Check that the nylon insulators are a free
fit through the holes in the Pivot Plates.
Prepare two 30thou plastic card spacers to
fit between the top of each Bolster and its
Pivot Plate. Each spacer should be drilled M2
for the pivot hole, and not extend beyond the
perimeter of the Pivot Plate.
The plastic card spacers are to guard
against the possibility of the chassis
block sitting on the sides rather than the top
of the Bolster.
Take the M2 pivot screws and two of the M2 Washers (A2) from the fret. Use these to
secure a plastic card spacer, and Pivot Plate above, to the top of each Bolster. Ensure
that the Plates are sitting flat and parallel with the Bolster tops.
Gather together a true, flat, hard, working
surface, about 75mm (3") or more larger all
round than the loco, and two true, flat, blocks
of equal (about 6mm (1/4") or more) thickness
and each large enough to take the footprint of
the bolster.
Stand the bolsters on the flat surface and
check that the top faces of the Pivot
Plates are parallel to the surface. A slight
deviation can be accommodated, any significant slope would indicate an error in assembly.
Arrange the Bolsters on the blocks, standing at approximately the correct pivot
centres, and rest the loco over the bolster tops, adjusting their positions until the
cast ribs, either side of the bogie pivot holes, engage in the slots in the Pivot Plates.
Check that the chassis block is sitting level
and upright. This can be difficult to judge,
as the plastic chassis detail tends to 'droop'
away from the chassis block at the ends. You
may wish to refit the body to the chassis block
and then make checks.
The loco in the photos sat true and
vertical on the bolsters, but about 10thou (0.3mm) higher at one end than the
other. A spacer of 40thou was substituted at the lower end before glueing the Pivot
Plates. If you need to correct a 'lean' to one side, use a third support, under the fuel
tanks, on the low side.
Having now established a relationship between the bolsters and the loco, the next
Bachmann Class 66; Preparing the Locomotive
35/60
(c) PenBits Model Railways, All Rights Reserved
27/09/2021
Summary of Contents for Bachmann Class 66
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