I’ve been trying to write this blog post for a few weeks. You know how things get delayed. A few things come out of the blue and less important tasks — like this blog — gets put on hold. As soon as I catch up, a couple more issues arise. I feel like I’m on a treadmill that won’t turn off.
At least I know I’m not the only one with these experiences. So, let’s catch up a bit. The lead image shows a couple of Westerfield Models HO scale freight cars that I started earlier in January. These are Baltimore & Ohio M-15B and M-15D class cars and among the largest class of B&O boxcars in 1926. As the build went along, I found an odd issue with the side sill.
A long thin strip representing detail on side of the steel underframe needs to be attached so it can be a ledge for the carbody to sit upon.
The instructions note that the top of this strip needs to sit just under the bottom of the underframe floor. The toothpick in the above image points to one of the underframes that was attached as per the directions.
When I set the carbody in place, a noticeable gap appeared under the end castings that would not be hidden by an end sill cap. This did not seem correct. I have a few prototype photos of these boxcars but nothing clear enough to show the detail of the side sill.
I removed the side sill strips with a trusty single-edge razor blade. After the blade gets between the underframe and side sill strip, it easily zips along the interface. The parts were sanded to remove old CA and readied for another attempt.
I wrote an email to a fellow B&O modeler who had assembled a few of these. He advised to attach the side sill strip flush with the bottom of the underframe casting. This is what we see in the above image.
Now I can proceed in building these kits. This step hasn’t been difficult just tedious. My frustration with the instructions compounded the situation. I’m much happier now that the carbodies sit properly.
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More than anything across the board w/most of the purveyors of resin kits, I think the instructions are the weakest link. They assume we know about brake systems for example and are poorly illustrated, both prototype photos and in-progress construction. Westy’s photos are too small and poorly lighted. My version of the M-15 has the hefty braced ends and is a slight trapezoid although it is hard to see.
Eric I know of what you speak regarding the effect of the treadmill and it keeping us from doing that which we desire. I have been on a similar running in place journey for the last few months and completely sympathize with the situation you describe.
As to kits, I have yet to build my resin kits yet as I continually get over taken by other things. I can say that poor instructions and documentation are not only attributable to the makers of resin models. I have run into the same thing in plastic models as well. I find it fortunate that I have begun to examine the instructions and the assembly process prior to building the more detailed models I can find available and like as not I have begun to deviate from their written instructions. In most cases I find a better and faster way to assemble the models by developing a new sequence and doing trial fittings along the way.
I always look forward to your updates on the subject.
Eric,
Thanks for documenting the difficulty with the side sill strips. I’ll watch out for it as I embark on this kit.