Chipping a Bachmann J72
This model looks very challenging; I have
seen a couple of articles posted over the last few years regarding chipping a
Bachmann J72. Most say walk away it’s not worth it. Now that is the gauntlet
thrown at my feet. First look at my J72 with the body removed has given me a few
ideas.
I will mill a recess above the leading
driving wheel to take the DCC concepts chip routing the motor wires each side
of the worm gear. A clearance channel to take the wires and to isolate the
motor brush tags will need to be machined behind the rear driving wheels. Two
2mm tapped holes in each side of the chassis for the pickup wire to be attached
to. The material the chassis is made from is I believe Zamak or as we
know it Mazak an alloy of zinc aluminium magnesium and copper.
I think it is time to reassemble the locomotive
and wait for better weather before I can degrease the machines in my workshop.
The split chassis were good runners, even the Mainline versions with the pancake motor, But as I have no milling machine and a file was slow and hard going I gave up. But I did a B1 and two Ivatt 2P's when I went DCC...But I know a man of your calibre will sort it out....Improvise, Adapt and Overcome...
ReplyDeleteI haven't machined Mazak before I guess with copper and ally I think i will lubricate the cutter with paraffin, to stop the cutter grabbing
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