Garden Railway Forum

Hello all, I'm getting ready to purchase a live steam locomotive in kit form. I haven't settled on the exact one yet, but I'm wanting to have my ducks in a row as far as smaller tools for assembly before I get a Loco kit.
Just curious if any of you can recommend a kit with proper wrench sizes, sockets etc for locomotives scaled at or around 1:20.3. The reason that I ask is because there's so much out there that I'd hate to just throw money at things that might not work all that well. I do have all the basic modeling tools like drill bits, indexes, screw drivers, just need a good wrench/socket kit and can never find one with all the small sizes.
In the mean time, I've been drooling on this Aster Mogul, in the Black Hills livery:
http://www.asterhobby.com/CL04_01/detail.php?id=117
Its in Pre-Order status at the time and I'm in no way completely sold on it yet. I would like to know more about the different versions and see more than a line drawing. I've chatted with an Aster person on YouTube but didn't really get the info I was looking for. May have been a language barrier.
Ultimately I'd like it unlettered but I doubt I can order it that way.

That's a fantastic looking beastie. Do keep us in the loop with plenty of pics as you build her.

philipy wrote: Wed Jul 17, 2024 8:55 pm That's a fantastic looking beastie. Do keep us in the loop with plenty of pics as you build her.

It's pretty looking for sure. Like I said, not quite sold on it yet, would love for them to release a bit more info and a target date. I'm not in a rush or anything but wouldn't mind an estimation on delivery and an actual protype in the Black Hills and Oregonian to drool over. The Japanese version looks amazing in photos so I'm sure whatever they put out will equal or rival that.
I've saved up enough for it, I really want it, it would fit my gold mine/ cattle line, juuuuussst holding off a bit.

I REALLY want a 13 Ton T boiler shay, maybe someday Aster will crank out some of those in kit form...

And I will definitely do a build thread, was planing on using my go pro to document it all, edited down of course.

Regarding wrenches and sockets.
I think I would wait until I decided on a kit?

I am sure that some will require imperial tools, and others metric?

Phil.P

Bad Droid wrote: Wed Jul 17, 2024 5:54 pm Hello all, I'm getting ready to purchase a live steam locomotive in kit form. I haven't settled on the exact one yet, but I'm wanting to have my ducks in a row as far as smaller tools for assembly before I get a Loco kit.
Just curious if any of you can recommend a kit with proper wrench sizes, sockets etc for locomotives scaled at or around 1:20.3.

Both Accucraft and Aster use metric fasteners in their models, as do Regner and Bowande.

If you have a look on the website of 'The Train Department' Jason lists a good quality metric toolkit that covers these brands.

Roundhouse use a dog's breakfast of metric, BA, ME and UNF. They supply a set of BA spanners and the necessary Allan keys with their kits, but it's byo screwdrivers if you go down that road.

Personally I prefer to use nut drivers for hex head screws, although I have a couple of sets of BA spanners for working on my Roundhouse locos, mostly for use on pipe fittings.

Be aware that Aster has been owned by Accucraft for some years now. I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for a 13 ton Shay from Aster.

Graeme

GTB wrote: Thu Jul 18, 2024 3:15 am

Be aware that Aster has been owned by Accucraft for some years now. I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for a 13 ton Shay from Aster.

Graeme

Thanks Graeme. After tonight's verbal abuse from some little man at Aster, they're not getting a nickle from me.
End of story.

Phil.P wrote: Wed Jul 17, 2024 11:30 pm Regarding wrenches and sockets.
I think I would wait until I decided on a kit?

I am sure that some will require imperial tools, and others metric?

Phil.P

Most are metric.

Bad Droid wrote: Thu Jul 18, 2024 4:01 am After tonight's verbal abuse from some little man at Aster, ...

Huh?

As far as I know both Accucraft and Aster are now brands owned by Live Steam Station in the US.
And the models are made by Bowande in China. They use metric.

And I think Accucraft UK is now owned by Maxitrak.

And when it comes to tool kits, Expo Tools and Donau Elektronik both have nice tool kits in small sizes.

rebelego wrote: Thu Jul 18, 2024 8:03 am And when it comes to tool kits, Expo Tools and Donau Elektronik both have nice tool kits in small sizes.

Perfect, thank you.

Hi,
Late reply, if you are looking for tools for Accucraft, Aster, etc. you will definitely need metric socket drivers, mainly 2mm and 3mm, included with the product but somewhat awkward to use. If you want something better, proper driver, couple of links attached:
premium quality, you can buy one size or a set
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004 ... 7.html?spm
budget buy, very good, set only
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006 ... 0.html?spm

Very nice, thank you for the links. That's exactky what I need.
I'm currently leaning towards the Aster "Pre Order" Porter Mogul in Black Hills paint, which will be re lettered. It's beautiful. I did have an issue with whoever runs their YouTube account, kind of nasty, but I'm not going to allow that to deter my choices.
I also like the Accucraft 13T shay and also their "Mabel". I know the later aren't as nice as the Aster but I still like them.
Again, thank you, that's exactly what I'm looking for.