16T Mineral Wagon (1/32 scale)

A very easy and pleasant wagon to build.

No axle length or bearing material is specified for this wagon, and so I made a guess:

• The bearing recesses are approx 4mm ID x 7.5mm length, so fit the 4mm OD/3mm ID K&S tube specified for the NER Quad also on this site. I fitted it by inserting into the recess while the solebar assembly was lose, then using a razor saw to cut to length and finish with a light filing and countersunking/deburring with an oversized drill bit.
• For the axles, I measured the distance between inside faces of the W-irons (60mm) and the depth of the bearings (approx 7mm) minus a notional amount to account for lateral movement for a total of 70mm. Due to the parallel nature of the K&S tube bearing, this meant insertion was quite tough and once in, they aren't coming out. In future I will use a shorter axle length (65mm?).

I printed the brake assemblies on the FDM printer and so they had a rough inside face - if you are doing the same thing then I would suggest you file back the inside faces of the brake shoes to a smooth surface to ensure they clear the wheels and flanges and reduce drag if any contact is made with lateral movement.

I used 1mm round styrene as a hinge rod for the side doors which must be bowed slightly out of true to pass through the chassis and door brackets. I don't know if this offset was deliberate but it does mean that the wagon doors stay closed. 

My goal is to print a rake of 7-9 of these wagons, ideally with only two or three trips to the printer, but I am having trouble with adhesion when the whole bed is occupied and ironing is turned on. When I get a new supply of spray putty I'll see what the un-ironed version looks like and make a call.