isn't the first time I've lost my "modelling mojo", and it's come back. There are a lot of shows and events in my near future. Perhaps those will do it. Fingers crossed.
8 comments:
Been there many times, got the T- shirts to prove it. Keep going!
Duncan
Option 6, remove the motor, put a tarpaulin over the chimney. And then go to town on the weathering to make a loco waiting it's turn in the overhaul queue.
That's not a bad idea - I had pondered turning it into a scenic accesory, but not really thought it through. Thanks!
I had thought that my DJH 0-16.5 loco not having the chassis with it was a disadvantage...evidently not!
To be fair, the disadvantage is my incompetance, nothing to do with the kit.
No it’s not your incompetence. You tried to improve the loco and it didn’t work out think of the spider in the cave, don’t give up try again even if it’s a bit later,it’s just your lack of mojo kicking you in the teeth when your mojo returns you will look at it again and hopefully a easy solution will shoutout from the back of your brain,
Graham.
Who is currently having problems with tiny lettering on a coach on a overcast day so has also given up
Nice of you to say that, but if I'd checked the chassis fitted when I attached the backhead, I could have made the brass piece slightly wider to accomodate the motor easily. As it is, the job would be a lot bigger now.
I think you should make a go of it. Even if you just dump the firebox/backhead and have the motor in the cab. We would ahve been happy with that back then.
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