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Vat Car Part 5 Final Details Now that the paint and lettering are finished, the remaining details and the sign boards will installed. |
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Parts List (4) Trussrods--.025" fishing line [approx. 12"
long] |
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Trussrods
Photo 1 Tie a knot in one end of a trussrod and string it through an end trestle, then move diagonal to the next trestle, then diagonal to the next, etc. until the other end trestle is reached. The trussrod should be snug going through the holes--this snug fit helps hold it in place. Gently pull it tight until it straightens out. CA glue at the holes while keeping the trussrod tight. Once you can let go and tension does not change, install the next trussrod. Glue all four and leave the ends--check back as you progress to make sure that none of them loosened up. Use CA accelerator if necessary--the accelerator causes the CA to expand and harden. If the last hole the trussrod goes through does not provide a snug fit, pull the tension and then jam a piece of wire or a piece of fishing line, from the inside of the bent, into the hole to tighten it up. Let this set about an hour. |
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Stirrups/Ladder/Brake Wheel Install the stirrups. I substituted bent brass stirrups for the Grandt Line parts--the Grandt Line parts would have looked better. Paint with Testors Zinc Chromate. If the truss rods all look good, then ends can be cut. Don't clip them off flush with the trestles, rather leave a little nub. There is a possibility that the trussrod will pull out of the hole if the knot is cut off; by leaving it, the only possible way the trussrod can slacken is at the exit end. I used nippers and I noticed that the CA glue crunched when cut. These ends will shortly be painted green. Insert the brake staff in the hole on the roof and drop it down to the floor. Position it so it is perpendicular, then mark the location, drill a shallow hole in the floor, and CA glue. Glue on the brake wheel. Cut the ladder stock just above a rung. Set it in place at the car end, mark and cut it to fit under the roof boards and against the end fascia. Round off the corners of the uprights with a needle file or scrape with a razor knife. Make all four and glue in.
Photo 2 Paint the ladders, the brake wheel assembly and the ends of the trussrods with Model Master Dark Green. Paint the trussrods with the Zinc Chromate--they can be painted the Deep Yellow once the Chromate dries. Paint the stirrups with Deep Yellow also. |
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Sign Board Compare the cut out sign to the backboard and make sure there is space on the backboard to allow the cutout sign and the trim to fit. This is not a precise operation, but try to limit the amount of space between the printed sign and the trim. Glue the trim around the top of the unscribed surface, creating a shallow tray. Let dry and smooth the edges with a needle file. Paint Dark Green--one or two coats as necessary and let dry. The area the sign glues to does not have to be painted, but make sure to paint the trim and the inside edge. Glue in the sign.
Photo 3 Before beginning this step, verify that all eight braces are cut and are the same length. Set the board on the car roof, centered lengthwise and at the outside edge and put four small dabs of styrene tube cement on the back bottom edge. Drop in the bottom brace and glue with liquid styrene cement. I held the board in place with one hand and installed the braces with the other. The braces are arbitrarily installed--keep them away from the hatches. One end goes under the roof walk (or as close to it as possible) and the other at the top of the board. Align so they are straight. Do the other board to match. Let the glue dry and touch up with the Dark Green. |
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Conclusion The end result is quite a unique car!
Photo 4 |
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Photo 5 |
