Small Run Batch Deutz OO9 kit

Small Run Batch Deutz OO9 kit.

SRB001 Freelance DEUTZ Style 0-4-0DM

Part of the premise for Stuart’s kits is that he will only do small runs. That’s how he wants to do it and he has gained a great deal of knowledge of his late father and the other members of the GDNGRS who manufacture kits — I am one of the few who doesn’t! So if you see one of these kits running it will probably be a rare sight but also will run really well.

The kit comprises of a nickel silver and a brass etch, and several bags of small parts. The instructions come on a small cd — I had to request a PDF from Stuart as I no longer have a functioning CD reader or one that will work with small format CDs.

So far I am enjoying building this kit. The instructions are very well thought through but you do need to have the right gear to get the best out of it and if you have never soldered a brass kit together before then this shouldn’t be your first kit to try it on! The specialist tools you will need are a 16BA tap and a good set of broaches — I have a cheap set and am now on the lookout for a much better set of broaches as the cheap plastic handles on mine keep shattering.

One of the first things I wondered was with the brass sleeve you put on the axle — this could have been 7.3mm in length thus giving the ideal back to back for the wheels though perhaps having room to adjust the wheels might be more important — just a thought as I don’t have any prior experience to call on.

The most difficult part was the construction of the cranks and the instructions do alert you to this and are clearly written to help you go through this. Soldering the three frameworks with the cranks together before you actually solder the cranks together really helps. I did that and tapped the holes for the crank pins while it was still on the fret. the instructions state you should broach the axle holes in the cranks while on the fret as well but I had no spare rod of the axle size and there isn’t room to offer up the axles in the frame so I did the broaching after the cranks were cut out of the fret.

When I first examined one of Stuart’s prototypes for this kit I was pleased with the weight he had managed to pack in. The corner ballast boxes can indeed be bulked up with lead and to achieve this I capped the bottom of each corner with some spare brass sheet cut to size and soldered in. I then filled each with lead shot and covered in epoxy glue. this has provided a good amount of weight into the frame which will give the loco a much smoother ride.

Small Run Batch Deutz OO9 kit Gallery

Small Run Batch Deutz — axels and wheels. Small Run Batch Deutz — axels and wheels

Small Run Batch Deutz — frames and suspension. Small Run Batch Deutz — frames and suspension

Small Run Batch Deutz — frames with suspension test fitted. Small Run Batch Deutz — frames with suspension test fitted

Small Run Batch Deutz — setting the back to back wheel measurements to my standard of 7.31mm. Small Run Batch Deutz — setting the back to back wheel measurements to my standard of 7.31mm

Small Run Batch Deutz — completed wheel-sets. Small Run Batch Deutz — completed wheel-sets

Small Run Batch Deutz — frames with suspension soldered on. Small Run Batch Deutz — frames with suspension soldered on

Small Run Batch Deutz — using a cocktail stick to position nuts for soldering. Small Run Batch Deutz — using a cocktail stick to position nuts for soldering

Small Run Batch Deutz — nuts soldered onto cross bar. Small Run Batch Deutz — nuts soldered onto cross bar

Small Run Batch Deutz — wheel-sets in the frames. Small Run Batch Deutz — wheel-sets in the frames

Small Run Batch Deutz — ensure the frame and wheel-sets are square. Small Run Batch Deutz — ensure the frame and wheel-sets are square

Small Run Batch Deutz — motor mountings folded and bushes in place. Small Run Batch Deutz — motor mountings folded and bushes in place

Small Run Batch Deutz — a really clever jig for axle worm spacing is in the etch. Small Run Batch Deutz — a really clever jig for axle worm spacing is in the etch

Small Run Batch Deutz — drive axle and motor mounts in place. Small Run Batch Deutz — drive axle and motor mounts in place

Small Run Batch Deutz — fly cranks made from folding four layers of etch and soldering. Small Run Batch Deutz — fly cranks made from folding four layers of etch and soldering

Small Run Batch Deutz — coupling rod is made from doubled etch and soldered for strength. Small Run Batch Deutz — coupling rod is made from doubled etch and soldered for strength

Small Run Batch Deutz OO9 kit — carefully reaming out the fly cranks to fit the axle. Small Run Batch Deutz OO9 kit — carefully reaming out the fly cranks to fit the axle

Small Run Batch Deutz OO9 kit — fly crank pins soldered in place. Small Run Batch Deutz OO9 kit — fly crank pins soldered in place

Small Run Batch Deutz OO9 kit — fly crank pins fitted on axles. Small Run Batch Deutz OO9 kit — fly crank pins fitted on axles

Small Run Batch Deutz OO9 kit — connecting rod on the fly crank pins. Small Run Batch Deutz OO9 kit — connecting rod on the fly crank pins

Small Run Batch Deutz OO9 kit — connecting rods on the fly cranks. Small Run Batch Deutz OO9 kit — connecting rods on the fly cranks

Small Run Batch Deutz OO9 kit — the large pulley wheel added to the drive shaft. Small Run Batch Deutz OO9 kit — the large pulley wheel added to the drive shaft

Small Run Batch Deutz OO9 kit — plates cut and soldered into the ballast boxes. Small Run Batch Deutz OO9 kit — plates cut and soldered into the ballast boxes