DalaGStanator's Customs, Mods and Experiments

Yesterday, the improved driving wheels were painted after cutting the spokes and gluing them into place. They were quite difficult to align in a way that didn't result in eight or eleven, but I think they look totally flawless; as if I managed to merely upscale the trailing ones. After a second or third coat (if needed), they should hopefully darken and blend in with the rest of the model - which was painted over the exposed wood. If the CR2032 card design hadn't changed, I would've surely used them for many subsequent models (mainly on the "flanged" sides).



For the time being, the side rod holders were reused from the irrigation drippers. Ideally, they would've been proper crankshafts with different sized holes at both ends, attached directly where the axle extensions protrude. That's one reason why I have yet to glue the halves to each other. In the event they're found to be too wide (which I doubt), the inner halves will be flipped around so the flat sides would meet the "flanges". It should also make it easier to find suitable rubber bands for traction tyres. Hope to give them a test fit tomorrow.

Edit:



As I thought, they do fit better now and will just need to have traction tyres fitted. Despite not actually rolling, they had no trouble going through curves or points. However, they didn't fit on Union Express anymore (just like powered wheels on battery items) and had to be made thinner since then. Great to know they'll be sure to work properly (once I could find rubber bands in the correct thickness and size).