Boot Lane Nancy in SM-32

This is all about my journey to build a Boot Lane "Nancy", the original concept was to have this as a Christmas Train, but I think the turning radius is too large. Original details can be found at Boot Lane "Nancy" Initially the purpose of this blog is to show the progress and any thoughts or issues.

	The kit arrived very quickly, nicely boxed, with the parts separated as shown, including the motor and wheels, and eight pages of instructions. Start of build, and nowhere is a detailed list of parts,some are obvious from the description other are not.
Identifying the frame stretchers was not easy, nor was the motor-plate, but eventually the correct part identified and the chassis went together well, all parts screwed together, however I used a 2mm tap to start the threads.
	Details were provided for the order of parts to be assembled and ensuring the cylinder blocks are correctly inclined.
The next items to assemble are the wheels, first the counterweights and crankpins, then the wheels on to the axels, and although the back to back is given there is no gauge, so a vernier caliper comes in handy.  I inserted the screws for the crankpins before assembling the wheels on to the axels.
	I did find the use of a 2 mm tap useful for starting the crankpins. Although quartering is explained, and the use of a vice to twist the wheels, no real details on alignment.  So looking through the wheels, with the crankpins at 90 degrees, I lined up the spokes.
The motion when together quite effortlessly, the parts easily identified and well fitting.  Last part of the chassis was to fit the motor.
	The body, there is very little detailed process in assembling the body, and I suggest a "dry run" to understand the parts supplied.  A DPDT centre off slide switch is provided for the power, and mounting hole already cut.  So I just needed to make a hole for the charging socket, and fit these items.
The instructions inform that the boiler, smoke box and coal bunker are screwed to the footplate, so with these in place, I could carry out assembly around them.  Though not specified I did glue the boiler to the smoke box once in position.
	The cab can be built up next, again with no real instructions, so the items were glued in place, except nothing was glued to the boiler, this is so it can be removed for access to the electronics. You will see the charging point has moved, even after a dry run, things do not always go to plan.
With the electronics (more on this later) in place in the boiler, and the battery in the opposite side tank, the body was mounted on the chassis for a test run.
	With everything free and working well, it is time to finish fitting the details.
The model stripped down again and a start of the priming and undercoat. The boiler has primer, the cab with red undercoat and the chassis with black undercoat, ready for the top coat.
At this stage disaster struck, whilst prepering the chassis for its top coat, I dropped it, not far, and only on a wooden floor, but enough for the side frames to brake
	At the stage I had two choices, make new side frames, or try to purchase new items from the manufacture, both activities would be carried out simultaneously.   The frames were stuck together to form a pattern for the new side frames and the manufacture was contacted.
The replacement side frames were to be made from brass, though 0.080 was the only thickness I currently had. As you can see a good likeness to the originals.
	Once I was content that the shape and configuration of the various holes was within the tolerance I had set myself, I used chemical blackening to dumb down the brass.
No sooner had I completed the brass sides, and the manufacture provided, free of charge replacment parts. I decided to utalise the brass as overlays to the acrilyc sides for strength, this requied some fettling as the overall width was now 0.160" thicker.
	As can be seen, the blackened brass overlays blend in well as a chassis, and no other finish was applied to the side frames.
As this is planned to be a Christmas Loco, red was the colour of choice, matt black fire box and smoke box, and black lining. More detailing required, some touch up, decals and name plate to be applied, and the roof needs to be fettled.
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